Match Review: Spurs 1 Fulham 1 what can one say?
What a crock of shite. If we had any hope of challenging for the title, we needed to win games like this, especially against a team that are struggling at the bottom of the table.
Both City and United won their games recently. We are in sixth position and six points behind league leaders United. We could have gone third. I am so annoyed by our performance and result.
Let’s get the pain over with; the match
Their Ivan Cavaleiro scored a late header to earn strugglers Fulham a draw against us in this speedily rearranged London game. He cancelled out Harry Kane’s first-half diving header and came just minutes after Son hit the post in search of our second.
Thoughts
Mourinho had little sympathy for Scott Parker’s Fulham before this rearranged fixture because he was angered at the original fixture being called off three hours before that dates kick-off. Nevertheless, it was Parker who had the last laugh. Our next game is against Sheffield United, and even though they are rock bottom in the league, I have no doubt that they will feel confident after Fulham’s performance, and they are at home. Mourinho now has to rethink his tactics and team selection. He had Bale on the bench, but not used. Why?
We’ve had bad results against teams we should have beaten; Newcastle, the Hammers, Wolves, Palace and now Fulham. And what now with Sheffield United on Sunday? Shit happens, but this often? We are supposed to be a top Premier team, challenging for the title, or supposed to be challenging for the title.
Fulham made a bright start to this London derby, and Anguissa’s fierce shot, which tested Hugo Lloris, should have been a warning of what was to come from a side which is struggling in the bottom three. For Christ sake, they are 18, yes, 18 points under us.
Son was twice denied by Alphonse Areola. Granted, Areola could do nothing to deny Kane the opener in the 25th minute, after an excellently-placed Sergio Reguilon cross. Then we thought that this was the first of many; instead, we were left feeling deflated. Kane was off target with another header and Son was denied in the second half after he scraped a shot past Areola. Apart from Kane’s goal, our team was totally off the mark.
Reguilon did have the ball in the back of the net again for us in the final minute, but it was immediately disallowed for offside as we’ve now missed the chance to move up to third in the table.
Son, Kane, Lloris, Eric Dier, Serge Aurier and Harry Winks came back from being rested, so they can’t use the excuse that they were tired… They should have done better against the cottagers. As for Moussa Sissoko; he dithered in the box when an early second-half chance presented itself, allowing Tosin Adarabioyo to block. The French international should have done better.
Jose Mourinho, speaking to Amazon Prime, said: “Once more we concede a goal that is completely avoidable. I have to admit in the second half they played more. They were losing and tried, but Hugo Lloris did not make a save, but we did not kill the game. Again we lose the man in the corner. We have lots of opportunities to kill off matches. In other cases, especially away we are winning but then don’t have that ambition to get the goal and kill the game. There are things that are individual. There are things that are individual qualities and individual mistakes. I cannot say much more than that.”
Obviously, he was annoyed, and rightly so, but what is he going to do about it for the Sheffield United game? He did say that “we” mustn’t underestimate them. We shouldn’t underestimate any team. You underestimate the opposition under your own peril.
The statistics
Fulham and ourselves played out the first draw in the Premier League since December 2009, with us winning 10 of the last 11 encounters (L1).
We are unbeaten in our last eight London derbies in the Premier League (W3 D5), we’ve never gone longer without defeat against sides from the capital in the competition.
Fulham have drawn five consecutive Premier League games, their longest such run since January 2007 (six games).
Fulham have gained five points in their last four Premier League away games (W1 D2 L1), more than they collected in their previous 13 on the road in the competition (W1 D1 L11).
Only Brighton (12) and Sheffield United (11) have dropped more points from winning positions than us (10) in the Premier League this season.
Harry Kane has become just the third player to score 25 Premier League goals with his head (25), his right foot (94) and his left foot (34) – after Robbie Fowler and Andy Cole.
Ademola Lookman has been directly involved in five goals (two goals, three assists) in the Premier League this season, more than any other Fulham player.
What’s next?
We travel to Bramall Lane on Sunday (14:05 GMT) to face the Premier League’s bottom side Sheffield United, who on Tuesday earned their first top-flight win of the season against Newcastle United.
Well, that is it folks; hopefully, we have better luck next time. Take care, and stay safe.
Glenn
COYS!
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1950s. In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London (it was in the late 50s – as a baby – that my dad took me to Spurs to initiate me). I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books (and have everyone printed), Spurs handbooks (from 1920s onwards, Spurs programmes (since the 40s).
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
If you wish to read more of my blog, please click “here”