Match Report Fulham (0) 0-1 (1) Tottenham Hotspur Premiership Match Day 21 2223 at Craven Cottage Monday 23rd Jan 2023    KO: 20:00 Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire) Live on Sky Sports

Match Stats	Fulham	Tottenham
Goals	(0) 0	1 (1)
Scorers	-	Kane 46
Goal attempts	10	10
On target	5	3
Shooting Accuracy	50%	30%
Possession	53%	47%
Passes Success	82%	78%
Corners	3	8
Tackles Success	55%	48%
Saves	2	5
Fouls	10	10
Offsides	2	0
Yellows	1	3
Reds	0	0
source: SkySports

Harry Kane moved level with Jimmy Greaves as Tottenham's all-time leading scorer as his 266th goal for the club clinched a 1-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Kane equalled the record in brilliant style, spinning away from Tim Ream on the edge of the Fulham box and firing an unstoppable effort into the corner just before half-time.

Fulham had started well, knowing a victory would send them into fifth place, above their out-of-form opponents, but they failed to capitalise on their early dominance and Spurs seized control.

Kane had a golden opportunity to score a second and surpass Greaves' record in the second half when his close-range header was saved by Bernd Leno, but a solitary goal proved sufficient to give Spurs only their second win in six Premier League games, closing the gap to fourth-placed Manchester United to three points.

Fulham, meanwhile, remain seventh, the defeat compounded by the sight of Aleksandar Mitrovic having to be helped off the pitch after suffering an injury following a challenge with Eric Dier late on.

Following an 18-minute delay to kick-off due to transport issues for supporters travelling to the ground, the first half was played at a frantic pace, with Fulham initially dominating.

Bobby Decordova-Reid and Harrison Reed forced early saves from Hugo Lloris, with Mitrovic then glancing a header narrowly wide from Kenny Tete's diagonal cross.

Spurs were largely pinned back in their own half at first, only threatening when Ben Davies fired over from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's low cross, but soon they began to play their way into the game, with Emerson Royal drawing a parry from Leno.

Heung-Min Son was perhaps fortunate to avoid a red card when his studs landed on Tete's ankle following a late challenge, but he would play a key role in the goal not long afterwards.

Receiving Hojbjerg's pass in space, the South Korean turned and fed Kane, who swivelled away from Ream and arrowed a clinical finish into the far corner for his record-equalling 266th Spurs goal and 199th in the Premier League.

Kane had shown flashes of his threat before that, firing another stinging long-range effort narrowly over, and he should have had a second soon after the break but he sent his header too close to Leno, who reacted well, following a Spurs corner.

Spurs had surrendered a lead in their last game, the 4-2 loss to Manchester City, but a repeat rarely looked like a possibility as they defended resolutely and kept the hosts at bay.

Mitrovic threatened on a couple of occasions, firing a diagonal effort wide and sending a looping header over the bar, while substitute Manor Solomon produced a curling effort which Lloris pushed around the post.

But, despite six minutes of stoppage time in which Fulham continued to push for a leveller, Spurs held out, claiming a victory which boosts their top-four boosts after back-to-back losses against Arsenal and City.

Fulham turn their attention to the FA Cup next weekend, as the Cottagers host Championship side Sunderland on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

The west Londoners return to Premier League action the following Friday, with a west London derby away at Chelsea, live on Sky Sports.

The Cottagers take on Nottingham Forest and travel to Brighton before they end their February schedule at home to Wolves on February 24, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 8pm.

Fulham head coach Marco Silva: "It was a tight game, really tactical. Our first 40 minutes was a very good level. It was clear we were the most dominant team, clear that we wanted to be on the front foot from the first minute.

"We know they are solid and compact but even if you want to be dominant you cannot lose focus or organisation because on counter-attacks they can punish you.

"In the first 40 minutes we did it really well. Not many chances created but we had two good chances. We lost a little bit of control in the last five minutes of the first half and they punished us in one moment.

"Kane is a top, top player but we were not in a good set-up to block that connection with him.

"Second half we lost a bit of energy. They sat back with always nine players behind the ball. We lost some energy to find the gaps and spaces. We were dominant but we didn't create many chances."

After revealing that Kane had suffered with a fever before the game, Spurs head coach Conte added: "He was not so good but he wanted to play because he understood the moment.

"He understood he is a point of reference for us, for me, for all the players. With Hugo Lloris, he is a point of reference in the dressing room. Today I am really happy because I think he was rewarded with a goal.

"For sure, I would like him to win something important with Tottenham because he loves Tottenham in his heart and it would be good if together we were able to win something here.

"It's important for him to have this record, but I think it could be more important if we lift a trophy.

"I think we have to be dreamers. I said that today has to be a starting point for us. Many times, especially after the defeats, we can learn much more than a win."

Fulham: Leno, Tete (Solomon 80), Diop, Ream, Robinson, Reed (Cairney 65), Palhinha, Pereira, Willian (Vinícius 87), De Cordova-Reid (Wilson 87), Mitrovic

Unused substitutes: Rodak, James, Kurzawa, Chalobah, Tosin

Booked: Palhinha (15,f),

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Romero, Dier, Davies, Perisic, Royal, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Kane, Kulusevski (Bissouma 91), Son Heung-Min (Richarlison 76)

Unused substitutes: Skipp, Forster, Doherty, Lenglet, Sánchez, Sessegnon, Tanganga

Goals:
Kane 46 (Kane has equalled top scorer Jimmy Greaves' Tottenham record! It's classic Kane, as the striker controls instantly on the edge of the box, turning to move the ball onto his right foot and guding a low effort into the bottom right corner. FPL assist: Son)

Booked: Son (28,f), Romero (70,f), Bentancur (d,78)

Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)

Attendance: 0