Premier League: Tottenham 0 West Ham 0

Tottenham blew the chance to close the gap on the top four as West Ham boosted their own hopes of beating the drop at White Hart Lane.

Harry Redknapp’s side failed to build on their memorable victory over AC Milan in the Champions League and will know this was a missed opportunity after hitting the woodwork three times.

Robert Green was outstanding in the West Ham goal and both Matthew Upson and Wayne Bridge produced outstanding displays to keep the Tottenham forwards at bay.

Avram Grant’s side seem to be hitting form at just the right time of the season and will fancy their chances of staying in the Premier League if they can continue to produce these kind of results.

The home side could have opened the scoring after just three minutes. Luka Modric played the ball into Michael Dawson who fired a shot which came back off the top of the bar.

Jermain Defoe had a point to prove to the West Ham fans who booed his every touch and he almost silenced them on six minutes when he latched onto a cross from Gareth Bale and struck the ball inches past the post.

Despite the home side’s dominance, it was West Ham who could have broken the deadlock on 19 minutes.

Dema Ba played the ball into his strike partner Carlton Cole who was through on goal but he fired a weak shot straight at Heurelho Gomes.

Tottenham continued to press and Modric fired a shot on 32 minutes which beat Green but his shot flew just wide of the post.

The home side came even closer on 39 minutes when Aaron Lennon’s shot came back off the post. The rebound fell straight to Defoe but he hit the ball wide of the post.

Redknapp was starting to wonder if it would be Tottenham’s day as they missed another great chance on 49 minutes when Defoe’s shot was superbly kept out by Green.

It could have been a different story if Mark Noble’s spectacular overhead kick on 55 minutes had found the target.

West Ham finally forced their way into the game and Ba’s 25-yard shot on 64 minutes produced an excellent save from Gomes diving low to his left.

The woodwork saved West Ham once again on 85 minutes when Bale’s curling free-kick was amazingly tipped onto the bar by Green.

West Ham held on to record a crucial point and Redknapp was left wondering how his side failed to take all three points.