Callum Wilson’s stoppage-time winner gave West Ham United a dramatic victory at Tottenham Hotspur as head coach Thomas Frank felt the full fury of his own fans.
Cristian Romero’s header looked to have earned Spurs a point until substitute Wilson bundled home from a corner to end the Hammers’ 10-match winless run in the league.
It sparked angry scenes among the home supporters though as they turned on Frank with chants of “sacked in the morning”, while the final whistle was greeted with a storm of booing aimed at the head coach and his players.
Spurs, with Conor Gallagher making his debut after a £35m move from Atletico Madrid, needed a fast start to banish the mood of unease around the stadium – instead it was West Ham United who struck first through the dangerous Crysencio Summerville, who saw his shot deflect in off Micky van de Ven after 15 minutes.
Frank’s disappointment worsened as defender Ben Davies was immediately taken off on a stretcher after his challenge on West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen in the build-up to the goal.
As the discontent of Spurs fans increased, West Ham wasted a glorious chance to double their lead when Taty Castellanos headed over from a corner with the goal at his mercy.
Spurs departed to a hostile reception at half-time but, as they have on several occasions this season, raised their game after the break.
The introduction of Yves Bissouma for the first time this season enlivened Spurs and their pressure was rewarded after 64 minutes when Romero rose highest to power home Pedro Porro’s cross.
Spurs pressed for a winner, with keeper Alphonse Areola making a fine save from Xavi Simons, but Wilson’s introduction delivered the final dramatic twist in the tale.
If Spurs had come away from this home meeting with West Ham United having claimed a point, it could hardly be measured as a satisfactory outcome.
The defeat, sealed as it was with virtually the last kick of the game, surely throws Frank’s future into question, despite what seems to be a message of support from Spurs’ hierarchy.
The reaction of the Spurs fans gave their verdict, chanting against their own manager even while Wilson’s winner was being checked by the video assistant referee before being cleared.
Frank is in the firing line, not just for results but the sluggish lacklustre manner of their approach, which only increased the frustration around an already anxious stadium.
It was summed up in two moments either side of half-time, first when Pedro Porro took 30 seconds over a throw in, only to then give possession back to West Ham, then when the ball was passed around aimlessly at the back without any urgency when Spurs needed an equaliser.
This all adds up to a toxic cocktail, which is surely testing the resolve of the Spurs power brokers, even though their first instinct has been to give the Dane time and patience.
The importance of West Ham’s win is illustrated by the grim statistic that they had been winless in their previous 10 Premier League games, drawing four and losing six.
Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo was impassive for the most part, but he must have been overjoyed after a win that was priceless on a personal level and also for his team.
West Ham would have been full value for a point after a first-half display in which they scored one and threatened more, along with a performance that was full of the battling qualities they have so often lacked this season.
Summerville was a constant threat, while Wilson showed his poacher’s knack for a goal when he pounced at a corner with Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario found wanting again, his predictable complaints after the goal rightly ignored.
West Ham’s task now is to build on a triumph that was celebrated wildly by their travelling followers after losing all six of their Premier League London derbies this season.
This tasted sweet – but of far more significance than that, it keeps them within striking distance of the league positions that would secure safety.
