Spurs held to draw by Fulham

Tottenham 0 Fulham 0

Fulham enhanced their reputation as goalless-draw specialists with a stalemate at White Hart Lane that highlighted Tottenham’s need for a striker.

Roy Hodgson’s men earned a bore draw – their fourth successive 0-0 away from home in the Barclays Premier League – and were able to keep Spurs at bay despite Brede Hangeland being ruled out with flu.

It was easy to see why Harry Redknapp wants to bolster his squad with the likes of Craig Bellamy as Spurs struggled to create clear-cut chances against team without their most influential defender.

It could have been worse for the hosts but Heurelho Gomes, whose error gifted Fulham victory when the two sides met last month, atoned for his infamous blunder with a first-class save to deny Andy Johnson near the end.

This fixture was a repeat of last season’s Boxing Day clash which Spurs won 5-1 - but plenty has happened for both sides since, with Redknapp replacing Juande Ramos for starters.

Ray Lewington was caretaker boss for Fulham on that occasion and Roy Hodgson has since come in, inspiring a remarkable escape and stabilising them this season.

Another goal-fest never appeared to be on the cards, though, as Spurs went into the Christmas period as the league’s lowest scorers at home, with Fulham netting the least times away in the top flight this season.

Predictably, there was little in the way of early goalmouth action and the only thing of note was Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s new hairstyle – a huge afro with a shock of blonde.

The most significant incidents of the first 45 minutes were injuries to key midfielders on both sides: Spurs’ best passer Tom Huddlestone and Fulham’s driving force in Jimmy Bullard.

Even before they had headed down the tunnel, there was no momentum to the game.

David Bentley tried his luck from long range and Mark Schwarzer stopped with his chest after the effort took a wicked bounce – that was the sum total of the early action.

Jermaine Jenas, on for Huddlestone, fired over the crossbar from 25 yards; then Luka Modric went closer with a drive that went just past the post after a run that saw him wriggle through Chris Baird and Danny Murphy.

Schwarzer pulled off a stunning save after Assou-Ekotto raided down the left and pulled the ball back for Aaron Lennon to meet first time on the volley.

Lennon then crossed for Ledley King to head just wide as the intensity lifted slightly.

Fulham’s first meaningful effort came from an athletic scissor-kick from Clint Dempsey that Gomes threw himself at, tipping the spectacular effort over the crossbar.

The visitors were appealing for a penalty when Vedran Corluka held Bobby Zamora just after the break – but Peter Walton waved play on, as he did in the opening half when Johnson went over in the area.

Nothing was working for either side, with Modric’s flicks failing to come off and passes from his team-mates going astray.

Murphy then saw Zamora free but his ball over Spurs’ defence was too powerful, while Paul Konchesky went wide with a long-range free-kick.

Redknapp’s response was to bring on Fraizer Campbell, with the striker on loan from Manchester United replacing Bentley.

Substitute Dickson Etuhu tried his luck from 25 yards but the drive rose above Gomes’ crossbar; then Modric headed wide from Assou-Ekotto’s cross from the left.

Roman Pavlyuchenko was brought on for Darren Bent and the Russian’s first touch was a shot that deflected wide for a corner.

Gomes saved from Johnson with five minutes remaining after the striker got behind King.