Tottenham’s Home League Record Against Fulham
By Logan Holmes
Tottenham need a win against Fulham at White Hart Lane on Sunday to avoid three consecutive defeats and to maintain their challenge for a Champions League finish. Having had a comfortable 3 – 0 win at Craven Cottage last December, Spurs will be hoping to shake off the tiredness from their marathon effort in Italy on Thursday to take the three points.
Fulham were at White Hart Lane last May for the final match of the season. Like now, Spurs needed a win to keep alive their Champions League challenge and two goals, one in each half, from Emmanuel Adebayor and substitute, Jermain Defoe secured the victory but unfortunately not the happy ending to the season, that all Spurs fans had been wanting.
Tottenham’s Home League Record against Fulham (inc. PL)
P 40 W 22 D 16 L 2 For 69 Ag 30
Home Premier League Record:
P 11 W 7 D 3 L 1 For 18 Ag 5
Fulham’s first League win at White Hart Lane was in April, 1948 in a 2nd Division match which they won 2 – 0. It was the second of three home defeats in five days for Spurs. Their second success came in August, 2003 in their third season in the Premier League after an absence of over thirty years from the top flight of English football. They triumphed 3 – 0 in what was the penultimate home match of Glenn Hoddle’s time as manager. Defeat to Southampton in the next home game sealed his fate.
Fulham have proved a difficult opponents to beat since their arrival in the Premier League and Spurs can expect another tough afternoon against their London rivals with Martin Jol having an extra incentive for success on his return to White Hart Lane. He will also want to find a way stop Gareth Bale, a player he signed from Southampton during his time at Tottenham.
Last Season:
May, 2012 PL Won 2 – 0 Adebayor, Defoe
Adebayor put Tottenham ahead inside two minutes but the second goal didn’t arrive until three minutes after Defoe came on with an hour played to replace Rafael Van der Vaart. Spurs successfully achieved the comfortable win over their London rivals but in the bigger race for the Champions League, lost out to near neighbours, Arsenal, who took the three points they required at West Brom to finish third in the Premier League table. Spurs had to wait for the Champions League Final result before knowing that they had missed out on this season’s competition due to Chelsea’s success.
Previous Premier League Meetings at White Hart Lane:
Jan. 2011 PL Won 1 – 0 Bale
This New Year’s Day encounter was settled when Gareth Bale headed Rafael Van der Vaart’s free-kick into the goal, three minutes before half-time. It was a hard-earned victory and ensured that Spurs had taken maximum points from the three matches over the holiday period.
Jan. 2010 Won 2 – 0 Crouch, Bentley
A goal in each half secured the points for Spurs and brought to an end a run of three games without a win.
Dec. 2008 Draw 0 – 0
A rather dour affair with Spurs unable to break down Fulham’s well organised defence which wasn’t appropriate fare for this Boxing Day game.
Jermain Defoe has scored 3 goals against Fulham at White Hart Lane [Photo{ Jav The_DoC_66]
Dec. 2007 Won 5 – 1 Keane (2), Huddlestone (2), Defoe
This was the first of three consecutive Boxing Day matches against Fulham and while it was a goal fest for Spurs the others in 2008 and at Craven Cottage in 2009 ended goalless. Robbie Keane and Tom Huddlestone gave Spurs a two goal lead by the interval. Dempsey pulled one back for the visitors on the hour but Keane responded immediately to restore Tottenham’s advantage. Huddlestone and Defoe completed the afternoon’s entertainment.
Sept. 2006 Draw 0 – 0
Spurs were unable to unsettle Fulham’s defensive strategy which they’d set out from the beginning in order to get a point.
Sept. 2005 Won 1 – 0 Defoe
Jermain Defoe gave Spurs an early lead which suggested it was going to be comfortable afternoon but it was far from that as Spurs were called to defend for long periods as Fulham sought an equaliser. This result enabled Spurs to reclaim fourth place in the early season league table.
Feb. 2005 Won 2 – 0 Kanoute, Keane
Spurs struggled to make the breakthrough but after introducing Fredi Kanoute for Defoe with less that twenty minutes remaining the substitute scored the opening goal. Keane then replaced Mido and he added the second in the final minute.
Aug. 2003 Lost 0 – 3
In a dire performance from Spurs, Fulham were comfortable winners with a first half goal and two in four minutes midway through the second period.
Feb. 2003 Draw 1 – 1 Sheringham (pen)
Ledley King scored an own goal after fifteen minutes but a Teddy Sheringham penalty before the interval brought Spurs level.
Dec. 2001 Won 4 – 0 Ferdinand, Anderton, Davies, Rebrov
Spurs fans were enjoying an abundance of goals at White Hart Lane as in the previous match in mid-week they had seen their team win 6 – 1 against Bolton in the Worthington Cup. Les Ferdinand and Darren Anderton scored before half-time with Simon Davies and Sergei Rebrov adding two further goals in six minutes midway through the second half. Ferdinand’s goal after twenty minutes gave him the distinction of scoring the 10,000th Premier League goal.
Previous Meetings:
The previous occasion that Spurs played Fulham in a League match at White Hart Lane had been in their season in the 2nd Division in 1977 – 78. The match was played in September and resulted in a single goal victory for Spurs. The goal was scored by Chris Jones.
The last match in the 1st Division was on 26th December, 1967. The Boxing Day fixture ended in a draw with another C. Jones scoring both goals. It was Cliff Jones who scored as the match ended 2 – 2. Four days later, the return match at Craven Cottage ended 2 – 1 in Spurs’ favour with Jimmy Robertson and that man, Jones, scoring the goals. The following October Jones joined Fulham after ten very successful years with Tottenham.
The First Meeting in the Football League at Tottenham
The two clubs had met in their Southern League days but they first met in the Football League in a 2nd Division match at White Hart Lane in April, 1909. Spurs were fighting to win promotion and this win kept them on track, the goal being scored by Vivian Woodward who scored 22 League and Cup goals in the club’s debut season in the Football League.
Biggest Wins:
Dec. 1919 Div. 2 Won 4 – 0 Walden, Minter (2), Bliss [Spurs won 2nd Division]
Nov. 1960 Div. 1 Won 5 – 1 Jones (2), White, Allen (2) [Spurs won 1st Division & FA Cup]
Dec. 2001 PL Won 4 – 0 Ferdinand, Anderton, Davies, Rebov
Dec. 2007 PL Won 5 – 1 Keane (2), Huddlestone (2), Defoe
While White Hart Lane has never been Fulham’s favourite ground, they have proved difficult to beat and will not give Spurs an inch as they strive to take advantage of Spurs’ mid-week exertions in Italy. A London derby against committed opposition will be a real test of Spurs’ desire and nerve to recover from the disappointment of losing at Anfield last weekend and the game against Inter as they try to put their challenge for a Champions League place next season back on track. Tottenham will need to match Fulham’s endeavour and ensure they take any goal scoring chances that are created. At this stage of the season, only a win will do for Tottenham.