Tottenham 4-1 West Ham: Spurs triumph after Ange Postecoglou’s shock half-time substitution sparks three-goal spurt in eight minutes… as Mohammed Kudus sees red for late clash in London derby

After two weeks of worrying about the Brighton meltdown, this was the perfect remedy for Ange Postecoglou.

Not just three precious points in a London derby, but a win to answer questions about spirit and character after fighting back from behind in a solid transformation sparked by a daring substitution.

Postecoglou brought on Pape Matar Sarr for James Maddison when the scores were level at 1-1 at half-time, restoring better balance to Tottenham’s midfield.

His team came out and scored three goals inside eight minutes through Yves Bissouma and Heung-min Son, either side of an own goal from the hapless Jean-Clair Todibo, while Dejan Kulusevski orchestrated it all from midfield.

This time it was West Ham who went down to the dismay of Julen Lopetegui whose team finished with ten men, with Mohammed Kudus sent off for shoving Micky van de Ven in the face during a late skirmish.

After two weeks of worrying about the Brighton meltdown, this was the perfect remedy for Ange Postecoglou

The hosts fell behind after 18 minutes with the finish from close by Mohammed Kudus

Dejan Kulusevski beat Alphonso Areola with a low drive that trickled past the inside of both uprights before turning into the net

It was Kudus who gave West Ham the lead much earlier in the match, arriving unnoticed at the back post to whip in Jarrod Bowen’s low cross. It wasn’t the first time the two wingers had combined to cause problems for the Spurs full-backs.

Guglielmo Vicario had only saved from Kudus seven minutes earlier. Once again Bowen was the instigator, but Kudus’ finish was too close to the goalkeeper and Vicario was able to knock it away. This time there was no mistake.

Spurs had several chances to clear the danger before the ball ended up at Bowen’s feet. He wriggled clear of Destiny Udogie and cut the ball low to Kudus, who was completely unmarked. Pedro Porro was back on the goal line and couldn’t block the shot, and Brennan Johnson was late on the cover.

Brighton had caused Tottenham problems in major areas. The collapse from a two-for loss to a 3-2 loss was prompted by the damage done by wingers Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh. Udogie had a torrid second half that day.

Bowen and Kudus were always dangerous here, but Spurs fought their way back into the game by half-time.

Brennan Johnson, who volleyed wide when the match was goalless, came close again with a header that slipped off his shoulder and fell narrowly wide. And Alphonse Areola saved a deflected effort from Porro before conceding the equalizer.

Maddison left midfield with the ball and picked out Kulusevski, who rang in from the right on his left foot and beat Areola with a low drive that trickled past the inside of both uprights before turning into the net.

Postecoglou sent on Pape Matar Sarr for James Maddison when the scores were level at 1-1

Yves Bissouma arrived in the penalty area to guide a Udogie cutback through a crowd of legs

Areola pulled out a boot to block the shot, but the shot ricocheted off Todibo and into the net

Postecoglou sent on Sarr and Spurs immediately found a happier balance. This was the composition of their midfield for most of last season. One deep, one playmaker and Sarr, putting in the mileage, adding bite and generally enduring much of the unsung work.

This season, looking for more creativity, it was mostly Maddison and Kulusevski with one deep midfielder, this time Bissouma. But Sarr’s introduction at half-time swung the game Tottenham’s way with a rapid run of three goals.

The first of them converted by Bissouma, who arrived in the penalty area to guide an Udogie cutback through a crowd of legs for his second of the season.

Then one with a piece of fortune. Son started a smooth move in midfield, exchanged passes with Kulusevski, collected the return and went for goal. Areola pulled out a boot to block the shot, but the shot ricocheted off Todibo and into the net.

Son then claimed Tottenham’s fourth on the break, isolating Todibo, rounding him with ease and beating Areola at his near post. West Ham were all at sea. Lopetegui made three changes to turn the tide, but his side almost conceded a fifth when Son smashed a shot against the foot of a post.

Son claimed Tottenham’s fourth place at the break, isolated Todibo, rounded him with ease and beat Areola to his first post

Kudus pushed Van de Ven in the face and was sent off after a field check

From here there were chances on both sides. Kudus was denied twice. Once through a block from Udogie on the line, then a save by Vicario before losing the plot and being sent off for losing his discipline in a late skirmish.

Kudus caused the incident with a foul on Van de Ven, kicked him in the back while they were both on the ground and then jumped up, shoved the Spurs defender in the face and, for good measure, pushed Sarr in the face as others rushed to get hold of. involved.

The only real surprise was that it took VAR intervention before referee Andy Madley drew his red card, but it was a shame for Kudus to spoil a fine individual performance in this way.