West Ham United 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United completed a famous hat-trick over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, as a Harry Kane own goal and Stewart Downing's first for the Hammers proved plenty to see off ten-man Spurs in the Barclays Premier League.
After Younes Kaboul had seen red for upending Downing when through on goal, Kane diverted Andy Carroll's header past Hugo Lloris, before Downing doubled the lead with a well-placed free-kick.
But for the outstanding Lloris, it would surely have been more, as the three points rubber stamp West Ham's place in the top flight.
Sam Allardyce had made just one change to the side edged out by West Bromwich Albion, with Matt Taylor replacing Matt Jarvis and Mohamed Diame, in turn, reverting to a wide midfield role.
There was to be an early scare for the hosts, as Kane charged down Adrian's clearance, though the rebound flew well wide. At the other end, Winston Reid collected Carroll's knockdown, but could only hook into Lloris' arms.
Back came Spurs, led by Christian Eriksen, who fed Emmanuel Adebayor, only to see the No10 sidefoot tamely at Adrian. Paulinho, too, hit the target, but his header from a Kyle Naughton centre was straight at the Hammers custodian.
Moments later and Downing set off down the right, cut inside, before screwing an effort well wide of the target. A sign of things to come, as it proved. With 25 minutes gone, the winger beat Danny Rose to a long ball and skipped across Kaboul, who sent the Hammers man tumbling. Phil Dowd took his time, before giving the Frenchman his marching orders.
Carroll thumped the resulting free-kick goalwards, forcing Spurs' keeper into an excellent stop high to his right. There would be no escape, however, as Carroll met Noble's corner and watched as his header glanced off Kane's head and past Lloris' despairing dive.
The chances continued to come for the hosts, with Matt Taylor's volley looking destined for the bottom corner, but for the fingertip intervention of Lloris. But, down to his left once more, Lloris was powerless to prevent the second.
After Michael Dawson had felled Noble on the edge of the box, Downing's free-kick snuck through the wall, between Paulinho and Adebayor, as the No23 celebrated his first goal for the Club.
West Ham threatened to make it three soon after the restart, but were repeatedly denied by the excellent Lloris. An airborne Diame saw his acrobatic effort repelled by France's No1, before Taylor slotted the rebound just wide of the upright.
With the hour approaching, skipper Kevin Nolan went close too. Latching on to a Carroll header, he shot on the turn, with Lloris somehow able to smother and divert it behind for a corner.
In fairness, Spurs grew into proceedings thereafter, although neither substitute Roberto Soldado nor Aaron Lennon were able to trouble Adrian.
England frontman Carroll and captain Nolan were withdrawn late on to rapturous Boleyn Ground applause, as the Hammers looked to round off their home campaign in style. Though Rose very nearly halved the deficit late on, Adrian's fabulous stop ensured there would be no grandstand finish.
West Ham United: Adrian; Demel, Tomkins, Reid, McCartney; Downing, Noble, Nolan (Jarvis 86), Taylor, Diame; Carroll (C Cole 84)
Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, Armero, Vaz Te, Collins, Nocerino
Goals: Kane og 27 , Downing 44
Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris; Naughton, Dawson, Kaboul, Rose; Lennon, Paulinho (Sandro), Sigurdsson (Soldado 66), Eriksen; Adebayor, Kane (Chirices 28).
Subs not used: Friedel, Fryers, Pritchard, Bentaleb
Booked: Naughton, Dawson, Sandro, Soldado
Sent off: Kaboul
Referee: Phil Dowd