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Justin Allen at SunSport |
Fulham (0) 0 Tottenham (0) 3
Jermain Defoe scores when he wants.
That was the chant from the travelling Spurs fans.
And they are not wrong. He does.
The little fella displayed his deadly finishing skills with two goals in five second-half minutes to send Spurs into fourth.
Defoe has already scored 12 goals for Spurs this season - plus another two for England.
This is turning out to be his best season ever. He shoots, he scores.
Craven Cottage had already been lit up by a piece of Brazilian magic - when Sandro hit a 35-yard beauty to open the scoring on 55 minutes.
But when Sandro shoots, he rarely scores.
In fact, it was only his second goal for Spurs.
His last one came 20 months ago.
Picking the ball up from 40 yards, Sandro was afforded time and space by Steve Sidwell to advance a few paces before squeezing a belter just inside Mark Schwarzer's post.
It will definitely be one he will boast to his grandchildren about.
But Defoe, on the other hand, is showing he is not just Tottenham's main man now but surely England's too.
His first goal - on 72 minutes - was a classic poacher's effort.
Gylfi Sigurdsson raced clear down the left, wrong footing Philippe Sendros to cross into the six-yard box.
Defoe was there, finding space to shoot past Schwarzer.
His second goal - and Spurs' third - was also of the highest quality.
Clint Dempsey, who was barracked by home fans on his first return to Craven Cottage since a controversial £6million summer move, played a beautiful pass to split open Fulham's defence.
Defoe was onto it like a flash, beating the offside trap and Schwarzer with a deadly finish from 15 yards.
The only blot for Spurs was the loss of both Gareth Bale and Michael Dawson to hamstring injuries.
While Dawson's is not thought to be serious, Bale could be out for a fortnight.
But confidence will be flowing through the team with three wins on the bounce lifting them level on points with Chelsea in third and West Brom in fifth.
Boss Andre Villas-Boas said: "When you need goals, Jermain is there for you.
Sometimes a striker may look distant from the game and not look dangerous for a great deal of time.
But he just has that clinical touch.
He is having an amazing season - he is highly motivated because he's playing a lot of games.
"We've had a brilliant week and there are so many people who have performed for us.
Aaron Lennon was again outstanding.
His work-rate was great and Sandro has given his heart to the team.
"
Dempsey certainly had the last laugh on his former club.
When he wasted a good chance in the first half, shooting wide, Fulham fans started goading him with chants of 'Champions League? You're having a laugh.'
It was a reference to his comments about joining Spurs because he wants to have a crack at playing in Europe's elite competition.
But you would have to say he looks like fulfilling that dream next season at this rate.
And the club he left behind are now winless in seven.
Boss Martin Jol said: "We gifted them three goals.
Our defending was poor.
"Actually we were the better side in the first half, but their first goal stopped our fighting spirit.
"We started making mistakes.
I never thought Tottenham were that great today.
They played well but nothing special.
"
Dimitar Berbatov was again brilliant for Fulham and should surely be playing for a bigger club.
He was constantly linking play and his tricks and flicks were a joy.
However, he does need another striker to play off.
Fulham created the first chance.
Berbatov sold Dawson a dummy before threading a ball through the Spurs' defence.
But Sidwell was just beaten to it by Hugo Lloris.
Dempsey then turned Senderos on the edge of the box but shot wide before Kerim Frei spooned over for Fulham.
Bale was booked for diving for the second match in a row after Sidwell made minimal contact.
Mladen Petric was twice off-target when handed opportunities to put the hosts in front.
But Dempsey and Bale did likewise for Spurs.
Sandro's opener then knocked the stuffing out of Fulham, leaving Defoe to move in for the kill.
SUN STAR MAN - DEFOE (TOTTENHAM).
FULHAM: Schwarzer 4, Riether 5 (Kelly 29), Senderos 5, Hughes 6, Riise 6, Frei 5 (Duff 62), Diarra 6, Sidwell 6, Dejagah 5, Berbatov 8, Petric 6 (Rodallega 79).
Subs Not Used: Etheridge, Baird, Karagounis, Richardson.
TOTTENHAM: Lloris 7, Naughton 7, Dawson 5 (Gallas 17), Caulker 6, Vertonghen 7, Lennon 7, Dembele 6 (Carroll 84), Sandro 7, Bale 6 (Sigurdsson 62), Defoe 9, Dempsey 6.
Subs Not Used: Friedel, Falque, Walker, Livermore.
Booked: Bale, Gallas.
Goals: Sandro 55, Defoe 72, 77.
Att: 25,426.
Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
Source .