Fulham’s relegation worries heightened as they lost at Tottenham to remain two points from Premier League safety.<\/p>\n
Spurs went ahead when Paulinho tapped in Christian Eriksen’s free-kick but Steve Sidwell pounced on an Ezekiel Fryers error to steer in a leveller.<\/p>\n
Harry Kane’s expertly executed glancing header from Aaron Lennon’s cross restored the home side’s advantage.<\/p>\n
Younes Kaboul sidefooted in another Eriksen free-kick to extend the lead before Sidwell had a penalty saved.<\/p>\n
The visitors were awarded the spot-kick for an Eriksen handball after Hugo Rodallega tried to play the ball past him but, although Sidwell’s effort was well-struck, it was too close to keeper Hugo Lloris, who fended the ball away.<\/p>\n
Defeat ended a two-game winning run for the Cottagers which had revived their survival hopes.<\/p>\n
They remain two points adrift of 17th-placed Norwich, who play Liverpool on Sunday, with games against Hull, Stoke and Crystal Palace remaining.<\/p>\n
Tottenham stay sixth and, while they retain a mathematical chance of finishing fourth, their best hope of European football appears to be a Europa League place.<\/p>\n
The hosts were the better side but having let in three early goals last week at West Brom they were almost caught out again by Fulham.<\/p>\n
A long John Arne Riise ball forward released Rodallega but the Colombian, with two centre-backs chasing him down, opted for a first-time shot that went well wide.<\/p>\n
The chance epitomised the attacking intent being show by the visitors, although they survived a scare of their own when Kane nodded the ball across for Kaboul to head over from six yards after Fulham failed to clear a corner.<\/p>\n
Lloris had to rush out of his goal to save a shot by Rodallega before a far-post volley from Aaron Lennon at the other end was touched on to the post by keeper David Stockdale.<\/p>\n
Tottenham increased the pressure on the visiting goal as the game progressed and were rewarded when Eriksen’s pacy and dipping free-kick was tapped in by an unmarked Paulinho.<\/p>\n
Almost immediately, though, Fulham equalised. Stand-in Spurs centre-back Fryers inadvertently played a one-two with Sidwell, who kept his balance and composure before steering a shot past Lloris.
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Tottenham 3-1 Fulham Tim Sherwood takes credit for Harry Kane rise<\/p>\n
The visitors failed to keep up their level of performance after the break, however, and found themselves behind again when Lennon’s cross was glanced in by Kane.<\/p>\n
Rodallega had a powerful header tipped over the bar by Lloris but Fulham’s threat was sporadic at best in the second half.<\/p>\n
The quality of Tottenham’s crosses, in particular from Eriksen, was a constant threat and they again benefited when the Denmark international delivered a dangerous free-kick and Kaboul sidefooted in from close range.<\/p>\n
Fulham have now conceded 31 goals from set-pieces this season – the most in the Premier League – and their misery was compounded with Sidwell’s penalty miss. <\/p>\n
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