Tottenham Hotspur once again struggled to put together a cohesive performance, drawing 1-1 with Fulham in their London Derby on Sunday. The match came with some notable absences, including Dominic Solanke, who was sent home due to illness, and Dejan Kulusevski, who started on the bench. Despite these absences, Spurs sought to create chances but failed to dominate possession or generate consistent offensive pressure throughout the match. Both teams had difficulty controlling the ball in the first half, with errant passes and poor possession play limiting their opportunities.
Fulham looked more dangerous in breaking down Tottenham’s press, and although they created several chances, Tottenham’s defense, led by Ben Davies, stood firm. Davies, who played with a black eye, was instrumental in stopping Fulham’s advances. Questions about how Fraser Forster would perform in place of injured goalkeeper Vicario were answered positively, as Forster made several crucial saves to deny Fulham, particularly Raul Jimenez, who failed to score despite multiple chances.
Tottenham’s Heung-min Son had an early opportunity in the first minute, forcing a save from Fulham’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno, but was unable to capitalize on a later chance. Another opportunity came from James Maddison, who aimed for a spectacular free-kick but saw his shot blocked by the wall.
The breakthrough came in the second half when Timo Werner and Brennan Johnson combined for Tottenham’s goal. Maddison delivered a well-weighted ball from 25 yards out to Werner, who expertly crossed it to Johnson for a first-time volley into the back of the net, giving Spurs a 1-0 lead.
However, Spurs’ defensive frailties resurfaced, and Fulham equalized through club captain Tom Cairney, who curled a shot into the far post after being given too much space. Cairney was later sent off with a red card for a foul on Kulusevski, but Tottenham failed to capitalize on their numerical advantage. Despite the crowd urging the team on, Spurs could not break down Fulham’s five-man defense, and the match ended in a disappointing draw. Spurs will now look to find some consistency ahead of their next match against Bournemouth on Thursday.
