When it comes to playing Tottenham I’m a nervous wreck, and I really hate playing them because their fans are just unbearable, and if they win, we really don’t ever hear the end of it again. Whilst we have had a few highs when playing Tottenham, we also have had a lot more humbling defeats.
After the Kudus sending off and a 4-1 loss, I only feel it’s right to discuss my top five worst humbling defeats as a West Ham fan. I must state that I am a Gen Z Hammer so these ratings will be based on my lifetime – a whole 24 years or the ones I can remember that I probably wish I never remembered.
Starting off strongly will be our 3-1 loss at home in 2018 in the League Cup. We had to let Son’s 150th goal be against us which was frustrating. He went on to score two this night so that should boil your blood. Lucas Perez had pulled one back for West Ham with a header which gave us a bit of hope, but sadly it turned into the Son show where he assisted Dele Ali who found the top bins of our net.
To lose 3-1 at home in the cup is always annoying but to do it against our rivals is probably a lot worse. The winner went on to play Arsenal in the quarter finals but I do think I would’ve much rather been knocked out of the cup to Arsenal back then than against Spurs at home.
Number four will have to be our 4-1 defeat in 2015 away from home. Spurs equalled a club record by remaining unbeaten in 12 Premier League games after this match.
Whilst obviously losing to Spurs was a hard pill to swallow, letting them go unbeaten in 12 was even harder. Harry Kane scored two against us whilst the other two goals came from Toby Alderweriald and Kyle Walker.
But who else is going to score our goal against them other than our jewel Manual Lanzini. West Ham conceded four goals away from home for the first time since our visit to Liverpool in the Premier League on 7 December 2013.
We also had won four of our six previous Premier League away matches in this season. Whilst this game remains a painful memory, I will always remember how much of a jewel Lanzini was and how lucky we were to have him as a player. After all, he and Antonio love scoring against Spurs.
Number three, and I will have to place our 4-1 loss this season. I think to go 1-0 up away from home and through the emotion of scoring at Tottenham away, to then throw it away in the manner we did was gutting.
I do think it was just down to us not being very good. There could be a common theme in this article with referencing that we haven’t been very good throughout. The only bittersweet thing that came out of it was Kudus turning into a WWE superstar during the game which sadly has resulted in losing him for crucial games.
Runner up is our 3-2 loss back in 2019 at home. Jose Mourinho had to face a West Ham side in his opening game as Spurs manager which he enjoyed. As a West Ham fan, there is nothing more frustrating when a new Spurs manager’s first game is against us and they win it, especially when we have the home advantage.
First-half goals from Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura and a third from Harry Kane four minutes after the break gave Tottenham their first Premier League away win since January. Late goals from substitute Michail Antonio and Angelo Ogbonna gave the final scoreline a flattering look.
But the reality is we should’ve attacked them from the first whistle and not leave it so late in the game to then actually start playing decent football. It was annoying because I do think we could’ve got a draw from this game. Going 3-0 down is pretty humbling but I do love the determination that the boys showed on the pitch to bring us back in it. It gave me a bit of hope and I thank them for that, even if we did lose.
Our winner of the most humbling defeats has to go to our 3-4 loss against Spurs back in 2007. A home crowd at Upton Park really carried the team to score three goals against our rivals.
However, it was a cruel and dramatic end to the game. I can praise Alan Curbishley’s managerial tactics and how hard the team fought throughout the whole game, but I always think the last 15 minutes of football is the most crucial part of the game. Tottenham were 2-0 down at half time so you would like to think that all the team talk had to be was to hang onto the ball and not give away any silly free kicks.
However, the classic West ham way was bound to kick it and it for sure did when Bowyer fouled Lennon, and Defoe – playing against his old club – converted from the spot with a low strike. Which took the score line to 2-1 which is the most dangerous scoreline in football.
As my Dad always says ‘next goal the winner’ whenever we see this scoreline, and Tottenham then proceeded to go and score another goal bringing the game level. A Zamora header just wasn’t enough despite it being in the 85th minute meaning we took the lead 3-2.
We conceded two last minute goals in the 89th and 90th minute. To lose the way we did in the final minutes of the game is always painful. This is why this takes the number one spot for me.
I can only hope I won’t have to do this again and there won’t be any new additions. But we wouldn’t be West Ham if that was the case. As long as it’s not more than four goals conceded then I can probably live with that.
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