Tottenham Hotspur were beaten by West Ham United for a record third time this season as they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at Upton Park.

A Younes Kaboul red card on 24 minutes proved decisive as the Hammers went ahead minutes later through a Harry Kane own goal before consolidating their lead with a Stewart Downing free-kick before half time.

Spurs had a good penalty shout turned down late on when Matt Taylor appeared to handle the ball inside the box, and Danny Rose forced a superb fingertip save from Adrian, but Sam Allardyce’s team held on for their third win in the same season against their London rivals - a feat they have never before achieved.

Following two defeats at White Hart Lane earlier this season, first in the league and then the Capital One Cup, Spurs came to Upton Park hoping to exact revenge and give themselves one foot in next season’s Europa League with one game to play.

And despite starting well, it was one-way traffic after Kaboul’s red card, compounding a result which will do as much to endear Allardyce to his West Ham doubters as it will put further pressure on Tim Sherwood amidst continuing rumours he is set to be replaced this summer.

West Ham had an early scare when Kane chased down and blocked Adrian’s clearance, which drifted safely wide, before Adebayor missed a golden chance on the counter attack, offering a tame shot from the edge of the area.

Tottenham were looking the better team in an open game, producing some neat build-up play without finding the final ball to trouble Adrian in the Hammers goal.

But the game turned in West Ham’s favour when Kaboul was given a straight red for bringing down Stewart Downing in the 24th minute.

The winger latched on to a deflected through ball and bore down on goal before being clattered by Kaboul on the edge of the box, leaving referee Phil Dowd with no choice but to send the centre-back off.

Andy Carroll produced a superb reaction save from Lloris from the subsequent free-kick, which the Frenchman managed to tip over the bar, but Spurs went behind from the resulting corner when Andy Carroll headed back across goal and the ball bounced in off the head of Harry Kane.

It was the last action of the game for the young English forward, who was sacrificed by Tim Sherwood to allow Chiriches to replace Kaboul at the heart of defence.

Tottenham were suddenly unable to get out of their own half and West Ham pressed the visitors with their one-man advantage.

McCartney went close with a far post header before Matt Taylor forced another fingertip save from Lloris with a low drive to the keeper’s left.

Spurs resistance didn’t last long, and the Hammers were 2-0 up before half time thanks to a Stuart Downing free-kick that split the visitor’s hapless wall.

Paulinho and Adebayor were both guilty of stepping out of the way of Downing’s curled shot fron the edge of the box that nestled in the bottom right corner.

West Ham were now rampant, and Carroll almost piled more misery on Spurs when his volley from the edge of the area drifted inches wide before the half-time whistle.

Sam Allardyce’s men settled right back into their rhythm after the break and would have gone 3-0 up but for more goalkeeping heroics from Lloris.

The Frenchman got down brilliantly to block Diame’s overhead kick before scrambling the ball away to the edge of the box where Taylor placed his follow-up narrowly wide.

Lloris produced another miraculous save, getting out to block the unmarked Nolan’s shot on the turn from inside the box.

And despite a late rally from the visitors, including Taylor’s hand ball and a good run and shot from Danny Rose, Spurs had too much to do to mount a comeback.

West Ham XI: Adrian, Reid, McCartney, Nolan (Jarvis, 87), Tomkins, Carroll (Cole, 83), Taylor, Noble, Demel, Diame, Downing.
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Armero, Vaz Te, Collins, Nocerino.

Tottenham XI: Lloris; Naughton, Dawson, Kaboul, Rose; Lennon, Paulinho (Sandro, 65), Sigurdsson (Soldado, 65), Eriksen; Adebayor, Kane (Chiriches, 28).
Subs: Friedel, Fryers, Pritchard, Bentaleb.

Bookings: Naughton,18, Dawson, 43, Soldado, 70, Sandro, 83.
Sending off: Kaboul, 24.