Once again, Tottenham Hotspur played sluggish and poorly in a Premier League game following a Europa League contest, this time resulting in a 2-0 loss to Fulham on Sunday.
The first half of the match wasn’t an easy watch as both sides wrestled poorly in possession, and when Fulham would find its groove, the lasting minutes of the half saw Antonee Robinson sending balls into the box from the left side. For Spurs, the strongest moment came from Mathys Tel off the left wing. Taking on two Fulham defenders, Tel worked his way in and out of the defense for a chance to square up a ball across the six-yard box. With Dominic Solanke peeling back to the middle and the ball going towards the back post, the run from Brennan Johnson was minimal as his typical sprints to the back post would have given Spurs a 1-0 lead into the half.
But as neither side could score the opening goal, Spurs made changes to begin the half. Lucas Bergvall and Son Heung-min came on for Bissouma and Johnson. Bringing the energy of the new faces on the pitch, Spurs created chances in the final third with free kicks and corners delivered into the box.
The game really turned in the direction of Fulham’s when Crisitan Romero was subbed off for the likes of James Maddison. Continuing to manage the minutes of the center backs — as Micky van de Ven sat on the bench — Fulham flipped the game for good after the 68th-minute sub.
Feeling the momentum and looking for the opening goal, Fulham had a big chance. Willian went for a picture-esque finish, his curling shot to the far post going just wide of the far post.
As Spurs were looking to hold on in the final 20 minutes for a draw, Fulham finally got the opening goal, which started off a poor turnover from Wilson Odobert. Knicking the ball loose of the Frenchman, Willian gave the ball to Robinson to send a cross into the box. With Spurs able to get a quick clearance, but not out of the box, Andreas Pereira found his fellow countryman Rodrigo Muniz a chance to take his shot in space and into the corner for the 1-0 lead.
Seeing deflation come on the faces of Spurs yet again, Fulham added another goal as former Spurs player and Fulham academy starlet Ryan Sessegnon put the nail in the coffin with his goal to give Fulham a 2-0 win.
The International Break is here, and with the break, Spurs will wait until April 3rd for their next match at Stamford Bridge against a reeling Chelsea.
