Pavlyuchenko keeps Spurs in Euro hunt

Pavlyuchenko scored within nine minutes of coming off the bench and his 14th of the season means the race for seventh place in the Barclays Premier League is hotting up.

David di Michele wasted the best opportunity for the visitors, who appeared toothless in attack without injured striker Carlton Cole.

The main talking point of the first half was a trio of penalty shouts from the hosts being turned down. They felt they should have had a spot-kick 20 minutes into the contest when Robbie Keane's shot flicked up and struck James Tomkins' arm. Referee Martin Atkinson waved play on and did so again two minutes later when Keane went over in the penalty area under a challenge from Luis Boa Morte.

The third appeal was turned down when David di Michele challenged Vedran Corluka for the ball, with Atkinson deciding the tackle was shoulder-to-shoulder rather than a foul.

Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green was called into action twice in a minute just after the half-hour mark. Tom Huddlestone unleashed a drive from outside the penalty area that required a save. When the ball broke for Keane, England stopper Green used his shoulder to save as the shot.

Darren Bent then headed wide with the next chance for the hosts, just before Di Michele had one effort saved by Heurelho Gomes at the near post and another blocked by Jonathan Woodgate's knee.

Green did well to save a Pavlyuchenko header and then launched the ball up field and found Di Michele, who raced through but saw his finish saved.

Green beat away Huddlestone's fearsome drive but was helpless when Luka Modric fed Pavlyuchenko who fired in at the far post.

Green then tipped over a curling effort from Aaron Lennon and Keane had an effort cleared off the line by James Collins.