Fulham 0; Tottenham Hotspur: After losing to a hard-working but unspectacular Tottenham side who arrived on a miserable run of their own, Fulham sit three points clear of the drop zone.
A poor first-half display, during which Teddy Sheringham and Gus Poyet scored for Spurs, could not be rescued after the interval. Though they improved Fulham were largely laboured and vulnerable to counter-attacks.
Fulham could yet qualify for Europe by winning the FA Cup but it will be a hollow success if they lose their top-flight status. Their final three matches - at home to Bolton and Leicester and away to Blackburn - look decisive. "It's very dangerous," said manager Jean Tigana.
Spurs did not have to play well to end their sequence of four consecutive defeats. Sheringham's goal came from a fortuitous deflection at a free-kick and they rarely found much fluency. Yet their manager Glenn Hoddle was after points rather than plaudits and his delight was plain.
In the first half his team might have had more than their two goals in five minutes, and Steffen Iversen should have sealed matters shortly after half-time. Instead, Spurs had to rely on improved defending, poor Fulham finishing and a post to survive.
Ledley King and Anthony Gardner enhanced their reputations in a back four and Tim Sherwood provided important protection in front.
Fulham spent most of the second half on the attack but, as so often, there was little end product. Their problems continued despite fielding three strikers with Steed Malbranque in close support. All the same, Barry Hayles, Malbranque, Steve Marlet and Louis Saha wasted chances. Saha remains frustratingly peripheral for all his talents and there was despondency among the fans at the finish.
Sheringham and Iversen might have scored before Sheringham ended his recent drought by heading in a Christian Ziege free-kick that deflected off Sylvain Legwinski. When Poyet pounced after Edwin van der Sar saved from Ziege it not only signalled defeat for Fulham but highlighted a defensive weakness. Because Tigana plays with such a narrow midfield the full-backs get little protection. Spurs exploited that in the first half and Poyet's strike came after Iversen found Ziege unmarked on the left flank.
Had Hayles headed in just before half-time Fulham might have recovered. But their efforts came no closer than Marlet's header against an upright from close range.
Guardian Service.
FULHAM: Van der Sar, Finnan, Goma, Ouaddou, Harley (Brevett 58), Malbranque, Legwinski, Davis, Hayles, Marlet, Saha. Subs Not Used: Taylor, Melville, Collins, Boa Morte. Booked: Malbranque, Goma.
TOTTENHAM: Sullivan, Perry, King, Gardner, Thatcher, Anderton (Davies 75), Sherwood, Poyet, Ziege, Iversen, Sheringham. Subs Not Used: Keller, Rebrov, Etherington, Thelwell. Booked: Gardner, Sherwood. Goals: Sheringham 28, Poyet 32.
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).