LONDON (AP) - West Ham guaranteed its Premier League survival with a 2-0 win over 10-man Tottenham on Saturday in a London derby which took the pressure off Hammers manager Sam Allardyce.
Younes Kaboul was dismissed in the 25th minute with a straight red card for taking down last man Stewart Downing. Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who prevented a far bigger defeat with a string of brilliant saves, then stopped a powerful free kick from Andy Carroll. But West Ham went ahead from the resulting corner by Mark Noble when Harry Kane accidentally headed in Carroll’s header in the 27th.
Downing made it 2-0 in the 44th at Upton Park with a low free kick after the Spurs wall voluntarily disintegrated when Paulinho and Emmanuel Adebayor left an embarrassingly large gap.
West Ham continued strongly after the interval as Mo Diame’s overhead kick produced an exquisite save from Lloris, who did well to stop Kevin Nolan scoring the follow-up.
The Spurs goalkeeper’s one-man stand continued as Carroll flicked the ball to Nolan, with the onrushing goalkeeper bravely spreading himself to block the shot.
Fit again and returning to form, Carroll is making a late bid for inclusion in England’s World Cup squad. He was substituted to a standing ovation in the 84th.
It was an unprecedented third win for West Ham over Tottenham in a single season to ensure survival and heap further pressure on Spurs boss Tim Sherwood.
Tottenham’s defeat opens the door for Manchester United to claim the sixth spot and a Europa League place.
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