LAST Saturday's London derby had all the ingredients for what should have been an enthralling game, but somewhere in the baking process it failed to rise to the occasion.

It was only four minutes into the second period when Les Ferdinand sealed Spurs' 1-0 win with his first away goal since August 1999.

A Simon Davies cross was headed goalwards with James pushing the ball on to the woodwork, only for Ferdinand to follow up and tap the rebound home.Hoddle is the monarch of the Glenns

The Hammers had Joe Cole back in the starting line-up, Paul Kitson fresh from his hat-trick exploits and David James making his debut in goal while Tottenham seem to have finally got their attractive football back thanks to the guidance of boss Glenn Hoddle.

The first real attempt on goal came from the visitors as Gus Poyet blasted the ball over the bar and soon after James had to test out his new Hammers gloves by dealing with a Teddy Sheringham effort.

West Ham had a lucky escape when Sheringham's shot cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and the teams went in at half time with the game still deadlocked.

The second half saw a more determined Tottenham side and

It was a while before the travelling masses could celebrate, as Poyet was laid flat out after injuring himself during his attack on goal.

Severely concussed, and arguing for a corner, Poyet was substituted by Oyvind Leonhardsen who with his first touch blasted the ball so fiercely at the post from a good 25 yards out, that it left the Bobby Moore stand resonating as well as the framework.

The vibrations must have shaken West Ham into life as they surged forwards for an equaliser, their best chance falling to Kitson as Defoe set him up, yet the hat-trick hero put his shot just inches wide of the far post.

The three points take Spurs to seventh in the league, while West Ham sit in 15th place.

November 30, 2001 10:56