Fulham 1 Tottenham 1
Pascal Chimbonda scored a late leveller to earn Tottenham a point after Vincenzo Montella's penalty looked to have earned 10-man Fulham victory at Craven Cottage.
The hosts had Heidar Helguson dismissed in the second half but almost snatched victory when Michael Dawson conceded a penalty for handball and Montella broke the deadlock with eight minutes left.
But the lead did not last long and Chimbonda finished at the far post, meaning Fulham have drawn their last six Barclays Premiership games, all against teams in and around London.
Steed Malbranque was making his first appearance back at Craven Cottage since being sold five months ago, with the home fans never wasting an opportunity taunt the Frenchman.
He was booked late in the first half and also drew a lunge from Helguson which earned the Iceland striker his first yellow card.
Despite being in fine form recently, Malbranque struggled to impose himself in a poor game.
Both sides had scored four times in their midweek FA Cup replays, but early blustery conditions made a it difficult for another goal feast.
Fulham skipper Michael Brown, who was signed from Spurs a year ago, had a chance in the first minute but headed over from a Franck Queudrue free-kick.
Brown then had a shot from the edge of the area which Chimbonda blocked for a corner as the hosts started the brighter of the two teams.
Spurs boss Martin Jol left Aaron Lennon and Robbie Keane on the bench - possibly with an eye on Wednesday's Carling Cup clash against Arsenal - and one of the players drafted in had an early sight on goal.
Hossam Ghaly cut inside on the right but could not get power on his shot, but it was a rare first-half attack from the visitors.
Aside from Anthony Gardner heading over from a Tom Huddlestone free-kick, Spurs were restricted to long shots and were guilty of indecision as they attacked.
Fulham built momentum through Brian McBride, the American striker finding the side-netting after Tomasz Radzinski found room on the left to cross.
The hosts almost took the lead in the 28th minute when Carlos Bocanegra was found at the far post by Queudrue and pulled back for Helguson, but the striker's back-heel from close range was saved by Paul Robinson.
McBride had three efforts late in the first half but could not find a way past Robinson.
The England goalkeeper caught a straightforward but powerful effort, but then denied the American striker from close range.
Queudrue, so dangerous with his left foot from the flank, curled in a cross beyond the Spurs defence to find McBride only for Robinson to produce a reaction save to keep the scores level.
Didier Zokora, an early replacement for Teemu Tainio, also scrambled clear when McBride had an effort from the edge of the area.
McBride's poor luck continued after the restart. Spurs were fortunate when Dawson's clearance came off the striker and into the arms of Robinson.
However, the hosts were dealt a blow in the 52nd minute when Helguson left a foot in on Huddlestone and was given a second yellow card by referee Mike Dean.
Huddlestone and Zokora tried their luck from long range but neither were close to troubling Lastuvka.
Spurs then brought Lennon on for the last 30 minutes as they looked to chase the game, while Keane came on for Jermain Defoe.
Montella came on for Radzinski and Clint Dempsey was brought on for his debut, with Fulham awarded a penalty with eight minutes remaining when Dawson handled McBride's shot from the edge of the area.
Montella sent Robinson the wrong way but Chimbonda was found at the far post from a Huddlestone free-kick and earned a point with a low finish.
Fulham boss Chris Coleman felt his side were unfairly denied victory against Tottenham - even though the linesman made the right decision for Pascal Chimbonda's equaliser.
Chimbonda levelled with two minutes remaining at Craven Cottage, with Tom Huddlestone's free-kick being challenged by Franck Queudrue and Dimitar Berbatov before the ball fell to the full-back at the far post.
Although Queudrue had the final touch, Coleman needed several replays before it became clear the linesman was correct.
'It looked like the last touch was off Franck Queudrue but if the linesman can see it he's superman,' said Coleman.
'If he's seen it I'll apologise, I'll be amazed if that`s the case. If he thinks Berbatov has won the header I would like to know why it wasn't offside.'
Coleman's men looked set for victory after Vincenzo Montella's penalty with eight minutes left after Michael Dawson had handled in the area.
They had played much of the second half with 10 men after Heidar Helguson was dismissed, receiving a second yellow card after leaving a foot in on Huddlestone.
'I said to `H` to be careful but he's 100% - that`s him,' added Coleman. 'I don't think he touched him but he's come off the floor with his feet.'
Despite being down to 10 men, Coleman brought on Montella and debutant Clint Dempsey to remain an attacking threat.
'You can only be on the ropes for so long,' said Coleman. 'We've been down to 10 men before and you can only hold on for so long.
'We were camped in our own half with 4-4-1.
'Vincenzo's reputation is something Tottenham would know about, so that's why we wanted him on the pitch.'
Montella tucked away his penalty but the lead did not last long and Chimbonda levelled, meaning Fulham have drawn their last six Premiership matches.
'We're unbeaten on one hand but three points would have made us 10th,' added Coleman.
Spurs boss Martin Jol had Aaron Lennon and Robbie Keane on the bench - possibly with the Carling Cup semi-final against Arsenal on Wednesday in mind - and Jermain Defoe could not reproduce his recent impressive form.
Steed Malbranque was making his return to Craven Cottage after being sold to Jol nearly five months ago, but the Frenchman struggled to impose himself in a scrappy game.
Jol admits his side are struggling to create the same chances away as they do at White Hart Lane. 'I'm disappointed,' said the Dutchman. 'At home we create sometimes 20 chances, we are not as good away.'
Berbatov and Hossam Ghaly both had sight of goal early on but were guilty of indecision before the danger was cleared.
'I always say you have to be ambitious to score in the first 15 minutes,' the Dutchman said.
'There was no danger. If they play against us they use a certain style which can be a problem but we matched them.
'We brought Lennon on and he was dangerous a couple of times with our width. We also had two strikers high up the pitch.'
Jol, who had to replace Teemu Tainio early on with an ankle injury, faces Arsenal this week at the start of a hectic period for the club as they remain in three trophies.
Jol, however, has been spared a trip to back to Holland as Feyenoord have been excluded for the UEFA Cup.
'I feel for Feyenoord because it's only 50 or 100 lunatics that spoil it for the rest,' said Jol.
The hosts had Heidar Helguson dismissed in the second half but almost snatched victory when Michael Dawson conceded a penalty for handball and Montella broke the deadlock with eight minutes left.
But the lead did not last long and Chimbonda finished at the far post, meaning Fulham have drawn their last six Barclays Premiership games, all against teams in and around London.
Steed Malbranque was making his first appearance back at Craven Cottage since being sold five months ago, with the home fans never wasting an opportunity taunt the Frenchman.
He was booked late in the first half and also drew a lunge from Helguson which earned the Iceland striker his first yellow card.
Despite being in fine form recently, Malbranque struggled to impose himself in a poor game.
Both sides had scored four times in their midweek FA Cup replays, but early blustery conditions made a it difficult for another goal feast.
Fulham skipper Michael Brown, who was signed from Spurs a year ago, had a chance in the first minute but headed over from a Franck Queudrue free-kick.
Brown then had a shot from the edge of the area which Chimbonda blocked for a corner as the hosts started the brighter of the two teams.
Spurs boss Martin Jol left Aaron Lennon and Robbie Keane on the bench - possibly with an eye on Wednesday's Carling Cup clash against Arsenal - and one of the players drafted in had an early sight on goal.
Hossam Ghaly cut inside on the right but could not get power on his shot, but it was a rare first-half attack from the visitors.
Aside from Anthony Gardner heading over from a Tom Huddlestone free-kick, Spurs were restricted to long shots and were guilty of indecision as they attacked.
Fulham built momentum through Brian McBride, the American striker finding the side-netting after Tomasz Radzinski found room on the left to cross.
The hosts almost took the lead in the 28th minute when Carlos Bocanegra was found at the far post by Queudrue and pulled back for Helguson, but the striker's back-heel from close range was saved by Paul Robinson.
McBride had three efforts late in the first half but could not find a way past Robinson.
The England goalkeeper caught a straightforward but powerful effort, but then denied the American striker from close range.
Queudrue, so dangerous with his left foot from the flank, curled in a cross beyond the Spurs defence to find McBride only for Robinson to produce a reaction save to keep the scores level.
Didier Zokora, an early replacement for Teemu Tainio, also scrambled clear when McBride had an effort from the edge of the area.
McBride's poor luck continued after the restart. Spurs were fortunate when Dawson's clearance came off the striker and into the arms of Robinson.
However, the hosts were dealt a blow in the 52nd minute when Helguson left a foot in on Huddlestone and was given a second yellow card by referee Mike Dean.
Huddlestone and Zokora tried their luck from long range but neither were close to troubling Lastuvka.
Spurs then brought Lennon on for the last 30 minutes as they looked to chase the game, while Keane came on for Jermain Defoe.
Montella came on for Radzinski and Clint Dempsey was brought on for his debut, with Fulham awarded a penalty with eight minutes remaining when Dawson handled McBride's shot from the edge of the area.
Montella sent Robinson the wrong way but Chimbonda was found at the far post from a Huddlestone free-kick and earned a point with a low finish.
Fulham boss Chris Coleman felt his side were unfairly denied victory against Tottenham - even though the linesman made the right decision for Pascal Chimbonda's equaliser.
Chimbonda levelled with two minutes remaining at Craven Cottage, with Tom Huddlestone's free-kick being challenged by Franck Queudrue and Dimitar Berbatov before the ball fell to the full-back at the far post.
Although Queudrue had the final touch, Coleman needed several replays before it became clear the linesman was correct.
'It looked like the last touch was off Franck Queudrue but if the linesman can see it he's superman,' said Coleman.
'If he's seen it I'll apologise, I'll be amazed if that`s the case. If he thinks Berbatov has won the header I would like to know why it wasn't offside.'
Coleman's men looked set for victory after Vincenzo Montella's penalty with eight minutes left after Michael Dawson had handled in the area.
They had played much of the second half with 10 men after Heidar Helguson was dismissed, receiving a second yellow card after leaving a foot in on Huddlestone.
'I said to `H` to be careful but he's 100% - that`s him,' added Coleman. 'I don't think he touched him but he's come off the floor with his feet.'
Despite being down to 10 men, Coleman brought on Montella and debutant Clint Dempsey to remain an attacking threat.
'You can only be on the ropes for so long,' said Coleman. 'We've been down to 10 men before and you can only hold on for so long.
'We were camped in our own half with 4-4-1.
'Vincenzo's reputation is something Tottenham would know about, so that's why we wanted him on the pitch.'
Montella tucked away his penalty but the lead did not last long and Chimbonda levelled, meaning Fulham have drawn their last six Premiership matches.
'We're unbeaten on one hand but three points would have made us 10th,' added Coleman.
Spurs boss Martin Jol had Aaron Lennon and Robbie Keane on the bench - possibly with the Carling Cup semi-final against Arsenal on Wednesday in mind - and Jermain Defoe could not reproduce his recent impressive form.
Steed Malbranque was making his return to Craven Cottage after being sold to Jol nearly five months ago, but the Frenchman struggled to impose himself in a scrappy game.
Jol admits his side are struggling to create the same chances away as they do at White Hart Lane. 'I'm disappointed,' said the Dutchman. 'At home we create sometimes 20 chances, we are not as good away.'
Berbatov and Hossam Ghaly both had sight of goal early on but were guilty of indecision before the danger was cleared.
'I always say you have to be ambitious to score in the first 15 minutes,' the Dutchman said.
'There was no danger. If they play against us they use a certain style which can be a problem but we matched them.
'We brought Lennon on and he was dangerous a couple of times with our width. We also had two strikers high up the pitch.'
Jol, who had to replace Teemu Tainio early on with an ankle injury, faces Arsenal this week at the start of a hectic period for the club as they remain in three trophies.
Jol, however, has been spared a trip to back to Holland as Feyenoord have been excluded for the UEFA Cup.
'I feel for Feyenoord because it's only 50 or 100 lunatics that spoil it for the rest,' said Jol.
posted by dgarden at 11:11 am
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