Tottenham 2 Fulham 0
Ange Postecoglou’s side welcomed Fulham to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as they looked to secure a win that would take them back to the top of the table. The only points his side have dropped this season have been in London derbies so they would need to be wary for this one.
Tottenham had the first chance of the game as Maddison clipped a free kick into the box which was headed back across goal, finding van de Ven, who blasted the shot over the bar. He really should have done better, the clean-cut chance should have led to a goal.
Fulham had a rare foray forward which led to a corner where Paulinha was perfectly picked out but his bullet header was saved at full-stretch by Vicario to keep the scores level. The Italian shot-stopper is proving a real acquisition for Spurs.
Maddison was pulling all the strings in the middle of the park and as he threaded a ball out wide for Kulusevski in acres of space, he ran towards goal, before laying the ball off for Richarlison. The Brazilian’s effort narrowly missed Leno’s post but the keeper seemed to have it covered.
Credit: @SpursOfficial
Richarlison was then to turn provider as he found Son in space on the edge of the box, with Fulham failing to go with their markers, the Spurs’ captain took one touch before curling a shot into the far corner to put the North London side ahead.
He is starting to thrive in his new role under Postecoglou and is adding the goals that the side needed to start getting results. It seems the departure of Harry Kane is not the ‘doom and gloom’ moment fans thought at the time.
Tottenham were rampant after the goal and playing some neat one-touch passing in and around the box, which led to a chance for Kulusevski, but his goal bound shot was deflected wide for a corner when it seemed to be heading in.
Marco Silva’s side were the architects of their own downfall all evening. The amount of times they left Son unmarked on the edge of the box was unreal. It is not as if he is a little-known player but still the Cottagers felt he was fine to leave to his own devices.
As the ball was played into him, he held it up before laying it off to Maddison, who turned onto his right foot and slotted it into the bottom corner. You cannot give players like this so much time and space or you will get punished.
Bassey then mis-controlled the ball in his own box, gifting it to Maddison, but his fellow defenders were able to prevent his blushes. It was almost a second goal for Spurs’ new playmaker at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Credit: @SpursOfficial
Kulusevski then gave the ball away in the centre of the park and Fulham were able to advance, slotting the ball into the path of Jimenez. His shot was well saved by Vicario with the keeper determined to hold onto his clean sheet.
Tottenham held on for what was a solid and deserved win which took them two points clear at the top of the Premier League table. Fulham, meanwhile, will still be concerned about their lack of firepower in the final third.
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