Fulham home, 17.9.06

Last updated : 30 October 2006 By SpursMAD

On the goal drought:

Tottenham were jeered off for firing nothing but blanks.

Wave after wave of Tottenham attacks kept the crowd entertained but they lacked enough quality in front of goal. Pat Sheehan, The Sun

Tottenham possibly deserved a goal but half-chances came and went. Russell Kempson, The Times

That Tottenham had enough opportunities to have secured a victory will offer little solace to supporters.

To be fair to Tottenham, new striker Dimitar Berbatov was injured, but their lack of goals and general invention drew an air of dissatisfaction from the restless Spurs fans, who made their feelings clear at the end.

Mido had a poor afternoon, while Robbie Keane and, late in the game, Jermain Defoe failed to unsettle a well structured back four in which Zat Knight and Ian Pearce were impressive. John Ley, Daily Telegraph

When a team on which as much money had been spent as Tottenham had something approaching 75% of possession, they should have been able to break down injury-hit Fulham, but their lack of ideas and execution was disconcerting.

On this evidence the players now at the club are not capable of making up for Michael Carrick's absence, though judgment should be reserved until Steed Malbranque is fit.

Danny Murphy saw plenty of ball, but his crossing from the left tended to be aimless; Chimbonda, breaking down the right, swung in the more dangerous balls, but neither of the Spurs strikers were at their best. Robbie Keane at least ran hard, but Mido appeared to have shed much of his effectiveness with the weight he lost in the close season.

Fulham's central defenders, Ian Pearce and Zat Knight, protected their Finnish goalkeeper without too many problems. Richard Rae, The Guardian

Tottenham produced little creativity, zest or cutting edge despite enjoying heaps of possession.

The new faces haven't yet gelled and with Jermain Defoe mysteriously still not in the starting XI because Jol insisted on playing with a big man-little man strike force, Spurs did not score.

Tottenham's display screamed out for the intelligence and passing ability of Michael Carrick. Danny Murphy provided the midfield brains but soon ran out of ideas.

Mido rarely threatened. In the end everything Spurs set up they proceeded to waste because of poor finishing or lack of understanding. Andrew Warshaw, The Independent

On the frustration that currently surrounds White Hart Lane:

Fulham started brightly but ran into a defence that was bang in form, with Michael Dawson again outstanding.

Pascal Chimbonda impressed going forward but his crosses were easily mopped up by Fulham centre-backs Zat Knight and Ian Pearce.

Jermaine Jenas was at the heart of everything good for Tottenham and looked comfortable on the right wing.

While Fulham's defence was ripped to shreds often enough, they just about held firm — and emerged for the second half armed with a more adventurous spirit.

Fulham's increasingly desperate defending showed they were more than willing to spill blood for the cause.

A Fulham win would have been rough on Spurs but could have been the kick up the backside they so obviously needed. Pat Sheehan, The Sun

Only one month into the season, Martin Jol, the Tottenham head coach, has a care-worn expression. His side floundered again in the domestic arena.

Tottenham relied on Jermaine Jenas to provide both perspiration and inspiration. He did but only fitfully.

Fulham defended in numbers and rode their luck.

Jol's job is safe, for the moment. Russell Kempson, The Times

Fulham will be far happier with the outcome than their London neighbours.

The game was beginning to frustrate even the neutrals and only improved midway through the second period. Man of the match: Zat Knight (Fulham). John Ley, Daily Telegraph

Fulham began brightly, giving Spurs no time to settle. Jermaine Jenas looked particularly ill at ease on the right, where he was filling in for Lennon, and twice gave the ball away early on. At this stage Teemu Tainio and Pascal Chimbonda were too busy defending to give Spurs the attacking width they needed, but against a Fulham midfield containing two defenders, Moritz Volz and Carlos Bocanegra, Spurs began to take the initiative and had their moments. Man of the match: Michael Brown (Fulham) Richard Rae, The Guardian

It sounded more like murmurings of discontent than a genuinely serious round of booing at the end of this disjointed, fragmented contest. But make no mistake, the natives have definitely got restless.

Fulham came to frustrate Spurs and succeeded big time. Zat Knight was a rock at the back and Moritz Volz did a superb job out of position on the right side of midfield. Andrew Warshaw, The Independent