Published: 5 December, 2013
by DAN CARRIER at Craven Cottage

SPURS fought back from being a goal down at Craven Cottage last night (Wednesday) to grab three points through two second half strikes from Vlad Chiriches and Lewis Holtby.

After the match, manager Andre Villas-Boas said his side had got back on track after their recent 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Manchester City. He said: "This was an important result for the team. The win today was a big boost for our confidence. We had to dig deep to score two winning goals."

Spurs relied on goalkepper Hugo Lloris to pull off three world-class saves as Fulham created enough chances to earn a draw. Villas-Boas singled out his goalkeeper for extra praise. He said: "It was fantastic for Hugo. He needed a game like this for his confidence. This will help him. We know he is a top, top goalkeeper and when he was called on today, he proved it." 

Fulham started brightly with Tottenham's right flank looking particularly vulnerable: former Spur Dimitar Berbatov had an effort brilliantly stopped by Lloris on 20. In what was an open first half, Spurs quickly broke up the other end and Paulinho fired over when he should have hit the target.

Spurs looked at their best when Aaron Lennon was shifted to the right and Erik Lamela went left. Immediately both wingers looked more at home, with Lamela testing Fulham keeper Maarten Stekelenberg from range and Lennon attacking full-back John Arne Riise with purpose.

AVB shuffled the pack at half-time with Etienne Capoue making way for the more attack-minded Lewis Holtby, but until the last 15 minutes the young German saw the game pass him by.

Fulham took the lead on 56: Michael Dawson got in a muddle and was hunted down by Fulham's midfield. A through-ball found Ashkan Dejagah in acres of space and he drove home.

Spurs seemed stunned and were knocked off their stride, yet they found an equaliser from an unlikely source. On 73, Vlad Chiriches hit a clearance back towards goal from about 30 yards and his effort flew inside the right-hand post.

Spurs then had to ride their luck until the 82nd minute – Fulham played with more urgency – when the previously anonymous Holtby let fly from outside the box and hit a remarkable effort to put Spurs in to the lead.

Tottenham held out till the end, with Lloris was called upon to make three good saves while Jermain Defoe went close for the visitors.

Villas-Boas will say his side went away with all three points, and that is what matters – but it is still plain for all to see this side is still a work in progress.

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

AFTER the encouraging performance against Manchester United at the weekend, surely Fulham was the perfect stage to get some points on the board and some confidence flowing.

But once again, AVB shuffled the team – Mousa Dembele, impressive against United, wasn't even in the squad – and reverted back to his narrow system. For over a half, it was pretty painful. AVB got out of jail through two wonderful strikes, but yet again, his players didn't look wholly comfortable with how they were set up. Spurs have got good flankmen – they need to be let off the leash. Surely, after last night, the manager will ditch his inverted wingers and give this side the width it needs.

SPURS: Lloris, Walker, Vertonghen, Chiriches, Lennon, Paulinho, Lamela (Townsend, 77), Capoue (Holtby, h/t), Defoe, Dawson, Sandro (Chadli, 68).
ATTENDANCE: 24,128