Lloris heroics edge it for Spurs

West Ham 0 Tottenham 1

It's in to Westfield where daughter Nell spends a long time seeking out Urban Outfitters and gets a new pair of trousers – the best result of the day. Inside the stadium we find Fraser (whose gag about a half and half England/Ireland scarf for Declan Rice I've shamelessly recycled in the Observer), Matt, Lisa, Nigel and Alison and Scott, who are enjoying life in 'middle-class' Clacton. Michael's away giving a Memorial Lecture, presumably on West Ham's Europa League hopes.

For the first 25 minutes it's fairly even, with West Ham's best chance being when Yarmolenko's cross is pulled back to Snodgrass, whose goalbound shot is cleared by Alderweireld. A couple of terrible Anderson corners don't help WHU's momentum. The Spurs fans amuse themselves by chanting, "you're not West Ham anymore!"

Yarmolenko suddenly collapses in the box when there's a half-chance having caught his studs in the turf. He's stretchered off and it looks like yet another long-term injury to go with Lanzini, Wilshere, Reid, Carroll and Sanchez. Pellegrini makes a bold substitution, bringing on young Diangana instead of Antonio.

We're missing the influence of Obiang in midfield and Spurs come into towards the end of the half. Two minutes before the break the impressive Sissoko glides past a toiling Anderson and crosses on to the head of Lamela, who has got ahead of Zabaleta. The Spurs man glances it home. It should be two a couple of minutes later as Fabianski makes a superb double save to deny Lamela and then Sanchez. 

West Ham start strongly after the break, as Cresswell does well to win a loose ball and cross for Arnautovic's looping header to force a fantastic tip over from Lloris. Spurs look dangerous on the break and strong at the back, but we give it a go, despite the central midfield of Rice and Noble being overrun at times. Diangana shows confidence in his ability to take on a man and draw fouls and is a little unlucky with a penalty claim after a tackle from Winks.

THE SUN ALSO RISES
It's a bit sunny for the lads, and the fans too, as we struggle to see through the glare. What idiot purchased these seats? Matt quips that the bloke at the reservation centre also said we'd be getting £350m to spend on the NHS.

The Vicar's Son next to me helpfully advises Martin Atkinson to take early retirement while the geezer behind us, who is probably not a vicar's son, lays into Anderson with a set of expletives. When Anderson lets a ball drift into touch he's finally substituted. He looks jaded again and is such a frustrating player, either brilliant or a bit rubbish from week to week. 

Arnautovic forces another good low save from Llloris after getting in a shot from the edge of the box. Sub Javier Hernandez and Arnautovic link up well to allow Hernandez to score only for he goal to be correctly disallowed for offside. The WHU fan who chucked a smoke bomb feels a bit silly. Still, the crowd do their bit and it's one of the louder games at the London Stadium.

ARNIE WOE
Sub Antonio causes some problems by getting down the left wing, though his crosses fail to find a man. But a chance will surely come, and it does in added time as Chicharito and Arnie play a nice give and go to leave Arnie one-on-one, only for Lloris to charge out and save with his face. There's still time for Antonio to shoot just over from distance before the whistle.

We'll play worse than this and win. Spurs look what they are, a top four side, but Diop and Balbuena have made some excellent tackles and kept Kane quiet, while Lloris has had to be at peak form to deny Arnie. The injury list is worrying, but now is the time to realise it's a work in progress and for Pellegrini to keep faith. We could have got more from both Brighton and Spurs. With a little bit of luck things should turn again. 

PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 6; Zabaleta 6, Diop 7, Balbuena 7, Cresswell 6; Rice 6, Noble 5 (Antonio 5), Snodgrass 6; Anderson 4 (Hernandez 6), Arnautovic 7, Yarmolenko 5 (Diangala 6).