Fulham delivered a devastating early blow to secure a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, plunging Spurs manager Thomas Frank into a deepening crisis at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Lightning Start Seals the Points
The match was effectively decided within a breathtaking six-minute spell. Kenny Tete broke the deadlock early, firing Fulham into the lead after a deflection off Destiny Udogie wrong-footed the Tottenham defence. The goal originated from neat work by Samuel Chukwueze, who left Pedro Porro and Archie Gray tangled.
Before the home fans could process the setback, Fulham struck again. A disastrous mis-kick from Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who was caught well outside his area, was pounced upon. The ball fell to Josh King, who teed up Harry Wilson for a sublime lob over the stranded keeper. Marco Silva and his coaching staff celebrated wildly on the touchline as the home support turned on their team.
Spurs' Struggles and a Faint Revival
Tottenham's performance in the first half was abject. Their attacking play was static and unconvincing, with the promising partnership between Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani from a midweek defeat in Paris failing to materialise. The team left the pitch at half-time to a chorus of boos, with their first-half expected goals (xG) tally a miserly 0.07.
After the break, Fulham, mindful of their poor away record which had seen them take just one point from six previous travels, began to sit deeper. Tottenham found a lifeline when Mohammed Kudus smashed a right-footed shot past Bernd Leno, whose response was less than convincing, setting up a tense final half-hour.
Spurs manager Thomas Frank threw on Wilson Odobert, Xavi Simons, and Rodrigo Bentancur in a desperate search for an equaliser. The pressure built, and Raúl Jiménez was forced to clear a Lucas Bergvall header off the line. However, Tottenham's renewed purpose was undermined by a lack of coherency, and their revival mission ultimately faded alongside the spirits of the departing home fans.
Managerial Pressure Intensifies
This defeat, following a demolition by Arsenal and another loss in Paris, leaves Thomas Frank's position looking increasingly precarious. Appointed by the previous regime of Daniel Levy, he is vulnerable to a fresh ownership group known for being trigger-happy with inherited managers.
For Marco Silva's Fulham, this was a landmark victory, overcoming their travel sickness in style. For Tottenham, the result underscores a profound struggle at home; their last win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium came on the opening weekend of the season, the same day Fulham earned their only previous away point.
