GARETH BALE FIRED Tottenham into third place in the Premier League as his sublime last minute goal capped a majestic performance in a 3-2 win over West Ham.
Bale has been in the form of his life in recent weeks and the Wales winger added another chapter to his growing legend with a brilliant brace at Upton Park that would surely have been appreciated by Hammers legend Bobby Moore, whose death 20 years ago was marked by a moving pre-match tribute.
Regarded as one of the best defenders in the history of the game, even Moore might have been hard pressed to subdue Bale in this mood.
Bale had given Spurs a first half lead but an Andy Carroll penalty and Joe Cole’s strike put West Ham ahead by the hour mark.
Gylfi Sigurdsson came off the bench to equalise and Bale produced a simply remarkable long-range winner to move Tottenham, unbeaten in their last 11 league games, two points clear of Chelsea and four ahead of fifth placed Arsenal, who visit White Hart Lane on Sunday.
Moore’s grandchildren led the teams out and placed the ball on the spot for kick-off, which followed an emotional minutes’ applause.
Fuelled by the sense of occasion, West Ham started brightly and Matt Jarvis cut into the penalty area after a flowing move and fired in a low strike that Hugo Lloris saved well.
Just as West Ham appeared to seizing control of the match, Bale underlined his claims as the best player in the Premier League with yet another moment of magic to put Spurs ahead in the 13th minute.
Bale was surrounded by West Ham defenders on the edge of the penalty area, but, drifting away from James Collins, he cleverly worked space for a shot and as West Ham’s back-four hesitated the Welsh winger drove a low strike past Jussi Jaaskelainen.
That was Bale’s 22nd goal for club and country this season, as well as his eighth in his last seven games.
But West Ham responded well to that setback and grabbed an equaliser in the 25th minute.
(Adam Davy/PA Wire/Press Association Images)
Kevin Nolan laid the ball off to Carroll in a dangerous position in the penalty area and former West Ham midfielder Scott Parker, lunging in to block, made clear contact on Carroll, forcing referee Howard Webb to give the spot-kick.
England forward Carroll, on loan from Liverpool, stepped up to smash the penalty past Lloris for his third goal of the season.
Jan Vertonghen almost restored Tottenham’s lead in the opening moments of the second half when his cross deflected off Guy Demel and forced Jaaskelainen into a scrambling save.
Jaaskelainen, called into action again from the resulting corner to push away Steven Caulker’s towering header, was keeping Spurs at bay almost single-handed.
He turned Sigurdsson’s long-range shot onto a post and when the rebound fell to Emmanuel Adebayor, the Hammers goalkeeper leapt to his feet to block the Togo striker’s follow-up.
After those escapes, West Ham moved ahead in the 58th minute when Cole collected Joey O’Brien’s lofted pass with a fine first touch and turned to bury his shot beyond Lloris.
Tottenham kept pressing and, after Matt Taylor missed a golden chance to extend West Ham’s lead, the visitors levelled when Sigurdsson prodded home at the far post from Bale’s free-kick.
That set the stage for a pulsating finish and after more heroics from Jaaskelainen, Bale took charge, producing a truely stunning strike from 30 yards to seal the points.
A cracking strike for the winner. Felt sorry for the West Ham Keeper who had a great game.
As an Arsenal fan, I can’t wait to see him leave Spurs. Preferably before Sunday.
#COYS 8 years and counting…Grooners #no chance of trophy
Bale is going to be hot property come the summer – if caroll was worth 35 million and torres 50 million —bale will have some price tag
$85 total and what to show for it??? Amazing…. Could not even get a decent haircut for them either!
$85 million…. But honestly $85 would have made sense now…..
Get out the cheque book Fergie
Another great goal from Bale.. he might not leave Spurs if they qualify for the CL..
Great player
As a Spurs fan I laugh at the hype around Bale. Watch him every week and you’ll see how often he disappears from games. Every season he goes on a 2 month streak but the rest of the time frustrates the hell out of us with his diving and petulance.
Spoofer.. Either you havent a clue or youre defo not a Spurs fan
ill gladly take his diving and petulance if we can keep this 11 game unbeaten run going which, by the way, has lasted longer than 2 months. maybe its a bit cloudy up in them there towers…
He’s spot on. Bale has no consistency.
give it a rest mate. credit where its due. the boy is outstanding to watch. Was he not consistent enough in two games against the european champions went he kept burning maicon and lucio.
He’s in good form at the moment. Simple as that. Get off the bandwagon. People always get carried away. “He’s better than Ronaldo”. Nonsense.
And Maicon was long past it when they played Inter.
I don’t recall him doing much last Thursday away to Lyon.
he is consistently getting better and better all the time. enough said.
Thought it was the hammers night until I seen that thunderbolt leave Bales foot what an absolute screamer and well worthy of the winning goal , Spurs need to give Bale whatever contract he wants and keep him there if they want to compete for European football over next few years , they need to invest not sell their best assets
bale signed a 4 year contract at the start of the season, rumoured to be 100k a week. Cute move from Levy and Bales agent. His stock was always going to rise so whoever comes in for him now will have to pay super silly money for him. The skill he is showing now at 23 along with his future potential must be giving Levy a horn of epic proportions. I have to admit I got a semi myself when the second one went it. Personnally, as long as we get Big Cup next year I think he stays, he doesnt need to leave just yet.
Bobby Moore would have quietened him. Legend.
did you see him play club football
Yea, it’s on YouTube. Duhhh!
That boy guuuuuuud !!
If we(manchester united) win the league and Cl the funds could be there to land him
You’re getting Us mixed up with Arsenal dude. We dont sell all our best players and we defo dont sell to our PL challengers!
All the red thumbs obviously havent a clue about the facts!
Last arsenal trophy- 2005
Ashley Cole sold to Chelsea. Samir nasri sold to city. RVP sold to United #facts
I’m with you on that, stick red thumbs where sun don’t shine. Come on you spurs…… Can’t wait till Sunday
Nigel in fairness you sold Berbatov to the mancs
Berbatof and carrick
Erm Nigel….VdV, Berba, King, Modric…lets not get completely blinded by our recent good fortune. Levy is creaming himself about Bale’s value at the moment.
I think he will leave spurs in the summer and also leave england
He is a class player but its a shame he will never play in the European Championships or World Cup.
Imagine where Spurs would be with a top class striker. Adebeyour has been atrocious all season. Defoe is hot and cold. Bale will not leave in the summer. Spurs will qualify for the CL, and will finally be able to attract a world class striker. The rest of the team is solid rather than spectacular, a creative midfielder (moutinhno) could also be added. There’s a team capable of a decent rattle at the Premier league. Their u-21′s are top of the u-21 prem league, and their u-19′s recently beat barcelona 4-1 to get into the last stages of the next gen championship. It all adds up to a club slowly building towards being consistently competitive for the league and consistently being in the CL. You have to give some credit to AVB as a coach…he’s getting the best out of Bale..
Apparenty bale is as good as ronaldo – dont be gettin carried away now
The red thumb brigade are gas! The fact is, Ronaldo it twice the player Bale is.
The best player in the league at the moment, what an athlete!
Superb match, looking forward to Sunday now. COYS!
Ann Marie, vdv went to germany not pl rivals, who did we sell ledley king to???? Im intrigued
Opps fair enough Nigel, my bad!
Possible gifts replacement me thinks..
Welsh for welsh
11 for 11
Typo giggs dam u swiftkey
Qd
True Jamie, we did but he was only one and it was before we were a top4 club
Luka Modric ?
Yeah but not to premiership rival, he hasn’t really set the world alight at Real, I’m sure the Mancs don’t like to talk about Berbatov as I think Spurs got the better value out of that deal!
how about Keane to Liverpool in 2008?
Modric? Because madrid are our premier league rivals ( rolling eyes )