West Ham head to Spurs in good form - but it'll be tough

West Ham will head into this weekend’s London derby at Tottenham Hotspur on the back of five games without defeat following a good 2-0 win over Sunderland.
Gianfranco Zola’s Midas touch helped a patched up Hammers side turn in one of their best performances on the season on Saturday
The victory over strugglers Sunderland went with the form book but the full story of last-minute team changes, players playing out of position and youth team stars chipping in with the all-important goals had the manager purring after the game.
Zola lost both Scott Parker and Radoslav Kovac in the run-up to the game - having already lost Carlton Cole to injury last week.
Forced to shuffle his pack, Zola’s decision to play Lucas Neill in central midfield and hand a first senior start to teenage striker Junior Stanislaw - meant his decision to play James Tomkins ahead of a fit again James Collins went almost un-noticed.
However it was Stanislas and Tomkins who proved the match winners with goals either side of half time securing a vital home win.
One which Zola ranked as his ‘best yet.
“Considering all the difficulties before this match,” said Zola “with it being an international break and I've had two players - Jonathan Spector and Lucas Neill - that didn't train and only came back yesterday. So with other players away and so many injuries I can say that this has been the best victory of all.”
Speaking about his 19 and 20-year-old goalscorers the Italian added: “It's good to see the young players like Junior Stanislas and James Tomkins doing so well. It's good because we need new strength and new injuries and they can help us achieve what we want to achieve.”
“I was very impressed. Tomkins I knew, he has been playing for a while and I had no problems with him. “Junior was a surprise as I knew about his qualities and technical skills and qualities. I didn't know about his mental strength. Today it was tough, he looked like he was a veteran so it was a good point for him and a good point for me also.”
In fact it was a good three points for Zola’s West Ham who have now restored their three point lead over eighth placed Wigan Athletic.
They now face an extremely tough trip to Spurs but could end their north London rivals’ hopes of European football if they can somehow secure all three points at White Hart Lane.