ANT AND WRECK

Antonio’s Hammers winner highlights just how Kane’s wretched form is being felt at both ends of the pitch and Nuno has his work cut out

No disrespect to the West Ham veteran enjoying a rich Indian summer in his journeyman career around English football, but surely you go for the World Cup and Premier League Golden Boot winner technically in the prime of his life.

Yet, when precisely that scenario came up in the 72nd minute, the 31-year-old Antonio pounced with the split-second reactions of a teenager to score the winning goal while the Tottenham talisman marking him stayed inexplicably rooted to the spot.

That pretty much highlights where Kane’s form is for Spurs right now – missing at both ends of the pitch. Furthermore, his failure to make any sort of impact in front of the West Ham goal either pretty much explains why Spurs continue to struggle just when they thought they were finally grinding into gear.

On the back of two successive wins in the Premier League, their counterattacking strategy allowed them to be largely dominant. But they never looked like winning

A weak header from Lucas Moura straight into Lukasz Fabianski’s arms just before half-time followed by a better effort from Kane (left) which was pushed over the bar was as much as Spurs threatened early on.

Then some woeful final crosses failed to reach their target in an increasingly disappointing second period. The moment Tanguy Ndombele was put through in the 11th minute, only to tread on the ball as he was tackled by Kurt Zouma, pretty much summed up their dreadful day.

But West Ham were relying on half-chances to sneak three points, with Pablo Fornals particularly bright in the opening exchanges. Having missed a couple of early chances himself, the cross with which he picked out Tomas Soucek in the 35th minute really should have been converted by the Czech international at the far post.

Fornals was getting to Spurs, and an unnecessary challenge on the touchline by Christian Romero added a flashpoint to the game as players and substitutes jostled (below). But the aggression from Tottenham was not creeping into their football. They were one-paced, predictable, slow to build attacks and, with the exception of Moura, totally risk-averse.

Spurs fans expected a reaction after the midweek defeat at Vitesse Arnhem in the Europa Conference League but nobody had told the players.

West Ham – and nobody embodies this more than hard-working Antonio – are making the most of what they have.

Declan Rice was commanding in midfield, and Zouma showed a dominance at the heart of defence that never quite emerged in his many years at Chelsea.

Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma buzzed mischievously around Tottenham defenders, with Spurs finding it hard to get out of their own half at times.

And Aaron Cresswell can always be relied upon to deliver the sort of set-piece he did in the decisive 72nd minute.

The moment when, quite simply, West Ham wanted it more.

Antonio’s celebration was as exuberant as ever and, when the final whistle finally arrived, with Spurs doing very little to save the game, it was clear from manager David Moyes’ reaction that this felt like a big win. The London Stadium is finally coming to life.

Manager Nuno Espirito Santo desperately needs to find some way of breathing life into Spurs right now.