Harry Winks breaks Fulham hearts with last minute winner but Dele Alli adds to Spurs' injury concerns

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Winks, right celebrates after scoring his sides 2nd goal with teammates during the English Premier League soccer match
Harry Winks celebrates scoring the late winner for Tottenham Credit: AP

“He’s one of our own,” sang the Tottenham fans. It is a familiar refrain to hail their goal-scorer. Except this time, right at the death, the identity of their match-winner was very different with another Harry, Harry Winks, not Harry Kane, scoring with the last touch of the match.

It felt cruel on Fulham who remain seven points adrift of safety in the bottom three with their manager Claudio Ranieri appearing distraught on the touchline as he saw his side’s first-half advantage reversed.

For Spurs, this was a performance in which they dug deep, showed their doggedness, their determination, but the fall-out may be significant. They lost Dele Alli to injury late on as he gingerly walked along the touchline holding the back of his leg, appearing to suffer a hamstring problem. Alli also appeared close to tears.

They simply cannot afford for him to be injured for any length of time given Kane is not due to return until March after suffering damaged ankle ligaments and with Heung-min Son at the Asian Cup until, probably, the beginning of February. In their absence, and with Lucas Moura not fit, it was a struggle and not least for Fernando Llorente who suffered a wretched afternoon.

The 33-year-old struck. Unfortunately it was in his own net – which means he has now scored as many league goals for Fulham as he has for Spurs, who he joined in 2017: namely one. Not just that but he spurned two good headed chances and ended the contest seemingly throwing himself to the turf in a desperate attempt to win a penalty as the ball ran away from him.

Tottenham's Dele Alli looks dejected as he walks towards the dugout after sustaining an injury
Tottenham's Dele Alli looks dejected as he walks towards the dugout after sustaining an injury Credit: Action Images

With the poverty of his performance the Spaniard gave a fresh take on the phrase ‘false nine’. He seemed a shadow of his former self.

Will Spurs turn to the transfer market? Pochettino could hardly turn to his bench, it seemed, as he brought on Eric Dier and had to re-jig his formation as his team chased the winning goal. In fact it was created by a forgotten man – it was from Georges-Kevin Nkoudou’s deep, inswinging cross that Winks stole in front of Joe Bryan to head home. Nkoudou even later tweeted a “Helloooo u remember me?” reminder and it was also Winks’ first goal since Nov 2016 when he scored in the 3-2 league victory over West Ham.

Kane scored the other two goals in that game and how Spurs miss him and Son. They are, frankly, not the same without that pair, not even close, and it will be a concerning few days before Thursday’s second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea. Without Alli, how will Spurs cope?

He scored here also, with another close-range header early in the second-half, which owed much to Fulham’s perennially poor defending. For some reason Tim Ream – who was woeful – wafted out a leg at an attempted clearance and allowed the ball to run to Christian Eriksen who picked out Alli with a pinpoint cross. Denis Odoi was also caught out and Alli planted his header past goalkeeper Sergio Rici.

It had been Fulham’s first-half. They went in front when Ream attempted to flick on a corner, ahead of Alli and Kieran Trippier, and the ball struck Llorente and diverted past Hugo Lloris. Quite what Llorente was trying to do was unclear but it appeared to come off his calf as he stuck out a leg with no Fulham player close to him.

Llorente was denied the opportunity to quickly redeem himself after he stole in front of Ream to meet Jan Vertonghen’s cross only for Rico to push out his header. In fact the ball came off Llorente’s shoulder and he had to do better.

At the other end and Ryan Babel should have also done better when he met Cyrus Christie’s cross, sending a header over the cross-bar. It was the second good chance that Babel had spurned.

On his debut, signed until the end of the season from Turkish club Besiktas, the Dutch international should have claimed the lead before Fulham did score in what was his first Premier League game since 2010. The former Liverpool forward ran on to Aleksandar Mitrovic’s header and out-muscled Davinson Sanchez – no mean feat – before forcing a fine one-handed save from Lloris.

For all of Spurs’ dominance of possession it was Fulham who threatened again with Babel breaking down the left before Andre Schurrle struck a superb volley back across goal that was smartly beaten out by Lloris. The rebound fell to Mitrovic who headed home but was rightly ruled offside.

How Fulham would rue their misses. Once Spurs were level, it was only they who threatened but they were denied as Maxime Le Marchand threw himself to block Eriksen’s goal-bound effort and Odoi Odoi diverted Danny Rose’s shot, after he cut in from the left, with the ball ricocheting over off the bar.

Spurs earned a free-kick, after a trip on Rose, with Eriksen picking out Llorente inside the six-yard area who somehow glanced his header past the far post. It was another chance that, surely, had to be taken and it appeared the to be their last opportunity. Until Winks struck. Spurs had the precious points – but at what price?

                                                                                                    

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Nkoudou assisted that goal with his sixth touch of the game

At least he made it count. Poor Fulham. Mostly poor Ranieri :-(

Credit: REUTERS

 

FULL TIME

And that's it! Fulham are goosed, Spurs have stolen a win with a lot of hardwork!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!

WINKS HAS DONE IT!

SPURS SAVED BY HARRY! Ranieri looks devastated... I feel genuinely sad for him. It's a cross from wide left from Nkoudou - a brilliant ball - and Winks gets ahead of Bryan to head in at the back post. 

90 mins+3 - Fulham 1 Spurs 1

Trippier hurls a throw-in from the right into the box, it's headed away, Eriksen heads it on, Trippier crosses in... and Llorente heads into the ground. I think the Llorente experiment might not be worth continuing with after this game.

90 mins+2 - Fulham 1 Spurs 1

Mitrovic finally wins his free-kick from Sanchez, and that's Numberwang. Bryan stands over the kick, wide left, curls it around the box... and Lloris drops the catch! Tense moments at the end here. 

 

90 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 1

Spurs are running out of time here. Fulham have everyone behind the ball, Spurs running out of ideas... Llorente controls a pass into the box with the first touch of a trampoline and then falls to the ground in dismay/in the minimal hope he might get a penalty.

87 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 1

It still feels like Llorente is going to score a winner at some point. Journalists at the game are praying for it, can you imagine how easy a line that would be to thread through a match report? 

Vertonghen tries a cross from the left - blocked. Dier spreads play to the right, Eriksen switches left, Fulham's defenders clear their lines and force Spurs back. 

85 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 1

Fulham are going for the win here now though! The space has opened up for Christie, who runs inside and then threads a through-ball to Lloris, who plays for the opposite team.

Georges-Kevin N'Koudou is about to come out of hiding to replace Alli for Spurs. He IS real!

82 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 1

Seri off, Cisse on. Spurs have a free-kick wide left, Eriksen curls it in and Llorente... oh god. That's dreadful. Llorente is heading the ball as though he's just learned what heading is, like he's scared of putting power on it incase Fulham take the ball away home with them and moan that he's cheating. A perfect cross is headed wide from about eight yards as Llorente sticks his head on it, doing this face as he goes:

It's horribly wide.

And even worse news is that Dele Alli's hamstring may have just twanged. And yes, that is the medical term for it (about 70 per cent sure). He's down receiving treatment behind the goal - that'd be a massive loss for Spurs. Could they sustain their push for top three without their two best players? 

80 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 1

Spurs substitution: Lamela off, Dier on. That might mean a change in shape.

Rose steams into a challenge near the Fulham box, he's spotted a chance to steal the ball! Christie tackles and brings him down on the edge of the area... but the referee has booked Rose for diving. I have no idea how the referee can think that's a dive, it's clearly not. 

77 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 1

Seri is booked for hacking down Vertonghen with a comedy slide tackle. Spurs still don't seem to have much of an idea how to grab another goal here. Mitrovic gets a cheer from the crowd as he forces Sanchez into a mistake and wins a throw.

75 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 1

FIIIIIIGHT! Mitrovic's kettle has boiled and he finally squares up to Sanchez after Round 7 of their ongoing rumble. Sanchez has been booked for being kicked, then thrown to the floor. Mitrovic has been booked for kicking then throwing Sanchez to the floor.

Hmmm.

72 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 1

Lamela takes a corner but it's headed away at the near post... then he shoots wide at the second phase. Have you noticed that a lot of corner zones (we'll call them zones) are really short in the Premier League? There's not much grass around them and corners are deceivingly hard to hit into the box at any great power or whip at the best of times, especially when you're not a pro footballer, or even a good amateur one. It's not exactly easier when you're trying to aim a kick having to navigate your way through a maze of photographers and up a set of stairs off the tarmac.

69 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 1

Mitrovic gets another dunt from behind from Sanchez and goes down in pain... but the referee doesn't care. And to be honest, I can't see in the replay what's actually happened to him. 

 

66 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 1

Fulham pressing Spurs high up the pitch, Spurs not easily able to bypass it. They're staying patient but Fulham are blocking the path to goal and clearing danger away.

63 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 1

Mitrovic brings down a high ball, finds Seri and his first touch is a through-ball to Sessegnon. It's absolutely brilliant but Sessegnon is just offside. 

Spurs have had all the possession over the last 15 minutes:

 

61 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 1

Mitrovic is getting wound up now, he's complaining to the referee he's been fouled three times from behind by Spurs players when trying to take down high balls. 

Fulham get forward, Bryan just can't thread a pass into Sessegnon and that triggers a Spurs counter. Tripper to Lamela, who finds the overlapping Rose, who drives at goal, dribbles inside and shoots... OFF THE BAR! 

58 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 1

Spurs are much better now than they were in the first half. Here's another fact for you: no player has scored more headed Premier League goals this season than Dele Alli (four, level with Mitrovic).

56 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 1

Ryan Babel has been impressive today. It's like he's grown up and doesn't mind getting stuck into challenges, which really helps. There's must more to him, he's more aggressive, using his tricker and pace when needed but able to bounce defenders off him and prepared to close down attackers.

And as I type this, Fulham substitute him to put Ryan Sessegnon on the pitch.

53 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 1

Mitrovic runs through on goal, Lloris comes out to smother it and has Mitrovic's back turned to him... and the striker goes down! The referee thinks... thinks... no penalty! Controversial scenes here. It's a bad choice of time to dive if that wasn't a foul.

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!

ALLI SCORES! 

That's one of Spurs' first attacks down the Fulham right and it's resulted in a goal! A cross by Eriksen from wide right is lifted into the area and Alli is there to head it past the goalkeeper! 

51 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 0

Llorente looks to make a run in behind, then doesn't, but Winks has already played the pass. It rolls out for a goal kick.

Winks gives away possession shortly after by playing a short little pass straight to Fulham's midfield. Spurs are getting far more of their attacks down the right side now...

48 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 0

Ream makes a mistake with his backpass, Christie chases to help out and very nearly puts his team in more trouble as Lamela tackles. Fortunately it's out for a throw and Fulham can get out of their defensive third.

KICK OFF 2

We're back. No changes for either side that I can see.

Now that's a photograph

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

I've found a photo of that beautiful looking moon too.

Credit: AFP

\(◕ ◡ ◕\) 

Fulham all over this 

After Spurs dominated the opening section of that game, Fulham have taken control of things. Eight shots to Spurs' four, intense pressing, quick transitions... who saw this coming?

Opta fun stat for you

This is the first time Fulham have benefited from an own goal in the Premier League since February 2014 (Kolo Toure for Liverpool).

HALF TIME

Great fun. Spurs' gameplan isn't working, Fulham are playing very well and deservedly lead at the break. Pochettino has to figure some things out during half time.

45 mins+1 - Fulham 1 Spurs 0

Another chance for Fulham as the ball sits up for a shot on the edge of the box. Defenders block, another swing of a leg knocks the ball towards the goalkeeper and Spurs survive.

44 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 0

Mitrovic gets away from Sanchez to chase a ball through on goal but sensibly takes a shot early to win a corner. This time it's headed away, Fulham keep up the pressure, put the ball in the box and Chambers backheels through to Babel who can finish... blocked! Panic in the Spurs box! Fulham have all the momentum, Spurs are rattled.

GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL - OFFSIDE!

FULHAM HAVE TWO! BUT WAIT - is that offside? Yes it is. Mitrovic pleads to the referee and the many gods after powering a header past Lloris. The cross came from the left, Schurrle hit an absolute worldy of a first time volley and the goalie's save parried the ball to the poaching Mitrovic.

So close! 

40 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 0

The sky is a lovely purple colour at the moment, there's some sort of 'wolf moon' thing happening tonight apparently. Speaking of all things galactic, on the pitch are two teams of stars, fighting for space. Or something. And Babel has towered above Spurs defenders to header a cross behind for a goal kick. Fulham are picking their moments to attack quickly. 

37 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 0

Look how far forward Spurs' wingbacks are getting! They're in line with the striker!

Christie does really well under pressure from Alli to keep the ball and not just boot it out of play.  

35 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 0

Rose chests a cross behind for a corner, very nearly turning the ball into his own net. Fulham have soaked up the Spurs pressure and gone on the counter - it's a very Ranieri performance so far.

32 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 0

Lovely play by Spurs. Again, it's all down the left flank, with Rose linking well with Winks to get a low cross into the box. Deflected for a corner.

Spurs either don't trust Trippier and Lamela to do anything decent, or are convinced that Cyrus Christie sucks.

 

30 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 0

An Eriksen free-kick is caught by the goalkeeper, whipped into the near post into a forrest of bodies. Spurs still focusing their attacking play down the left wing, Fulham are defending their left much better than the right. Winks is running the show for Spurs, he's been superb so far.

27 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 0

Babel fires a shot wide of goal but is just offside. He's playing well, running off the shoulder of the last man to attack space behind the defenders.

Vertonghen is basically a left back here, Rose is so far forward he's a winger. 

24 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 0

[note to self] Nick Hancock's VHS Empire is a great name for a band [/note]

Spurs are back in control of the ball, work it down the left - again - and Llorente is able to get a header on goal from inside the box. Vertonghen's getting space on the left wing to deliver.

 

21 mins - Fulham 1 Spurs 0

Fulham are revved up and ready to go here. Spurs taking advantage of their inability to pass through midfield... and this is a dangerous turnover! Eriksen finds Alli, who pays in Lamela, who makes a mess of the final ball and ruins a certain goalscoring chance.

GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!

FULHAM HAVE SCORED!

And guess who? That's right - Fernando Llorente has put the ball in his own net with a real poacher's finish at the near post. He won't believe he's done that, it's the kind of goal that Nick Hancock's VHS empire was built on.

16 mins - Fulham 0 Spurs 0

Another Fulham corner and it's a bit of a rammy in the Spurs box! Players are falling over while trying to climb on each other but nothing's serious enough to warrant a free-kick or penalty. Fulham have a bit of intensity about them, almost as though they started slow to lull Spurs into a false sense of security. Ranieri can't be that devious, surely. 

13 mins - Fulham 0 Spurs 0

The corner is curled into the area and Odoi is there to meet it on the head! Wide of goal. Two big chances for Fulham - that'll give them some energy. 

Aaaand Odoi has tried an ambitious first-time shot from 30 yards and punted it well wide. Fulham pushing high up the pitch now, trying to take the game to Spurs.

11 mins - Fulham 0 Spurs 0

Spurs are focusing 57 per cent of their attacks down the left hand side, perhaps targeting Christie being a bag of nerves and mistakes at Fulham's right back.

And Antonio Conte is in the crowd! I'll try and find a photo... but not yet because Fulham are in behind here! Bable beats Sanchez for pace, holds him off with balance and strength and has a chance to score from 12 yards out! He's hit it too close to Lloris, who turns the ball behind!

 

8 mins - Fulham 0 Spurs 0

Spurs turn defence into attack in about five seconds before Eriksen hits a shot from 20 yards.

Fulham seem nervous when they're asked to defend, like nobody's really sure what it is they're meant to be doing, or believes it's going to work. A Spurs corner is booted up the pitch by Fulham defenders.

6 mins - Fulham 0 Spurs 0

Winks is great on the ball, so neat and tidy and sharp on the turn. Spurs are winning the midfield battle at the moment and Rose wins the battle of the left wing (not a real battle) after a poor challenge from Christie near the box. Free-kick to Spurs.

Eriksen hits it low into the wall and Fulham clear.

3 mins - Fulham 0 Spurs 0

Spurs are able to win the ball quite high up the pitch as Fulham put together a not-very-dangerous attack of their own and Vertonghen hits a couple of crosses into the box in a row. Both are cleared away.

KICK OFF

Fulham get us started!

Fulham getting the volume nice and loud

They're trying to get the crowd going by drowning them out with some very loud, quite nice instrumental music. That'll fire people up. 

Players are out on the pitch now. Ryan Babel has very red hair, Jessica Ennis... good night.

Speaking of Spurs' strikers

This is Spurs' first Premier League game to feature neither Harry Kane or Son Heung-Min since October 18th 2014 (Man City 4-2 Spurs). 

As for Fulham, Mitrovic has proven he can absolutely cut it at the top level and is rewarding the club for investing £20million in him by scoring eight goals in 22 matches this season. Get the ball into him and Mitrovic is usually in position to finish the chance.

Graeme Souness on Spurs

"Mauricio has towed the party line beyond the call of duty... they're risking everything," says Souness, who says Spurs need to spend spend spend to not rely on Kane. As Pochettino has repeatedly said, no strikers worth spending money on want to sign for Spurs because they know they can't replace Kane and will spend most of their time on the bench. I think it should be TV law that if you say a manager should sign a striker, you should have to give examples of potential transfers.

Managers pre-match

Mauricio Pochettino

Fernando needs the opportunity to play, he was very good in the FA Cup a few weeks ago and scored a hat-trick. He's a striker with experience, it's a great opportunity to show his quality.

The performance against Man Utd was one of the best this season, disappointed with the result but I think second half we show we managed the game unbelievable, De Gea was unbelievable.

Claudio Ranieri

I hope we react after the strange defeat against Burnley and I hope also Ryan Babel can bring to us something good. Personality, experience... that's it.

Ranieri hasn't ever lost to Spurs in 11 matches.

Oh my god I didn't know! I hope to continue. It's very tough match for us but listen, we played against five of the top six in the league and we have to find solution to steal some points. Our table is not so good but every match is a chance to take something good.

The latest addition to football parlance

Following hot on the heels of being "in a bad/good moment", the latest trending addition to modern football parlance is "in all comps". I've heard it twice this weekend from pundits. Be aware. Stay stafe. All comps.

The pitch looks lovely

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

It's a cold day in London and the sun is just starting to go to sleep. Luckily for us the HEAT IS ON at Craven Cottage.

That's my impression of a Sky Sports presenter.

Spurs' shape

If you imagine this but with Lamela in place of Eriksen, who will almost certainly be in a deeper central midfield role.

Fulham look like they're going to be in a 4-2-3-1, which suits Ranieri's counter-attack style. Jean Michael Seri is the key to them creating something for the forwards to enjoy.

Spurs' substitute striker

Is 20 year old Kazaiah Sterling, no relation to the goalscoring machine, Raheem. He's on the bench today should Llorente not provide the goods.

 

Starting lineups

 It's a 3-4-3 for Spurs! Llorente in as striker.

Hello there

HARRY KANE IS INJURED! Oh won't they think of the Spurs fans? Why won't anyone think of the Spurs fans? 

That's right, Harry Kane is dead and Spurs' hopes are dead with him. Whatever can they do? Luckily for Mauricio Pochettino, Ali Tweedale and I have analysed the situation and found some tactical solutions! You can read those right here if you have a Telegraph Premium subscription (£1 a week for absolutely everything on Sport).

Even without Kane and Son, Spurs have a fantastic team. Fernando Llorente might play and he's not exactly a bad player, Lucas Moura is a striker too, and we may even see one of the academy footballers given a chance. Troy Parrott is the next in line to replace Kane.

Fulham will take comfort that they don't have to deal with Spurs strike partnership but they're all in sorts of trouble themselves at the moment. 

Eight points adrift of safety, Fulham not only need to learn how to score goals but must fundamentally avoid conceding lots of them every single time they play. The transition from possession team to counter-attack is fairly big one so it shouldn't be too much of a surprise that it's taking time but clearly, Fulham do not have time.

Stay with us for all the build up, then live analysis and updates during the match.

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