Defensive lapses send Spurs marching into next round of Carabao Cup

Perez pulls one back. Photo by Michael The Whovian

West Ham 1 Spurs 3 (Carabao Cup)

It’s a restrained four changes from Pellegrini, while Spurs field a number of reserves alongside the quality of Son, Alli and Eriksen. Our party is split due to tardy ticket booking, with Matt and Lisa several rows behind Fraser and myself and Michael some rows further forward delivering Shakespearian insults to himself. The laying of a wreath for the Leicester helicopter crash victims by Tony Cottee, David Gold and Ledley King is accompanied by a minute's silence.

The Hammers start quite well initially with Diangana causing problems on the right. His best moment sees Grady cut inside and loft in a cross that Hernandez tries to volley across goal to Antonio — perhaps he should have shot.

But it all goes wrong after 16 minutes. Ogbonna’s clearance goes to Llorente, and the centre back is then fooled by Alli’s clever flick as Son strikes confidently home. “Nice one Son!” chant the gleeful 4,800 Spurs fans.

For the rest of the half the Irons give it a go. Antonio, who is struggling for pace and touch but at least trying, has an effort deflected wide. Then he is played through by Masuaku’s fine through ball, but has his effort blocked by Gazzaniga. Diangana’s free kick finds Hernandez, only for Chicharito’s touch to let him down as he prods a tame effort at the keeper.

Snodgrass comes on for the disappointing Anderson at the break and it makes a difference. Antonio confuses the Spurs defence with a heavy touch, but still manages to force a save from the keeper.

Nine minutes into the second half the Hammers succumb to another defensive calamity as Arthur Masuaku misses his clearance and simply strokes the ball to Son who rounds Adrian to score.

Pellegrini takes off Hernandez and Obiang, which leaves us a little short in midfield, and throws on Perez and Arnautovic. Arnie immediately fires in a fizzing cross that is deflected behind for a corner.

FIGHT CLUB

Meanwhile the game is further marred by a fight behind us. A lairy bloke, who has been tirading in Tourette-ish fashion at Antonio and co for most of the game, appears to object when someone suggests that he get behind his team. The Herbert is being held back and is clearly out of control and full of aggression. A grey haired bloke ends up with a cut on his face as the cowardly thug threatens blokes twice his age. It takes an age for a single steward to arrive, who looks like a student. Eventually a second steward arrives and finally a team leader, but the miscreant only appears to be moved to a different seat rather than ejected.

There’s also a football match breaking out. A pinball session started by Arnie sees a series of shots blacked and saved. Suddenly the Hammers are back in it as Perez nods in Snoddy’s corner at the back post. It’s a good poacher’s goal, heading the ball down in to the ground and up over the keeper. “Come on you Irons!” echoes around the stadium and suddenly there’s a cracking atmosphere.

AND SOME PEOPLE ARE ON THE PITCH 

But as in politics, the idiots are taking over. A Herbert runs on to the pitch past non-existent stewarding to chants of “Are you Mark Noble?” from the away fans. Having helped deal with the pitch invader Ogbonna loses focus and allows Llorente to outmuscle him at the corner and volley home.

Game over, though there’s still time for Antonio to have a good case for a penalty after another dangerous Diangana cross causes panic in the box. “West Ham United — it’s happened again!” and “3-1 in your Cup Final!” chant the away fans. And another Herbert invades the pitch in added time.

So it’s off to the King Edward, which seems to be full of blokes in flat caps and quilted jackets and odd things going on in the gents. At least Michael, fresh from his Soft Cell venture can regale us with accounts of Tainted teddy bears, though it’s been mainly our defence that has been tainted tonight. I text Nigel to inform him that the Cup Final Breakfast in Kew has been postponed until May.

Looking at the stats we should have got something from this. Possession was 50-50 and WHU had 13 shots to Spurs’ six and 11 corners to Spurs’ three. But if you don’t defend well you don’t win matches.

It’s the return of Joe Hart next in the six-pointer against Burnley. We retreat to the tube predicting that Joe will surely have the game of his life on Saturday.

PLAYER RATINGS: Adrian 6; Fredericks 5, Diop 6, Ogbonna 4, Masuaku 4; Rice 7, Obiang 5 (Perez 6), Anderson 5 (Snodgrass 7); Diangana 6, Hernandez 5 (Arnautovic 6), Antonio 5.