Sam Allardyce: 'Stopping Gareth Bale key against Tottenham Hotspur'

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce prior to kick-off against Aston Villa on February 10, 2013
© PA Photos
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has insisted that stopping Gareth Bale will be key if his side are to beat Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs travel to Upton Park on Monday night and will be keen to extend the gap between themselves and Arsenal in fifth place in the Premier League.

Allardyce is well aware that Spurs have a wealth of attacking talent but says that there is one man in particular who the Hammers will have to stop.

"[Spurs] have been very good this season," said Allardyce.

"The team from an attacking point of view has been outstanding. Recently they have lost their goalscorers, so they've had to rely on one man and one man only to come up with the goods.

"That's Gareth Bale and he's been the major difference between Tottenham and the teams they've played. He's going to need some looking after on Monday night. If we can do that, we nullify a threat that they have."

The last meeting between the two teams finished 3-1 to Spurs in November.
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Tables
TeamPGDPTS
1Manchester United384389
2Manchester City383278
3Chelsea383675
4Arsenal383573
5Tottenham Hotspur382072
6Everton381563
7Liverpool382861
8West Bromwich Albion38-449
9Swansea City38-446
10West Ham United38-846
11Norwich City38-1744
12Fulham38-1043
13Stoke City38-1142
14Southampton38-1141
15Aston Villa38-2241
16Newcastle United38-2341
17Sunderland38-1339
RWigan Athletic38-2636
RReading38-3028
RQueens Park Rangers38-3025