LONDON – West Ham United clinched on Sunday a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in Premier League action, thanks to early goals at the start of both halves and a luckless Spurs side that squandered several good chances to equalize in the closing stages.

Tottenham, desperate to end an awful recent run of form and return to winning ways after its 3-0 defeat to leader Manchester City last week, conceded just five minutes in when Michail Antonio pounced on a dangerous cross from Jarrod Bowen.

A first close-range, left-footed attempt by a flying Antonio was blocked by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, but the English forward swept in the rebound.

A dominant yet ineffective Tottenham sought out a way back into the game, with Harry Kane unsuccessfully trying his luck twice, striking wide in the 13th minute before quick reactions by West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski blocked another shot.

In between Kane’s attempts, a left footed shot from outside the area by Argentine winger Erik Lamela was also saved by the goalkeeper.

Three minutes into the second half, West Ham doubled its lead thanks to Jesse Lingard’s excellent finish in a play that had to be checked with VAR for offside.

Tottenham’s Brazilian forward Lucas Moura closed the gap in the 64th minute on a header from a corner by half-time substitute Gareth Bale.

Spurs’ efforts to draw level continued to no avail, with the woodwork blocking their closest chances; Bale’s shot in the 77th minute and a ricochet off South Korean forward Heung-Min Son in stoppage time.

After the win, West Ham holds fourth spot with 45 points, while Tottenham, which has five defeats in its last six games, is ninth with 36 points.