West Ham’s winless streak hits four games after Tottenham draw, European qualification remains within reach | OneFootball

West Ham United eked out a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium last night to keep their hopes of securing a Europa League slot alive.

The draw saw the Hammers extend their unbeaten home run to five games across all competitions.

The fiercely competitive nature of the derby was evident from the outset, with Spurs drawing first blood just five minutes after kick-off.

Timo Werner’s square ball found a perfectly positioned Brennan Johnson, who made no mistake with a simple tap-in.

The Hammers responded positively, with Jarrod Bowen threatening early on. He set up an opportunity for Mohammed Kudus before seeing his own effort deflected behind by Cristian Romero.

West Ham’s equaliser came from an unlikely source in the 19th minute. Kurt Zouma, known more for his defensive prowess, rose majestically to cleverly steer BOwen’s corner in with his back.

The remainder of the opening 45 minutes was a tense affair. Destiny Udogie made a crucial intervention to deny Bowen a clear shot at goal, and Spurs dominated possession but struggled to truly test Lukasz Fabianski.

James Ward-Prowse also had a free-kick effort parried away by Guglielmo Vicario at the other end.

Both sides had to deal with nervy moments from corners before half-time, with Rodrigo Bentancur firing wide in the final seconds.

The competitive spirit of the derby also spilt over into some minor skirmishes, with Lucas Paqueta and James Maddison exchanging verbals.

The first half was a cagey affair with few clear-cut chances. After the break, the Hammers emerged with renewed purpose, with Michail Antonio leading the charge.

The powerful striker forced a save from Vicario but lacked his usual clinical touch, firing another promising opportunity straight at the Spurs stopper.

West Ham gradually ceded control back to Spurs, with Ange Postecoglou’s side dictating play and forcing a series of saves from Fabianski.

Vladimir Coufal made a crucial block to deny a dangerous James Maddison shot, showcasing the Hammers’ defensive resolve.

West Ham held firm despite a relentless barrage of attacks from Spurs, but there was a chance to snatch a late winner against the run of play.

However, Tomas Soucek was denied by an expert save from Vicario. The Hammers were nearly made to rue that missed chance.

Udogie had a glorious chance to snatch all three points for Spurs, but he rifled his effort straight at Fabianski as both sides settled for a share of the spoils.

The point keeps the Hammers firmly in contention for a Europa League slot, but they must now treat every match as a final.

Up next for Moyes’ side is a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers, who also fancy a run at a coveted European place, especially with just three points separating both sides.

However, the clash offers West Ham an opportunity to halt a concerning four-match winless streak. Anything but that could have dire consequences for their European hopes.