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SunSport |
Fulham 0 Tottenham 0
CRAVEN COTTAGE fans were sent home hungry after a goal famine at Fulham.
Roy Hodgson's men shut out their London rivals Spurs as both sides made do with a point.
After the stalemate, Harry Redknapp hailed stopper Heurelho Gomes - who completed a hat-trick of clean sheets.
He added: "Gomes did well. Fulham were dangerous when they got it forward to Zamora early and Gomes made a couple of good saves.
"He was short of confidence when I first came here last year but he's back to what everyone said he was before I came to the club.
"People told me in Holland what a great keeper he was and he's showing it.
"That's three clean sheets on the spin and that's important."
But Hodgson was sure his men had done enough for all three points. The Fulham boss added: "In terms of clear-cut goal chances I'd say we deserved to win that.
"I though our first-half performance was really good and we were clearly better.
"Maybe with any luck we would have entered half-time in front.
"Their goalkeeper made two or three very good saves and we scuffed one or two chances.
"Perhaps we were unlucky not to win but it was a good game between two good teams."
The game was barely a minute old when Fulham carved out the first chance - with Damien Duff taking a pop at Gomes.
The Brazilian then had to have his wits about him to keep out Zoltan Gera's crafty backheel.
Fulham were bossing these early exchanges, and Danny Murphy and Gera both then came close.
At the other end, Niko Kranjcar found the side netting as Spurs had a rare break from the onslaught.
The Cottagers then wasted a chance to cash in on their pressure when Dempsey dragged wide from close in.
Matters were more even now - but Fulham came within a whisker when Dempsey clattered the bar.
And Michael Dawson was almost caught napping by Gera as Hodgson's side finished the half strongly.
After the break, John Pantsil was booked for a crunching tackle on Peter Crouch - revenge after the striker had leant on him in a tussle.
Jermaine Jenas floated a shot across goal as Spurs made the brighter start to the second term.
Kranjcar was then shouting for a penalty after being up-ended by Gera - but the Croatian was left disappointed by ref Steve Bennett.
Bobby Zamora almost found an opener when he slapped Duff's cross against Gomes.
The duo then combined again to set up a great chance for Dempsey - but the Yank star shot tamely.
Late on, Spurs were handed an injury headache when Sebastien Bassong came off after being booted in the face.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Duff, Murphy, Baird, Gera, Dempsey, Zamora.
Subs Not Used: Stockdale, Andrew Johnson, Nevland, Etuhu, Smalling, Greening, Kallio.
Booked: Pantsil.
Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Bassong (King 90), Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Jenas, Palacios, Kranjcar (Modric 71), Keane (Defoe 71), Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Bale, Huddlestone, Pavlyuchenko.
Att: 25,679
Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).
Source .