Fulham 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs win back-to-back Premier League games for first time since November
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Tosin Adarabioyo's own goal was the first time Fulham had conceded the opening goal in six Premier League games
Tottenham recorded consecutive Premier League victories for the first time since November as Jose Mourinho's side survived late Fulham pressure at Craven Cottage.
Not since beating Manchester City to move top of the table on 21 November had Spurs won back-to-back games, but a Tosin Adarabioyo own goal ensured the visitors backed up Sunday's impressive 4-0 victory over Burnley with a hard-fought three points.
Making a first league start since the opening day, Dele Alli played a key role in the visitors' 19th-minute opener as he fed the ball wide to Son Heung-min before meeting the South Korean's low cross - though Adarabioyo inadvertently got the decisive touch.
Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris produced a fine save to tip Joachim Andersen's header on to the crossbar and was again called upon to deny Adarabioyo from the resulting corner as Fulham pushed for an equaliser after half-time.
Fulham - who remain three points from safety - were ultimately left aggrieved by a controversial video assistant referee decision to disallow Josh Maja's deserved equaliser just after the hour, as Mario Lemina was penalised for handball in the build-up despite his arm being by his side.
Harry Kane was denied from a diving header by Alphonse Areola in the closing stages, but Mourinho's side held firm under intense pressure from the hosts to move to within four points of the top four.
Third win in a week for Spurs
Fulham 0-1 Tottenham: Jose Mourinho says he is 'happy' with Gareth Bale's performance
Alli had not started in the Premier League since being removed at half-time against Everton almost six months ago, but the England international replaced Lucas Moura in an exciting Spurs front four behind Gareth Bale, Son and Kane.
Mourinho said it was "amazing" to have Alli back firing following his performance against Austrian side Wolfsberger in the Europa League last week, when he scored a superb overhead kick in a promising all-round performance.
The 24-year-old impressed with an energetic display during a first half which saw the Spurs attack gradually click into gear, then ignite as Kane missed a glorious opportunity to put his side ahead but headed Son's cross too close to Areola.
Bale, also given a start despite Mourinho suggesting the Welshman might not be ready four days after his standout performance against Burnley, was the catalyst for the opener, turning quickly in midfield to set Alli away.
Alli drove confidently at the retreating Fulham defence and continued his run into the box to meet Son's cross, though the playmaker's flick was heading wide before Adarabioyo's unfortunate touch.
It was a rather different tale in the second half, which saw Alli and Bale removed after 67 minutes and Moussa Sissoko introduced in response to Fulham's growing dominance. It was far from convincing in the end, but a third win in a week makes for happy reading for Mourinho.
Fulham unfortunate to finish empty-handed
Fulham 0-1 Tottenham: Fulham deserved something out of the game, says Scott Parker
Fulham earned a point with a second-half goal in January's reverse fixture, and Scott Parker will undoubtedly feel his side deserved at least as much from this encounter.
Despite their precarious position in the table, this was the first time in six Premier League games Fulham conceded the opening goal and they responded admirably in their push for parity.
They believed they had achieved just that when on-loan Bordeaux striker Maja finished coolly into the bottom corner, but VAR had other ideas.
Lemina was stood a couple of metres away, with his arms by his side, as Davinson Sanchez attempted to clear the ball. Instead, it struck Lemina and bounced kindly for Maja to finish before the hosts' celebrations were cut short.
The game epitomised Fulham's recent displays - they are defensively sound, conceding one goal in five games prior to this match, and comfortable in possession, but they remain profligate in attack. By full-time, they had managed 11 shots to Spurs' nine.
However, Parker's side now have every chance of avoiding relegation following their recent five-game unbeaten run - a remarkable turnaround considering they were 10 points adrift of 17th-placed Newcastle only 19 days ago.
Fulham are dealing in fine margins, and will need those key moments to go in their favour as a tough run continues against Liverpool and Manchester City in their next two games.
'That's the rule' - what they said
Fulham boss Scott Parker speaking to BBC Sport: "We fully deserved something out of it. The endeavour was there for all to see."
On the disallowed goal: "I'm not going to complain - that's the rule. If it hits your arm it gets disallowed. I don't know what he can physically do. Probably a bit of common sense needs to prevail in that rule but I'm not saying it's not the right decision because by the rule it is [correct]."
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho: "It was a tough game. They play very well, they don't score many but they don't concede many either.
"We had chances to kill it and we didn't and then the game becomes very similar to what we have had in other games. Hugo [Lloris] is the best French goalkeeper and made a couple of saves to show it."
Fulham's London derby woes - the stats
Tottenham have won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since winning four in a row in November. They had lost five of their previous six league games before this.
This was only Spurs' fourth 1-0 win in the Premier League where the only goal was an own goal, but the second to come under Jose Mourinho.
Tottenham have won each of their past six away Premier League games against Fulham, stretching back to the 2010-11 season.
Fulham are without a win in 22 Premier League London derbies and have failed to score in each of their past four.
Fulham have failed to score in eight home Premier League games this season - the joint most of any side.
What's next?
Fulham travel to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday (14:00 GMT), before Tottenham host Crystal Palace later that day (19:15).
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