So, no bounce for Tottenham. The second game of Igor Tudor’s interim spell went the same way as the first, another defeat in another London derby.
This time at Fulham, who recorded their first Premier League double over Spurs for more than 20 years and yet another historic spectre haunts Tudor and his team.
In a weekend when other results went their way, the North Londoners have done nothing to ease fears they might be relegated for the first time since 1977.
For an hour at Craven Cottage, they exhibited all the hallmarks of a sinking ship. Leaky at the back, carrying little threat up front, two down and looking likely to concede a third before Richarlison pulled one back.
The visitors produced a spirited finish through six added minutes without forcing saves from Bernd Leno and yet the only shot on target was the goal.
Fulham wasted chances but the two goals scored in the first half proved enough.
Tottenham’s woeful run continued with a 2-1 defeat by Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday
Interim head coach Igor Tudor (above) has struggled to turn the tide since Thomas Frank’s exit
Tudor was furious with the first goal, scored in the seventh minute, and he had a point.
Harry Wilson scored it, his 10th of the season in Fulham colours, finished with a crisp volley from a ball hooked square by Oscar Bobb, who kept the pressure on Spurs after Raul Jimenez had flicked the initial cross from Kenny Tete.
Micky van de Ven and Dominic Solanke led the dispute committee on the pitch, claiming Jimenez had pushed Radu Dragusin as they competed in the air.
There were obvious similarities to the incident in the North London derby a week earlier, when Spurs had a goal by Randal Kolo Muani ruled out for a push on Gabriel. On both occasions, there were two hands pushed into the back of the defender.
The Arsenal centre half threw himself down more dramatically than Dragusin and the decision went his way. That would have levelled the scores at 2-2. As it was, Spurs sank to a 4-1 defeat.
At the Cottage, the verdict went the way of the attacking side. The goal was confirmed after a check by VAR Craig Pawson.
Spurs started in a new formation. Tudor had prefaced his selection with an explanation for not imposing his usual high-energy style, claiming the players were not in the right physical shape.
Rather than the back-three so ineffective against Arsenal, he lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Pedro Porro back from injury at right back and Archie Gray shunted to left back to cover Djed Spence, whose absence was down to a minor calf issue, before ending the game wide on the right side of midfield.
Kolo Muani and Solanke were in tandem up front with Xavi Simons wide on the left and Conor Gallagher in an unfamiliar position wide on the right.
Harry Wilson put Spurs behind in the seventh minute as the visitors trialled a new formation
Former Arsenal star Alex Iwobi scored what proved to be the winner in the 34th minute
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Fulham flowed with more fluency, cohesion and confidence. Unlike their visitors, they know exactly what they are doing. They are well organised and well balanced.
Oscar Bobb, on his first Premier League start for his new club, was a delight on the ball. In midfield Sander Berge disrupted and dominated as Alex Iwobi drove the tempo and made much of the play.
Iwobi excelled, although whether he was going for goal when he scored the second is another matter. He traded passes with Wilson around Solanke who failed to track the run, advanced towards the penalty area and beat Guglielmo Vicario on an angle with a firm side-footer from some distance.
Iwobi seemed to address the ball as if he was trying to shape it behind the centre halves towards the back post but was all smiles as it fizzed like an arrow and pinged into the net off the far post.
Spurs have conceded at least two in every Premier League fixture since the goalless draw against Brentford on New Year’s Day, when those in the away end serenaded Frank’s misfiring team with a chorus of ‘Boring Boring Tottenham’.
There were boos from the away end at half time. With little to cheer, Spurs fans had been through their songbook including protests against ENIC’s ownership.
Tudor’s team pushed higher in the second half and carried more threat. It was a risk because they became more porous than ever at the back.
Emile Smith Rowe squandered two chances when clean through. The first, on which there was a hint of offside and may not have stood, was dragged wide. The second drew a superb save from Vicario.
Richarlison halved the deficit but it wasn’t enough to stop a fourth straight league defeat
The Spurs keeper has taken plenty of criticism during this miserable season, but this was a vital moment.
From three down it was a long way back, but Richarlison breathed life into the contest with his goal. Unmarked at the back post the Brazilian headed in from a cross by Gray.
It made for a frantic end as Spurs went after the equaliser. The subs gave them extra impetus. Richarlison caused Fulham problems and Solanke looked happier alongside him.
And yet Kolo Muani had been the one positive aspect of the game against Arsenal. The threads of logic are difficult to grasp. Fulham made changes to defend their lead and made it over the line. They climb to ninth. Spurs still wallow in 16th.
