Football: Hayles storm rocks Hoddle

GLENN HODDLE admitted his side were outplayed as Barry Hayles gave Fulham their first-ever top-flight win at White Hart Lane.

It was back in 1948 in the old Second Division that Fulham were last victorious at Spurs, but it was a very modern truth that was the difference between the two sides yesterday.

Work rate. Fulham had it in abundance, while Spurs seemed leaden- footed as the optimism of their start to the season was brought sharply into focus.

Hoddle said: "We performed poorly and got what we deserved. Fulham were the better side but we were a yard, maybe two yards, short and our passing was poor.

"I couldn't see where that performance was coming from after we did so well at Liverpool in the week. Now we have eight or nine players who will go away on international duty so we can't even start sorting it out on the training ground.

"They came with 10 men behind the ball which didn't surprise us but sometimes you have to work for your rewards. We didn't try to churn out a win, which was disappointing.

"We can't defend like we did there. It just put us on the back foot."

Hayles had given a masterclass in how to play as a lone striker, reducing Anthony Gardner to a quivering wreck as he forced a succession of mistakes from the young Spurs defender.

There were others unable to live with Fulham's hunger to close down space but it was Gardner's error which put Spurs on a slippery slope. Hoddle had just arrived pitch-side from his seat in the stand and given the fans a wave when it all went horribly wrong. Gardner was harried into an error by Hayles in the danger zone and the Fulham striker fired the ball past Kasey Keller.

Hayles was on hand to punish another Spurs error in the 66th minute when Dean Richards failed to control a poor pass by substitute Darren Andterton and the Fulham striker unleashed a powerful drive past Keller.

Fulham were far from finished and struck again with a wonderful counter-attack started deep in his own half by the excellent Steed Malbranque. Hayles eventually picked the ball up on the right and his low ball into the box was perfect for Luis Boa Morte to add number three.

By the time Fredi Kanoute blazed wide for the second time in a few minutes the stadium was emptying fast.

Fulham goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar had to be sharp to save from Kanoute in the 13th minute and then stopped a Gardner volley on the line a few minutes before half-time. The only time he was beaten it was by his own defender Moritz Volz whose header came off the woodwork when Spurs trailed 1-0.

Chris Coleman, the Fulham boss, had needed crutches to help him to his touchline seat but at the end he was able to swagger down the tunnel unaided. He said: "To be honest I'd have been delighted with a draw, given our performance at Everton a week ago. Hayles typified everyone's performance. It's been a week of hard work on the training ground and the players did it on the pitch."

Last night Tottenham were close to completing a loan deal for France midfielder Stephane Dalmat from Inter Milan.

matchVERDICTS

MAN OF THE MATCH

barryHAYLES

Amazing work rate, gave a lesson for anyone playing as a lone striker. A handful for Dean Richards and Anthony Gardner. Two goals were just reward.

RATINGS

TOTTENHAM

Keller 6, Carr 6, Taricco 6, Postiga 5, Kanoute 6, Redknapp 5, King 5 (Zamora 5), Ricketts 5, Davies 6 (Anderton 6), Gardner 4, Richards 5.

FULHAM

Van der Sar 7, Volz 6, Legwinski 7, Inamoto 6, Clark 7, Boa Morte 7, Malbranque 8, HAYLES 9, Knight

8, Bonnissel 7, Goma 6.

MANAGERS: Hoddle 5

Coleman 8.

REFEREE: J Winter 7.

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