Spurs win is fit for a King

LEDLEY KING scored his first goal in three years as Tottenham continued their revival under Harry Redknapp with victory at Upton Park.

King, whose last goal came on December 12, 2005 in a 3-1 win over Portsmouth, met a cross from the electric Aaron Lennon and powered his downward header past Robert Green.

Spurs then wrapped up victory in the last minute with a long-range strike from Jamie O’Hara that takes them above West Ham in the Premier League on goal difference.

Skipper King was quick to praise his team-mates afterwards, however.

“I didn’t really catch it cleanly but sometimes they’re the ones that go in for you,” he said. “I’m just pleased with the efforts the lads put in — it was must-win coming here.

“It’s not important for me to score, it’s the team, the three points. I’m just happy with a full team performance. Even the players that came off the bench came in and did well.”

Before O’Hara’s second, West Ham had a pair of chances to equalise late in the game, but oft-criticised goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes came through for Tottenham with a quick double-save to deny Lucas Neill and David Di Michele.

“The lads are fully behind him and he’s pulled out some great saves for us all season,” King said. “Tonight he’s saved us again.”

Jonathan Woodgate hailed the win as Spurs’ best effort of the season, but warned that their relegation worries are not over yet.

“This was a must-win game,” he said. “It’s another point over West Ham which was vital. It was a thoroughly deserved victory – that was the best we’ve played all season, we were resolute.”

He added: “We’re still in the relegation battle, there’s only three points between us and 17th. Hopefully we can climb the table but first we’ve got to get ourselves out of the position we’re in.”

Tottenham’s win ended goalkeeper Green’s run of three clean sheets but ensured another successful return to Upton Park for Redknapp, who was West Ham boss between 1994 and 2001 and has never lost on his old stamping ground as a visiting manager.

But West Ham did have the ball in the net after 22 minutes, when Jenas turned Bellamy’s corner past his own keeper, but it was scratched off because Lucas Neill was climbing all over the Tottenham midfielder.

Redknapp made a change that brought a new dimension to their attack 10 minutes into the second half with Darren Bent replacing Pavlyuchenko and their pressure eventually told with King’s breakthrough paving the way for O’Hara to seal the victory with that long-range strike.

WEST HAM: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Mullins (Di Michele 73), Parker (Tristan 83), Faubert (Noble 58), Cole, Bellamy.

Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Boa Morte, Davenport, Collison.

TOTTENHAM: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Zokora, Jenas, Bentley (O’Hara 81), Modric, Pavlyuchenko (Bent 54).

Subs Not Used: Cesar, Bale, Huddlestone, Dawson, Boateng. Goals: King 68, O’Hara 90.

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).