Fulham 1 Tottenham 2: Winks heads late winner after Alli injury

Fernando Llorente scored an own goal on his first Premier League start of the season, but Harry Winks headed a late winner at Fulham.

Published : Jan 21, 2019 00:03 IST

Spurs midfielder Harry Winks scores against Fulham.
Spurs midfielder Harry Winks scores against Fulham.
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Spurs midfielder Harry Winks scores against Fulham.

Harry Winks scored a 93rd-minute header to earn Tottenham a dramatic 2-1 Premier League win at Fulham, but Mauricio Pochettino will be concerned about an injury suffered by Dele Alli.

England midfielder Alli had headed Spurs level, cancelling out a first-half own goal scored by Fernando Llorente - the striker deputising for the injured Harry Kane, who is out until March.

Alli could well be set to join Kane on the sidelines after limping off in the closing stages, but what looked like becoming a nightmare Sunday for Spurs at Craven Cottage was saved at the death by Winks.

Substitute Georges-Kevin Nkoudou delivered a wonderful whipped ball into the box from the left wing and Winks was there to condemn struggling Fulham to another defeat.

Fulham scored two own goals in a 2-1 loss at Burnley last weekend, although one was later given to Jeff Hendrick, and the tables were turned when it took the lead in the 17th minute.

Jean Michael Seri's corner from the right wing did not look particularly dangerous but Llorente clumsily turned the ball into his own goal.

Llorente and Ryan Babel missed good headed chances and Fulham then had a second goal ruled out for offside when Aleksandar Mitrovic headed home the rebound after Lloris had parried away a typically powerful Andre Schurrle drive.

Spurs improved after the break and it levelled in the 51st minute, Tim Ream's fluffed clearance allowing Christian Eriksen to float a cross to Alli at the back post for a simple header.

Both sides had penalty appeals rejected and Llorente wasted another chance by heading wide Danny Rose's cross, the left-back having earlier hit the crossbar with a deflected drive.

Alli hurt his left hamstring in the closing stages to add to Spurs' growing injury list, but an unlikely pair of heroes combined to create the winner deep into stoppage time.

Nkoudou's cross was inviting and Winks timed his run perfectly to nod in from close range.

What does it mean? Fulham survival hopes fading

Fulham was excellent in the first half and could have led by two or three goals at the break, but its defensive issues were highlighted after the interval. With 51 goals conceded in the Premier League, a seven-point gap to safety looks too big. Spurs, meanwhile, is back to within nine points of leader Liverpool, but Champions League qualification may be a more realistic goal.

Alli comes up trumps for Spurs

Someone had to deliver for Spurs with Kane not fit to play and it was Alli who produced when his side needed a goal. The England midfielder hit 18 in the 2016-17 Premier League season and he may need to record a similar return with Kane set to miss at least 10 games. Spurs will hope Alli's late hamstring injury was not as serious as it looked.

Llorente lost in Kane's absence

Filling Kane's boots was always going to be a tough task for Llorente, restricted to six Premier League appearances as a substitute this term. But the striker looks a poor fit for a Spurs side which relies on mobility up front and the less said about his awful own goal the better.

What's next?

Spurs plays the second leg of the EFL Cup semifinal against Chelsea on Thursday as Pochettino tries to break his trophy drought, Crystal Palace following in the fourth round of the FA Cup three days later. Fulham, which is out of the FA Cup, next plays at home to Brighton and Hove Albion on January 29 in the Premier League.

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