Match Report
Fulham (0) 0-1 (1)Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League Match Day 27 2021 at Craven Cottage
Thursday 4th March 2021 KO: 18:00
Referee:
David Coote (Nottinghamshire)
Live on BT Sports
|
The fact Tottenham didn’t deserve their win here at Fulham won’t cause Jose Mourinho to lose any sleep.
Three points is three points in the race for Champions League qualification.
Yet, even the Special One can’t deny his team flew by the seat of their pants at Craven Cottage.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Tottenham |
| Goals |
(0) 0 |
1 (1) |
|
| Scorers |
- |
Adarabioyo 19 (og) |
|
| Goal attempts |
11 |
9 |
| On target |
3 |
2 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
27% |
22% |
| Possession |
59% |
41% |
| Passes Success |
83% |
73% |
| Corners |
4 |
1 |
| Tackles Success
| 55% |
48% |
| Saves |
2 |
3 |
| Fouls |
13 |
9 |
| Offsides |
4 |
2 |
| Yellows |
2 |
1 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Fulham, in contrast, will be asking themselves what they’ve done to deserve what befell them.
Trailing courtesy of Tosin Adarabioyo’s own goal, Fulham thought they’d grabbed what would have been a fully deserved equaliser when Jose Maya fired home.
But in season of ludicrous decisions, the one Fulham suffered could be the most ridiculous of the lot.
It’s no exaggeration to say Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez blasted the ball at Mario Lemina’s arm, which was firmly by his side, before the ball ricocheted to Maya.
Not that any of that mattered to Jarred Gillett at Stockley Park or on-field referee David Coote who collaborated to provide the latest travesty that has turned this season into a mockery.
Fulham didn’t deserve this. Even against a team consisting of Harry Kane, Heung-min Son, Gareth Bale and Dele Alli - who was making is first Premier League start since the opening day - Parker’s men were brave and inventive.
But they were rewarded with injustice and, more pertinently, another blow to their survival hopes.
Fulham’s promise was optimised by Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s searing run through the heart of Tottenham in the first minute that ended with Harrison Reed firing wildly over the bar from distance.
A couple of minutes later Antonee Robinson fired an arcing effort narrowly wide of Hugo Lloris’ far post.
Fulham’s start was certainly encouraging; not that you’d have known it looking at their manager - Parker, arms crossed, emotionless in his technical area.
Perhaps he knew was about to come as Tottenham, eventually, turn their engines on.
First, Bale saw his close range effort saved from Alphonse Areola before Kane missed a glorious headed opportunity.
Kane’s miss was surprising, the fact Son was the architect of both opportunities less so.
Indeed, it wasn’t like Fulham hadn’t been warned when the Korean manufactured Tottenham’s opener in the 19th minute.
Alli missed his attempted flicked finish from his colleague’s square pass, unfortunately for Fulham however, Adarabioyo didn’t as the defender applied the finishing touch through his own goal.
Fulham survived a VAR penalty check when Kane fell in the area before Son squandered another excellent opportunity with a back post header he really should have taken.
Parker’s team were teetering, but credit to them for sticking to their passing principles - easier said than done when Bale, Kane, Son and Alli are hunting you down baying for blood.
And the Cottagers missed a golden opportunity to haul themselves level seconds before the break when Lemina fired over the bar after Maya laid the ball back to him. An ounce of composure and Fulham would have been level.
Yet, despite the scoreline, Parker wouldn’t have been too dejected at half-time; his team were well in the game.
Mourinho, in contrast, would have been pondering, no for the first time, if their inability to add to their advantage would cost them once again.
Indeed, the Portuguese’s heart was in his mouth in the 52nd minute when Lloris was forced to tip Joachim Andersen’s header from Ivan Cavaleiro’s free kick over the bar.
The Tottenham keeper was required again from the resultant corner, the Frenchman denying Adarabioyo’s header.
All of a sudden Fulham were purring again; but unlocking the door, as it so often has this season, was causing a problem.
Loftus-Cheek thought he was through on goal in the 60th minute only for Sanchez to make a timely interception.
The Chelsea loanee then fired high and wide from the edge of the box as Fulham pressed.
Then arrived the moment that will cause Parker sleepless nights.
Fulham were fuming, and rightly so. Tottenham were very fortunate, not even Mourinho could deny that.
Parker tried to cajole his players but recovering from injustices such as this is easier said than done.
Shouts of ‘we go again’ emanated for the Fulham bench, but they never recovered.
They continued lay siege to Spurs’ goal but by the end they were running out of ideas - and luck.
Fulham: Areola, Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Robinson (Bryan 75), Reed, Lemina, Cavaleiro (MitroviC 71), Lookman, Maja, Loftus-Cheek (Anguissa 64)
Unused substitutes: Fabri, Tete, Ream, De Cordova-Reid, Onomah, Kongolo.
Booked: Lookman (39,f), Reed (94,f)
Tottenham Hotspur : Lloris, Doherty, Alderwiereld, Sanchez, Davies, Hojbjerg, Ndombele (Lamela 75), Bale (Moura 67), Alli (Sissoko 67), Son, Kane
Unused substitutes: Hart, Reguilon, Winks, Dier, Tanganga, Vinicius.
Goals:
Adarabioyo 19 OG (Alli picks up the ball in midfield before picking out Son on the left. It's then a driving run from the forward once again, who sends a fizzing cross in. Alli then flicks it on but it actually bounced off the leg of Adarabioyo before beating Areola. )
Booked: Bale (45,f),
Referee:
David Coote (Nottinghamshire)
Attendance: 0