Tottenham Hotspur faced another defeat, this time to Fulham at Craven Cottage in the Premier League. The match ended 2-0 in favor of Fulham, extending a worrying trend for Spurs, who have not won a game before an international break since October 2023. This defeat was particularly frustrating for Tottenham and its fans because it felt like a familiar pattern that had played out in previous matches this season. The defeat added to a growing list of disappointing results, and Postecoglou’s post-match press conference felt like a repeat of earlier ones where frustration and disappointment have become the norm. Despite Tottenham’s efforts, they handed the victory to Fulham, a team that now finds itself just four points off the top four, a position Tottenham had hoped to be in earlier in the season.
In the first half, neither team created much, and the game was a dull affair with very little to get excited about. The most notable moment came when Fulham’s Calvin Bassey pushed Tottenham’s Cristian Romero away, sending him flying through the air in a moment that could only be described as embarrassing for the Argentine. Romero is usually the one pushing opponents around, but here, he was the one who found himself on the receiving end. As the match progressed, Tottenham seemed to have the upper hand, especially after Postecoglou made a couple of key substitutions at halftime. Yves Bissouma and Brennan Johnson were replaced by Lucas Bergvall and Son Heung-min, who injected more energy and positivity into the game.
Despite this, Tottenham’s defensive struggles continued to plague them. Once again, Postecoglou made a defensive change, a decision that has been becoming a regular theme in recent matches. Romero had already played three games in a week after being sidelined for some time, and it appeared he may have hurt himself during the first half. This led to his substitution. However, bringing on Ben Davies made the situation awkward, as both Davies and Romero are left-footed players. With Micky van de Ven also unavailable due to injury, the defensive changes did not have the desired effect.
Not long after the defensive switch, Fulham took advantage. A misstep by Tottenham’s Wilson Odobert, who lost possession after being surrounded by Fulham defenders, set up the opening goal. Adama Traore sent the ball into the six-yard box, and Andreas Pereira knocked it down for Rodrigo Muniz to score a low shot past Tottenham’s keeper. Any hope of a comeback was dashed shortly after, when Davies made a mistake in dealing with a bouncing ball, and former Tottenham player Ryan Sessegnon scored a brilliant curling goal to seal the victory for Fulham.
Postecoglou could only wonder how the season might have gone if he had been able to use a fully fit defense for most of the year. Romero and Van de Ven have both struggled with injuries, and this inconsistency at the back has had a significant impact on Tottenham’s season. Romero, who had only played 14 Premier League matches this season, posted on social media after the match, expressing the team’s disappointment but reaffirming their commitment to take responsibility. However, for Postecoglou, the number of defeats is hard to ignore. This latest loss marked the 15th defeat in the Premier League this season, the most losses in a single season for Tottenham in 16 years. With only nine matches left in the season, and many difficult games ahead, Spurs remain in a tough position. The only teams with more losses than Tottenham this season are the bottom four teams in the league.
In his post-match interview, Postecoglou admitted that the level of performance was simply not good enough. Despite Tottenham not being completely outplayed, they allowed the game to slip away. Postecoglou reflected that Tottenham had opportunities to go ahead, but once again, they conceded soft goals that allowed the opposition to gain momentum. Tottenham did have a few chances to score, with Dominic Solanke sending headers wide and later missing an easy opportunity from five yards out. There was also a penalty shout for Spurs when Lucas Bergvall was brought down in the box by Bassey, but Postecoglou decided to leave any commentary on the matter to the officials. This led to Postecoglou voicing frustration about how his team is treated compared to others, mentioning how big clubs tend to get more attention when decisions go against them, while Spurs often go unnoticed when decisions don’t go their way.
Beyond the officiating, the performance of several Tottenham players has been a major concern. Yves Bissouma, for example, has struggled in recent matches. His performance against Fulham was poor, and Postecoglou confirmed that Bissouma has been taken off at halftime in several games recently. The midfielder was poor in possession, making panicked passes and losing key duels. Bissouma’s lack of confidence has been a recurring issue this season. Postecoglou said that while he feels Bissouma is not lacking in effort, he needs to find a way to break through his poor form. Another player lacking confidence is Brennan Johnson, who has been underperforming as Tottenham’s top scorer. Johnson was substituted again at halftime, along with Bissouma. Postecoglou acknowledged that Johnson needs to improve his movement and belief in his play.
Mathys Tel, the young Frenchman, did show some promise in the second half, making dangerous runs and providing a few decent crosses. However, his substitution in the 77th minute resulted in Fulham capitalizing on his misplaced pass and scoring the opening goal. Destiny Udogie, on the other hand, had a solid defensive performance, but his contributions going forward were lacking. There were moments when Son Heung-min was visibly frustrated with Udogie for not making the right decisions in the final third. Djed Spence also had some positive moments running with the ball but still struggles to shake off the notion that he is better suited for the left side of defense, as it allows him to cut inside on his stronger foot.
In terms of new faces, Archie Gray made his debut in midfield, and although he did not make any major mistakes, his inexperience showed in certain moments. He had a decent pass success rate but did not win many duels and could benefit from working on his strength. He was no worse than Rodrigo Bentancur, who again failed to impose himself on the game. The overall performance was a disappointing one for Tottenham, and it seemed like a lot of players were lacking the sharpness needed to change the game.
For Postecoglou and his team, the international break comes at a good time. After the match, Postecoglou found himself reacting to a fan’s taunts, a moment that further highlighted his frustration. Despite his usual calm demeanor, Postecoglou has been increasingly reacting to critics and negative comments. His response to a fan shouting at him showed that even after years in the game, he can still get caught up in the emotion of the moment. The emotional reaction from Postecoglou contrasts with the message he often gives his players to remain focused and not let external distractions affect them.
Postecoglou also admitted that the pressure of the season has been difficult for everyone involved, but he also stressed that there is no excuse for the current state of affairs. Tottenham’s league position remains poor, and the number of losses continues to grow. The Europa League offers some hope, but the league campaign is in shambles. For now, the focus is on finishing the season strong, but the damage has already been done, and the question remains whether this Tottenham team can still salvage something from what has been a painful season. Postecoglou’s patience has been tested, but he is fortunate that the teams at the bottom of the table have struggled even more than Spurs. If it weren’t for that, the pressure on Postecoglou and the entire club would be even greater.
In the meantime, Tottenham’s supporters have little to hold on to, as the team’s performance in the league has been consistently poor. Postecoglou, the players, and the entire club are accountable for the dismal campaign. There is still a slim chance that something can be salvaged, but as it stands, the season feels like a missed opportunity. With Spurs now focusing on the Europa League, there is little left to fight for in the league. As the fans’ frustration grows, the question remains whether Tottenham can fix their problems before it’s too late.
