Guglielmo Vicario was jeered by home supporters after a howler that completed a calamitous opening six minutes for Tottenham as Fulham took a 2-0 lead, and despite a revival Spurs could not avoid a 2-1 defeat.
Kenny Tete opened the scoring in the third minute via a deflection, and less than three minutes later Vicario ran roughly 25 yards off his line and miscontrolled possession, gifting Harry Wilson a chance which he punished with a superb strike into an empty net. It was the earliest Tottenham had ever conceded two goals in a Premier League match at home.
A sizeable section of the crowd, frustrated by a run of poor home results—Spurs have won just three of their last 21 home league games—booed Vicario repeatedly across the remainder of the first half. Head coach Thomas Frank criticised the reaction after the match, telling Sky Sports he found the booing “unacceptable” when directed at a player during the game rather than after it.
At half-time captain Micky van de Ven gathered his teammates to walk off together and face the crowd as one. Fulham might have stretched their lead further were it not for van de Ven’s vital sliding challenge on Samuel Chukwueze after Vicario had been rounded.
Frank had selected a more attacking XI compared with the Arsenal defeat, starting Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall together, but Spurs were repeatedly cut apart in the first half. By the break Tottenham had an xG of just 0.07 and no shots on target. Fulham boss Marco Silva praised his side’s first-half performance, saying they had been clinical and controlled the game’s opening 35 minutes.
Spurs improved after the interval and got a lifeline 14 minutes into the second half when Mohammed Kudus fired in a powerful finish past Bernd Leno, but momentum stalled and Spurs could not find an equaliser. Frank accepted the game was lost in those opening six minutes and stressed the need to stick to the plan, remain calm and continue working.
Former Tottenham defender Michael Dawson said on Saturday Night Football that while improvement was expected under Frank and a top-six finish seemed realistic, the home performances had been well below par and the group were not playing to expected levels.
Team news
– Frank made four changes from the North London derby, starting Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray together in midfield.
– Samuel Chukwueze made his first Fulham start, replacing Kevin from the Sunderland win.
Player ratings (selected)
Tottenham: Vicario 3, Porro 4, Van de Ven 7, Danso 5, Udogie 5, Bergvall 6, Gray 5, Palhinha 5, Kudus 6, Richarlison 5, Kolo Muani 5. Subs: Bentancur 6, Simons 5, Odobert 6, Sarr 6.
Fulham: Leno 6, Tete 8, Andersen 7, Bassey 6, Sessegnon 7, Berge 7, Iwobi 6, Chukwueze 7, King 8, Wilson 7, Jimenez 7. Subs: Lukic 6, Smith Rowe 6. Player of the Match: Kenny Tete.
Key context and stats
– Tottenham suffered their 10th home defeat of 2025 in the Premier League, matching the club’s joint-most home defeats in a calendar year (also 10 in 1994 and 2003).
– Spurs have collected just 14 home points across the last 12 months, the lowest of any ever-present Premier League team.
– Fulham’s 2-0 lead inside six minutes was the earliest Spurs have ever conceded two home Premier League goals.
– Tottenham have now lost four consecutive home London derbies in the Premier League for the first time.
Frank: “We lost the game in the first six minutes. After that we rushed the first half but got much better in the second half. We created more chances but couldn’t get the second goal. It was an emotional second half; we badly want to win at home, so when it’s not going your way it is hard.”
Silva: “I’m very proud of the boys. We have been speaking about away games and needed to win. What a great first half from us. We were clinical and controlled our game — our fast attacks were very good.”
What’s next
– Tottenham fixtures
– Fulham fixtures
– Premier League fixtures