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Tottenham manager José Mourinho has praised Dele Alli and Gareth Bale after they both impressed in a 1-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage. Alli was brought in from the cold to add some much-needed creativity, while Bale started back-to-back games for the first time since returning from Real Madrid.
The Spurs opened the scoring in the 19th minute when a Son Heung-min cross was converted into his own goal by Tosin Adarabioyo, through a slight movement from Alli.
Mourinho’s side only had two shots on goal in the whole game and Fulham should have had a well-deserved draw in the second half.
Josh Maja beat Hugo Loris after the hour, but the VAR intervened in a controversial way and ruled that Mario Lemina had handled the ball in preparation.
Alli and Bale were eliminated shortly after Maja’s rejected effort and were replaced by Moussa Sissoko and Lucas Moura.
“I think it was good,” Mourinho said of Alli. “Goal or own goal, that’s not the important thing. The important thing is the position he got, which I think is fundamental.
“Playing as a second striker he has to go (beyond the forward). He did well until his physical condition allowed him to.
“Just like Gareth. The second game of the week is not easy. They did very well.”
It wasn’t the Spurs’ most entertaining performance, but they got the three much-needed points, moving them four points away from the Champions League spots.
Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld told BT Sport: “In this period we need three points. Fulham are a very good team, they play well.”
“For the players and perhaps for the referees it is very difficult because some are of high intensity and not on purpose, but they happen.
“As players, I think what we want is some kind of consistency in reviews with handball situations, but I haven’t seen it, so I can’t tell if it was on or not.”
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