Tudor responds to Tottenham relegation chance and slams Fulham display | Football | Sport

Tottenham caretaker manager Igor Tudor has lambasted his side’s display as it “lacked everything” in their loss away at Fulham on Sunday afternoon.

Spurs fell behind after merely seven minutes when Harry Wilson netted from close-range, despite Tottenham appeals for a foul on Radu Dragusin. That advantage was subsequently extended by Alex Iwobi before the interval, with Spurs supporters jeering the team off at half-time.

There was a fightback after the hour mark when Richarlison appeared at the far post to nod in an Archie Gray delivery, but it proved insufficient to salvage a point. “We were not good, lacked everything,” Tudor said in a press conference following the match regarding his team’s showing.

“Attacking and defending. Fulham were much better. There are problems here, big problems. We need to stay calm, believe in what we are doing in training, and get out, staying all together.

“These are not things to speak outside, we speak in the dressing room. The problems are more complex [than attitude and commitment] second half was better, but the first half was not enough.”

Whilst those concerns are evidently present, Tottenham supporters will be hoping they can identify swift remedies to halt their dismal run of results. They are now winless in ten Premier League matches, the joint-longest in the club’s history, the previous one being in 1994.

While Tottenham have scarcely covered themselves in glory, they may well feel hard done by. Tudor was incensed when he believed Dragusin had been fouled via a push in the back from Raul Jimenez, moments before Wilson netted the opener, yet VAR upheld the on-field decision to award the goal.

This stood in sharp contrast to a Tottenham goal ruled out a week prior in the North London Derby, when Gabriel Magalhaes hit the deck following a push in the back. Regarding the foul, Tudor was unequivocal in his assessment, stating: “Of course it’s a foul. Incredible mistake.”

The defeat leaves Tottenham embroiled in the relegation battle, though losses for Nottingham Forest and West Ham maintain a four-point cushion. Tudor insists that relegation fears must be cast aside, with attention firmly fixed on the midweek encounter with Crystal Palace.

“We are just thinking about the next game,” he said. “We don’t need to think about that [relegation] not because it cannot happen, but we must focus on growing mentality as a team, concentration, physically. These are the only goals we must have.”

Ten matches now remain for Tudor to navigate Tottenham to safety, with Thursday’s showdown against the Eagles potentially offering the finest opportunity to get themselves out of trouble. Palace have endured their own difficulties, suffering defeat to Manchester United on Sunday despite having taken the lead.

Maxence Lacroix, who netted the opening goal, will be unavailable having received a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity in the encounter. That, combined with Crystal Palace’s recent difficulties, could present an opportunity for Tottenham to secure their maiden victory under Tudor.