Fulham relish fanning the flames of discontent at ailing Spurs

On tonight's menu : Picture by @YTJourno

Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur (0) 1 Kudus 59

Fulham (2) Tete 4, Wilson 6

So much for the 'feelgood factor' from that 5-3 defeat in Paris, then.

Thomas Frank was at pains to talk up the improved display against the Euro champions in midweek that followed last weekend's dismal surrender to Arsenal in the North London derby - even if it was still brutal in terms of the goals against column.

But the understandable attempt to spin some positivity after a second chastening loss rang hollow after a Saturday night flop against a Fulham side who had lost five in a row on their travels and not yet won away.

It was a case of Dr Tottenham will see you now Mr Fulham.

The seeds of a fourth home defeat in seven Premier League games were sown before anyone had a chance to prove some kind of corner was about to be turned. The Whites were fast out of the blocks and 2-0 up in six minutes.

First Kenny Tete joined the attack to fire home a cross from Samuel Chukwueze - the dynamic winger who is on loan from AC Milan causing Spurs all kinds of problems in the first half. A fortuitous deflection off Destiny Udogie to wrong-foot Guglielmo Vicario typified the way Frank's side seem so vulnerable at the back.

Two minutes later and the lead doubled when Vicario failed to clear danger, sending a punt straight to Josh King and leaving himself hopelessly out of position. Harry Wilson, hugging the touchline, immediately sized up the equation and lifted a perfect curling shot into an unguarded net.

Cue the boos.

Spurs were outplayed during these opening passages, with Fulham chasing down white shirts as if their lives depended on it. This was a team that look rested and well prepared after a week of training rather than a European jaunt, which was the fate of their hosts.

Marco Silva knew there had to be a second half response that would test his side's mettle and they passed the test. Spurs created not nearly enough danger, though they did halve the deficit on the hour when Wilson's loose clearance found Lucas Bergvall, who fed to Mo Kudus for a lovely angled drive into the roof of the net.

Spurs came close to an equaliser when a Bergvall header at a corner need Raul Jimenez to be in the right place to nod off the line but the game might easily have been out of sight during the early stages when Fulham's rampant attacks almost yielded more goals.

Chukwueze hit the outside of a post during one attack and was only denied by a superb/despairing tackle from Micky van de Ven after the winger had slalomed around a defender before getting around Vicario with the goal seemingly at his mercy.

This was a result which feels significant for both clubs. The Whites could feel the cold hand of a relegation looming if they did not buck up and this was a major upgrade on the lightweight away performances which have characterised their season for the most part. They can now go into Tuesday's home clash with Man City and next Sunday's home derby with Palace in much better spirits.

For Spurs, another crucial examination awaits as they head up to Newcastle - not usually a happy event for them - before Frank pits his wits back at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against former club Brentford. His new side now sit one point and two places below the Bees in 10th place.

He knows there is much work to be done to extinguish the growing discontent among the restless natives.

Spurs: (4-2-3-1) Vicario - Porro, Danso, van de Ven, Udogie (Tel 85) - Palhinha (Bentancur 60), Gray (Odobert 60) - Kudus, Bergvall (Sarr 77) Richarlison (Simons 60) - Kolo Muani

Whites: (4-2-3-1) Leno - Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon - Iwobi (Castagne 87), Berge - Wilson (Lukic 68), King (Smith Rowe 68), Chukwueze (Kevin 80) - Jimenez