WEST HAM’S season has fallen so flat they cannot even get up for the visit of their biggest rival.
The Hammers and a much-changed Tottenham played out one of the feeblest London derbies in living memory.
ReutersJarrod Bowen equalised for West Ham against Tottenham[/caption]
The Hammers captain kissed the badge in celebrationReuters
There was no spark, no fight and not even a full-house in the stands.
Graham Potter’s side have nothing to play for, but the fact he cannot get them going for this game – especially after a run of seven without a win beforehand – is cause for concern.
Ange Postecoglou, on the other hand, will be glad to have avoided a record 20th defeat of the season and safely navigated their way past an awkward game between two European semi-finals.
The Aussie made eight changes from Thursday night’s win and would have just wanted the afternoon to pass without incident.
And beyond Jarrod Bowen, whose goal cancelled out Wilson Odobert’s opener, West Ham did nothing to trouble their rivals.
Potter had irked some home fans by wishing Spurs well in Europe ahead of this game and at times his players rolled out the red carpet for them.
For a sense of the apathy which has engulfed West Ham this season, you only needed to look in the stands here.
Tottenham at home is traditionally the biggest game of the year at the London Stadium – but there were empty seats everywhere you looked.
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It made for another flat atmosphere early on, only livened up by the boos which followed Tottenham’s comical goal.
Max Kilman, a £40million signing last summer, twice tried to clear the ball but kicked it straight at Mathys Tel – allowing the Frenchman to square for Odobert to score his first Premier League goal for Spurs.
There was little in the way of quality on display from either side, though the one person who has been reliable for West Ham this season stood up again.
Bowen has been the Hammers’ only effective player for the majority of the season and applied another cool finish to make the most of some sloppy Spurs defending.
Mohammed Kudus spread the ball wide to Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Allowed to move forwards, the right-back picked out Bowen’s run – something no Spurs defender had managed – allowing the England man to square up Gugilelmo Vicario and roll it through his legs.
It offered West Ham a reminder that Tottenham have been almost as soft a touch as themselves all season.
But for the most part, the Hammers were too disjointed to make chances count, and were keen on handing out encouragement at the other end too.
Jean-Clair Todibo took a swing and a miss at a clearance while Lucas Paqueta rolled a simple pass straight to Richarlison, starting a move which almost led to a second for Spurs.
Paqueta and Kudus both looked ineffective, as did Niclas Fullkrug – back in the side for the first time since calling his side “s***” last month.
The hard work for West Ham was being done by Bowen and Wan-Bissaka, trying to force space down the right.
Though that left gaps, one of which Tel slipped into and drew a save from Alphonse Areola at the near post.
Bowen was trying to push his side ahead, flashing a volley wide of the far post, but too often being undermined by his team-mates.
Paqueta, for a second time, played a simple pass straight to a white shirt which resulted in Aaron Cresswell having to hook behind for a corner.
The Brazilian was having a terrible day, and even started crying after being shown a yellow card for a clear foul on Spurs sub Mikey Moore.
It was another drab day in a poor season for the midfielder, who is still playing under the cloud of an FA investigation into spot-fixing allegations.
Potter made sweeping changes but saw no benefit, while Spurs were simply ticking over now – Pape Sarr having a go from range and just putting one over.
West Ham had no energy or inspiration, Tottenham were happy to save theirs for Thursday.
It was still only Bowen refusing to accept the point for the hosts and the skipper saw a stooping header well saved by Vicario.
James Ward-Prowse had swung in a dangerous free-kick to set up that chance up and also whistled an effort just wide of the post from a dead ball in the dying minutes.
Potter has warned that he is ready to make huge changes to the squad this summer.
It would be hard to argue against selling everyone but Bowen on the evidence of games like this.
ReutersWilson Odobert opened the scoring on 15 minutes[/caption]
ReutersIt was the Frenchman’s first Premier League goal for Tottenham[/caption]
ReutersJames Ward-Prowse went close with a free-kick late on[/caption]
GettyLucas Paqueta endured a nightmare afternoon[/caption]
RexGraham Potter and Ange Postecoglou have both endured tricky times of late[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
