Tottenham Match Report:
By Ryan Wrenn
Fulham fell to Tottenham on Sunday at Mauricio Pochettino re-discovered their form after two devastating losses.
Harry Kane’s hat-trick pushed Tottenham through to the FA Cup quarter-finals, but this was a truly team effort.
Spurs set up in the now-again-familiar 4-2-3-1 formation, though this time fielded with much more confidence than other instances of late.
That confidence manifested in the form of calm ball control, diligent recycling of possession back into forward positions and Harry Kane’s wonderful trio of goals.
Some clever inside out play led to two of those goals and, indeed, proved to be Tottenham’s go-to tactic in Fulham’s third on the day.
With Heung-min Son and Chrisitan Eriksen in proper wide positions from the start, outlets existed when Fulham crowded the area immediately in front of their own goal.
When used in quick transitions, the wide play proved crucial. Kane’s goal came after a quickly taken throw in found Eriksen wide right, who then chipped a cross into the slide of Spurs’ talismanic forward in the 16th minute.
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A goal down, Fulham were forced to come out of their shells a bit more. This is the type of game in which Tottenham thrive, though the lead stayed at 1-0 through half-time.
With no need for changes at the interval, Tottenham began the second half as they ended the first. Fulham were kept from Michel Vorm’s goal, while chances got closer and closer on the other end.
Six minutes in and again Eriksen found himself with the ball on the right side of Fulham’s penalty area. A wonderfully lofted pass to Kane at the point of Spurs’ spear doubled the visiting side’s lead.
The introduction of Fulham starlet — and Spurs transfer target — Ryan Sessegnon midway through the half sparked a period of quality from the hosts. Ultimately, however, the Vertonghen-led defense easily kept the Cottagers at bay.
Matters were settled conclusively when Eriksen found Dele Alli through the middle, who then passed the ball on for Kane to complete his hat-trick.
Though Kane wore the captain’s armband and scored the goals, the star here was unquestionably Eriksen. The Dane was involved in virtually every chance Tottenham mustered. Though he tends to be streaky, this is the perfect example why Eriksen remains a locked in starter week to week.
Overall this match was, in many ways, exactly the performance Tottenham needed after two woeful losses in the last eight days.
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It wasn’t the flashiest or the most dominant of wins. It was cool, composed and efficient — which is exactly what Tottenham needed. The ship needed to be righted not with a jolt but with a gentle maneuvering through the waves.
Pochettino will feel justified in naming a strong squad here even if a do-or-die fixture awaits him in Gent’s visit to London on Thursday. He got the win and the morale boost Spurs so desperately needed.