West Ham 0-2 Tottenham: Ledley King stars as Redknapp returns to Upton Park

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On a night when Chas and Dave proved mightier than Alf Garnett, Harry Redknapp's immunity to defeat as a visiting manager at Upton Park remained intact.

But as skipper Ledley King's first goal for three years, and substitute Jamie O'Hara's late thunderbolt sent Spurs above their neighbours from across Hackney Marshes, even 'Arry's latest plunder of the swag at Upton Park was merely the support act.

Undoubtedly the turning point of a lukewarm derby which flickered without bursting into flame was the 89th minute in which a goalkeeper's reputation was reborn.

Tottenham had been holding on comfortably enough to King's emphatic header in the 68th minute when Brazilian Heurelho Gomes produced a breathtaking double save to deny Hammers captain Lucas Neill and David Di Michele.

Within seconds, Spurs had scarpered upfield for O'Hara to make the points safe with a 25-yard shot into the top corner - and all of a sudden, Redknapp is only two points from the top half of the table.

But make no mistake, it was Gomes - lampooned, harpooned and ridiculed after more howlers than a pack of hyenas earlier this season - who denied the Hammers an undeserved point.

Those who rushed to brand him a clown when he flapped at every cross like a waiter must acknowledge the value of his contribution when it proves the tipping point.

Gomes won't be able to wallow in glory for long: next up it's Manchester United at White Hart Lane on Saturday, so there will be no swinging from a hammock between his goalposts.

But at least he has bought Redknapp - still the nation's favourite geezer despite a squeakyvoiced EastEnder being crowned King of the Jungle last week - valuable breathing space as he plots the greatest escape since Colditz.

Something had to give when 'Arry pitted his 100 per cent record as a visiting manager at Upton Park against Hammers counterpart Gianfranco Zola, who never lost against Spurs in his playing career at Chelsea.

And once King's header from Aaron Lennon's rightwing cross had beaten Robert Green, it was always Zola who was going to make way.

Redknapp said: "I want West Ham to win every week when I'm not playing against them, believe me. I'm more West Ham than anybody."

Try telling that to the pearly kings, whose claret and blue-tinted memories of Redknapp as a player and manager in this parish have become increasingly murky with each triumphal homecoming he has made with Portsmouth and now Tottenham.

For the first time under Zola's tutelage, West Ham were booed off and three goals scored in nine games tells its own grievous story.

True, they had a goal disallowed after 22 minutes when Jermaine Jenas turned Craig Bellamy's corner into his own net, but TV replays vindicated referee Chris Foy's decision for a push by Neill.

And they had a valid penalty appeal, for handball against Benoit Assou-Ekotto, ignored by Foy, but otherwise this was less of a Cockney knees-up than a thumbs-down.

Tottenham took longer to get going than an old banger on a frosty morning, and Redknapp lost patience with £13.8 million striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, hauling him off after 55 minutes of going through the motions.

His only contribution to the cause was to hit the post from point-blank range, sliding in to meet Lennon's cross-shot. And apart from David Bentley's volley, brilliantly diverted to safety by Green, the finishing on both sides was hopeless until King stayed forward to show the strikers how it's done.

Then came Gomes, stretching to parry Neill's left-foot haymaker from the edge of the box twohanded and refusing to blink first in his stand-off with sub Di Michele.

It was left to O'Hara, who had replaced the disappointing Bentley, to settle all arguments and leave the Hammers - with Chelsea away next - facing a bleak season of goodwill.

West Ham: Green 7, Neill 7, Upson 8, Collins 6, Ilunga 5, Faubert 5 (Noble, 59, 6), Parker 6 (Tristan, 83), Mullins 6 (Di Michele, 73), Behrami 5, Bellamy 6, Cole 5.

Tottenham: Gomes 6, Corluka 6, King 8, Woodgate 7, Assou-Ekotto 6, Lennon 6, Zokora 6, Jenas 5, Bentley 5 (O'Hara, 81), Modric 5, Pavlyuchenko 4 (Bent, 55, 5).

Referee: Chris Foy

HARRY HAUNTS HIS OLD CLUB...

Harry Redknapp has yet to lose when he's returned to Upton Park with a new team..

March 18, 2006: West Ham 2 Portsmouth 4
Dec 26, 2006: West Ham 1 Portsmouth 2
April 8, 2008: West Ham 0 Portsmouth 1
Dec 8, 2008: West Ham 0 Tottenham 2

MAN OF THE MATCH: Ledley King (SPURS) - A goal at last, after three years and 64 games

VILLAIN OF THE MATCH: Pavlyuchenko (SPURS) - The striker trotted around like a show pony

ANORAK: Harry Redknapp only scored seven goals in 149 league appearances for West Ham from 1964-72.

NEXT THREE GAMES

WEST HAM

Sunday: Chelsea (a) Prem
Sat, Dec 20: Villa (h) Prem
Fri, Dec 26: Portsmouth (a) Prem

TOTTENHAM

Saturday: Man Utd (h) Prem
Thurs, Dec 18: S Moscow (h) UEFA
Sun, Dec 21: Newcastle (a) Prem

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