Guglielmo Vicario was booed by his personal followers after his howler capped a shambolic opening six minutes towards Fulham which noticed Spurs concede twice, with an eventual revival not sufficient to keep away from a 2-1 defeat which may have been a lot worse.
Already trailing from Kenny Tete’s third-minute deflected opener, a second of insanity from the Italian goalkeeper lower than three minutes later gifted possession to Harry Wilson after operating some 25 yards off his line, and the Fulham midfielder punished his poor clearance with a surprising strike into the unguarded web.
It was the earliest Spurs had conceded two targets within the historical past of the Premier League and sufficient for a sizeable proportion of their followers, who’ve seen their aspect win simply three of their final 21 dwelling league video games, to activate Vicario and boo various his touches throughout the rest of the half.
Thomas Frank was left so angered by their response that he informed Sky Sports activities after the sport: “I didn’t like that our fans booed at him straight after and a few times he touched the ball.
“They can not be true Tottenham followers as a result of everybody helps one another when you find yourself on the pitch.
“And we do everything we can to perform. After, fair enough, boo, no problem. But not during. That’s unacceptable in my opinion.”
Vicario’s team-mates weren’t immune both. At half-time Micky van de Ven anticipated the response of the infuriated dwelling crowd and referred to as his team-mates throughout to stroll off collectively and face their ire as one.
By that time Fulham would have been out of sight had been it not for the actions of the house skipper, whose important slide on Samuel Chukwueze from a seemingly inconceivable place denied the Cottagers an important third after Vicario had been rounded.
Frank had clearly modified tack following the insipid defeat at Arsenal final weekend and named an attacking line-up together with each Archie Grey and Lucas Bergvall, solely to see his aspect lower aside at will by each first-half Fulham assault. The one query gave the impression to be the margin of the guests’ victory.
That might have been unhealthy sufficient with out Spurs’ attacking show proving limper than ever, with an xG of simply 0.07 racked up by the break and never a single shot on course.
It made Frank’s determination to retain confidence in his beginning XI all of the extra stunning however that very same line-up regarded a distinct aspect from the restart, although nonetheless discovered clear-cut alternatives arduous to come back by.
Even their lifeline 14 minutes into the second half required a rocket of a strike from Mohammed Kudus to beat Bernd Leno at his close to submit, earlier than their momentum slowly ebbed away and it reverted to a well-recognized story – a scarcity of creativity on dwelling soil, and one more poor consequence so as to add to the gathering.
This time, it might additionally start to lift the warmth on Frank himself.
The sad dwelling of Spurs’ palatial environment
- Tottenham suffered their tenth dwelling defeat of 2025 within the Premier League, with this now their joint-most dwelling league defeats in a single calendar 12 months in membership historical past (additionally 10 in 1994 and 2003).
- Spurs have picked up simply 14 factors on dwelling soil throughout the final 12 months, the bottom of any ever-present Premier League group and 6 behind the second-lowest whole, West Ham.
- Of the three groups they’ve crushed in that point, Southampton had been relegated with 12 factors, Manchester United completed fifteenth and Burnley, their solely dwelling win this season, are presently second-bottom of the Premier League.
- Tottenham have confronted 37 extra photographs and 27 extra photographs on course than they’ve tried throughout these 12 months at dwelling.
- Fulham’s 2-0 lead as of the sixth minute marked the earliest that Spurs have ever conceded two targets in a Premier League dwelling match.
- Tottenham have misplaced 4 consecutive dwelling London derbies for the primary time within the Premier League (twice vs Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Fulham).
Dawson: Spurs have to be lifelike
Former Tottenham defender Michael Dawson on Saturday Night time Soccer:
“It was always going to improve from last season [in the Premier League]. They are 10th now but only four points off the top four, so that’s where you have to be realistic.
“Did I count on them to complete within the high 4 this season? I did not. I assumed high six was lifelike with Frank entering into.
“With what he did over the last four or five years at Brentford, we can’t now just say Frank isn’t a good coach.
“The performances have been effectively under par at dwelling. It’s that creativity. It’s arduous for Thomas however he has solely been within the constructing a blink of an eye fixed, you must give him an opportunity however you must see an enchancment.
“They are only four points off top four. Top six was a realistic aim. Thomas Frank is a good coach because we have seen it for years, but a big club brings expectation and scrutiny.
“This group of gamers aren’t taking part in to the degrees I count on them to be.”
Frank: We lost the game in first six minutes
Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank to Sky Sports:
“This consequence leaves us in a spot the place now we have misplaced one other recreation. Each recreation has a single story, this recreation we misplaced within the first six minutes. We simply have to maintain working.
“After that, we rushed the first half in many ways. We wanted to come back into the game but couldn’t do it in the first half, but we got much better in the second half. We got a bit of momentum, created more chances and opportunities, but couldn’t get the second goal.
“It was an emotional efficiency within the second half, and I feel that is fairly regular. We all know that we badly wish to win at dwelling, so when it isn’t going your means, it’s arduous. That is why you might want to keep on with the plan, be cool and never stress. It’s simpler stated than accomplished.”
Silva: We have been speaking about poor away form
Fulham boss Marco Silva to Sky Sports:
“I am very pleased with the boys. We’ve been actually talking in regards to the video games on the street and all that stuff, so it was crucial for us to win. We knew that it was going to occur someday and we ready ourselves once more for that tonight.
“What a great first half from us, definitely. We got two early goals so we were clinical, but we probably should’ve scored more in the first half. The way we controlled our game during the first 35 minutes was pleasing, we didn’t leave anything for them and our fast attacks were very good.”
