Fulham 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Wilson 7’, Iwobi 34’ | Richarlison 66’)
CRAVEN COTTAGE – Tottenham Hotspur are no longer sleepwalking into a relegation battle – in a season of calamity and complacency, they are hurtling into a generational disaster at breakneck speed.
With a sixth defeat in eight matches at Fulham, it is only the sheer unthinkable enormity of a season in the Championship that makes it seem impossible. The first 7pm sunset of 2026 is fast approaching and still Spurs have not won a league game this calendar year.
Relegation would not only be financially disastrous – it would be a spiritual and structural catastrophe.
No new-manager bounce
The final Joker in the pack, a new manager bounce under Igor Tudor, has not materialised.
There will rightfully be quibbles over Harry Wilson’s opener. You can argue that Raul Jimenez’s push on Radu Dragusin was not a foul – but then apply that logic to Randal Kolo Muani’s nudge on Gabriel in the north London derby, which was disallowed, or indeed Hugo Ekitike’s on Cristian Romero, which wasn’t.
Nothing has changed under Igor Tudor (Photo: Getty)These injustices are an argument for another day. None address the root causes of Tottenham’s mounting problems. “Say hello to QPR” was Fulham fans’ taunt of choice as Alex Iwobi beat Guglielmo Vicario with a side-foot from the edge of the box. “Enic out”, the reply from the away end.
History repeating itself
The last time Spurs were relegated 49 years ago there was similar fury at the board. They were fortunate then to remain under the stewardship of manager Keith Burkinshaw, who took them back up and went on to win two FA Cups and a Uefa Cup.
Tudor is battling the present firefight with macho platitudes about turning the players into “soldiers” – which may explain why they mostly looked as though they were about to be sent over the top, rather than for an afternoon of football by the banks of the Thames.
The line-up
The hope offered through a positive final 20 minutes, sparked by Richarlison’s headed goal, offered more questions than answers as to how they had set up. Mathys Tel impressed again – and again had to come off the bench.
Xavi Simons, Archie Gray and Conor Gallagher had all been deployed out of position.
Where are Spurs’ leaders?
Gallagher lost the ball 10 times in the first half alone. In lieu of panic buys, he was supposed to be January’s marquee arrival – he has not been able to fill the leadership void made worse by Romero’s suspension. Other than Micky van de Ven, the “leadership group” are all injured – James Maddison, Ben Davies – banned – Romero – or in the case of Vicario, underperforming.
The injuries
Tudor’s hand was partly forced by having 10 players out – Djed Spence the latest – but not entirely. The last time Spurs started consecutive league matches with the same defence was on 20 December.
This was an experimental line-up that looked like the start of a managerial project, which of course it is, but Tudor has neither the time nor the breathing space for such luxuries.
Vicario’s numbers
If it feels Spurs are having freakishly bad luck with injuries and VAR decisions, the results are not an aberration. Before kick-off, Vicario’s save percentage was 64.6 – the second lowest of any regular No 1 in the Premier League. No other side has picked up fewer points from the last 11 weeks.
The lack of urgency until it was too late was a hallmark of Frank’s reign – now it risks defining Spurs’ entire fight for survival.
If the fear of falling is not injecting some fight now, you have to wonder when it is going to.
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