Tottenham's Premier League title dream in tatters after devastating defeat at West Ham

Tottenham’s Premier League title hopes were left in tatters after they slumped to a surprise defeat at West Ham United.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side could have moved within a single point of Antonio Conte’s Chelsea with victory in the London derby.

But Manuel Lanzini’s second-half strike proved a fatal blow on the night and looks to have also killed off any chance of Spurs catching the league leaders.

Chelsea can move tantalisingly close to confirming the capture of the trophy when they host relegation-threatened Middlesbrough on Monday.

Kyle Walker returned to the Tottenham starting line-up to dampen some of the rumours suggesting he is ready to quit the club this summer.

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He replaced Kieran Trippier at full-back in the only change from the side that beat bitter rivals Arsenal at White Hart Lane.

Andy Carroll failed to overcome a groin problem for the hosts, leaving Slaven Bilic to select Argentine striker Jonathan Calleri up top.

The West Ham manager made three changes in all with captain Mark Noble and defenders Aaron Cresswell and Sam Byram coming back into the team.

All of the pre-match hype suggesting we would be treated to an all-action derby match on a memorable night under the lights in the capital.

But supporters who sat through the first 45 minutes at the London Stadium will have been wishing they had spent their Friday evening elsewhere.

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Bilic’s side went into the match looking to reach the magical 40-point mark that has traditionally guaranteed survival for another year.

It was clear that they were not going to make life easy for their title-chasing neighbours and it quickly became a scrappy game of few chances.

Bilic will rightly point out that it would have been foolish to play expansive football against a Tottenham side who can punish you at any moment.

Spurs looked well off the pace and many of the away supporters would have been wondering when Mousa Dembele would be introduced into the midfield.

Pochettino resisted the urge to make changes at the break but would have been wishing he had rolled the dice when West Ham broke the deadlock.

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Lanzini, who started the move, drifted his way into the Tottenham penalty area and was in the right place at the right time to slam home the opener.

It wasn’t a pretty goal and Pochettino will be furious with the sloppy defending from his defence as Spurs failed to clear their lines.

Vicent Janssen, who has struggled for form this season, was thrown on with Trippier in an attempt to inject some more energy into the Spurs attack.

Tottenham tempers flared as the game slipped away and with it seemingly went any chance of the north Londoners catching the table-topping Blues.

Chelsea can enjoy putting their feet up this weekend before welcoming Middlesbrough to Stamford Bridge on Monday night.

Win that and they will be one more triumph away from the title.

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