Fulham 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur - Match Report
Its often said that the best teams can play poorly and still come away with three points. Thats a cliché of course but it proved relevant today as Tottenham came away with a 3-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage, despite their opponents having the better of the game. Two own goals, one from Chris Baird, the other from Younes Kaboul,a fine effort from Aaron Lennon and a Jermain Defoe goal ultimately decided the day. A good win for Spurs, but Fulham can count themselves very unfortunate indeed. So Martin Jol against his former club. The Dutchman did a good job at White Hart Lane, but Daniel Levy decided hed see if Juande Ramos could do a better job without the courtesy of sacking Jol first. He learned his lesson though when Ramos reign was ultimately short-lived and a tad topsy turvy. Tottenham have been walking on air this season with Harry Redknapp (who was still absent recovering from his heart operation) though. Theyve been overwhelming teams with some beautiful attacking football and occupying 5th place in the table with two games in hand could Fulham possibly come away with three points? Danny Murphy shook off an injury to start for the Cottagers and after being ineligible for their midweek Europa League fixture Bryan Ruiz returned. He could only take his place on the bench though as Moussa Dembelé started alongside Bobby Zamora. Andrew Johnson wasnt deemed fit enough to play. The only player older than Fulhams 39-year-old keeper Mark Schwarzer was his opposite number 40-year-old Brad Friedel, theyre the oldest keepers in the Premier League (perhaps even the oldest players?). Tom Huddlestone, Michael Dawson and Niko Kranjcar were all out but Luka Modric was available despite questions about his fitness. Spurs were largely as expected overall, Modric and Scott Parker an unbeatable mix of hard work and creativity, and Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael van der Vaart providing an overbearing attacking force (although Adebayor hadnt scored since the 18th September against Liverpool). Fulham kicked off and went straight for the jugular Steve Sidwell connected with a John Arne Riise corner to head goalwards but Brad Friedel managed to palm it away, it was inches away from crossing the line. The tide turned soon after and it was a Chris Baird own goal that put Spurs ahead in the 10th minute. Kyle Walker somehow beat John Arne Riise to the ball despite the Norwegian defender having a massive head start. He cut it back to Aaron Lennon whose cross didnt find anyone but Gareth Bale arrived at the back post to cross low and it deflected in off Bairds leg. Peter Walton didnt stop play despite Scott Parker picking up a head injury after he was caught accidentally by the arm of Sidwell. Fulham rather unsportingly refused to put the ball out of play at first but crumbled after increasingly insistent whistles from the away support. The unreasonable crowd then jeered when van der Vaart played it back to the Cottagers you cant win with some people. Fulham were getting themselves back into the game which was only fair as it was billed as a two team encounter. Sidwell played through Clint Dempsey who found himself with nothing between him and Brad Friedel, but he dwelt on the shot and in the end it was rather weak and easily stopped by Friedel. A poor effort from this years American footballer of the year. Aaron Lennon scored a marvellous effort to double the visitors lead. He played it to Gareth Bale who returned the favour with a lovely back heel. The Spurs winger then turned Chris Baird inside out before slotting it into the far corner, a great goal all round for Tottenham. There was an initial three minutes of stoppage time thanks to Scott Parkers nose, but it became 7 when Zdenek Grygera picked up what looked like it could be a serious injury after an innocuous challenge with Bale. Walton finally called time on the opening 45 minutes. But for Lennons goal it had been an almost unbearably tedious three quarters of an hour. 45 minutes Ill never get back I hasten to add. HALF TIME Some good link up play between Emmanuel Adebayor and Gareth Bale passing and moving and passing and moving. Bale eventually got a shot away but it wasnt well struck and trickled through to Schwarzer. Adebayor then tried his own luck from range but it was again easily held by the Aussie stopper. Brede Hangeland then connected well with a Damien Duff corner but Brad Friedels learned a thing or two in his 120 years of playing in goal and he reacted well to turn it over the bar. Spurs were actually having to deal with a bit of pressure. The visitors eventually caved under said pressure and it was Hangeland again who won the header from the corner, though in the end it deflected off Younes Kaboul and will probably go down as an own goal. The dubious goals panel will have a field day discussing that one but then every day is a field day if youre on the dubious goals panel. 2-1 anyway, there was still some life in the hitherto comatose fixture. Bobby Zamora created a chance on a plate for Moussa Dembelé, he held it up well before laying it off for the Belgian but his shot was straight at Friedel. He really isnt the most competent of finishers a real let off for Spurs. Chris Baird was then laid off from a free kick and blasted it goalwards, but Friedel was equal to it. You would have thought thats exactly the sort of situation youd want Riise striking it it. Perhaps Im still living in 2001... Clint Dempsey then had a chance, played through by the newly introduced Bryan Ruiz, he managed to take it around Brad Friedel but narrowed the angle too much and his shot went into the side netting. Sandro was introduced to try and stem the Fulham tide the Cottagers had had 18 attempts on goal compared to Spurs 5. Some late dramatics in the Tottenham area. A massive scramble and somewhere in there Friedel pulled off a great save. Kyle Walker also appeared to hold the ball with both hands at one point which should perhaps have been a penalty. From the resulting corner Friedel spilled it but Dempseys header from the rebound was cleared by Modric unbelievable stuff in the closing minutes! Adebayor then created a chance for Jermain Defoe as he played keepy-up on the edge of the Fulham area before crossing to Defoe who lashed it home aided in part by the leg of Stephen Kelly. And that was it 3-1 to Tottenham though theyd barely deserved to win it at all. Fulham were desperately unlucky. Referee: Peter Walton Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer, Baird, Grygera (Kelly, 45), Hangeland, Riise, Duff (Ruiz, 71), Murphy (Etuhu, 77), Sidwell, Dempsey, Zamora, Dembelé Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-1-1): Friedel, Walker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon (Sandro, 78), Parker, Modric, Bale, van der Vaart (Defoe, 66), Adebayor