Tottenham Hotspur

We were treated to an excellent display in our first outing of the 2026/27 campaign with Signe Gaupset back at her very best to open the scoring before teeing up debutant Kirsty Hanson for her first goal in front of our Lilywhite fanabse.

And she wasn't done there as, in the second-half, our number 16 curled home a fantastic left-footed strike into the top corner to claim an impressive 3-1 win over our London rivals.

Our cameras were there to capture our fans as they returned to the stands at Brisbane Road and plenty of smiles on the pitch...

Highlights | Spurs 3-1 West Ham United

SPURSPLAY

Kirsty Hanson stole the show on her competitive debut for the Club, scoring twice in front of our Lilywhite fanbase for the first time, but Signe Gaupset got us off to the perfect start at Brisbane with a controlled half-volley after the first quarter-of-an-hour.

The Norway international then turned provider to set-up Kirsty for her first of the afternoon and to double our lead on the half-hour mark, giving us a healthy advantage heading into the second period.

Our number 16 completed the scoring and grabbed her second of the game with a stunning left-footed curler into the top corner. There will obviously be slight disappointment to concede so late on, Viviane Asseyi netting in stoppage time, but it was all-in-all a positive afternoon to kick start our 2026/27 campaign in England’s top flight.

“Really pleased,” Martin told us, speaking after the game. “Delighted for the players, really happy with the three points and large parts of the performance. We’ll be disappointed as a group because we wanted to keep a clean sheet, so that goal at the end maybe takes that little bit of icing off it. But I couldn’t have asked for anymore. They gave me everything.

“When the first one goes in, it maybe takes that little bit of pressure off the group. We had some moments before she got that chance where you’re thinking you just want one to go in. I think it settles everyone and takes the pressure off people.

“In these games, especially the first game, it’s going to be frantic and end-to-end. It’s more about how we defend and the way we defend. I know we have the quality going the other way to hurt teams, so it’s just making sure we’re defensively good. I thought in the first part we were, apart from the odd set play and some moments, but once we got a grip of the game, I thought we had full control.”

Despite a strong showing in our first 90 minutes of competitive action, our Head Coach feels there’s another level to come from his squad and hopes to see that click in the coming weeks.

“I think when we put it together properly and we’re fluid, we’re really good,” he added. “We just need to make sure we find that consistency.

“There are also small parts that will come with time and experience, particularly managing games better and not allowing them to become stretched and transitional. The more we do that, the more we’ll become a rounded team.”

Player of the Match | Spurs vs West Ham United

The former Aston Villa forward added to Signe Gaupset’s opener in the first half before curling home a sumptuous second 16 minutes from time to put us 3-0 up, with West Ham only managing a stoppage-time consolation from Viviane Asseyi as we enjoyed a thoroughly-deserved London derby victory at Brisbane Road.

Substitute Shekiera Martinez also thought she had a debut goal against her former side towards the end but was denied by the offside flag in an entertaining game that was in stark contrast to our cagey 1-0 win against the same opponents in the opening fixture of last term.

Martin Ho gave debuts to two more of our six summer signings as well, in the form of Caitlin Dijkstra and Victoria Pelova – the latter from the bench – as we controlled proceedings for large spells in the late-summer sunshine.

Gaupset put us in front with the first real chance of the game on 18 minutes, firing in off the far post after the impressive Julie Blakstad nodded a cross down to her in the box. Yu Endo hooked an effort wide for West Ham before a fine move saw us double our lead on the half-hour mark, Cathinka Tandberg playing the ball through the legs of Oona Siren on half-way and setting up Gaupset to roam forward and pick out the run of Hanson, who sent the ball into the net after bursting down the inside left channel despite advancing goalkeeper Constance Picaud-Inconnu getting a touch on it.

Ebony Salmon fired straight at Lize Kop as West Ham tried to respond while both Gaupset and Tandberg tested Picaud-Inconnu in the run-up to half-time, with Tandberg heading straight at the keeper and Blakstad just unable to connect with Gaupset’s cross as we stayed on the front foot after the restart.

Blakstad did manage to reach another cross from a similar position – this one from Hanson – on 65 minutes but diverted the ball just the wrong side of the back post before Hanson sent the crowd wild with a superb third goal for us, picking up the ball in a pocket of space 20 yards out and curling a superb left-footed shot inside the far post.

Matilda Nilden’s angled effort caused problems for Picaud-Inconnu before Martinez bundled in a header from close range, only to be denied by the offside flag. West Ham finished strongly as Asseyi clipped a ball beyond the advancing Kop and just inside the far upright three minutes into the six added on at the end, but we’d done enough to secure three well-earned points.

Line-ups

Spurs (4-3-3): Kop, Dijkstra, Koga (Morris 68), A Nilden, Blakstad, Summanen, Spence (c), Gaupset (Pelova 80), Hanson (Holdt 80), Tandberg (Martinez 59), Vinberg (M Nilden 80). Substitutes (not used): Panengstuen, Ahtinen, Wijk, Pierre.

West Ham United (3-4-3): Picaud-Inconnu, Codina, Riesen, Cascarino, Salmon (Gago 46), Zelem (c), Siren (Kumagai 74), Endo (Belloumou 74), Piubel (Wandeler 60), Ueki (Tennebo 90+2), Asseyi. Substitutes (not used): Walsh, Nystrom, Wareing, Peacock.

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Gaupset 18, Hanson 30, 74; West Ham – Asseyi 90+3.

Referee: Abigail Byrne.

Venue: Brisbane Road, Leyton.

Weather: Sunny, gentle breeze, 23 degrees.

Attendance: 1,675.

'One of our own', Jenna is the Spurs fan who lived her dream, breaking down barriers to reach the top and lead Spurs Women into the Women's Super League in 2019.

Jenna was an ever-present during her 13 seasons at the Club, making in excess of 300 appearances and lifting eight trophies along the way, including a quadruple during the 2016/17 campaign.

An integral part of the rise of Spurs Women, Jenna first joined the club at the age of 16 in 2000 and after playing for QPR, Langford and Enfield, returned following her University studies in 2009 to spearhead a remarkable climb up the women's football pyramid culminating in promotion to the WSL.

From a family of Spurs fans, Jenna stepped off the stands at White Hart Lane to memorably clinch the FA Women's Premier League South title in 2017 - just weeks before the closure of our famous old stadium.

Clinching promotion to the WSL in dramatic fashion with a draw at Villa in May, 2019, Jenna proudly led the team out for our first game in the WSL against Chelsea in front of 24,564 at Stamford Bridge, live on BBC - not bad for a girl who had nowhere to play as a youngster until her father set up Wormley Girls FC when she was six!

Jenna retired at the end of that first WSL season, 2019/20 and has since played a key role at the club as Women’s Academy Operations Manager.

Alongside her work at the club, she has established herself as a respected football broadcaster, regularly working as a pundit and co-commentator for BBC Sport, Sky Sports, TNT Sports and talkSPORT.

Jenna is also the founder and CEO of NEXT-JEN, an organisation dedicated to empowering the next generation of female footballers through coaching, mentorship and education, providing young players with access to insights and experiences from the professional game.

Congratulations to Jenna, from everyone at the Club, on this huge and much-deserved honour.

Martin Ho has made two changes to the side that faced Bristol City in our final pre-season outing last weekend.

Defender Cailtin Dijkstra comes in for her competitive debut for the Club after joining us this summer, replacing Hanna Wijk, and slots into the backline with Amanda Nilden, Toko Koga and Julie Blakstad.

Another of our summer arrivals, Kirsty Hanson, is also set to make her first competitive appearance in front of our Lilywhite fanbase.

Drew Spence wears the armband this afternoon after being named captain for 2026/27 campaign as she replaces Olivia Holdt, who drops to the bench for today’s London derby.

Three more of our summer recruits – Shekiera Martinez, Victoria Pelova and Selma Panengstuen – are named amongst the substitutes alongside Academy graduate Jhanaie Pierre after she signed her first professional contract earlier in the week.

Spurs: Kop, Dijkstra, A. Nilden, Gaupset, Tandberg, Vinberg, Hanson, Spence (c), Summanen, Koga, Blakstad.

Substitutes: Panengstuen, Morris, Holdt, M. Nilden, Martinez, Ahtinen, Wijk, Pelova, Pierre.

The away side line-up as follows...

West Ham: Picaud-Inconnu, Endo, Codina, Siren, Ueki, Zelem (c), Salmon, Asseyi, Riesen, Cascarino, Piubel.

Substitutes: Walsh, Belloumou, Kumagai, Gago, Nystrom, Tennebo, Wareing, Peacock, Wandeler.

SPURSPLAY

SPURSPLAY

SPURSPLAY

Here's what he had to say...

Maybe not what you wanted going forward today, but at the back, a lot of organisation - a big shift defensively...

Roberto: "I think we played well, but in the last third we have to improve. We have to take the better decisions. We have to keep more calm when we are very close to doing something important in the last third. I remember the chance when Marmoush shot at goal, the way we had Robertson overlapping, if we take the right decision and we play with Robertson, then on the second post there is Kudus to score like this. Or how many crosses went over the second post? From Mathys Tel, two times, Savio, one time. Savio, I think it's the last decision. The ball from Pedro Porro on Mateus Fernandes when he played with Kudus and then for the header of Solanke, Mateus was completely alone to go forward to score. Anyway, I'm very happy for the spirit of the team, for the organisation, with and without the ball. We didn't suffer nothing. Their style of play is very clear, long ball and second ball, but even this second ball, we won many, many duels. They have good players and taking a point in this stadium is not so easy. We are not happy because we didn't win, but I think this is the right spirit and the right way to move on in this moment. Because we started just last Thursday to work together and to create, to build the team, to build the organisation. It's not enough the paper, the transfer market."

Can I ask you about Rodrigo Bentancur? It felt like he won a lot out there today...

Roberto: "Great game, great game, Bentancur, great game Tonali, Gallagher. Micky van de Ven, great game. I'm sorry because Savio and Destiny in that moment, I think they could play something more than 60 minutes, but there was a plan with the medical staff to not take risks and in this moment, I can't decide like the pitch says."

I think fans will understand, you've signed a lot of players, it's going to take a while for it to gel, but we're used to your teams at Brighton playing free-flowing football. Are you concerned that your team didn't have a shot on target?

Roberto: "No, we could score three or four goals today, because if you take the wrong decision, you don't score, but for me, it's a chance to score."

Mykhailo Mudryk came on for his first game in nearly two years, what did you make of his performance?

Roberto: "He's not ready yet. He's working to reach the best physical condition. He needs time, he needs work. In that position, we have Mathys Tel, big potential, but also Mathys takes too many wrong decisions, and Mudryk, so, two big players, two big potential players, but anyway, if we want to score, I think Marmoush has 15 goals. Solanke, the chance, the header for Solanke, I consider a chance to score. It's not a shot on goal. Yes, but how many shots did Nottingham have today? I think, anyway, it was a good game."

Could I just ask about the agreement with the medical team? Could you just clarify that? So they say before the game...

Roberto: "Yes before the game, the plan was Savio and Udogie around 60 minutes, because it's dangerous, no?"

And you're happy with that?

Roberto: "No, I'm not happy. But football is like this. Savio has not the best physical condition to play 90 minutes. He's an important player for us, a crucial player. Destiny is another crucial player for us. I think Kudus and Robertson, they played well. But, you know, to start one game like today, it's not so easy to come in from the bench and adapt immediately. I'm not happy when we have the plan, but it's for my advantage, for my business, the management of the players after injuries."

You mentioned that Tonali played well. Was that more like what you expect to see from him and did you see over the week any improvements in his physical level?

Roberto: "I think he can play one step more, but he played the best game so far. Also, Gallagher played very well and Marmoush gives us the quality in the play."

Was it a tactical decision to bring Gallagher into the midfield or was there anything wrong with Fernandes?

Roberto: "You know, I have experience enough to know what this stadium is. This stadium is England football. Gallagher, he knows better this type of game. Mateus becomes, for sure, in my time in Tottenham, one of the best players, but I'm lucky because I have more players, many players, and I have to find the right balance, the right first XI I can before the game."

You mentioned the mistakes in the last third of the pitch. How can you coach that?

Roberto: "With meetings, watching, analysing together with the players. Also, I think, winning the games because, you know, the confidence, the enthusiasm, it can be crucial to find the right decision. I love these players. I spoke now about Marmoush, we have to analyse if he has, or not, 15, 12 goals. I think, yes, because he has all the qualities, enough to score that number of goals. He has to improve, of course, like Domi Solanke, I think if Domi is fit, is in the best physical condition, the chance he had was completely different."

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