Adam Powers picks out the best games from 50 years of a tasty London rivalry...
Spurs 3-3 West Ham, March 1956
Tottenham were in the hunt for their first FA Cup in 25 years ahead of this quarter-final; West Ham were still searching for their first triumph in the competition.
Just under 70,000 passed through the gates at White Hart Lane to see this gripping encounter, and they weren’t left disappointed.
West Ham forward John 'Major' Dick sent rattles swirling with a hat-trick to give the east Londoners a 3-1 lead, only for Spurs to come back via goals from Len Duquemin and George Robb on a mud-caked pitch. Tottenham won the replay 2-1, but would go on to lose to eventual winners Manchester City.
West Ham 5-3 Spurs, November 1976
West Ham survived the drop that year, despite being only three points better off than bottom side Spurs
The 1976/77 season remains an infamous one for Tottenham Hotspur, as it was the last time the north London club were relegated from the top flight of English football. Both teams were in dreadful form heading into the game, and yet defending was sacrificed in the search for goals here.
West Ham were languishing at the bottom of the league with only one win before the arrival of their London counterparts. In a team boasting the talents of Pop Robson, Trevor Brooking and Alan Curbishley, the home side assumed a 5-1 lead with each of the aforementioned marksmen scoring. Glenn Hoddle and Keith Osgood offered a late reply for the visitors, but they left Upton Park pointless.
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West Ham survived the drop that year, despite being only three points better off than bottom side Spurs.
Spurs 0-4 West Ham, September 1981
In a season where Spurs prevailed to win the FA Cup, their domestic campaign began disappointingly. The Hammers were a newly-promoted side looking for a win in their first away game, and they got exactly that as they left White Hart Lane with three points and four goals.
David Cross came to the fore on a cold Wednesday night, netting all four for the Hammers. The Lancastrian striker was purchased for a handsome £180,000 from West Brom four years before, but his exploits didn't even earn him the matchball.
Instead West Ham keeper Phil Parkes took it. Why? “I promised him I’d give him the next I got,” explained Cross, after his team-mate had complained he would never get the chance to score a hat-trick. A true gent.
West Ham 2-1 Spurs, November 1998
The 1990s Hammers weren't ones to shy away from a challenge, and their form was reflected in a first-half performance which saw Trevor Sinclair grab a brace
West Ham entered the the 100th league meeting between the two sides in buoyant mood, only three points off table-toppers Aston Villa. The 1990s Hammers weren't ones to shy away from a challenge, and their form was reflected in a first-half performance which saw Trevor Sinclair grab a brace to put the game firmly in the hands of Harry Redknapp's men.
In reply a Tottenham side, spearheaded by flamboyant Frenchman David Ginola, took the game to West Ham and the north Londoners pulled one back in the 72nd minute through striker Chris Armstrong. The happy Hammers survived some late pressure to celebrate the century on top.
West Ham 2-3 Spurs, March 2001
This was Tottenham's third London tie of the competition and the atmosphere reflected it
The most recent FA Cup clash between the sides, showcasing an array of promising talent in the form of Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, Sol Campbell and Ledley King.
This was Tottenham's third London tie of the competition and the atmosphere reflected it. Sergei Rebrov's opener was cancelled out by Stuart Pearce's leathered leveller (below), before Spurs' quick start to the second half – another for Rebrov preceding Gary Doherty's third – saw them gain a two-goal margin.
Hammers substitute Svetoslav Todorov (try saying that with a mouthful) netted to make the last 15 minutes tense, but Tottenham held out to secure an Old Trafford semi-final against Arsenal, which they duly lost.
Spurs 3-2 West Ham, September 2002
Rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, West Ham were looking for their first league win in this early-season fixture. At the opposite end of the table, Tottenham were aiming to close the gap on top-of-the-pile Arsenal after three wins from their first five games. Yet despite their contrasting form, the teams fought out what was a gutsy, end-to-end game at the Lane.
A first-half stalemate deceived underwhelmed spectators, but a second-half goal glut had fans' heads turning like they were in SW19. Four goals in 15 minutes balanced the game at 2-2 as Tottenham let a lead slip twice, before centre-back Anthony Gardner netted his first goal for Spurs with two minutes remaining on the clock. Such results defined West Ham's season, and they were eventually relegated.
Spurs knew they only had to match Arsenal's result against Wigan to secure a Champions League place. The night before, a buffet was laid on at Tottenham's Marriott hotel in Canary Wharf, with the majority of players plumping for the lasagne. Just after midnight, at least seven first-team players fell ill.
Despite attempts from Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to postpone the fixture, it appeared no such option was viable and the match would have to be played. Martin Jol was forced to name 10 unwell players in the starting XI and his worst fears were confirmed when West Ham took the lead. Despite Jermain Defoe pulling Spurs level, West Ham won it thanks to Yossi Benayoun's late strike.
Arsenal beat Wigan 4-2 in their last league game at Highbury, and thus took fourth spot out of Spurs' hands.
West Ham 3-4 Spurs, March 2007
Bobby Zamora thought he’d won it for the home side when he nodded in Tevez’s cross five minutes from full-time
With West Ham rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, there appeared to be some respite for Hammers fans when their side took a 2-0 lead into half-time, after Mark Noble’s crisp shot and Carlos Tevez’s superb free-kick (and celebration) gave them a grip on the game at Upton Park.
Jermain Defoe came back to haunt his old club when he converted a penalty after the break, though, before Tottenham drew level when Teemu Tainio notched an equaliser soon after.
As the game became increasingly open, Bobby Zamora thought he’d won it for the home side when he nodded in Tevez’s cross five minutes from full-time.
But a late Spurs rally saw Dimitar Berbatov net a swerving, dipping free-kick, before Paul Stalteri finished off a blitzing counter-attack to ensure the relegation-threatened Hammers were deprived of points. Incredibly, the Hammers managed to avoid relegation on the last day of the season, winning 1-0 at champions Manchester United. Much to Neil Warnock's disgust...
West Ham 2-3 Spurs, February 2013
This fixture occurred on the 20th anniversary of Bobby Moore’s death
As is usually the case, Spurs headed into this game hoping to consolidate a spot in the top four, but things didn’t go to plan... until Gareth Bale intervened, that is. The fleet-footed winger opened the scoring of a thrilling encounter with a precision finish early on. West Ham weren’t to be downed, though, as Andy Carroll converted a penalty to level things, before Joe Cole gave the home side a second-half lead.
This fixture occurred on the 20th anniversary of Bobby Moore’s death, and how the Hammers could have done with their club legend in his pomp to defend the lead. Gylfi Sigurdsson equalised for Spurs on 76 minutes, setting the stage for Bale to do the rest. In the 90th minute, the Welshman picked up the ball 30 yards out and sunk a beauty into the top right corner to seal the win. Tottenham still missed out on the top four again, finishing a point behind Arsenal. Bale joined Real Madrid for £85 million.
Spurs 0-3 West Ham, October 2013
Before this game, West Ham hadn’t won at White Hart Lane since 1999. As ever, in blind pursuit of Champions League football, Tottenham were favourites to secure three points. However, struggling with life post-Bale, Spurs never asserted their control on the game like so many had expected them to.
After a goalless half, West Ham left the home dugout red faced as they rallied to take a 2-0 lead via Winston Reid and Ricardo Vaz Te with 20 minutes remaining. A superb solo goal from Ravel Morrison sealed an empatic win for the Hammers, whose fans took the Tube home with a smirk on their faces.
