Tim Sherwood: 'We created a few half-chances and, had one gone in, it would have made an edgy finish'

Published: 4 May, 2014
by DAN CARRIER at the Boleyn Ground

Premier League
WEST HAM 2, SPURS 0

TIM Sherwood has one game left to persuade chairman Daniel Levy he is the right person to take the club forward – and on the face of a bitterly disappointing 2-0 reverse away at West Ham, even if his team were to hit double figures against Aston Villa on the last day of the season next week, his time looks up. 

The manager saw his side go a man down on 24 minutes – and then fail to find the required spirit to make a game of it.

The game-changing incident happened after a deflected clearance fell kindly to West Ham's Stewart Downing: he strode forward and Younes Kaboul bundled him over, earning the sending off. Two minutes later a Harry Kane own goal gave the home side the lead and Spurs were never really likely to get something. 

Sherwood said the sending-off tipped a game that had previously been going Tottenham's way on its head.

“The game changed on the red card,” he said. “Before that we were comfortable and had enjoyed the best chances.”

Paulinho in action for Spurs during the defeat at West Ham

The manager added he had "no complaints" over the card and praised his side for a more resilient second-half display.

He added: “We created a few half chances and, had one gone in, it would have made an edgy finish.”

But his reading of the game ignored the fact this looked very much like a Spurs side who are happy that the summer holidays are nearly here. 

After a balanced opening half-hour, Spurs were hit with a sucker punch. After Downing had been knocked over by Kaboul and referee Phil Dowd issued his marching orders, a West Ham corner was directed goalward by Andy Carroll and took a huge deflection off Kane to flummox Hugo Lloris and give the home side the lead. 

It led to a period of sustained West Ham pressure, with Lloris required to claim three dangerous crosses in quick succession, and then provide an eye-catching fingertip stop from Matt Taylor low to his left.

The second came on 43. A Downing free-kick slipped quietly through a poorly constructed Spurs wall on the edge of the box. Both Paulinho and Adebayor were at fault as they turned away from the shot instead of blocking it. 

The second half became the Lloris show with the keeper firstly denying a Mohamed Diame overhead kick and then sprawling to halt a Kevin Nolan effort. He also made light work of a Matt Taylor piledriver and dealt with Andy Carroll's aerial threat confidently. 

Spurs had the occasional chance: Eriksen played a clipped ball in for substitute, Roberto Soldado, who swung a tame effort well wide. Then Aaron Lennon got himself into a good position, but his attempt was timid and off target, too. Danny Rose tested Adrian in the Hammers goal late on, too, but it was never going to be enough.

Sherwood can point to the fact his side were outnumbered for the majority of the game and kept the scoreline respectable, but this was another performance this season that he and his charges won't want to remember in a hurry. 

SPURS: Lloris, Rose, Kaboul, Dawson, Lennon, Paulinho (Sandro, 65), Adebayor, Naughton, Sigurdsson (Soldado, 65), Eriksen, Kane (Chiriches, 28).

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

THE end cannot come soon enough. We've seen Spurs lose three times Arsenal and West Ham this season, and also had to endure thumpings administered by Chelsea, Manchester City (twice) and Liverpool. 

Today, Sherwood's gameplan went to pieces as soon as Phil Dowd waved a red card towards Younes Kaboul and he trudged off the pitch. It seemed the players collectively thought any chance of getting something went down the tunnel, too: heads dropped and shoulders sagged instantly. Whatever changes are made, Spurs are in need of installing some on-pitch character before August. 

It was only the excellence of Hugo Lloris kept this one respectable.