Jurgen Klinsmann's early goal proved enough to ease Tottenham's relegation worries after West Ham's bristling comeback bid at White Hart Lane was squashed by the sending off of striker Samassi Abou in an explosive incident just before half-time.

Klinsmann struck for his first goal in four games since returning to Spurs in only the seventh minute with a near post shot from close range.

And Frenchman David Ginola who set it up with a fine left wing cross almost added a second two minutes later.

But after that West Ham launched an impressive recovery with Abou, their striker from the Ivory Coast, threatening most to produce an equaliser which always looked on the cards - until he was shown the red card three minutes before the break.

Abou clashed with Tottenham's Steve Carr and then, off the ball, with Ramon Vega who was left rolling in apparent agony.

Referee David Elleray sent off Abou after calming down the fracas that followed but both he and West Ham manager Harry Redknapp were too late to prevent John Hartson grabbing Spurs defender Colin Calderwood.

Hartson should have gone off as well - especially as just a few seconds after play eventually resumed he caught Vega with a wide challenge which left the Swiss international crumpled on the turf again.

But Elleray decided on only a yellow card although the fact that West Ham were left to fight the second half with ten men rather than nine was irrelevant in the finish.

Spurs, who had been under siege from some nimble West Ham football and thanks to their reserve goalkeeper Espen Baardsen for a series of confident saves, became the dominant force after the interval and should have added to their lead.

Thirteen minutes from the end as depleted West Ham battled courageously to stem the tide of attacks flying against them, Frank Lampard was inches away from an equaliser.

Premiership top-scorer Hartson, who had become involved in several more bad tempered clashes, fed him perfectly and Lampard's angled shot was creeping just inside the far post until Vega got back to hook it away for a corner.

Spurs had had enough openings by then to put the issue beyond doubt.

Ginola, who passed a late fitness test to return from a calf injury, provided a stream of crosses which Andy Sinton and Sol Campbell should have employed to better use.

And Klinsmann rediscovered some touches of his old, vintage style and only last ditch defending denied him further goals in the second period.

He also set up fellow newcomer Nicola Berti with a great chance to crown an impressive home debut with a goal but the Italian's first touch surprisingly let him down with keeper Craig Forrest the only man standing between him and the net.

Spurs were happy enough with only their second league win under new manager Christian Gross and the first at home in his charge.

But West Ham will be wondering what might have been had they retained 11 players on the pitch after a first half in which winger Stan Lazaridis provided some impressive service for Hartson and Abou, who narrowly failed to turn into reward.

Teams

Tottenham: Baardsen, Calderwood (Howells 58), Fox (Brady 79), Carr, Ginola (Domingues 65), Vega, Wilson, Sinton, Campbell, Klinsmann, Berti.

Subs Not Used: Brown, Mabbutt.

Booked: Vega.

Goals: Klinsmann 7.

West Ham: Forrest, Potts, Unsworth, Hartson, Ferdinand, Moncur, Lazaridis (Dowie 46), Lampard, Pearce, Abou, Berkovic (Hodges 85).

Subs Not Used: Lama, Bishop, Rowland.

Sent Off: Abou (42).

Booked: Moncur, Hartson, Potts.

Att: 30,284

Ref: D R Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).