Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith expressed his astonishment as Tottenham Hotspur supporters turned violently on their own goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario during Saturday's Premier League clash against Fulham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Disastrous Start for Spurs
The home side endured a nightmare beginning to the match, falling two goals behind within just seven minutes. Fulham defender Kenny Tete opened the scoring early, but it was Vicario's error for the second goal that sparked furious reactions from the home crowd.
The Italian goalkeeper came out to intercept a through ball but hesitated under pressure. Instead of clearing immediately, Vicario dwelled on the ball as his options diminished rapidly. His attempted pass down the line was intercepted by a Fulham player, who set up Harry Wilson to curl into an empty net.
Hostile Reaction from Home Support
Loud boos immediately echoed around the stadium, with numerous Tottenham fans seen making angry gestures toward the 29-year-old shot-stopper as he returned to his goal. The hostility continued when the ball was played back to Vicario from the kick-off, generating more boos whenever he touched the ball.
A few moments later, Vicario again chased down a Fulham long ball, this time opting to kick it out of play. This cautious decision drew sarcastic cheers from the Tottenham faithful, highlighting the complete breakdown in trust between player and supporters.
Expert Analysis and Historical Context
Commentating for Sky Sports, ex-Arsenal forward Smith remarked: 'Vicario is getting absolute pelters from his own supporters. He makes a complete hash of his clearance.'
Smith added: 'You don't often see that, do you? Fans booing one of their own, seven minutes into a match. Booing a goalkeeper as well, which is obviously a vital position for the team. The fans haven't been happy with him but they turned on him violently there.'
The former striker noted that while goalkeeping errors aren't uncommon, the timing compounded Tottenham's dreadful home form. He described the moment as 'certainly a low point of Vicario's career... 50,000 of your own supporters booing you.'
Tottenham's struggles at their home ground have become increasingly concerning. Their only league victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season came against newly-promoted Burnley on the opening weekend. Spurs have managed just three league wins in N17 over the past twelve months, representing their worst 20-game home period since the 1990s.
This poor run contrasts sharply with their final season at White Hart Lane, where they collected 53 points from a possible 57 - the Premier League's best home record at that time.
