Spurs break Hammers hearts

West Ham 3 Tottenham 4:Tottenham scored twice in a dramatic finish at Upton Park to hammer another nail into West Ham's relegation coffin.

Tottenham scored twice in a dramatic finish at Upton Park to hammer another nail into West Ham's relegation coffin.

The Hammers, having sacrificed a two-goal lead, had been six minutes from three precious Barclays Premiership points after Bobby Zamora headed them into a 3-2 lead.

But Dimitar Berbatov curled in a late free-kick and Spurs then hit West Ham on the break with Paul Stalteri poking home the winner deep into injury-time.

It was heartbreaking stuff for the Hammers, who remain rooted to the bottom of the Barclays Premiership, 10 points from safety with nine games remaining.

And yet at half-time things had looked promising for Alan Curbishley's team, who played well before the break and led through goals from Mark Noble and Carlos Tevez — his first strike for the club.

Spurs hit back when Jermain Defoe converted a penalty against his old club and Teemu Tainio volleyed the equaliser — before the dramatic climax.

Curbishley made five changes following last weekend's 4-0 defeat at Charlton and challenged his Hammers to show some pride in their performance.

They started well with Tevez and Noble looking lively, before losing Matthew Upson to a suspected calf injury after 10 minutes.

The defender was making his return after suffering the same problem on his debut — he has played just 40 minutes for West Ham since completing a £7million January move from Birmingham.

Calum Davenport came on against his old club and Spurs looked to take advantage of the reshuffle — but Robert Green provided fresh inspiration for the Hammers with two magnificent saves from Berbatov.

The first was a brilliant one-handed stop from point blank range, the second a block with his leg.

West Ham surged down the other end and Noble, who spent most of this season on loan at Ipswich, fired them into a 15th minute lead.

Tevez chested down Paul Konchesky's angled ball on the edge of the box and Noble rifled a first-time shot low into the corner.

The Hammers rarely look like keeping a clean sheet and Green needed to deny Berbatov after some calamitous defending.

Defoe then latched onto a through-ball from Berbatov and was closing in on Green when the linesman flagged — incorrectly according to television replays — for offside.

West Ham came close to scrambling a second when Paul Robinson failed to claim a vicious near-post cross from Tevez but with the Tottenham goalkeeper grounded Anton Ferdinand could not dig out a shot and Harewood skewed a left-footed effort wide.

Then came the moment Tevez and the West Ham supporters had been waiting for since August 31 — his first strike for the club.

The Argentinian was fouled by Michael Dawson on the edge of the Spurs box — and floated a delicate strike over the wall and just under the bar.

Within six minutes Defoe scored from the penalty spot after Lee Bowyer had brought Lennon down in the box.

Spurs had their tails up and Davenport was guilty of standing off Lennon, allowing him to exchange a clever one-two with Berbatov on the edge of the Hammers' box.

West Ham cleared but could not relieve the pressure and after 65 minutes Tevez lost possession in midfield and Spurs pounced to level the game.

Aaron Lennon met Berbatov's arcing cross and, with the outside of his boot, flicked the ball inside for Teemu Tainio to volley home.

West Ham brought on Zamora for Matthew Etherington — and the former Spurs striker made an immediate impact, rising above Tainio to head in.

But the hosts could not hold on. Tainio was fouled on the edge of the area and, from Berbatov curled in a late equaliser.

And worst was to follow for the hosts as they chased a late equaliser.

Defoe raced clear and although his shot was saved by Green, Stalteri was on hand to slot home four minutes into injury-time.