Tottenham...1 Fulham ...1If Spurs do qualify for the UEFA Cup - and it's a big if on this showing - they must hope to avoid French opposition. Fulham's Gallic wit repeatedly troubled Glenn Hoddle's side last night and Fulham might have registered an historic victory if Louis Saha had not missed two late opportunities.
Even before Darren Anderton was sent off for the first time in his Tottenham career, which brought the sides level with 10 players each, Fulham looked the better side.
Teddy Sheringham, who is hoping that Spurs will talk to him this week about taking up a one-year option on his contract, did his cause little good when he headed wide from Anderton's free-kick from the left as early as the third minute.
Spurs were caught cold in the 15th minute when Luis Boa Morte slipped in from the left to put away Steve Marlet's clever pass, though he needed a deflection from Ledley King. Perhaps Spurs had had their concentration broken two minutes before, when Martin Djetou was carried off after a clash of heads with Dean Richards. Fulham suffered another blow in the 19th minute when Marlet hobbled off.
Spurs can look ordinary in attack when Robbie Keane is not playing and Gary Doherty - a defender by Glenn Hoddle's preference - struggled to fill his boots. Keane will also miss Saturday's match at West Ham but yesterday Hoddle was anxious to dispel rumours that the forward would be out for six weeks with knee ligament injury. Without his inspiration Spurs needed a helping hand and they got it from Graham Barber late in the first half. Simon Davies was brought down by Maik Taylor, but the goalkeeper appeared to get part of his left hand on the ball. Barber cannot have seen it. He red-carded Taylor and awarded Spurs a penalty.
Martin Herrera, a 32-year-old Argentinian who had not previously appeared in the Fulham first team, took over in goal and was beaten by Sheringham's penalty low to his left.
Spurs should have gone ahead in the 63rd minute when Milenko Acimovic sliced over the bar from five yards.
Poor Acimovic then blazed over from just outside the box.
Guardian Service
TOTTENHAM: Keller, Bunjevcevic, King, Richards, Taricco, Anderton, Poyet (Acimovic 35), Davies, Carr, Sheringham, Doherty, Acimovic (Etherington 84). Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Thatcher, Toda. Sent Off: Anderton (73). Booked: Richards, Anderton. Goals: Sheringham 40 pen.
FULHAM: Taylor, Finnan, Ouaddou, Wome, Djetou (Knight 13), Davis, Malbranque, Boa Morte, Legwinski, Marlet (Saha 19), Sava (Herrera 39). Subs Not Used: Inamoto, Harley. Sent Off: Taylor (38). Booked: Wome, Boa Morte. Goal: King 15 og.
Referee: G Barber (Hertfordshire)
