Tottenham Hotspur had a huge opportunity at Craven Cottage today to gain points in what has become an increasingly scary relegation fight, but despite a second half fightback couldn’t get the job done. Tottenham went down 2-0 in the first half after a controversial seventh minute goal by Harry Wilson marked by a clear foul on Radu Dragusin in the buildup that VAR declined to call, followed by a banger from Alex Iwobi. Igor Tudor made a triple change in the second half bringing on Mathys Tel, Richarlison, and Pape Sarr, and Richarlison scored from a lovely Archie Gray cross to cut the lead in half. But despite a lot more attacking impetus in the late stages of the match, Spurs couldn’t find an equalizer and fell to Fulham 2-1.
It was a missed opportunity because all of Spurs’ relegation rivals — West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Leeds, and Crystal Palace, all lost this weekend. So Spurs don’t lose any ground, but it was a rare opportunity to get a step on all of them at once. Spurs once again looked timid and toothless going forward for much of the match, and it sure looks like Spurs are not going to get the expected new manager bounce from Igor Tudor. All points will he hard-fought and earned going forward.
* There was some speculation about Tudor’s formation pre-match, with some speculating based on warmups that Spurs would line up with Palhinha-Van de Ven-Porro with Archie Gray and Conor Gallagher as wingbacks. It looked to my eye as some sort of hybrid system based on possession, mutating between a back 3/4. But it was mostly just a back four.
* Conor Gallagher giving away a corner kick from a misplayed 40 yard pass from midfield is peak Spurs this season, isn’t it?
* I am FURIOUS about that VAR call allowing the push on Dragusin after Kolo Muani got a goal waved off for an obvious Gabriel flop in the same situation during the NLD last week. VAR sucks, the refs suck, everything sucks, and the inconsistency is maddening. What are we even doing here? It’s either two hands in the back or it isn’t.
* Spurs do seem to have a few more ideas on how to attack. The players still stink and they didn’t come off, but the ideas are there, and that’s more than we could say for Thomas Frank.
* I have complaints about Fulham’s first goal, but I can’t argue about Iwobi’s goal. Just a banger. Still sucks, and nobody closed him down, but whatchagonnado about that?
* Football’s a simple game. Get into the box, find an open player with a cross, score a goal. Excellent little cross from Archie Gray and Richy was wide open at the back post. Credit also to Tel in the buildup. I will also stick up for Richy in the scuffle that followed, Bassey had no right to hold onto the ball there when Richy wanted a fast restart.
* Conor Gallagher was ATROCIOUS today, is he possibly the worst signing Spurs have made all season? Also, I have no idea how Dominic Solanke could be out there the entire match and not contribute ANYTHING offensively. Terrible match. I literally forgot he was on the pitch for much of the second half.
* This is the slimmest of silver linings, but the good news is that all of Spurs’ competitors for relegation also lost this weekend so Tottenham didn’t lose any ground. But this was a huge opportunity wasted, and that may not happen again.
* This isn’t a manager thing. There’s no magic manager that can save Spurs here. It’s down to the players, and they look like they all suck and have given up. Even if they do manage to stay up, Spurs will need to do a MAJOR clear-out of the squad because these guys stink.
* Spurs suck, but the officiating was OUTRAGEOUSLY bad in this match. Honestly, the state of officiating in the Premier League has never been lower, and I can’t believe I’m saying this but I actually miss Mark Clattenburg.
* Next match is home to Crystal Palace on Thursday, and it’s hard to find any optimism about this match. Brennan Johnson hat trick, anyone?
See More:
* [Tottenham Hotspur Match Reports](/tottenham-hotspur-match-reports)
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