Luka Modric marked his first start in four months with a telling contribution as Tottenham beat West Ham to move up to fourth in the Premier League.

Modric, who broke his shin on 29 August, swept home Aaron Lennon's deflected cross to cap a bright start.

With West Ham toiling, Jermain Defoe put a curling free-kick just wide and Tom Huddlestone drove against the post.

Injury-hit West Ham lacked a cutting edge and former Hammer Defoe confirmed their defeat with a fierce finish.

It was fitting end to a commanding all-round performance by Spurs and they will remain in fourth unless Aston Villa beat Liverpool at Villa Park on Tuesday.

Harry Redknapp's men are now unbeaten in four matches, keeping four clean sheets in the process, and they lie just one point behind north-London rivals Arsenal.

But for all the stats, Redknapp will be especially pleased with the return of Modric, the Croat managing 83 minutes during which he scored his first goal of the season and orchestrated almost every other attack.

England winger Lennon also continued to press his case for a starting place at the World Cup with yet another scintillating display, Huddlestone was a rock in the hosts' midfield and Vedran Corluka again impressed at right-back.

In stark contrast, West Ham remain a point above the relegation zone and have played three games more than Bolton in 18th and one more than both Hull in 19th and Portsmouth in 20th.

They are now without a win in their last nine away league games and have still not triumphed in the league at White Hart Lane since April 1999, when Redknapp was their manager.

Arriving on a high following wins against Manchester City and Blackburn and a hard-earned draw at Fulham, Spurs dominated possession in the opening exchanges.

Redknapp utilised his large squad to make four changes to his starting line-up but Spurs quickly settled into a tidy rhythm and set about unpicking their opponents.

An ever-growing injury list meant West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola was only able to make one alteration to his side and they looked fatigued and laboured from the outset.

Zola attempted to contain the likes of Modric and Lennon by deploying a 4-5-1 formation, but Tottenham were able to saunter forward almost at will and their lead, when it arrived, was richly deserved.

Defoe released Lennon on the right and his low cross deflected off James Tomkins to an unmarked Modric. The Croatian hit a first-time shot into the ground but saw it bounce into the net over a diving Rob Green.

West Ham's midfield was nowhere to be seen as Lennon burst into the box and that was in part down to a limping Scott Parker, who came through a late fitness test on a hamstring strain to start but aggravated the complaint when he dragged a shot wide early on.

Parker was replaced by Luis Jimenez but, seven minutes later, there was more misery for West Ham as right-back Herita Ilunga succumbed to a similar injury.

Tottenham were in cruise control and started passing and moving with the swagger of a side who appear capable of finishing among the Champions League places this season.

Huddlestone dragged wide, a Crouch shot was deflected wide by Tomkins and Defoe curled a sumptuous free-kick inches wide of Green's right-hand post.

Spurs must have wondered how they failed to extend their advantage before half-time and the chances kept coming after the break, with a goal-bound Wilson Palacios strike diverted to safety by Matthew Upson and Huddlestone exposing some woeful West Ham marking to drill against a post.

The Hammers eventually began to threaten and Guillermo Franco mis-controlled in a promising position before the 79th-minute introduction of pacy 20-year-old Junior Stanislas finally gave them a source of penetration.

But clear-cut chances were few and far between and, with Tottenham always looking the likelier scorers, it came as no surprise when Defoe wrapped up the points.

The England striker collected possession on the counter attack, drifted inside the West Ham defence and, after having a powerful drive parried by Green, lashed in from the edge of the box.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp: "It was a game we dominated but when you're only 1-0 up you fear that sooner or later they will make a chance.

"We needed a second goal and eventually it came but overall we were stronger than them today, there's no doubt about that. We played well and were always in control.

"I've got a luxury that Gianfranco hasn't - strong players to bring in who don't weaken your team in any way, shape or form. Whoever comes in at the moment is doing well and a fourth clean sheet in a row shows we're a force. We can beat anyone on our day.

"We're not looking at anybody (in the January transfer window), I cant stand here and say we've made contact with any clubs over any players. If players leave we'll see if we need to replace them and strengthen in areas, but there are no plans to at the moment."