The FA Cup - Fifth Round
FulhamFulham0TottenhamTottenham Hotspur3

Fulham 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur

By Patrick JenningsBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments110

Harry Kane scored a hat-trick as Tottenham reached the FA Cup quarter-finals with a comfortable win over Championship side Fulham.

Kane slid in for the opener as Kieran Trippier's quick long throw caught the Fulham defence off guard and Christian Eriksen crossed first-time on the half-volley.

Five minutes after the break, the same three Spurs players combined again as the England striker's controlled finish put away another Eriksen cross following Trippier's pass.

The home side showed brief signs of a late rally, but Kane then completed his second hat-trick of the calendar year, and his fifth for Spurs, with a cool strike when put through on goal from Dele Alli's weighted pass.

Fulham, eighth in England's second tier, have lost just once at home in the league since October, and Slavisa Jokanovic's side have defeated Hull and Middlesbrough at home in the cups this year.

But they were beaten comprehensively by Spurs, who put Thursday's disappointing Europa League defeat by Gent behind them with just a third win in 15 away matches.

Mauricio Pochettino's side will host Millwall in the quarter-finals.

Quarter-final draw
Chelsea v Man Utd
Middlesbrough v Huddersfield/Man City
Tottenham v Millwall
Arsenal v Lincoln

Three for Kane, three wins to go for Spurs

Spurs named a weakened team for January's fourth-round home tie with Wycombe and scraped past their League Two opponents in a 4-3 win.

Here, Pochettino's full-strength side might have been 2-0 up before Kane's 16th-minute opener - scored with just three touches, including Trippier's throw.

Even by that time, the pattern of Spurs dominance had already been firmly established; Marcus Bettinelli tipped wide from Eriksen and Alli dragged just wide from the edge of the box, as the away side broke through Fulham's defensive lines with ease.

Pochettino said his side "lacked desire" in the 2-0 defeat at Liverpool last Saturday, which saw them slip off the pace in the Premier League, but no such criticism could be offered here.

And with a place in the FA Cup's last eight secured, he and Spurs are three wins from what would be the Argentine's first trophy as a manager, and the club's first title since the 2008 League Cup.

Hat-trick hero Kane revels in 'great game'

Fulham make Spurs feel at home

Fulham are eighth in the Championship, nine points short of a play-off spot but with a game in hand on sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday.

Slavisa Jokanovic's side had scored 12 goals in their past five matches but they struggled to create opportunities and were too passive in the face of Spurs' possession.

The best chance they had in the first half was gifted by Spurs keeper Michel Vorm, who recovered well to stop Tom Cairney's first-time shot after he had passed straight to the Fulham midfielder.

The introduction of 16-year-old full-back Ryan Sessegnon did provide some impetus in the second half, with Kevin McDonald heading just over the bar from a corner before ex-Spurs midfielder Scott Parker, 36, nodded straight at Vorm from a free-kick.

But there was only one team deserving of a place in the next round, and Fulham's attention will return to their push for Premier League promotion.

What the managers said

Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic, speaking to BBC Sport: "They dominated the whole game. They play good football and I was impressed with how they pressed us, working without the ball they didn't give us any space.

"It's true we conceded cheaply for the first two goals, we didn't have enough energy. But we can try and improve to be close to them, we can learn something from today.

"We didn't offer our best performance and the result was completely fair."

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, to BBC Sport: "I am very pleased, we started the game with great urgency. We tried to show that we wanted to go to the next round. I am very happy after two defeats.

"We had to recover the right feeling after two defeats. We had to believe in the way we work and play and that is what is important. We had lost that a little bit.

"It is always important for the striker to feel the net. We are a collective, there can be different names but we must compete."

Man of the match - Harry Kane (Tottenham)

Harry Kane
Kane, captaining the Spurs side, scored a clinical hat-trick - his first in the FA Cup

Kane's scoring run - the stats

  • Kane has scored nine times in nine games in 2017 for Tottenham in all competitions
  • Christian Eriksen registered his 10th and 11th assists of the campaign for Spurs, five more than any other player has for the club this season
  • Four of Eriksen's last six assists for Tottenham have been for Harry Kane goals
  • Fulham have lost six of their last seven games against their Spurs in all competitions (won one)
  • Spurs have progressed from 13 of their last 14 FA Cup ties against teams from lower down the pyramid

What's next?

Spurs play again on Thursday, in the second leg of their Europa League last-32 tie with Gent at Wembley. They trail 1-0 from the first leg. They then take on Stoke in the Premier League at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Fulham play away to Bristol City in the Championship on Wednesday, and are away to Cardiff on Saturday.

Line-ups

Fulham

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Bettinelli
  • 4Odoi
  • 26Kalas
  • 13Ream
  • 3Malone
  • 6McDonaldSubstituted forParkerat 74'minutes
  • 14Johansen
  • 24AlukoSubstituted forCyriacat 66'minutes
  • 10Cairney
  • 11AyitéSubstituted forR Sessegnonat 56'minutes
  • 7Kebano

Substitutes

  • 8Parker
  • 9Cyriac
  • 15Madl
  • 20Piazon
  • 25Martin
  • 27Button
  • 30R Sessegnon

Tottenham

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 13Vorm
  • 16Trippier
  • 4Alderweireld
  • 5Vertonghen
  • 33Davies
  • 29WinksSubstituted forDembéléat 79'minutes
  • 12Wanyama
  • 23Eriksen
  • 20AlliSubstituted forOnomahat 86'minutes
  • 7Son Heung-Min
  • 10KaneSubstituted forSissokoat 75'minutes

Substitutes

  • 9Janssen
  • 17Sissoko
  • 19Dembélé
  • 25Onomah
  • 27Wimmer
  • 30López
  • 38Carter-Vickers
Referee:
Robert Madley
Attendance:
22,557

Match Stats

Home TeamFulhamAway TeamTottenham
Possession
Home39%
Away61%
Shots
Home8
Away23
Shots on Target
Home3
Away7
Corners
Home5
Away7
Fouls
Home7
Away7

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Fulham 0, Tottenham Hotspur 3.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Fulham 0, Tottenham Hotspur 3.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Kieran Trippier with a cross.

  4. Post update

    Attempt saved. Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mousa Dembélé.

  5. Post update

    Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Marcus Bettinelli.

  6. Post update

    Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Tom Cairney.

  7. Post update

    Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Tomas Kalas.

  8. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mousa Dembélé.

  9. Substitution

    Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Josh Onomah replaces Dele Alli.

  10. Post update

    Attempt saved. Scott Parker (Fulham) header from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Stefan Johansen with a cross.

  11. Post update

    Foul by Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur).

  12. Post update

    Neeskens Kebano (Fulham) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  13. Substitution

    Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Mousa Dembélé replaces Harry Winks.

  14. Post update

    Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Harry Winks tries a through ball, but Christian Eriksen is caught offside.

  15. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  16. Post update

    Attempt missed. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Moussa Sissoko.

  17. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Tom Cairney (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Stefan Johansen.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Moussa Sissoko replaces Harry Kane.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Fulham. Scott Parker replaces Kevin McDonald.

  20. Goal!

    Goal! Fulham 0, Tottenham Hotspur 3. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Dele Alli with a through ball.

Page 1 of 5
Navigate to the last page

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

110 comments

  • Comment posted by TheGMen, at 19:27 19 Feb 2017

    Interesting that the naysaying trolls look at Kane's England record & ignore other players like Sturridge - scored 8 goals for England in 25 appearances.
    Maybe it's the quality and management of the England Team which is the issue not one isolated player
    Spurs are 3rd in the PL still in the Europa and FA Cups
    Without the war chests of Man U, CITEH, AFC and Chelsea they punch above their weight

  • Comment posted by OssieWaddledintoHoddlesVilla, at 16:39 19 Feb 2017

    The shock for me was how much better we look with JV back alongside TA. Seems to allow the rest to play freer, knowing those two are there. Interesting to see what now for Dier now his CB cover isn't needed. No place for him in MF at the mo. Like everyone else I saw a banana skin here, so it was a much needed good all-round performance. Only Sissoko was rubbish as usual.

  • Comment posted by Mr R, at 17:58 19 Feb 2017

    21. Gunner Centaur

    Pot calling the kettle black much? Without Sanchez this season Arsenal would probably be mid table at best.

    And I guess the likes of Dele, Eriksen, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Dembélé, Dier and Lioris have done nothing this season then?

    Damn, and Arsenal fans call us deluded.

  • Comment posted by Robbo , at 22:03 19 Feb 2017

    Boro73
    I think you'll find over last 5 years Spurs net spending (purchase gross- sold) is only 1 million pound. Liverpool 121 million, man city 402 million, Chelsea 186 million, Arsenal 205 million, man united 352 million. You do the math!! Like I said.... Punching well above our weight!

  • Comment posted by Robbo , at 19:45 19 Feb 2017

    boro73

    How are Spurs under performing? Last time I looked we're 3rd in table, in next round of FA Cup and at the moment still in Europa league, all on a significantly reduced budget compared to the other top 5 teams??? To me that = punching above our weight! Most teams have a dip in form throughout the season and a couple of bad games doesn't mean under performing, and given ave age of squad!

  • Comment posted by Graham, at 16:24 19 Feb 2017

    Quarter Final draw:

    Lincoln v. Sutton (or Arsenal)
    Millwall v. Spurs
    Middlesbrough v. Man. City
    Man. Utd v. Chelsea

  • Comment posted by Eddie, at 16:56 19 Feb 2017

    I don't understand a lot of your subscribers. Premier teams get slagged off when they don't play their strongest teams. Spurs play their's and still get slagged off. The simple fact is that the team lying 3rd in the Premier League easily beat the team lying 8th in the Championship and that is boring (see Buster Spleen)
    Should Spurs have played a weaker team, to make it closer?
    Make up your mind?

  • Comment posted by XTStevie1872, at 16:22 19 Feb 2017

    Great performance by Spurs & even though the league has gone the are n with a decent shout of winning the cup this season ?

    Better than expected today............

  • Comment posted by starscream, at 16:25 19 Feb 2017

    We are through, Fulham rarely threatened in truth. Only negative is that we didn't score more. But no injuries so let's see who we get in the quarters.

  • Comment posted by benoitstolemycar, at 19:12 19 Feb 2017

    Good performance. But ultimately from the same crop of top players. We have a first rate first 11, but nothing after that. I fear we will run out of stream in the attempt to win on 3 fronts and end with nothing again. Telling that Nkoudou, Sissoko, Jansen, et al don't get a look in, even against Champ team. Simply not up to the job is why... squad quality willl find us out I'm afraid.

  • Comment posted by DanSpur, at 17:40 19 Feb 2017

    I expected a tough match today, so am delighted that it was so comfortable. Great to be in the draw tomorrow. I hope we get a home tie. I don't care who we get as long as it's a home. At the Lane we can beat anybody on our day.

  • Comment posted by T28ColdBlowLion, at 01:57 20 Feb 2017

    @94. Gunnerstorm. Perhaps spurs fans aren't responding coz you just sound a jealous tossa. The only way your bunch of poseurs can get through is against poor sides. I'd rather we had you in the qtrs coz we might've got through if we kicked Sanchez out the game as he's all you got. Unlike spurs you're soft team & soft fans. They got best mgr in PL & lots of good young english players. AFC just dour

  • Comment posted by steve_harmisons_middle_finger, at 20:19 19 Feb 2017

    Yay some goals from open play at last. Will wear my stab proof for the 1/4 final

  • Comment posted by Est1882, at 18:57 19 Feb 2017

    Good performance today after a few below par games. Shows what can happen when premier league teams take the cup seriously and play their strongest side. Shocks can happen (and have), but have to fancy ourselves at home to Millwall and then if we play at our full potential we can beat anyone on our day.
    Spurs are on their way to Wembley!
    (For a last 32 Europa league game against Gent...)

  • Comment posted by The Old Trafford Career Derailment Scheme, at 16:36 19 Feb 2017

    Great hat-trick by Kane. Spurs won at a stroll.

  • Comment posted by SImonSpur, at 20:50 19 Feb 2017

    As a Spurs fan delighted with the performance after last two games. Who cares about the England football team being too good for Kane what an idiot commenting on that. Like England have got lots of options . Also Spurs currently punching well above weight so stupid comments from trolls on that as well. Go back to your own useless teams

  • Comment posted by Maxpaulthespurdog, at 20:34 19 Feb 2017

    Well done Spurs seen some of the comments on here. Played our best squad against a championship side (trolls comments not mine) so of we should have won anyway (if we hadn't played our best squad we would be disrespecting the FA cup). It's only a tin pot trophy ( thats if you have knocked out of it). Some shocks yesterday, Spurs won well today could have been by more, well played lads.

  • Comment posted by DanSpur, at 17:05 19 Feb 2017

    @ 30. Posted by Struds

    He always scores against the Arsenal, so you have point.

  • Comment posted by Klinsmann1983, at 16:53 19 Feb 2017

    As a Spurs fan, I'd love to get Millwall in the next round.
    Home or away.

  • Comment posted by Graham, at 16:27 19 Feb 2017

    Re 3 McCarthy:

    Drivel. Spurs usually win the Cup when they reach the Final.

    Did you mean Newcastle ? Haven't won it since..........1955 !!!!

    Now they really do bottle it.

Top Stories

Elsewhere on the BBC