Post Match West Ham v Tottenham Carabao Cup Analysis, Match Report & Thoughts

West Ham’s first game at Wembley since the 2012 playoff final saw them conjure up a miraculous second half comeback as they netted three times in the space of a quarter of an hour in the second half to stun in-form Tottenham Hotspur, and make it to the last eight of the Carabao Cup for the second season in succession.

Slaven Bilic made NINE changes to the side that had lost at home to Brighton on Friday. Cheikhou Kouyate, on the right side of a back three (along with Declan Rice and Angelo Ogbonna) and Manuel Lanzini were the only survivors. Adrian replaced Joe Hart in goal, with Andy Carroll returning from suspension to take his spot upfront.

West Ham starting lineup vs Tottenham Carabao Cup 2017

Tottenham, with one eye on the upcoming Man Utd and Real Madrid games, also rang in the changes, with seven new players coming into the side that had annihilated Liverpool at Wembley. Like Bilic, Mauricio Pochettino also opted for three at the back with Juan Foyth, Toby Alderweireld and Ben Davies. Reserve keeper Michel Vorm was given the armband for the first time in his Spurs career, and Danny Rose also got his first start in front of his home fans since his controversial interview at the beginning of the season.

Tottenham Starting XI v WHUFC League Cup 2017

For the first 45 minutes, West Ham were poor- no two ways about it. They didn’t look like a side that knew their manager’s job was on the line.

It took only six minutes for Spurs to score and it perfectly illustrated their threat on the counter. Edimilson’s cross into the box was headed away and the ball eventually came to Ben Davies. Three passes later, Spurs were 1-0 up, with Llorente and Son playing key roles in a move that was finished off by Sissoko.

Twelve minutes later, it could’ve been 2-0 but Alli’s header was saved by Adrian after Rice and Byram made errors in defending Trippier’s cross.

Alli did get his second, and it came in the 37th minute, with his shot taking a deflection off Rice and past Adrian.

Half time couldn’t have come quicker for West Ham, who looked shorn of ideas, but Bilic opted not to make changes at the interval, sending the same XI out after the break.

West Ham needed a moment of inspiration to lift the spirits of both fans and players, and it came in the 55th minute. Some good pressing lead to a corner for the vistors, and from the resulting set piece, Edimilson’s shot from the edge of the box was parried by Vorm but straight into the path of Ayew, who stabbed home from close range, with Ben Davies playing him onside.

Spurs seemed to take things easy in the second half- none better illustrated by the second goal, which saw Alli gave away possession in midfield at the beginning. At the other end, the dimunitive Lanzini fought with the tall Sissoko for a headed ball, and his efforts paid fruit, with Ayew again the finisher. For Spurs, it was Foyth who was at fault this time, with the young Argentine guilty of ball watching.

West Ham had got their tails up and were smelling blood. There was a brief break as the physios attended to Alli, but even then, Bilic and the rest of the payers were seen discussing tactics.

The comeback was completed by Ogbonna, who rose highest to head home a corner on 70 minutes. The team hug after the goal was heart warming to watch. Adrian, who ran all the way up to participate in the hug, was forced into action seconds later and produced saves to deny both Alli and Sissoko.

Ogbonna Ayew Kiss

West Ham had beaten Spurs the last time they had met in a League Cup tie, and this one was to finish the same way, with some gritty defending keeping the Lilywhites at bay in the final fifteen minutes.

Mauricio Pochettino didn’t seem too upset at the final whistle- he even had a smile while hugging Bilic at the end, but you can be sure the Spurs gaffer wouldn’t have been happy with the manner his side went down. It was also Heung-Min Son’s 100th game for his club- and to his credit, he put in a great shift, and was a handful for the Hammers in the first half.

As for the team, the challenge now is to maintain the same second half intensity for the weekend game against Palace. If they play at Selhurst Park like how they did against Brighton and in the first half at Wembley, the heroic efforts here will be forgotten all too quickly.

And a fair few from this team, based on their efforts here, deserve a start against Palace.

Tottenham 2-3 West Ham Sissoko 6, Alli 37 | Ayew 55, 60, Ogbonna 70

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