POCH LOVES A NOD AND A WINKS
Harry’s late header lifts Spurs after Llorente’s own-goal gaffe
AS TOTTeNHAM supporters filed out of Craven Cottage, a familiar tune drifted into the night, bellowed in honour of a homegrown hero who came to the rescue with a goal when they needed it most.
This time, rather than the usual goal machine, the name on their lips was Harry Winks, who appeared at the back post to score for the first time in more than two years after a long and selfless shift, deep in midfield.
Less than 20 seconds of stoppage time remained when Winks pounced to crush Fulham just as they were preparing to add a hard- earned and deserved point to their survival fund.
Goals change games, they say, but this one could have even greater consequences.
It certainly delivered a serious blow to Claudio Ranieri and his team’s vanishing hopes of a great escape and it gave Spurs much- needed impetus to believe they really can secure their ambitions despite a deepening injury crisis.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side are in third place with a four-point advantage over Chelsea, who they face on Thursday at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. Spurs hold a 1-0 lead.
Then comes the FA Cup at Crystal Palace. Next month, the Champions League returns. Spurs are alive in all competitions and yet the squad is wearing painfully thin in key areas.
The goal by Winks spared the embarrassment of Fernando Llorente, who was selected to lead the line in the absence of Kane and Son Heung-min and promptly opened the scoring with a goal in his own net.
Dele Alli levelled but for long periods Tottenham struggled to penetrate the Premier League’s leakiest defence.
Just as it seemed they would drop points, Winks appeared at the back post to head in a deep cross by Georges-Kevin Nkoudou — another forgotten man.
Nkoudou was making his first Premier League appearance of the season and his first in the league for Spurs since he came on as an 89thminute substitute against Bournemouth in October 2017.
He would probably not have come on at all had Alli not been forced off with a hamstring injury which leaves Pochettino desperately short of options.
With Lucas Moura declared unfit, the only attacking players on the Tottenham bench were Nkoudou and rookie Kezaiah Sterling.
Llorente looked every inch a player who was starting his second Premier League game in 18 months as a Tottenham player. On his first start, at Swansea little more than 12 months ago, he scored the first in a 2-0 win.
Beyond that, his contributions have been limited mainly to late cameo appearances when all else has failed and FA Cup hat-tricks against Rochdale and Tranmere.
Suddenly he was handed the responsibility of leading the line and keeping the season alive in a month when the 33-year-old Basque has been plotting a return to Spain. Inside 17 minutes, he had found the net. Unfortunately, it was the wrong net.
Llorente was back to defend a corner when he lost the flight of the ball delivered by Jean Michael Seri and could not adjust his feet as it bounced against the inside of his right knee and flashed past Hugo Lloris.
RYAN
BABeL impressed on his Fulham debut, forcing an early reflex save from Lloris. The Holland winger volleyed wide and headed over and was involved when Aleksandar Mitrovic had a goal ruled out in the first half.
Babel’s cross was volleyed sweetly by Andre Schurrle and parried by the Spurs keeper. Mitrovic nodded the rebound into the net but he was offside at the point of Schurrle’s shot and the flag was up.
Tottenham were fortunate to reach the interval only 1-0 down.
They were missing the goal threat of Kane and Son, on international duty at the Asia Cup, and the midfield power of Moussa Sissoko. Having reverted to a back three, they did not protect Lloris well. But six minutes into the second half, Fulham’s defensive frailties returned to haunt them.
Tim Ream missed his kick completely as he tried to clear from the edge of his penalty area and Christian eriksen was able to pick out Alli as he darted between Denis Odoi and Cyrus Christie. Alli headed in from close range, the 50th Premier League goal conceded by Fulham this season.
A breathless final 30 minutes brought saves by both goalkeepers and penalty appeals by both teams rejected by referee Craig Pawson, who also booked Danny Rose for diving.
Maxime Le Marchand hurled his body in front of a shot by eriksen and Odoi diverted an effort by Rose against the bar.
The best opportunity of the closing stages fell to Llorente, but he miscued a header from a free-kick by Rose and watched this chance of personal redemption slide wide.
Then up popped Winks, an unlikely saviour for Pochettino, who purred about the fighting qualities and character of his players.