Trevor Sinclair scored either side of half-time to send West Ham leapfrogging into second place in the Premiership with victory in this London derby.

Mark Pugach reports (BBC Radio 5 Live)

But Spurs were unlucky not to claim a hard-earned away point after battling back after the break once Chris Armstrong's goal had put them back in the game.

Wing-back Sinclair gave the Hammers the lead six minutes before the interval, scoring from close range after Spurs keeper Espen Baardsen failed to hold Frank Lampard's volley.

The former QPR star added a spectacular second just after the break, sprinting onto a through ball down the middle and firing first time into the top corner, with Baardsen beaten.

Hartson out-jumps Campbell as West Ham surge on

Sinclair could have completed a hat-trick after being put through by Ian Pearce - but his drive ricocheted off the junction of post and crossbar.

The second goal spurred the visitors into life and a long period of pressure culminated in a deserved goal after 71 minutes.

David Ginola swung over a perfect corner and Armstrong leapt to head a superb header past Shaka Hislop.

George Graham's side pushed on in search of an equaliser.

In the 76th minute, after a series of near misses, another Ginola corner was only half cleared by Rio Ferdinand and the ball fell to debutant defender Luke Young.

The teenager struck a searing volley, but saw his effort crash against the bar with Hislop well beaten.

Just before the end, Allan Nielsen had a wonderful opportunity to convert substitute Ruel Fox's cross, but could find no power in his unmarked header.

Harry happy with Hammers

Hammers boss Harry Redknapp was delighted to move into second place

"That's 26 points and a few years ago we would have been glad to have had that by March," he said.

Spurs fullback Carr clashes with Kitson

"Spurs made it very hard for us today. They passed the ball well and gave us a lot of problems, but I'm delighted with the way we hung in there.

"We've shown we've got a quality team of players here now even though half of them, when we bought them, struggled to get a game at their previous clubs.

"It all started for us when John Hartson and Paul Kitson signed at the back end of the season before last. We showed championship form then to get out of relegation trouble and then last season we only just missed out on Europe.

"Now the fans are expecting us to be a top six side and that's a new challenge for us. What have I done?"

Teams:

West Ham: Hislop, Ruddock, Ferdinand, Pearce, Lomas, Berkovic, Lampard, Sinclair, Lazaridis, Kitson, Hartson. Subs: Breacker, Potts, Margas, Abou, Sealey.

Tottenham: Baardsen, Carr, Young, Campbell, Sinton, Nielsen, Anderton, Clemence, Iversen, Armstrong, Ginola. Subs: Fox, Wilson, Gower, Thelwell, Walker.