Tottenham produced a second-half blitz of their own with three goals in eight minutes to down West Ham 4-1 and dispel memories of their collapse at Brighton.
Ange Postecoglou had been forced to stew on a humbling 3-2 loss away to Brighton for two weeks during the international break where they conceded three times in quick succession after half-time.
When Mohammed Kudus put West Ham ahead in the 18th minute after slack home defending, the Spurs boss could have been forgiven for fearing the worst but Dejan Kulusevski levelled before the break and the hosts were at their scintillating best afterwards.
Yves Bissouma slotted home to make it 2-1 in the 52nd-minute and Jean-Clair Todibo put through his own net four minutes later before Son Heung-min wrapped up the scoring on the hour mark with a trademark left-footed finish.
There was still time for Julen Lopetegui to watch Kudus be sent off late on for violent conduct to compound another poor afternoon for the new West Ham boss.
Spurs were boosted by the return of fit-again captain Son and the in-form Brennan Johnson fizzed an early effort wide.
West Ham had headed into the international break after a 4-1 victory over Ipswich and almost went ahead in the 11th minute.
Jarrod Bowen skipped past Micky van de Ven and cut back for Kudus, but his powerful strike was tipped over by Guglielmo Vicario.
It was a warning sign that Tottenham would not heed as not long after Son curled just past the post, Lopetegui watched his team go ahead.
Destiny Udogie was at fault for Spurs after he failed to initially clear his line, which allowed Bowen the opportunity to race beyond him and tee up Kudus, who scuffed an effort into the bottom corner in the 18th-minute.
Postecoglou could only shake his head on the touchline, but his team responded impressively with another Son effort deflected wide before Lucas Paqueta almost turned Udogie’s cross into his own net.
North London. pic.twitter.com/P8yzmadZUS
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 19, 2024
Pedro Porro was next to go close with a low effort well saved by Alphonse Areola, who quickly got up to claim the rebound and deny Johnson a tap-in.
The momentum had firmly shifted now and Tottenham did duly level after 36 minutes as James Maddison carried the ball before he found Kulusevski, who cut inside and rifled a left-footed strike in off the post from 16-yards.
Pape Sarr was sent on for Maddison at half-time and with Postecoglou’s words still ringing in the ears of his players, they started with a bang.
Moments after Udogie had a shot deflected over, the left-back received Son’s pass and checked back inside before he teed up Bissouma to roll home for Spurs’ second in the 52nd-minute.
It was 3-1 four minutes later when Kulusevski laid back for Son, who had a low effort saved by Areola, which unfortunately deflected off West Ham defender Todibo and went across the line.
Spurs were not finished there and Son grabbed his ninth goal against the Hammers on the hour mark to cap a three-goal spell in eight minutes.
Sarr passed out to Son, who dribbled into the penalty area and worked a yard of space against Todibo before he drilled home.
Son hit the post seconds later as Tottenham scented blood, but Udogie had to block a Kudus effort on the line before normal service was resumed as Kulusevski curled wide and Johnson was denied by Areola.
Areola also thwarted Timo Werner before West Ham ended with 10-men as Kudus was sent off in the 86th-minute by referee Andrew Madley, following a VAR review, for violent conduct after he shoved Sarr in the face.
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
