Tired Tottenham Lose To Dimitar Berbatov’s Goal For Fulham

Tottenham’s challenge for a top four finish in the Premier League and a place in next season’s Champions League suffered a severe dent as Fulham recorded only their third win at White Hart Lane with former Spurs player, Dimitar Berbatov, scoring the only goal of the game in the second half. It also gave Martin Jol his first win over Tottenham since being sacked in 2007.

Tottenham Hotspur 0  Fulham 1

Scorer:    Berbatov

Team: Lloris; Naughton, Dawson (Dempsey), Caulker, Vertonghen; Sigurdsson (Defoe), Parker, Dembele (Carroll), Assou-Ekotto; Adebayor, Bale  Subs: Friedel, Walker, Livermore, Holtby

Disappointment for Jan Vertonghen [Photo: Jav The_DoC_66]The Tottenham team showed a number of changes from the midweek defeat in Milan. Hugo Lloris returned in goal and with Kyle Naughton at right back, Jan Vertonghen moved to the left. Michael Dawson and Steven Caulker were in central defence. Aaron Lennon was again out injured so Gylfi Sigurdsson started on the right of midfield with Benoit Assou-Ekotto in the unaccustomed position on the left side. Emmanuel Adebayor and Gareth Bale provided the strike force with Jermain Defoe on the substitutes’ bench with Kyle Walker.

Tottenham made the brighter start but Fulham worked hard and snuffed out any early threat. In a disjointed first period neither side was able to trouble the goalkeepers. Spurs’ main threat came on the left from Vertonghen who linked well to deliver a number of dangerous crosses but no-one was in a position to take advantage of them. The nearest Spurs came to scoring was from an early corner when Bale rose to flick the ball towards goal but a defender moved off the line to clear. Scott Parker had a shot from distance which went just over the bar. Sigurdsson sliced a shot wide when the ball fell to him on the edge of the box and after good link-up play between Assou-Ekotto, Adebayor and Vertonghen, the Belgian was unable to shoot when he received the ball inside the area.

Fulham had greater possession as the half progressed but lacked the pace or guile, even with Dimitar Berbatov in the team, to threaten the Spurs goal. Spurs weren’t much better and with passes going astray the fans started to get frustrated as half-time approached.

At half-time Clint Dempsey came on for Michael Dawson who had a hamstring problem. Vertonghen moved into central defence with Assou-Ekotto moving to left back. The match continued much as it had in the first half, Sidwell had an early run from midfield but his shot went wide without troubling Lloris. After five minutes, Bale got in a shot but it went straight at the goalkeeper. Fulham counter-attacked immediately on their right and from an inch perfect cross Berbatov put the ball beyond Lloris’ reach.

The visitors grew in confidence and within minutes could have increased their lead as Hangeland headed wide from a free-kick. On the hour Lloris had to come out of his area quickly to clear a dangerous through ball. Tottenham countered but the cross was cleared. Jermain Defoe came on for Sigurdsson but Spurs lacked any creativity.

Jermain Defoe – two late chances saved by goalkeeper. [Photo: Jav The_DoC_66]The arrival of Defoe and then Tom Carroll, brought some urgency to the play but Fulham were very well organised and gave a solid defensive performance to restrict Tottenham. Defoe had a first time shot saved by Mark Schwarzer after good play by Caulker and Naughton. Carrol had a run from midfield beating three players and he then played a ball towards goal but the goalkeeper got out quickly to gather ahead of Bale. Adebayor then rose to a Naughton cross but flicked the ball wide.

Tottenham dominated possession in the final period but provided little threat and on the break Fulham should have had a second with five minutes to play. In the final minute, Bale played in a cross to Defoe whose first time shot from a couple of yards was blocked by the goalkeeper. Fulham secured their first win at White Hart Lane in almost ten years and only their third victory since they first met in the Football League in 1909.

Fulham and Martin Jol thoroughly deserved the win for their hard work, organisation and solid defensive display against a lethargic Tottenham side who really posed little threat. Bale was rarely in the game and after taking a knock in the first half he lacked his usual pace or ability to impose himself on the game. Spurs midfield lacked any creativity and it was only the introduction of Tom Carroll which saw him try to pick out players. It was a disappointing display and result for Tottenham who drop to fourth with Chelsea’s home win over West Ham. They are now a point behind Chelsea who have a match in hand as have Arsenal who are only four points behind. We knew Tottenham had a tough finish to the season but it has just become that little bit more difficult.