Fulham (Away) 24.03.2002

It was a strange decision to limit the number of Spurs fans who could go to this game to 750, when this was Fulham’s lowest crowd of the season.  However, they had more to sing about than the West Londoners, as Iversen, with a header and a volley, threatened the Fulham goal, while two efforts from the home side drifted wide of the mark.  The Cottagers started with three forwards in the side, although Marlet played wider than Hayles or Saha.  Spurs had slipped into a 4-4-2, with more solidity at the back the key and more work from those left in midfield.

Teddy had a weak header directed straight at the goalkeeper and then had his stroke of luck.  Bouncing off Legwinski’s arm and then Ted’s face, it was the break that the side had needed for a few weeks now.  It was one which he wanted to build on and when Iversen passed on to Ziege, he ghosted in at the far post.  The German did not spot him though, as he burst into the box and unleashed a fierce low shot that van der Sar beat out, but Gus was on hand to stick the loose ball back past the grounded goalie.  Teddy failed to celebrate as he was furious that the ball didn’t reach him !!

There were a few chances each way before the break and then just after the interval, King’s long pass picked him out and he was clear of the pack, but took a page out of Les Ferdinand’s book in putting the ball too far wide of the keeper and the goal, when he was favourite to score.

Fulham did get back into it, when a lob into the box ended in a tackle on Hayles that sent the ball to Malbranque, but his finish was way too high.  After 66 minutes, Goma got onto the end of a cross, headed against Sheringham, before Marlet hit the post with a header about five minutes after.  Luckily for Tottenham, the ball fell in front of the goal and Perry hacked clear before any Fulham player could pounce.

Spurs came a bit stronger towards the end, when Simon Davies slid a header wide with his first touch and Sheringham was denied by a defender’s knee, that deflected the ball away.  Ziege obviously fancied his chances as he hit a fierce shot that had some dip on it, but not quite enough. Even so, the jitters were still there when a Saha volley near the end was well pushed away by Sullivan.

The defence stood firm and looked determined to keep Fulham out, but the side still were giving the ball away too often.  Sherwood was good in the defensive midfield role, just in front of the back four and Ziege provided a creative  outlet on the left.  Teddy still looks out of touch and Iversen showed willing, but not much finesse.  Sullivan looked sounder than he has done lately too.

All together a valuable three points, even though it was not a great performance.  With a bit of application, the side can defend from the front, giving the defence a bit of an easier ride.  There will be even less to play for now, as these points virtually rule out relegation for Tottenham this season, but they should have their pride to play for.  Hopefully, that will be enough to show the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool that we can still match the better teams in the Premier League.

Patrick Brompton.

• Glenn Hoddle managed Spurs for the 50th time.