West Ham’s defensive frailties were brutally exposed once more as Tottenham Hotspur ran out 3-0 winners in a one-sided London derby at the London Stadium.
For Graham Potter, it was another sobering night in front of his own fans, with his side now winless in seven Premier League home games — their worst run since 2003.
Coming off a 5-1 humiliation to Chelsea in their last outing at the venue, this latest collapse will only intensify the pressure on the former Brighton and Chelsea manager.
First-Half Balance, but Spurs Find a Way
The opening 45 minutes were far more even than the final scoreline suggests, Spurs thought they had taken the lead when Cristian Romero powered home a header from a corner, but referee Jarred Gillett spotted a foul by Micky van de Ven on Kyle Walker-Peters in the build-up.
VAR checked the incident but upheld the on-field decision.
West Ham matched their visitors for much of the half, but the warning signs were there, especially from set-pieces.
Spurs finally made them pay shortly after the restart when Pape Matar Sarr rose highest to head home from a corner — the fifth goal the Hammers have conceded from such a situation this season.
Soucek Sees Red, Spurs Run Riot
Matters worsened quickly for the hosts when Tomas Soucek was shown a straight red card for a reckless high tackle that left Joao Palhinha’s sock ripped.
Reduced to 10 men, West Ham crumbled under relentless Spurs pressure; just minutes later, 19-year-old Lucas Bergvall doubled the lead with a looping header that left Alphonse Areola stranded.
The Hammers’ misery deepened when Van de Ven, already involved in plenty of drama, arrived unmarked to sweep home a third and kill off any hopes of a comeback.
Kudus Returns to Haunt Former Club
If the scoreline wasn’t painful enough for the home fans, Mohammed Kudus added a further sting in the closing stages.
The Ghanaian forward, who swapped claret and blue for Spurs in a £55m summer move, showcased his flair with some audacious showboating, much to the fury of his former supporters.
Pressure on Potter, Spurs Bounce Back
For Spurs boss Thomas Frank, this was the perfect response after their disappointing 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth before the international break.
His side showed both resilience and ruthlessness, moving confidently back into the European conversation.
West Ham, however, look a side devoid of belief; their lack of defensive organisation, compounded by ill-discipline, leaves Potter with serious questions to answer.
With the London Stadium crowd growing restless, the Hammers’ head coach finds himself once again under heavy scrutiny.