Fulham - 1 Tottenham - 0: This was a Tottenham performance to give even a stuttering Arsenal much hope of overhauling their rivals and finishing fourth. Lacking the creativity and quality to break down a stubborn Fulham, Martin Jol's team fell in injury-time to a Carlos Bocanegra header from a free-kick.
Spurs made precious few chances and their hopes suffered a blow when Michael Dawson was sent off with 18 minutes left. The centre-half earned a second booking for pulling back Brian McBride on the edge of the area, having been cautioned earlier for a foul on the same player.
Tottenham dominated the second half, having been on the back foot for much of the first period, but could not find a way through. The ineptitude of Grzegorz Rasiak showed how much Mido is being missed, and their first shot on target came in the 81st minute from the substitute Jermain Defoe.
Spurs have now won once in four attempts.
Fulham also made few openings in a poor match and looked dangerous only from set-plays, with Paul Robinson keeping out a McBride free-kick after Dawson's dismissal and saving two other efforts from the American striker.
Tottenham can hardly have expected an easy game against a Fulham side who, despite losing to Leyton Orient here in the FA Cup, had won six of their previous seven home matches in the Premiership and drawn the other.
In the search of the right blend up front, Spurs coach Jol had given a rare start to Rasiak alongside Robbie Keane. The significance of that will not have been lost on Defoe. The England striker again started on the bench and, although he saw Andy Reid send a dipping shot narrowly over the bar in the sixth minute, that proved Spurs' only clear chance of the first half.
Rasiak was unable to make a positive impression, though he was not alone in that, as Fulham closed down effectively high up the pitch with a 4-1-3-2 formation.
Chris Coleman's players also found openings hard to come by in open play as Steed Malbranque and Luis Boa Morte, their two likeliest creators, were kept quiet. But they did make opportunities from set-pieces, with McBride forcing two saves from Robinson and Bocanegra heading just wide, as they mixed a muscular approach with more studious passing.
McBride has a capacity to find space in the penalty area and the second stop he drew from Robinson was sharp.
Fulham might have enjoyed other chances were it not for good defending by Ledley King. Their new signing Michael Brown, who signed from Tottenham, yesterday, must have been encouraged in the stands.
Fulham were forced to reorganise midway through the first half when Sylvain Legwinski went off injured, and there was a similar problem for Spurs, who had to replace Reid. Tom Huddlestone came on and Aaron Lennon moved to the left flank, where he provided a few bursts to give Tottenham hope. The quality of his crossing, though, was not up to scratch.
Tottenham were failing to find fluency or rhythm, and relied too heavily on long passes against a Fulham team who were defending effectively, with Wayne Bridge, who chose a loan to Fulham ahead of Spurs, doing well at the back and going forward.
Keane was running hard to try to spark things but to no avail and found Antti Niemi quickly off his line when he thought he might have a sight of goal.
Then Defoe almost produced that match winner out of nothing when Elliott's loose ball was seized upon by the England striker and his 20-yard drive was grabbed at the second attempt by Niemi.
With Jermaine Jenas stationed at right midfield, Tottenham had genuine width on only one flank and Lennon continued to offer their best hope.
But just when Lennon seemed set to surge through the centre after an error by Simon Elliott, the hapless Rasiak got in his way, prompting Spurs fans to chant Defoe's name.
They were mocking every poor contribution by the Pole, which at least gave them some distraction from a poor match.
Guardian Service
FULHAM: Niemi, Rosenior, Knight, Bocanegra, Bridge, Boa Morte, Elliott, Legwinski (Radzinski 23), Malbranque, Helguson, McBride (John 73). Subs not used: Warner, Goma, Niclas Jensen. Booked: Helguson. Goals: Bocanegra 90.
TOTTENHAM: Robinson, Kelly, King, Dawson, Stalteri, Reid (Huddlestone 26), Carrick, Jenas, Lennon (Gardner 74), Rasiak (Defoe 70), Keane. Subs not used: Cerny, Jackson. Sent off: Dawson (72). Booked: Rasiak, Dawson, Jenas.
Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).
