Andre Villas-Boas: 'We need to bounce back against Aston Villa and make sure we stay connected to the top'

Published: 7 October, 2013
by STEVE BARNETT at White Hart Lane

Premier League
SPURS 0, WEST HAM 3 

SPURS fans got to witness a wonder goal that brought back memories of Gareth Bale on Sunday – but this time around all it did was compound a miserable afternoon at White Hart Lane. 

West Ham stunned Tottenham 3-0 to claim only their second away win of 2013, scoring all three goals in 15 blistering second-half minutes. 

Winston Reid tapped home a 66th-minute corner from close range to open the scoring in this Premier League clash before Ricardo Vaz Te rode his luck to slot in off Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris six minutes later.

Ravel Morrison secured three points for the Hammers with the goal of the game as he raced clear from midfield, got between the Spurs' centre-halves and poked the ball home in the 79th minute. 

Andre Villas-Boas admitted he was "surprised" by the result, and challenged his charges to quickly bounce back after the international break. 

"It was a surprise, but West Ham deserve credit for how they approached the game," said the Tottenham manager. 

"It was unfortunate, every time we wanted to make changes to get back into the game, they scored. 

"Had we won the game we would be up near the top, so now we're in a position that we don't want to be in. We need to bounce back against Aston Villa and make sure we stay connected to the top." 

There was a buzz of confidence coming from the home supports just before kick-off, as in-form forward Jermain Defoe replaced Roberto Soldado in the starting line-up. 

And it was Defoe who had the home side's best chance in a frustrating first half, a tame shot that was well blocked by West Ham keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. 

The visitors missed a golden opportunity to take a half-time lead when Kevin Nolan fired just wide from a well-executed free-kick.

Spurs were restricted to long shots for most of the opening half hour as James Tomkins and Reid performed well to keep Defoe and Christian Eriksen quiet.

Andros Townsend was the only Tottenham player causing Sam Allardyce's men any real problems. He set up a good chance for Gylfi Sigurdsson, as well as smashing a fierce drive from distance just wide.

At the other end Reid wasted a glorious chance to put the Hammers ahead when he nodded Mark Noble's corner wide. Noble then chipped over the wall to tee up Nolan, but his volley trickled inches wide.

Defoe, making his first league start of the year, finally managed to get in behind the Hammers' defence early in the second half but Jaaskelainen came off his line to smother the striker's shot.

Minutes later the away side took the lead against the run of play. Nolan unwittingly cleared Reid's goalbound header off the Spurs line, but the New Zealand defender swept home the rebound.

Nolan then carved open the Spurs' defence with a beautiful pass to send Vaz Te through. The striker's initial effort rebounded off Lloris's legs, but Vaz Te still managed to slide the ball home.

Spurs then amazingly slipped 3-0 behind after a fantastic solo goal from Morrison. The former Manchester United man picked the ball up just inside his own half and drifted past Michael Dawson before lifting the ball over Lloris.