Hammers keep Bilic in his job
Andre double sparks Hammers’ incredible second-half comeback
WEST HAM staged a stirring second-half fightback to knock Tottenham out of the League Cup – and show under-pressure Slaven Bilic still has the backing of his players.
The Croatian manager seemed a big step closer to the sack when his side trailed 2-0 after a dreadful opening 45 minutes.
But the Hammers were transformed after the break in a classic game of two halves as Andre Ayew scored twice in five minutes before Angelo Ogbonna headed home an incredible winner.
Goalkeeper Adrian raced the length of the Wembley pitch to join the joyous celebrations.
The stunning defeat was Tottenham’s first since August and ended an 11-game unbeaten run for Mauricio Pochettino’s side before they travel to Old Trafford on Saturday. West Ham will need their secondhalf form in another London derby at Crystal Palace.
Only Cheikhou Kouyate and Manuel Lanzini were retained from the West Ham outfit humbled by Brighton last Friday.
Danny Rose’s first start since January and the second ever appearance by teenage Argentine centre-back Juan Foyth were among Tottenham’s seven changes from the side which beat Liverpool.
But Pochettino’s team still got on the scoresheet early against another generous visiting defence.
The rested Harry Kane needed four minutes on Sunday, but Moussa Sissoko required just two more to strike in the sixth minute, after Son Heung-min sent him clear, following a neat flick from Fernando Llorente.
Adrian pulled off a fine save from a Dele Alli far-post header after a deep Trippier cross.
But the second goal was not long coming as Alli combined with Son before seeing his shot flick off the head of Declan Rice and past the Spanish goalkeeper. The England midfielder has now scored two in two games.
At the end of the first half, playing at Wembley seemed to suit the Hammers little better than at their own London Stadium at the other end of the Jubilee Line.
The Premier League fixture last month saw both sides charged with failing to control their players and West Ham finally put up some fight after the break.
Mark Noble tussled with Rose before the 5,000 travelling fans finally had something to cheer about.
Noble’s 55th-minute corner was headed out to Edimilson Fernandes and his low shot was only parried by Michel Vorm and Ayew tapped home.
Unbelievably, the Hammers were level four minutes later. Andy Carroll won a header in the box and Lanzini crossed for Ayew (right) to finish again inside the six-yard box.
Alli drew another save from Adrian before Ogbonna sealed the comeback with a towering header from Lanzini’s corner.