Premier League: Tottenham 0 Fulham 1

Dimitar Berbatov’s second-half goal against his former club was enough to give Fulham a 1-0 win at Tottenham on Sunday.

After a first half with few chances, Berbatov finally opened the scoring just after the interval following a swift counter-attack from the away side.

Tottenham failed to truly respond to their former striker’s goal, with the best opportunities falling to substitute Jermain Defoe, who could not capitalise as Mark Schwarzer produced a couple of excellent saves to deny the Englishman.

It extended Tottenham’s losing run in all competitions to three matches, while Fulham jumped to 10th in the English Premier League with the win.

Tottenham were in control at White Hart Lane early, with Sascha Riether having to clear a Gareth Bale header off the line after just six minutes.

That was the best chance in what swiftly became a fairly turgid first half.

Both sides struggled to assert themselves on the game, with perhaps the most significant incident coming from an injury picked up by the talismanic Bale as the Welshman hobbled off gingerly following an ankle complaint just before the interval.

The winger returned after the break but it was Fulham who finally sprung the game into life with a goal, courtesy of a swift counter-attack finished coolly by Berbatov.

Ashkan Dejagah set Riether away down the right, with Tottenham short at the back having been caught pushing for the opener.

The right-back set the Bulgarian up with a smart cross which was duly tucked away for the opener.

The visitors were inches away from extending their lead just five minutes later as, after a flick-on from a Giorgos Karagounis corner, Brede Hangeland headed just wide of the far post.

With 20 minutes remaining, substitute Defoe finally tested Schwarzer in the Fulham goal, but the Australian proved more than equal to his stinging effort from the edge of the box.

Schwarzer was to thwart Defoe once more in the last chance of the game, producing a magnificent save to deny the striker after Bale put the ball on a plate for him in the six-yard box.