West Ham have outlined their top-four credentials with a 2-1 win over an unravelling Tottenham, who lost for the fifth time in six Premier League games to leave Jose Mourinho feeling the pressure.
The Hammers climbed into fourth position on Sunday thanks to goals from Michail Antonio and Jesse Lingard, giving them their highest-ever points tally at this stage of the season in the Premier League era.
They are nine points above their London rivals and David Moyes celebrated his first win over Mourinho at the 16th time of asking after withstanding a late assault by Spurs, who gave themselves hope through Lucas Moura.
But Tottenham could not find a leveller, hitting the woodwork twice, and their demise has been stark.
From a position at the top of the table in mid-December, they have won just three of last 13 games, meaning their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League through the league are all but over.
Mourinho will surely now focus his attention on winning the Europa League, while he can also bank on a Carabao Cup final against Manchester City in April.
He was not helped by yet more defensive frailties, which led to a fifth-minute opener for Antonio.
Jarrod Bowen was allowed too much space on the left and he curled in a delicious ball that left the Spurs defence all at sea.
Eric Dier chose not to clear it and Hugo Lloris opted not to claim it, allowing Antonio to stab the ball goalwards.
Lloris saved with his legs but the rebound fell straight to the Hammers striker who poked home from two yards out.
Mourinho threw Gareth Bale on at halftime but within two minutes of the restart they were 2-0 down when more shoddy defending saw Lingard surge through on goal and fire into the bottom corner.
Spurs had a mountain to climb but started the comeback midway through the second half when Moura headed in Bale’s corner for his first Premier League goal since September.
Spurs hit the woodwork twice in the final 15 minutes as they searched for a leveller.
Bale fizzed an effort that clipped the top of the crossbar from 18 yards and then, deep into injury time, Son Heung-min’s deflected effort looped into the post, confirming it was to be West Ham’s day.