Defoe's penalty yesterday helped send the Hammers a step closer to the drop as Spurs pulled off a dramatic 4-3 victory at Upton Park.

West Ham are bottom of the Barclays Premiership and lie 10 points from safety with only nine games remaining - four of which are against Arsenal, Chelsea, Blackburn and Manchester United.

Defoe was in the last West Ham team to be relegated, in 2003, and hardly endeared himself to the supporters by immediately handing in a transfer request.

Consequently, Defoe is jeered every time he touches the ball at Upton Park and was subjected to chants of "Judas" by certain sections of the West Ham support.

But the England striker still holds an affection for the club and he remains hopeful West Ham can pull something out of the hat.

"I'd like to see the club stay up. I have still got a lot of friends at West Ham. I played for the club, it is still in my heart," said Defoe.

"They gave everything against us. Unfortunately they lost the game. That's what happens when you are struggling at the bottom. You get no luck.

"We needed the points as well but if they could stay up it would be excellent."

What West Ham would have done to have a striker of Defoe's quality in their side during a miserable season.

Instead, he has been battling to regain a regular first-team spot as Spurs after falling behind Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane in the pecking order.

Keane was suspended for the West Ham game and Defoe took his chance to impress coach Martin Jol.

Tottenham had trailed 2-0 at the interval but Defoe kick-started the comeback by drilling in a penalty six minutes into the second half.

His poise and courage impressed Jol.

"To come back to your old club is always difficult but he is mentally very strong. He lives on confidence," said the Dutchman.

Tottenham have scored 14 goals in four straight victories and Paul Stalteri, who poked in the winner at West Ham six minutes into added time, believes Spurs can finish in the top five.

They are now five points behind Bolton and Stalteri said: "I have no doubt this team is a top five or six quality Premiership team.

"I said two months ago we had a good chance to finish fifth or sixth and the teams above us are having their bad run right now.

"The season is all about runs. We are on a good run right now and we want to maintain that to the end of the season."