Conservative Spurs caught cold by Cavaleiro equaliser
AFTER the war of words, Fulham did their talking on the pitch.
Scott Parker and Jose Mourinho had clashed in the build-up to this quickly re-arranged fixture but it was Fulham who made their point with a thoroughly-deserved point. They probably warranted even more.
For Tottenham, this was a familiar story as they failed to take themselves into the top four.
They went ahead before, yet again, sitting back and defending, inviting Fulham on. It must be infuriating for their fans.
The initiative was surrendered by Mourinho and accepted by the relegation-threatened side who were inspired once substitute Ademola Lookman came on.
Mourinho had demanded an apology if Parker fielded his full-strength team – the Fulham manager can argue he did not do that until the winger arrived. What a difference he made.
Was it the lack of time to prepare? Was it just the intent to try and win the game? Was it a desire to make a point? Whatever the reason, there were chances and there were mistakes.
A couple of opportunities, maybe half-chances, fell to Fulham with Tosin Adarabioyo slow to react after a freekick reached him with the ball bouncing off his shins and trickling to Hugo Lloris, and then Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s shot was blocked when he had time to take it on inside the Spurs penalty area.
But then Spurs racked up opportunities. And good ones, at that. It appeared to be them against Alphonse Areola, and, for a while, the Fulham goalkeeper was on top.
Finally, though, he was beaten. PierreEmile Hojbjerg switched the play wonderfully out to Sergio Reguilon with a raking 40-yard pass and the left-back
sent in a measured cross on the run between the Fulham central defenders with Harry Kane throwing himself to bullet a header into the net off the base of the post. Areola had no chance.
He would have had little chance, again, if Kane had kept another header down with the striker meeting Serge Aurier’s powerful whipped cross. However, he could only steer it over the bar from four yards with maybe the pace too much to control.
There had been a hug between Mourinho and Parker prior to kick-off – not advisable at present – and a clear effort at reconciliation instigated by the former, but there was inevitably tetchiness on the touchline.
For all of Fulham’s organisation and fine approach play they lacked punch.
Eventually Parker turned to Lookman – Aleksandar Mitrovic was not even in the squad – and he immediately provided an impetus, drawing a foul and then forcing a sliding block with Fulham sensing there was still something to gain from the game.
On 74 minutes, Lookman beat Davinson Sanchez, too easily, on the left wing and crossed – with Eric Dier caught on his heels – and Ivan Cavaleiro rose to plant his header past Lloris.
It was no less than Fulham deserved with Spurs punished for their conservative approach to the second half. (© Daily Telegraph, London)