Spurs were held to a draw as Tom Cairney cancelled out Brennan Johnson's strike
Ange Postecoglou praised his players after fielding a makeshift defence again
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By MATT BARLOW
Published: 14:38 EST, 1 December 2024 | Updated: 14:38 EST, 1 December 2024
Ange Postecoglou complained about the Premier League’s string section after watching Tottenham play second fiddle to Fulham.
“I’ve seen so much violin playing over one centre-back out but we’re just supposed to get on with it,” grumbled Postecoglou, leaving his audience to wonder if he was hinting at Manchester City without Ruben Dias or Liverpool without Ibrahima Konate.
“There aren’t too many teams playing with both centre backs out. But I love the character they’re showing. I love the fact they’re not seeking excuses or wanting me to make allowances, and I need to acknowledge the massive effort all these guys are putting in.”
Postecoglou hailed his makeshift defensive unit but Spurs were mostly off key going forward, rarely fluent and hardly creating a chance through seven minutes of added time against a team of 10 men with Tom Cairney sent off soon after scoring the equaliser.
The final whistle was greeted by smattering of boos. Tottenham have won one of their last five, although it was a 4-0 win at Manchester City.
“We’ve copped a couple of significant blows since then,” said Postecoglou. “It’s too easy to say, well, let’s just play like we did against Man City every game. Somehow, again, it seems with this club that whatever we do well is used as a millstone to bring us down at every other opportunity.”
Ange Postecoglou praised his Tottenham players following their 1-1 draw with Fulham
Postecoglou was forced to field a makeshift defence of Radu Dragusin (pictured) and Ben Davies again amid injuries
Injuries are undoubtedly having an impact on a team designed to play at an intense tempo. That was clear with a glance at the subs’ bench. And there was another injury with Archie Gray forced off with a dead-leg soon after coming on.
Dominic Solanke was sent home unwell before kick-off and Spurs missed his physical presence, yet take nothing from Fulham. This was a splendid display from a team crossing London with problems of their own.
Andreas Pereira was absent amid a storm around an interview in his native Brazil, talking regretfully about moves to Marseille and Nottingham Forest which did not materialise, and casting doubt on his future at Craven Cottage.
Pereira issued a pre-match pledge that he was committed to the club, while Silva said “he was not ready” to play and that his absence for the first time this season had been “a technical decision”.
Fulham were controlled and cohesive though, after surviving a scare within the first minute when Bernd Leno saved from Heung-min Son. Fraser Forster made saves to frustrate Raul Jimenez and Issa Diop. Alex Iwobi crashed an effort against the bar, near the end of the first half.
James Maddison clipped the outside of a post in first-half stoppage-time, with a clever free-kick driven low as Fulham’s defensive wall jumped, and Brennan Johnson fired Tottenham ahead in the second half.
Silva’s team were on top but caught out at the back, with Johnson capitalising on space vacated by one of Antonee Robinson’s various forays upfield.
Spurs worked the ball briskly to left through Son and Maddison before Timo Werner clipped a pass back across to Johnson, who made no mistake on the volley. This has become his trademark goal, a first-time finish at speed cutting inside from the right.
Brennan Johnson fired Tottenham nine minutes into the second half on Sunday
Fulham refused to panic and levelled through Cairney, who had only been on for five minutes
Fulham refused to panic and levelled through Cairney, who had only been on for five minutes when he slammed in a left-footer from 15 yards at the end of a patient passing move and a lay-off by Iwobi.
It was his first goal for nearly a year although his delight vanished when his foul from behind on Dejan Kulusevski in midfield was picked up by VAR.
Referee Darren Bond pulled out his yellow card before a referral to his monitor because Cairney caught Kulusevski midcalf with his studs. “We all know Tom is not a malicious player,” said Silva but had to admit it did not look good on the slow-motion replays.
The card was upgraded to a red and the contest faded out, a point each leaving the two clubs a point apart and one happier than the other.