Tottenham 0 Fulham 0

[kennethlindheim]

Tottenham Hotspur's unimpressive start to the season continued at White Hart Lane as they were held to a 0-0 draw in a London derby with Fulham.

Martin Jol's side would have been hopeful of challenging strongly for a UEFA Champions League spot at the beginning of the season, but after collecting just four points from five games the need for immediate improvement is pressing.

Spurs' wastefulness, coupled with some dogged defending by Chris Coleman's visitors, meant Mido's shot against the post was the closest the North Londoners got to breaking the deadlock in a game that was devoid of real quality for the majority of the 90 minutes, before taking on a nasty taste in the closing stages.

Spurs had by far the better of the first half as an unattractive start to this all-London clash soon gave way to a period of prolonged pressure on the Fulham goal.

However, it was The Cottagers who started quickest and Collins John saw a 25-yard piledriver mopped up by Paul Robinson, whilst Carlos Bocanegra, moved to midfield with Moritz Volz to accommodate for the absence of Jimmy Bullard and Papa Bouba Diop, also headed over in the opening quarter of an hour.

Spurs' main threat in the early stages came from the set-pieces of Danny Murphy, making a rare start in midfield, but Fulham's aerial prowess showed with a succession of clearances. When they did fail to clear their lines on 16 minutes from a corner, Robbie Keane's ambitious volley was unable to sneak through a crowded penalty box.

Spurs continued to improve throughout the half as they looked to kick-start their season after three defeats in their first four games, and Keane, recalled to the starting line-up in place of Jermain Defoe, nearly found himself clear on goal after Mido's square ball. But after controlling with his chest the ball ran away from him and into the hands of Antti Niemi.

His Egyptian strike partner then saw a quick shot and turn in the box blocked by a resolute Fulham defence, before Teemu Tainio wasted the best chance of the first 45 minutes.

Liam Rosenior failed to clear Jermaine Jenas' venomous cross as he fell to ground, but the Finnish midfielder somehow contrived to pull his subsequent shot wide of Niemi's upright with the goal at his mercy.

With Fulham firmly on the back foot Spurs skipper Ledley King was unable to get the necessary touch as he tried to stab home a corner at the near post, whilst fellow defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto also threatened when he outfoxed Zat Knight at the back post after a Jenas free kick - only to ram his shot straight into the chest of Niemi.

Keane also had a penalty shout turned down by referee Mark Clattenburg after colliding with Franck Queudrue, but the scoreline remained blank as The Cottagers entered half time with plenty to consider after failing to muster more than a handful of half-chances.

No doubt on the end of a fierce team-talk from Coleman at the break, Fulham emerged a different proposition and former Arsenal full back Volz became more of an attacking force down the right as he fired two efforts just off target.

Queudrue also tried to catch out Robinson with a cheeky free kick, with the England number one expecting a cross, but his effort also flew wide of the post.

Despite Fulham's improvement, it was still Spurs who represented more of a threat and Mido, who had earlier been booked for a deliberate handball, gave an acute reminder of the home side's danger when he rattled a shot against the woodwork from a tight angle after being played in by Keane.

Assou-Ekotto went almost as close with a sensational set-piece seven minutes later as he drilled a rasping shot just over the bar, but the award of the free kick was contentious as Didier Zokora appeared to go down under minimal contact from Queudrue.

The Fulham defender certainly felt he had been tricked and took issue with the Ivorian midfielder by shoving him in the chest. Luckily for Queudrue referee Clattenburg was in charitable mood and opted for a talking-to rather than reaching into his pocket.

Zokora had been praised by Jol previous to the match and looked keen to impress, but his finish after a neat Keane through ball went horribly wrong as he shanked one high into the White Hart Lane stands on 70 minutes.

As the chance of a win began to slip away from his team, Jol threw on England international striker Jermain Defoe for Tainio. The little front man wreaked havoc almost immediately as he lured Volz into a foul on the right of the box, but Defoe made a mess of the set-piece as he fired wide.

Further pressure followed as Luis Boa Morte showed adept defending to clear off the line from a corner following Pascal Chimbonda's back post header, sustaining an injury which required his withdrawal in the process, whilst Defoe continued to threaten as he saw his first-time shot from a Mido chested pass tipped round the post by Niemi.

Keane's failed attempt to take a Zokora shot into his stride was symptomatic of Spurs' failure to find their rhythm, and their frustrations were evident when Keane become involved in an altercation with former team-mate Michael Brown after a meaty challenge from the Fulham man. Brown, never one to shirk confrontation, was also involved in a minor scuffle with Chimbonda as he attempted to waste time at the corner flag.

The Cottagers could have grabbed all three points at the death when Volz hit Tomasz Radzinski's pass straight at Robinson, but after King's header took a cross away from the waiting Defoe in a fractious final few minutes, Fulham's defensive resolve held out to earn them a hard-fought point.

Spurs are really struggling at the moment!

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Poor result by Spurs which have sight for top 4.I think they looked stronger last year but this season has just get started.Many games left to show what they are prove for.I expect them to be at least in the top 6.

[anthonosbourne]

A lack of width and balance are Spurs main problem. Until Big MJol sorts out the midfield then we will struggle.

Zakora looks decent ,very pacy but the touch of a rapist. I wouldve played THuddlestone v Fulham because he has composer something that was lacking on Sunday.

I reckon only a point if we are lucky on Sat.

[bludhaven]

This may set a bitter tone for you guys for the rest of the season...

Thanks for taking Mido of our hands by the way, he was unhappy with us and we were unhappy with him