Premier League - Fulham 1 Spurs 2

Published: 17 October
by PAUL COWLING

Fulham 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Attendance: 25,615

AT Craven Cottage, Spurs fans sang about being on a European tour - which is true: Milan's Piazza Duomo and the outside of La Scala (at least) will reverberate to Chas and Dave's 'Down to Margate' and 'Ossies Dream' on Wednesday, as their team face Inter Milan. 'Rabbit' might even greet the Milanese.
For those fans who can vaguely remember those European glory nights of the 70s under Bill 'Nic', this is what it's all about, and once you get a taste for something as grand as this; you want to maintain it. That means finishing in the top four again and again.
If Spurs are to do that, then winning tough games at Fulham are de-rigeur. And they did just that on Saturday: ending Fulham's unbeaten start to the season in the process.
But, it took a moment of controversy to come away with all three points from a reasonably entertaining game.
On 63 minutes, Tom Huddlestone found the net with a low drive from just outside the penalty area.
Referee Martin Dean initially ruled the goal out for offside. Linesmen Martin Yerby had flagged, having seen William Gallas in a clear offside position, but after consultation, Dean awarded the goal.
That decision knocked Fulham out of kilter, and although Spurs never really looked like adding to the scoreline; they weren't in too much danger either at the other end, largely because Diomansy Kamara was leading the attack, and the usually dangerous Moussa Dembele was off the pace, having only just returned from injury.
Kamara missed at least three clear cut chances to put Fulham out of sight in a game that took a while to get going, but to be fair, he did force Huerelho Gomes into a fine fingertip save to deny him just before the break.

By then, a sparring game of midfield dominance, and few chances, had  sprung to life on 31 minutes.
Ironically, it was  Kamara who put Fulham in front, when Clint Dempsey took the Spurs defence away with him, and pulled the ball back for the Senegal striker to thump the ball into an empty net.
He couldn't miss, and neither could Tottenham's Roman Pavlyuchenko with a similar goal just 20 seconds later - the Russian marksman was on hand to tap in a simple rebound, from Rafael Van der Vaart's  shot that cannoned off the crossbar. 
Some might say, this was one of Van der Vaart's quieter games for Spurs, but the imperious midfielder was everywhere for Spurs all afternoon, and he showed just what the equaliser meant to him, when he joined his team mates at the Putney End, where Tottenham's massed ranks were in raptures.
It's true to say as well, that it's a bit of a conundrum fitting the Dutchman, and Luca Modric into the same team. This was apparent in the first half, as Van der Vaart's magnetic passing was at the heart of Tottenham's play, while the little Croatian was almost anonymous.
But, Modric saw more of the ball in the second half, and was buzzing around, as his side sought to take the initiative from the home side.
Harry Redknapp dropped Van der Vaart into the second striker role behind Pavlychenko, and brought on Aaron Lennon and his ridiculous pink boots for the Brazilian Sandro, who had made a sound first start for his new club.
Lennon's trickery had Mexican left back Carlos Salcido in knots for the remainder of the game, where his quick fire passing saw Fulham keeper Schwarzer make smart saves from Van der Vaart and the impressive Alan Hutton.
Peter Crouch came on for Pavlychenko, but he and Spurs struggled to make an impact, as the game looked to be petering out for a draw.
But, that was until Huddlestone's low pile driver, and Mike Dean's decision to disallow a goal, and then change his mind.
From there on, Spurs comfortably held on to their lead; their only real note of alarm came on 78 minutes, when Salcido blasted over when Gomes failed to hold onto a dangerous cross from Clint Dempsey.
For Spurs, manager Redknapp was certainly happy with the three points, which took his side to within five points of top spot, despite having lost to Wigan and West Ham. "Everyone is dropping points, and if we can be a bit more consistent, then why can't we finish in the top four?"
Spurs fans will certainly take that. And as they kiss those passports and precious match tickets that say 'Champions League' and 'Internazionale', they will sip an espresso and quaff a Peroni to what could be a season to remember.