Ledley King and Jamie O'Hara scored the goals which earned Tottenham victory in a hard-fought derby against West Ham.

Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko hit the post just before half-time but defender King met Aaron Lennon's cross on 68 minutes to open the scoring.

West Ham almost levelled but Heurelho Gomes made a fine double stop from Lucas Neill and David Di Michele.

From that chance, Spurs broke and substitute O'Hara fired in a superb shot to seal the victory.

The victory, manager Harry Redknapp's fourth consecutive success at Upton Park, saw Spurs replace the Hammers in 15th place in the Premier League table.

They certainly had the better chances in the match, and should have taken the lead inside the opening minute, but Luka Modric fired straight at Robert Green in the West Ham goal after being set up by David Bentley. The Hammers had the ball in the net on 22 minutes as a corner went in off Jermaine Jenas, but referee Chris Foy had already blown for a foul on the Spurs midfielder by Neill.

West Ham threatened again when James Collins fired a powerful low drive into the box, but the ball was deflected away for a corner, and it was the visitors who finished the half strongly.

First, Bentley connected well with a loose ball in the area and Green showed smart reflexes to push his goalbound shot wide.

Then Pavlyuchenko came agonisingly close as he stretched to prod Lennon's penetrating low cross towards goal, only to see it rebound off the post to safety, with Green well beaten.

West Ham began the second half brightly, with a Craig Bellamy cross forcing a less-than-convincing punch from Gomes, and the Welshman also fired wide.

At the other end, a powerful drive from Modric was smartly stopped by Green while substitute Darren Bent - on for Pavlyuchenko - sidefooted wide.

The introduction of Bent seemed to give Spurs more impetus and they enjoyed a spell on top, with Green having to save after a surging run and shot from Didier Zokora.

But it was not long before Tottenham broke the deadlock as King rose to head Lennon's cross down, with the ball bouncing up beyond the desperate reach of Green to give the defender his first goal in three years.

West Ham substitute Di Michele came close to equalising shortly afterwards but Jonathan Woodgate blocked his effort as he attempted to fire home through a crowded goalmouth.

And Di Michele came even closer as the Hammers pushed for an equaliser in a frantic finish.

Gomes was Spurs' hero, blocking shots from Neill and the home team's substitute in quick succession.

From the subsequent break, O'Hara found himself in space 20 yards from goal and he unleashed an unstoppable shot to seal victory.

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola on a perceived handball by Benoit Assou-Ekotto when his side were 1-0 down: "It was a clear penalty when it was 1-0. The referee is a human being, he can make mistakes.

"Unfortunately for us it was a disappointing game because it was one we all wanted to win.

"I understand the fans' frustration. We gave everything to make them happy."

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp: "I want to see West Ham win every week [when they are not playing Spurs] but that was a great result for us tonight.

"We were good value and deserved to win even after missing some great chances... Modric in the first minute and Pavlyuchenko hitting the post.

"We passed the ball well tonight at times and eventually we got the goal."