Fulham 0-1 Tottenham: Harry Kane equals Jimmy Greaves record as Spurs close gap on Premier League top four

A typically brilliant Harry Kane finish was enough to see Tottenham past Fulham, cementing their hold on fifth place and closing the gap on Manchester United in fourth. Kane now has 266 goals for the club, joining Jimmy Greaves as its all-time leading scorer.

Fulham were by far the better side in the first half without creating too much, but in its final 15 minutes Spurs improved slightly. That said, a goal did not look imminent until, in injury time, they got the ball into Kane 25 yards from goal and one quick turn and look later, a low curler was fizzing past Bernd Leno. Who knows how many more he’ll add to that 266 should he stay at the club.

The home side tried their best in the second half, but had neither the wit nor the class to make something happen. Nevertheless, they’ll be delighted with their first half of the season, while Spurs are still posing more questions than they’re answering; they just so happen to have Kane, who is good.

TALKING POINT – Spurs beat Fulham because they have Harry Kane.

Nothing his manager did, and nothing any of his team-mates did, had any serious impact on the result.

In isolation, this wouldn’t matter – brilliant players are brilliant players because they do things others cannot. But with Conte’s side, it is the case with alarming regularity, and there is no sense whatsoever of a serious side in development. Though the season is only half-over and there remains plenty of time for them to improve, should they achieve Daniel Levy’s holy grail of Champions League qualification, it will be because the sides above them have fallen apart.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Harry Kane (Tottenham)

Scored a brilliant goal, and is arguably the best 12-22 yard finisher in English football history.

PLAYER RATINGS

Fulham: Leno 6, Tete 6, Diop 6, Ream 6, Robinson 6, Reed 6, Palhinha 6, De Cordova-Reid 6, Pereira 6, Willian 6, Mitrovic 5. Subs: Cairney 6, Solomon 6, Wilson 6, Vinicius 6.

Spurs: Lloris 6, Romero 6, Dier 6, Davies 6, Emerson Royal 5, Hojbjerg 5, Bentancur 5, Perisic 5, Kulusevski 6, Son 6, Kane 7. Subs: Richarlison 6, Bissouma 6.

KEY MOMENTS

9’ – FULHAM DICTATING THE PACE! De Cordova Reid slides a ball in behind the Spurs defence, they half-clear, then Palhinha robs Son as he tries to dribble towards the centre-circle. He finds De Cordova-Reid again, who has a look, shoots, and drills a low shot that Lloris pushes away.

42’ – OVER! Pereira slings over a lush outswinger, Diop is up wrestling with Kane … and, facing the wrong way, Palhinha head over the bar.

45+1’ – WHAT A GOAL! Fulham 0-1 Spurs (Kane): Son takes the ball off Hojbjerg and advances, before passing into Kane who takes a touch, turns and moves away from Ream, then, from 20 yards, shoots early, hard and low, sending a curler fizzing into the far bottom corner with Leno unsighted. From 12-22 yards he’s the best finisher I’ve ever seen; one of the best finishers there’s ever been; and he’s now level with Jimmy Greaves on 266 Tottenham goals! What a player!

57’ – SPURS’ FIRST ATTACK OF THE HALF: And Kulusevski wins a corner off Robinson. It goes short, Kulusevski then crosses long towards the back stick, and when Davies nods back across, Kane thinks he’s going to score! We all do! But though he makes great contact with his headbutt, it goes straight at Leno, who makes a fine reaction save!

79’ – HERE’S KANE AGAIN! A high ball into Dier on the far side of the box is cushioned down nicely for Spurs’ joint-equal all-time top scorer and he’s onto it in a flash, taking it away from the defender and drilling a low shot around the near post. I thought he’d score there; I’m sure he did too.

KEY STAT

• Craven Cottage is the 33rd different ground at which Harry Kane has scored a Premier League goal, with only Andrew Cole (37), Frank Lampard (34) and Wayne Rooney (34) netting at a wider array of venues.