Line-up: Paul Stalteri returns from suspension and Stephen Kelly switches to left-back in place of absent Young-Pyo Lee. Andy Reid and Aaron Lennon start in place of injured pair Edgar Davids and Teemu Tainio. Grzegorz Rasiak starts ahead of Jermain Defoe. Tom Huddlestone and Johnnie Jackson fill the bench.
This dull London derby was heading for a draw. Spurs had looked like hanging on but paid the price and were left to look back on a disappointing display. The game started promisingly. Lennon was beginning to cause the Fulham defence problems on the left flank but could not unlock the home defence. Defoe failed to make much of an impact. THE SUN
It was a desperate night for Tottenham and, in particular, Defoe because Jol does not feel that he is an effective partner for Robbie Keane. DAILY MIRROR
Tom Dart: Perhaps the frenzy of transfer activity that accompanies the closing of the January window had a psychological impact on the players last night because this was a game permeated by a mood of restless agitation, as if a sense of insecurity had bred aggression. Fulham’s physical approach found its apogee in the robust efforts of their two forwards, Heidar Helguson and Brian McBride. Andy Reid had produced Tottenham’s best moment of an opening period dominated by Fulham when the visiting team were indebted to Paul Robinson. Tottenham carried more of a threat after the break, but both teams spent plenty of time in and around each others’ penalty area without carving out any outstanding opportunities. The swelling number of callous fouls testified that the contest was more about attrition than aesthetics. Defoe must be alarmed at the alacrity with which he has changed from star striker to part-timer ideally used to face non-physical sides when at home. Given that Tottenham were believed to be willing to part with Rasiak, the Pole might have wondered whether he would still be a Tottenham player when he returned to the dressing-room. THE TIMES
David Miller: In a game where tempers had risen Tottenham's resistance lapsed and Fulham drove home their advantage in the last breath. Throughout the first half both teams flickered but failed to take off. The coaches would have been impressed with much of the midfield play, but the finishing at either end was mostly poor, sometimes non-existent. Tottenham kept crossing the ball from the flanks and finding no-one coming across to meet them. Fulham’s combination of Heidar Helguson and Brian McBride up front was scarcely more intimidating than Tottenham's combination of Grzegorz Rasiak and Robbie Keane - immense effort in winning the ball, but insufficient creativity in making openings. Even Michael Carrick was finding it difficult to unlock Fulham's door, and Martin Jol's gamble of omitting Defoe was unproductive, even allowing for the thinnest of services from midfield. Tottenham were unfortunate, nonetheless, not to have taken an early lead. Fulham were industrious without being inventive, let alone exciting. There was a succession of neat moves without serious danger to Paul Robinson in goal. Fulham continued to exert more pressure and in the second half the tide turned and the level of physical challenge rose considerably. DAILY TELEGRAPH
Jon Brodkin: Having lacked the creativity and quality to break down a stubborn Fulham, poor defending allowed Carlos Bocanegra to head a last-minute winner. Fulham mixed a physical, direct approach with more astute passing and disrupted Spurs' rhythm in the first half. Spurs' first-half passing was sub-standard. Having been the brighter team in the first half, they were pushed back for much of the time after the interval and it had been hard to see them scoring even after Dawson's red card. Lennon's pace against Liam Rosenior on the left offered Spurs' best hope but his crossing did not often enough match the initial burst. After Andy Reid went off, there was no regular width or threat on the right (as Lennon swapped over). Spurs controlled the tempo after the interval, with Michael Carrick more to the fore, but Fulham held firm, helped by positive contributions from Wayne Bridge and Bocanegra. Spurs dominated the second half of a dismal match. Grzegorz Raziak was desperate up front, Aaron Lennon was the only genuine source of threat to Fulham. Martin Jol continues to believe Jermain Defoe and the disappointing Robbie Keane are not a viable partnership, but it is difficult to believe the side would have fared worse here with them in tandem throughout. Spurs looked likelier to win the game than lose it once the centre-half went. With Defoe on, they carried a more consistent threat. Fulham created nothing from open play against a defence in which Ledley King was impressive. With Luis Boa Morte and Steed Malbranque kept quiet, their only threat came from dead-ball situations. THE GUARDIAN
Jason Burt: It seems inconceivable that the frantic nature of the intended comings and goings at Spurs did not have some effect - psychological or otherwise. A game of few chances in which Spurs finished the stronger but they lost because of the effect of having Michael Dawson sent off in the second half (his departure left a gaping hole through which Carlos Bocanegra earned a precious victory) and the unrelenting desire of Fulham. The craziness of Spurs' transfer approach was evident in the performance of Stephen Kelly, who played poorly. THE INDEPENDENT