Ten Without a Win and Counting – Spurs Sleepwalk While Fulham Dream of Europe

Well then. If anyone was hoping 2026 might gently improve for us after the small matter of ten league games without a win, Craven Cottage had other ideas. Relegation-threatened Tottenham (yes, it still feels odd typing that) trudged off again, beaten 2-1 by a Fulham side who look like they’re planning summer holidays in Europe while we’re browsing survival guides.

Under our new boss Igor Tudor, we’ve now managed two matches, two defeats, and six goals conceded. It’s early days, of course. We’re calm. Perfectly calm. Absolutely not nervously checking the table every 15 minutes.

Early Blow, Familiar Feeling

It took Fulham seven minutes to score. Seven. We barely had time to settle into our usual cautious optimism before Harry Wilson volleyed home his ninth of the season from six yards out.

Now, Tudor was understandably incandescent. In the build-up, Raúl Jiménez appeared to shove Radu Drăgușin as they contested a cross from Kenny Tete. The ball eventually found its way to Wilson, who did what strikers tend to do against us – finish clinically.

Last week against Arsenal, we had a goal chalked off for a foul by Randal Kolo Muani on Gabriel Magalhães. This time, VAR – with Craig Pawson overseeing matters – took a look and decided Fulham’s was absolutely fine.

Consistency is all we ask. We just don’t often receive it.

No Arguments About the Second

If the first stung, the second was entirely self-inflicted. On 34 minutes, Alex Iwobi was allowed the sort of space in front of goal usually reserved for testimonial matches. After a neat exchange with Wilson, he lashed one in from 18 yards. It clipped the inside of the post and nestled in. Lovely finish. Painful viewing.

Fulham could, and probably should, have had three before half-time. Calvin Bassey blazed over from close range, while Jiménez and Emile Smith Rowe both spurned opportunities. On another day, it’s 4-0 and we’re discussing damage limitation.

A Flicker of Hope (Briefly)

To our credit – and we’ll cling to whatever credit we can find – we did respond. In the 66th minute, substitute Richarlison rose to head home a cross from Archie Gray. A proper striker’s header, too.

That goal carried a small nugget of pride: Richarlison became the first Brazilian to score 20 headed Premier League goals. A niche statistic, yes, but we’re collecting whatever silverware we can at the moment.

For a few fleeting minutes, it felt like momentum might swing. Fulham wobbled. Their captain Tom Cairney nearly scored with his first touch off the bench. The home crowd grew edgy. We pressed, probed, and… largely fizzled out.

A late effort from Pape Matar Sarr hit the side-netting. A blocked shot in stoppage time caused mild alarm. But if we’re honest, we rarely looked like equalising.

One shot on target all game. One. It happened to be our goal.

The Bigger Picture (Deep Breaths Required)

We are now 16th. Four points above the relegation zone. Ten matches without a league win – our worst run since the days of Ossie Ardiles in 1994, when we scraped survival by three points and finished 15th.

Let’s just say history isn’t exactly comforting.

Tudor insisted in his first press conference he was “100%” confident we would stay up. He’s built a reputation on dragging teams out of trouble. But what he’s inherited is fragile at the back and blunt up front. The second-half collapse against Arsenal and this defeat at Fulham are not minor teething problems – they’re warning flares.

Meanwhile, credit where it’s due. Marco Silva has Fulham ninth, level on points with eighth-placed Everton on goal difference. Eighth might just sneak into Europe this season. Fulham haven’t played European football since 2012-13, and they’re daring to dream.

Their eighth home win in 14 at Craven Cottage keeps that dream alive. They completed a league double over us for only the second time in their history. Naturally, we were involved.

What Now?

Fulham host West Ham United next, then have an FA Cup tie against Southampton. They’ll be targeting more momentum.

We, meanwhile, welcome Crystal Palace – who sit six points above us – to north London. A win isn’t just desirable. It’s essential.

We’ve been in the top flight every season bar one since 1977-78. That’s a point of pride. But pride doesn’t earn points. Right now, we are the only Premier League side without a league win in 2026.

Still, we’re Spurs. We do drama. We do chaos. Perhaps we’re simply saving the great escape for a suitably theatrical finale.

Comforting thought, that.

Isn’t it?