Joe Cole has backed Tottenham to ‘nick’ the final top-four spot in the Premier League despite missing the chance to overtake Aston Villa after drawing with West Ham.
Spurs took an early lead at the London Stadium through Brennan Johnson but were pegged back by Kurt Zouma’s header on 19 minutes.
Both sides created openings but failed to show cutting edge and had to settle with a share of the points, leaving Tottenham fifth – two points behind Villa – with eight games remaining.
Manchester United are a further nine points back but will close the gap to just six if they win their game in hand.
The team finishing fifth may still qualify for the Champions League but the top four clubs are the only ones guaranteed of their place in Europe’s top club competition.
Asked for his take on the top-four battle after Tottenham’s draw at West Ham, Cole said on TNT Sports: ‘I think Spurs could nick fourth.
‘They were the surprise package for me at the start of the season given they brought in Ange and we all saw what he did at Celtic.
‘We wondered if they had the capability to really climb up the table but the signings they made were great and have really brought the team on. They had a little blip but I think they can hunt down Villa now, I really do.
‘Aston Villa’s campaign in Europe will take something from them, don’t underestimate that.
‘It’s a squad that’s not used to that. They have young, talented and exciting players but they’ll have Europe to deal with. I can see Tottenham hunting them down.’
West Ham, meanwhile, remain seventh in the Premier League after frustrating Tottenham and Hammers boss David Moyes was content with the point.
‘Both teams put an awful lot of effort into the game to try to get the winner,’ he said. ‘It was a tight game, a London derby and Tottenham are a very good side. I thought the team did a good job.
‘I genuinely thought we didn’t deserve to go behind tonight. But the players did a good job.
‘We had a threat and so did they – they are a good side and that’s why they are challenging for the Champions League. Maybe a draw was the right result in the end.’
Tottenham’s main top-four rival Aston Villa return to action on Wednesday night against Manchester City, while Man United travel to Stamford Bridge on Thursday to take on Chelsea.
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