Tottenham dropped more points at home as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw against an impressive Fulham side on Sunday.
After Fulham had spurned a number of glorious chances, some due to poor finishing and bad luck and others thanks to the heroics of Fraser Forster in goal, Spurs took the lead against the run of play in the second half as Brennan Johnson volleyed home.
But substitute Tom Cairney then curled home a stunner before minutes later being sent off for a nasty tackle on Dejan Kulusevski, as VAR asked the referee to check the challenge on the pitch-side monitor.
Both teams had chances to win it late on but had to settle for a point, as Spurs move on to 20 points for the season and Fulham are on 19.
Injury-hit Spurs let off the hook by wasteful Fulham
Before kick off Tottenham would have been gutted with a point at home against Fulham. At full time Ange Postecoglou and his players looked pretty happy with grabbing a draw. That was because Fulham carved them open out wide time and time again, plus Spurs’ center backs were caught out positionally and were dragged all over the place. Raul Jimenez and Alex Iwobi went close on multiple occasions as the Cottagers were full of energy and swarmed all over Spurs. We have to take Spurs’ injury issues into account here. Romero, Van De Ven, Vicario, Solanke and Richarlison were out, while Bentancur is suspended. That means Spurs weren’t really able to rotate from their tiring 2-2 draw with Roma in the Europa League on Thursday (just four changes to the starting lineup) and it showed. Fraser Forster made some big stops and he will be rolled out time and time again over the next few months as Vicario is out until early 2025 with an ankle injury. Fulham were excellent in their build-up play and had they had a bit more luck, or Jimenez had been more clinical with the multiple crosses which fell to him, they would have picked up a marquee win at Tottenham.
Tottenham vs Fulham player ratings (via FotMob.com)
What’s next?
Tottenham head to Bournemouth on Thursday, December 5. Fulham host Brighton on the same day.
Tottenham vs Fulham final score: 1-1
Johnson 54', Cairney 67'
Tottenham vs Fulham live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Dragusin clears off the line
Harry Wilson races clear for 10-man Fulham and beats Ben Davies. He then prods the ball back across goal and Dragusin clears off the line. Fulham’s other players couldn’t keep up with Wilson.
Red card for Cairney after VAR check
Substitute Tom Cairney tackles Kulusevski and he catches him with a high foot on the back of the calf. That is a nasty one and the ref is asked to go to the pitch-side monitor by VAR. He decides to send Cairney off. From scoring a stunner to getting a red card in the space of a few minutes, Cairney hands the armband back to Robinson and is off. What an eventful 20 minutes that was for him on the pitch. Advantage Spurs late on!
Cairney curls home a beauty - Tottenham 1-1 Fulham
Iwobi cuts the ball back to substitute Tom Cairney and he curls a beauty into the far top corner. What a finish, and he’s only just come on. Fulham have responded so well to going behind and now they will fancy their chances of winning this.
Smash and grab from Spurs! - Tottenham 1-0 Fulham
Wow. Fulham have been punished for missing all of those chances as Werner’s cross to the back post finds Brennan Johnson and he volleys home from close range. Spurs have been second best but they lead!
Forster denies Diop at the back post, then stops Iwobi
What a stop that is but Fulham should score from a cross once again. The ball is whipped in to the back post and Diop is there but his downwards headers is saved by Forster down low. Moments later Forster denies Iwobi’s acrobatic effort too.
Half time: Tottenham 0-0 Fulham
Fulham have been the more dangerous team and have really put Spurs under pressure in the first half. Tottenham have had a few decent chances but they haven’t been able to control the tempo of this game. Intriguing second half coming up.
Maddison hits the post!
James Maddison sneaks a low free kick under the wall and it takes a slight deflection which sends the ball onto the post. That was going on and would have been so clever from Maddison.
Iwobi hits the crossbar!
Fulham break once again and Iwobi is played in on the right side of the box. He clips a shot towards the far top corner and Forster is beaten... but the ball hits the crossbar and goes over. Fulham have looked so dangerous whenever they’ve come forward.
Leno saves superbly from Dragusin
A short corner into the box is headed towards goal powerfully by Dragusin but Bernd Leno does so well to tip it over.
Another big chance for Jimenez but Forster saves again
So easy for Fulham out wide again as they whip in a cross, Jimenez is unmarked but Forster claws it away from close range. Excellent save but Jimenez should be finishing that.
Porro’s low shot deflected wide
Spurs are finding their feet again as Son’s header sets up Porro and his low shot is deflected wide.
Jimenez heads over, then denied by Forster
Fulham have started to look sharp on the counter and from a corner Raul Jimenez heads over at the near post. Good run from the Mexican striker but he just couldn’t keep his header down. Moments later a brilliant cross finds Jimenez but Forster denies him from close range as the striker chested the ball down. Could he have headed that? Brave goalkeeping from Forster.
Bright start from Spurs
It has been all Tottenham early on, with crosses being whipped in and Fulham haven’t really got out of their own half. Maddison is popping up in some dangerous positions and Son was denied by Leno right away after Werner had won the ball back.
Tottenham lineup
Forster; Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Johnson, Son, Werner
Fulham lineup
Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Berge; Iwobi, Smith Rowe, Nelson; Jimenez
How to watch Tottenham vs Fulham live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 8:30am ET Sunday
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — North London
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Tottenham Hotspur team news, focus
Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison are in fantastic form, as Spurs are producing chances by the dozen. Ange Postecoglou, so far, has dealt well with injuries to his back line, too.
OUT: Guglielmo Vicario (fractured ankle), Micky van de Ven (hamstring), Wilson Odobert (thigh), Mikey Moore (illness), Richarlison (thigh), Rodrigo Bentancur (suspension) | QUESTIONABLE: Cristian Romero (toe)
Fulham team news, focus
Fulham are also a team with playmakers playing well. Emile Smith Rowe and Andreas Pereira are among the league’s brighter performers in terms of putting teammates in scoring positions. Alex Iwobi has also had a strong first third of the season.
OUT: Harrison Reed (knee), Joachim Andersen (calf), Jorge Cuenca (knock) | QUESTIONABLE: Sander Berge (knock)
Tottenham vs Fulham prediction
Spurs have more finishers firing at the moment, and the home crowd will suit them. But Fulham will certainly challenge Tottenham’s back line and many would back both sides to get the ball over the line. Tottenham 2-1 Fulham
Tottenham vs Fulham preview
Spurs’ 19 points have them sixth, one point and three places above the visiting Cottagers. And there will be some extra animus at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Fulham boast several ex-Arsenal players: Emile Smith Rowe, Alex Iwobi, Bernd Leno, and Reiss Nelson. The table remains terrible congested, with third place within three points of Spurs and 13th place just three points below Fulham.
No club in the Premier League has scored more goals than Tottenham this season, their 27 three more than the next closest club, while Fulham have scored as many goals as they’ve conceded (17).
Either London rival could finish the weekend in the top-four conversation or in the bottom half of the table, as this is a true separator in Week 13 of the 2024-25 Premier League season.
