Hammers down Spurs to move off bottom

West Ham moved off the bottom of the Premier League table after inflicting defeat on former manager Harry Redknapp for the first time with a 1-0 victory over Spurs.

Frederic Piquionne’s first-half goal earned West Ham their first victory of the season as their London rivals stumbled badly ahead of next week’s Champions League tie with FC Twente.

The result ended former West Ham manager Redknapp’s proud record of being undefeated against the Hammers since he left the club.

West Ham manager Avram Grant made six changes to his starting line-up, despite seeing his side beat Sunderland 2-1 in the League Cup in midweek.

Among the players recalled were goalkeeper Robert Green and midfielder Kieron Dyer, but there was no place for Carlton Cole, named on the bench.

As expected, Tottenham also made wholesale changes from the team that lost to Arsenal in the League Cup. Just Sebastien Bassong started both matches.

West Ham started the brighter with Victor Obinna squeezing his shot wide of the post in the opening minute. Defender Manuel da Costa then headed wide.

But Tottenham also had their chances as Rafael Van Der Vaart’s free-kick from the edge of the box was deflected wide.

Jermaine Jenas then had a shot from the edge of the area that Green needed to be alert to.

Van Der Vaart had another two long-range efforts as Spurs slowly started to take control, yet against the run of play it was West Ham who took the lead.

Dyer’s quick breakaway earned the Hammers a corner that was swung in by Mark Noble and Piquionne headed home in the 29th minute.

Scott Parker almost doubled West Ham?s advantage as he jinked his way into the box only to be foiled by a last-ditch tackle from Vedran Corluka.

It was then Green’s turn to pull off the heroics as he made two excellent saves in short succession.

First, he tipped Luka Modric?s effort onto the bar and then a minute later he denied Van Der Vaart?s bullet header.

It was Spurs who also had the first effort of the second-half as Tom Huddlestone shot wide. The midfielder then squandered an excellent opportunity to pull Tottenham level in the 55th minute.

Huddlestone was played through by Alan Hutton but he ballooned his shot high and wide over Green?s goal.

Carlo Cudicini was then called into action to deny Obinna?s snap-shop as the lively striker tried to get West Ham?s second goal.

West Ham brought on Cole while Tottenham introduced Robbie Keane from the bench as both sides pressed forward.

While Spurs had the majority of possession, West Ham looked dangerous on the counterattack with Obinna working especially hard.

The impressive Noble then went close with a fizzing shot that was well saved by Cudicini.

Both sides pressed for goals in a thrilling final few minutes, but it was the east side of the capital that was left celebrating.