Goals by Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon gave Tottenham a 2-1 win over West Ham in a keenly-contested Premier League match at Upton Park.
Spurs came from behind for victory after Carlton Cole had given the hosts the lead with a spectacular strike just after the break as both Defoe and manager Harry Redknapp enjoyed winning returns to their former club.
The result saw Spurs topple bitter rivals Arsenal off the top of the league table as Redknapp's side made it three wins from three so far this season - their best start to a new campaign since 1960-61, the last time Spurs won the title.
On-form Defoe received a great deal of hostility from the Upton Park crowd, and neither he nor strike partner Robbie Keane could initially make much of an impact on the game.
Ledley King- back in the side after he was rested for the midweek win over Hull City - went closest to opening the scoring, the Spurs skipper directing a header on to the cross bar on the half-hour mark.
Hammers midfielder Scott Parker had earlier brought a save with a swerving shot from distance - the first half-chance of the game - before Cole, watched by Fabio Capello, fluffed his lines when put in on goal by a clever Spector pass.
Cole is a willing runner but on occasion his finishing lets him down and Capello cannot have been impressed by that effort, nor by a second chance the England striker passed up just before the break.
This time he failed to attack the six-yard box after Junior Stanislas had done brilliantly to get to the byline and deliver a teasing cross that was crying out to be tapped over the line.
Cole was to make his mark though, and how he did - bringing down a long punt downfield from Cudicini on 49 minutes before turning and smashing past Robert Green from 25 yards out.
The finish was as out of keeping with his first-half performance as the aberration which followed soon after was with the goal: Cole somehow managed to turn from hero to villain in the space of five minutes as he gifted Spurs an equaliser with a through pass straight to Defoe, who finished like a man on top form to notch his 50th goal in a Spurs shirt on his 150th Premier League appearance.
That the chance was gobbled up by the former West Ham player, who was roundly booed before kick-off and near the end as he clashed with Julien Faubert before being substituted, made Cole's error all the more unforgivable; he hung his head in disbelief.
Back on level terms, Spurs began to attack with more intent as Lennon came into the game more, the tricky winger giving full-back Spector a real headache with his direct running as the second half wore on.
And Lennon it was who gave Spurs the lead on 79 minutes,Vedran Corluka slipping the ball through for the England international to run on to, cut inside and unleash a low drive that Green could not keep out.
The strike proved to be the winner, but West Ham had chances of their own to get back into the game, Luis Jiminez - impressive in fits and starts on his home debut - seeing a header well saved by Cudicini and Cole showing what he is occasionally capable of with a snap shot from the edge of the area.
It was not enough, and Spurs held on to maintain their 100 per cent start to the new season and claim bragging rights over the Hammers until the return match at the end of the year.
> Posted by: Iconic Magazine
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