Match report: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Fulham
Jacob Steinberg was at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to see Fulham capitalise on Tottenham’s montonously predictable failing to rescue a well-earned point.
Scott Parker speaks ...
“I was very impressed to be fair,” the Fulham boss tells Prime Video. “I thought we was outstanding tonight from start to finish. Everything about us ... with the ball ... just, everything about us.
“With what’s happened, there’s been a lot of talk but nobody really knows what we’ve been throught in the past couple of weeks. We’ve had players out there tonight who’ve had one day’s training, players in the squad who have had no training. To play like we did ... I’m proud of the team for how we performed under the circumstances but I’m even more proud of them because we showed some real quality today.
“We caused Tottenham numerous problems and to get a draw at the end of it ... well, you’re thinking maybe we could have won the game.”
More from Jose Mourinho ...
Asked if it is up to him to iron out these mistakes: “There are things that are individual, to do with individual qualities and mistakes. Basically I cannot say any more than that.” He finishes by saying he is “not expecting anything” from the transfer window.
Jose Mourinho speaks ....
“Three or four big chances in the first half to have a different result,” the Spurs manager tells Amazon. “The biggest chance was in the second half to kill the game with 2-0. And then we concede a goal that was completely avoidable. I have to admit that in the second half they played more but of course they were losing and they tried. But even so, we didn’t make a save and could have killed the game. Then we lose a man in the box in a corner, which is something that happens in set pieces, but this time it was in free play.”
More from Hojbjerg
On being reminded that his team keeps losing points from winning positions: “Yes, you are right,” he says. “You are right. What can I say? I’m just glad we have a game again in three days so that we can show we’re better than this. But I don’t want to say too much.”
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg speaks ...
“Very disappointing,” the Spurs midfielder tells Amazon. “I think we have to do better in different aspects of the game. It’s difficult to speak right now because of the emotions, but we need more bravery, more focus in terms of organising the team and being solid as a team.
“It doesn’t mean that you have to stand in your own box and defend, it means that the team is compact, close to each other, closes the line. We have to execute the chances - I had a chance which I had to score. There’s many details that we have to do better.”
Joyless and, apparently, a bit thick. Doing the same stuff and expecting different outcomes. Wasting the forward talent. One more time... I'd prefer to lose trying to win, rather than draw trying to prove... well, what? #COYS pic.twitter.com/Yc2QQosp46
— Danny Kelly (@dannykellywords) January 13, 2021
Post-match reflections: Not for the first time this season, or indeed the second or third, Tottenham decided one goal was enough and showed little or no appetite for actively going in search of a second, choosing instead to sit back and invite pressure. It’s cost them dearly, again ... but hats off to Fulham who took advantage of their hosts’ largesse.
Theirs was a very impressive performance, enhanced by some inspired substitutions from their manager Scott Parker. Fulham remain in the relegation zone, but are only two points behind Brighton. Tottenham stay sixth, two points behind Everton and surely regretting the alarming number of points they have thrown away cheaply from winning positions.
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Full-time: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Fulham
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeep! It’s all over at White Hart Lane, where Fulham have come from behind to take a well deserved point from a very entertaining game of football. Harry Kane put Spurs ahead, but his excellent header was cancelled out by an even better one from Ivan Cavaleiro.
90+4 min: Lloris lumps the ball forward, but it ends up in the arms of Areola.
90+4 min: The ball’s sent into the Spurs penalty area and headed clear. Son wins his team a free-kick just inside the Fulham half.
90+3 min: Kamara wins a corner for his side off Davinson Sanchez.
90+1 min: Joachim Anderson is booked for time-wasting.
90 min: Just before that disallowed Spurs effort, Kamara squandered an excellent chance to play Lookman in on goal, failing to look up and spot his team-mate’s excellent run as he dribbled down the inside right.
89 min: Sergio Reguilon stabs home a Son cross from close range, but his effort is correctly disallowed for offside.
88 min: Aboubakar Kamara makes a good first impression, galloping down the right flank and sending in a cross. Antonee Robinson shoots but his effort is blocked by Serge Aurier and the ball loops up into the air for Hugo Lloris to catch.
86 min: Fulham substitution: Ivan Cavaleiro off, Aboubakar Kamara on.
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84 min: A poor touch from Antonee Robinson sends the ball out of play down by the technical area, putting an end to a promising Fulham counter-attack. He puts his head in his hands and small wonder - if you’re going to do that, better to do it on the other side of the pitch rather than right under your manager’s nose.
83 min: Attempts on goal: Spurs 14-15 Fulham. On target: 6-4.
82 min: An inspired substitution, Ademola Lookman is bossing proceedings and pulling the strings out on the pitch as Fulham go in search of a winner.
80 min: Whether they win, lose or draw this game, it’s worth noting that this Fulham side is unrecognisable from the absolute rabble that looked like relegation fodder after a few matches of this season. Brighton, among other sides just above them in the Premier League table, should be very concerned.
80 min: A Harry Kane cross from the left is cleared from the Fulham penalty area.
78 min: Hugo Lloris is forced to dart off his line to smother the ball at the feet of Ruben Loftus-Cheek after more excellent play by Lookman, who had played his team-mate in after a direct run on the Tottenham goal. Make no mistake, Spurs are rattled and on the back foot here.
77 min: Tottenham substitution: Erik Lamela on for Harry Winks.
GOAL! Tottenham 1-1 Fulham (Cavaleiro 74)
Fulham equalise! And it’s no more than they deserve. Ivan Cavaleiro leaps majestically to plant a firm header into the top right hand corner, getting on the end of a wonderful cross from Ademola Lookman.
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71 min: Son is put through on goal down the inside left after Olas Aina slips. With Joachim Anderson in hot pursuit, he scuffs a low diagonal effort off the foot of the far post and into the hands of the mightily relieved Areola. You’d have put the farm on Son to score there. And you’d have lost it.
70 min: Ademola Lookman has a shot from a tight angle blocked by Davinson Sanchez.
68 min: Serge Aurier concedes a free-kick, bringing down Lookman about 35 yards from the Spurs goal, a little left of centre. Cavaleiro curls the ball towards the far post, but Spurs force Fulham back.
66 min: Fulham substitution: Ademola Lookman on for Kenny Tete, who’s had a decent game. Bobby Reid moves out to a wide position on the right.
64 min: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg gets booked for leaving one in on Ruben Loftus-Cheek, very shortly after the Fulham man had caught him with a flailing arm in the face as they contested the ball. Revenge is a dish best served cold, Pierre-Emile!!! Jose must have told you that.
63 min: Harry Kane squares the ball for Moussa Sissoko, who dummies it and allows it to run into the path of ... nobody. I’m not sure who exactly he thought was behind him. I’d like to think one of the Fulham defenders shouted “Leave it!”
61 min: Fulham have had 67% of the possession over the past five minutes of play.
60 min: A poor effort from Bobby Reid goes straight into the wall.
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58 min: Antonee Robinson sends a cross into the SPurs penalty area, but it’s headed clear. Moments later, Hojbjerg barges into Loftus-Cheek, conceding a free-kick just outside the Tottenham penalty area, a little left of the D.
57 min: Davinson Sanchez is penalised for a foul on Cavaleiro near the halfway line.
55 min: Another Spurs corner is put out by Tete at the near post. There was vicious whip on that Son delivery. Again Son sends the ball into the penalty area, where Winks flicks it towards Sissoko at the far post. Fulham clear.
54 min: Reguilon curls another good delivery into the Tottenham box. He tries to pick out Son, but Harrison Reed leaps to put the ball out for a corner. Son’s delivery from the corner flag is punched clear by Areola. Moments later, the Fulham goalkeeper is forced to save a curled Harry Winks effort from distance that was curling inside the upright.
52 min: Number of times Fulham have come back to win a point or more from a losing position this season? None. If any team is going to let them improve that record, it might be Spurs, given the soft points they threw away against Crystal Palace and Newcastle, among others.
51 min: Antonee Robinson crosses into the Tottenham box from the left. The ball’s cleared in a joint effort by Reguilon and Son.
49 min: Anonee Robinson and Harrison Reed combine well on the left side of the pitch before switching play. From a narrow angle, Kenny Tete smashes the ball into the side netting from a tight angle after Reguilon misjudges the flight of the ball. Bobby Reid is furious with his team-mate for his selfishness.
47 min: End to end stuff, as Ruben Loftus-Cheek has an effort blocked, before Moussa Sissoko finds himself dribbling goalwards in the Fulham penalty area, only to be blocked by a perfectly timed Tosin Adarabioyo tackle seven yards from goal before he can pull the trigger.
Second half: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Fulham
46 min: Play resumes with no changes in personnel on either side.
Half-time: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Fulham
Peep! He’s been subdued by his own high standards, but Heung-Min Son will go in for the half-time break wondering how on earth he hasn’t scored. He’s been denied by two splendid Alphonse Areola saves, but the Fulham goalkeeper wasn’t equal to the task of keeping out Harry Kane’s fine header from a wonderful Sergio Reguilon cross. It’s 1-0 to Spurs at the break, but Fulham have had their chances.
42 min: Sergio Reguilon is forced into a gallop as he rushes to try to cut out a cross to Bobby Reid. A poor touch from the Fulham man makes his defensive job easier.
41 min: Anguissa tries his luck from a long way out after picking up a pass from Robninson. His low drive is saved comfortably by Hugo Lloris.
40 min: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg finds himself in front of goal with the ball at his feet and only Areola to beat after excellent work from Son. His shot lacks anything resembling conviction and the Fulham goalkeeper saves easily.
38 min: Moussa Sissoko appeals for a penalty after nutmegging Adarabioyo and seeing the ball brush the Fulham midfielder’s hand, which was behind his back. Fulham survive the VAR check and it would have been incredibly harsh if they hadn’t.
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37 min: Harry Kane tries to play Moussa Sissoko in behind with a nicely weighted pass along the deck, but Tosin Adarabioyo is too quick for the Spurs midfielder.
35 min: Ruben Loftus-Cheek pirouettes on one foot and volleys inches wide of the upright from about 14 yards out after connecting with a cross from Kenny Tete.
34 min: Serge Aurier has a cross from the right into the Fulham penalty area cleared by the head of Joachim Anderson.
30 min: Fulham have rather wilted following the concession of that goal. THey shouldn’t be too disheartened - they were playing quite well until going behind. Ndombele plays a good ball in behind to Aurier, whose cross takes a little deflection off Joachim Anderson. Waiting to nod home his second goal of the game, the deflection seems to distract Harry Kane, who skims a header well wide.
27 min: That was a fine goal from Tottenham, incorporating as it did a wonderful switch of play from one side of the pitch to the other, an inch-perfect curled cross from the left touchline to the far post by Sergio Reguilon and a perfect diving downward header from Harry Kane.
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Fulham (Kane 25)
Tottenham lead! Harry Kane dives to steer home a wonderful curled cross from Sergio Reguilon with his head from about seven yards. There was no stopping that one.
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23 min: Son is denied again by another fantastic save from Areola. Meeting a beautifully weighted delivery on the edge of the six-yard box, his header is at a nice height for the goalkeeper but still takes some stopping.
19 min: Tottenham win a free-kick directly in front of the Fulham goal for a foul by Harrison Reed. Andre Anguissa then gets booked for preventing Tottenham from taking it quickly. Eric Dier eventually takes it and his shot is deflected out for a corner off the Fulham defensive wall. Nothing comes of the ensuing set piece.
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18 min: Alphonse Areoila saves brilliantly from Heung-min Son, who had stuck out a leg to prod the ball home from six yards after getting on the end of an excellent cross from the right.
17 min: From the corner, Harrison Reed plays the ball to his near namesake Bobby Reid on the edge of the Spurs penalty area. He tees up Andre Anguissa, whose shot from inside the area brings a decent save out of Hugo Lloris. Good work from Fulham.
14 min: Eric Dier goes down injured after stretching every sinew to get back, dive in and block a Kenny Tete cross from the right. He looks to have hurt his left knee, but is ready to soldier on. Corner for Fulham.
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13 min: Antonee Robinson wins a corner for Fulham. Ivan Cavaleiro plays it short to Robinson, whose cross is cleared by Davinson Sanchez and Ndombele between them.
12 min: Bobby Reid wins the ball in a good position wide on the right for Fulham, then cuts inside and runs straight at Sergio Reguilon. He shoots, but the left-back blocks his effort.
11 min: Fulham win a throw-in halfway inside the Tottenham half. Nothing comes of it.
9 min: Ruben Loftus-Cheek gets the better of his man down the left, before slicing a cross horribly wide.
8 min: Moussa Sissoko and Serge Aurier combine down the right flank, before playing the ball inside to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Tottenham are growing into the game after a less than convincing start.
6 min: Fulham advance into Tottenham territory again, only for Andre Anguissa to lose the ball. Tanguy Ndombele wins a free-kick, the ball is played wide to the right and then squared into the Fulham penalty area. Sergio Reguillon’s first shot is off target, the ball ricochets back his way and he fires high over the bar from an excellent position about 12 yards from goal.
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3 min: A bright start by Fulham, who win a free-kick about 40 yards from the Tottenham goal. The ball is curled across the penalty area by Ivan Cavaleiro, and Joachim Anderson and Tosin Adarabioyo try to connect. Neither can connect properly and Lloris gets down to gather.
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2 min: Ahead of the game, Jose Mourinho waited at the opening of the tunnel to greet his opposite number Scott Parker. There appears to be no bad blood between them following their fairly confected “war of words” in the build-up to this game.
Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham is go ...
1 min: Paul Tierney blows his whistle and Fulham get the ball rolling, their players wearing yellow shirts, shorts and socks. Tottenham’s players wear their customary home kit of white shirts, navy shorts and white socks.
Not long now: The teams march out on to the pitch, with Fulham leading the way, followed moments later by their hosts. The last of the pre-match formalities are under way and kick-off is imminent.
Jose Mourinho speaks ...
“We are prepared,” the Tottenham manager tells Amazon Prime. “We thought we were going to play Villa on Wednesday but two days ago it was changed to Fulham and here we are prepared to play a very good team.”
On Tottenham’s league position: It is not about the title race, it’s about winning the points that you have in front of you,” he says. “And now today, this is the match. We are not even thinking about the table. The table is quite strange because some teams ... they have one match postponed, other teams two, other teams play every match. I don’t even look to the table, I look to the match. It’s a difficult match but we are going to fight for the points.”
Full time: Manchester City 1-0 Brighton
Premier League: Raheem Sterling ballooned a late penalty over the bar but Phil Foden’s fine strike just before half-time was enough to secure all three points for Manchester City.
Those teams: Jose Mourinho makes four changes to the team that spanked Leeds 3-0 in their most recent Premier League outing, bringing in Davinson Sanchez, Serge Aurier, Sergio Reguilon and Moussa Sissoko. Steven Bergwijn is injured, while Matt Doherty, Toby Alderweireld and Ben Davies are among the substitutes.
Scott Parker makes just one change to the Fulham side that drew with Southampton on Boxing Day. Kenny Tete replaces Ademola Lookman, who drops to the bench. Tom Cairney and Aleksandar Mitrovic are both absent from tonight’s squad.
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Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham line-ups
Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Aurier, Sanchez, Dier, Reguilon, Winks, Hojbjerg, Ndombele, Sissoko, Kane, Son
Subs: Hart, Lamela, Alli, Moura, Vinicius, Bale, Alderwiereld, Doherty, Davies
Fulham: Areola, Tete, Aina, Robinson, Anderson, Adarabioyo, Anguissa, Reed, Loftus-Cheek, Cavaleiro, Decordova-Reid
Subs: Rodak, Hector, Kebano, Ream, Bryan, Kamara, Lookman, Onomah, Kongolo
𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 ⚪️ Lloris (C), Aurier, Sanchez, Dier, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Winks, Sissoko, Ndombele, Son, Kane.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 13, 2021
📲 The latest from @WilliamHill (18+): https://t.co/izjaDFJcJ9#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/45Zn3JDtPW
Scott thinks this is the best approach for tonight! 👔#TOTFUL pic.twitter.com/AwvUyPSBlH
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) January 13, 2021
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Tonight’s match officials
- Referee: Paul Tierney.
- Assistants: Lee Betts and Harry Lennard.
- Fourth official: Chris Kavanagh.
- VAR: Craig Pawson.
- Assistant VAR: Stephen Child.
Early team news
Having rested several of his big name stars for Sunday evening’s FA Cup third round win over Marine, Jose Mourinho is expected to make numerous changes. He will have to plan without Giovani Lo Celso, who is out with a hamstring injury, while Steven Bergwijn could also miss out with a knock. Pierre Emile Hojbjerg is also carrying an injury but may well be risked. Erik Lamela, who has not featured for Tottenham since being photographed breaking Covid regulations, may return.
Scott Parker has no injury concerns and also rested several players for Fulham’s FA Cup win over QPR on Saturday, a day when Josh Onomah, Kenny Tete and Terence Kongolo all returned from spells on the sidelines.
Premier League Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham
Rearranged at short notice after an outbreak of Covid-19 precluded Aston Villa from fielding a team for their scheduled match against Spurs, tonight’s match goes ahead despite Fulham boss Scott Parker’s reluctance to play the game with less than three days notice.
Originally scheduled for 30 December, this match was postponed a couple of hours before kick-off due to postivie tests for the virus in the Fulham ranks. While Parker’s description of the decision to play this match tonight as “scandalous” suggests a healthy outbreak of perspective might be required at Craven Cottage in times we are all being forced to make sacrifices, his frustration is understandable. Of course it ought to go without saying that his complaints were greeted with predictable levels of scorn by Jose Mourinho.
Fulham go into this game third from bottom of the table and three points from safety, while their hosts are fifth, the same number of points behind Everton. Kick-off at White Hart Lane is at 8.15pm (GMT), but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up.
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