Green defiant after quality display

West Ham manager Avram Grant insisted goalkeeper Robert Green had silenced his critics after seeing his side record their first league win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Tottenham in an entertaining London derby.

Frederic Piquionne scored the only goal with a superb glancing header from a Mark Noble corner in the first half but it was goalkeeper Green who weighed in with a string of fine saves, including one spectacular effort from Luka Modric.

Grant said: "He is a good goalkeeper and it was a normal performance from him. It was a great save against Modric."

At the end of the game Green, who was heavily criticised for his World Cup howler for England against the United States in South Africa, appeared to aim a defiant gesture in the direction of the press box.

When asked had Green been harshly treated, Grant replied: "This is the life of a sportsman. I haven't seen any footballer who is good all the season. It does not matter what is in the papers he showed on the pitch that he is a very good goalkeeper. His performance was the best speech. I like emotion in the game. I don't want to be a cold fish."

Redknapp also admitted Green made the difference.

Redknapp said: "He has had a difficult time after his mistake at the World Cup but it looked like he was in great form again today. He made two world class saves."

For Redknapp there was the taste of defeat at his old club for the first time as a manager, but he was in philosophical mood.

"It is the first time I've been beaten by the Super Hammers," he said. "But I don't feel any worse losing to West Ham. I've had a great run coming back here.

"They started strong and their front two were a real handful. They worked their socks off. It was a great team effort from West Ham and it could have gone either way. It was an exciting game, end to end stuff. It was more of a basketball match. They attacked, we attacked and it could have gone either way."