EYEWITNESS: Dan Carrier's view on Fulham 0 Tottenham Hotspur 0 - FA Cup Quarter Final
SPURS were up the Thames without a midfield, and it was solely down to the absence of one man. Forget no Lennon, and Defoe sitting on the bench: Tom Huddlestone was the most conspicuous through his absence.
The big man has quietly ingratiated himself with Harry Redknapp and the fans this season. He has been ever present. Do you recall there was a time when rumours were going round that he was on his way? Such a sale now would be unthinkable. And without him at Fulham, Tottenham huffed and puffed. They lacked that simplistic element Huddlestone brings to the team, that ‘settle down now lads‘ pass to a team mates feet. As he has grown in statue alongside the helpful hod carrying of Palacios, we have finally made good the damage caused by the sale of Michael Carrick four years ago.
With no Lennon or Bentley or Jenas, Bale was pushed further forward on the left so Harry could bring inn Assou-Ekotto, which meant Palacios was alongside Modric in the middle. Modric in Hud’s position meant his more adventurous streak had to be reigned in, and though he did well, he lost his forays forward. On a plus side, Palacios put in a wonderful defensive performance, winning tackles and breaking up play – but his distribution meant his good work was not always built on by finding a team mate in a strong position.
The Cottage had caught the cup bug - its best away ground in London, and the Spurs end was a big noisy slope of sixth round excitement.
Back in early January when this cup campaign kicked off, we strolled past Peterborough 4-0. And its been a worthy journey so far - some wobbles to make it exciting but each game we’ve been worthy winners. But things are bubbling on the banks of the Thames at the moment, and the Roy Hodgson love in is loud and fun and good natured. They are advertising in their programme tickets for a game against Juventus next week in the Europa Cup. I have to admit, I’d like some of that.
It was a tight affair. Spurs created but lacked the final touch - working the ball for Bale to get wide and then bung balls in the box for Crouch and Pav was the order of the day. Kranjcar tested Schwarzer, while Zamora showed what an improved player he is since he left Spurs. He lead the Fulham line superbly, and but for an erratic compass on the end of his boots could have got his name on the score sheet.
The second half was not much better: Tottenham’s best chances were all through Bale, but his final ball never quite reached its intended target through the massed ranks of the Fulham defence. At the other end, Zamora worried Gomes a couple of times but Spurs were never really under any sustained pressure.
So it's back to the Lane for another replay - the third so far in this seasons FA Cup. Who said you only had to play a few games to earn a May day at Wembley? But to progress, the midfield need to make it simple without big Tom Huddlestone skulking about, nursing his team mates through scrambley matches like this.
Fulham:
Schwarzer (g), Hangeland, Baird, Shorey, Gera, Duff, Hughes, (Capt), Ethuhu, Zsamora, Greening, Davies (Riise, 72).
Subs:Zuberuhler (g), Kelly, Konchesky, Okaka, Riise, Smalling, Elm.
Spurs:
Gomes, Bale, Pavlkyuchenko (Defoe, 81), Palacios, Modric, Crouch, Bassong, Dawson, Kranjcar, Corluka, Assou
Ekotto.
Subs: Alnwick, Gudjohnsen, Defoe, Rose, Livermore, Dervite, Townsend.