A dour encounter was hardly redeemed by the dismissal of Steve Lomas, the West Ham captain, for a second bookable offence on the stroke of half-time. Thereafter a series of saves from Shaka Hislop frustrated Tottenham's attempts to exploit their advantage.

The initial problem for West Ham lay in ascertaining the whereabouts of David Ginola and then dealing with the Frenchman's guile accordingly. For once Ginola did not pose an immediate threat from the left wing but operated behind Steffen Iversen, Spurs' only out-and-out striker.

Early on, Ginola sidestepped Mark-Vivien Foe's lunge with great ease. Friend or foe, it was always going to be a matter of who managed to shoot straight without asking too many questions. Shortly before the half-hour a delightful turn by West Ham's Joe Cole released Trevor Sinclair on the left but the centre was predictable. Then Ginola dropped the ball invitingly into Tim Sherwood's stride as he approached the penalty arc, but the midfielder's shot wafted over the bar.

The prospect of a goal for either side was not enhanced by the dismissal of Lomas a minute before half-time. Having been cautioned earlier following an incident with Jose Dominguez, Lomas was then sent off after an illtimed lunge at the same player.

In theory this sort of situation should benefit the team with the extra man but in practice it often does not work out that way. Once Lomas had gone a draw became a more attractive option for West Ham and in the second half, with Kitson replaced by Scott Minto, they defended even harder.

At least Tottenham were prepared to be more patient and probe for openings. A subtle swerve and sharply inswinging shot from Ginola, deftly held by Hislop, brought the promise of better things, as did Iversen's chest-down and volley wide from the Frenchman's centre.

For West Ham much now depended on Hislop, who shortly before the hour achieved an outstanding save as he pushed wide a shot from Sherwood that he could only have seen at the last instant.

Ruddock's wild slice over his own bar as he attempted to clear a cross from Ginola rather summed up West Ham's increasing sense of desperation.

Tottenham: Walker, Young, Campbell, Perry, Taricco, Leonhardsen, Sherwood (Nielsen 76), Freund, Ginola, Iversen, Dominguez (Armstrong 83). Subs Not Used: Baardsen, Vega, Clemence. Booked: Perry, Freund.

West Ham: Hislop, Ferdinand, Ruddock, Margas (Potts 67), Sinclair, Cole, Lampard, Foe, Lomas, Kitson (Minto 46), Di Canio (Wanchope 85). Subs Not Used: Forrest, Keller. Sent Off: Lomas (44). Booked: Lomas, Ruddock.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).