Tottenham 2-0 Fulham: Player ratings as Spurs return to top of Premier League table

FROM TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM - Tottenham's best start to a league season since 1961 continued with a 2-0 victory at home to Fulham on Monday night.

Ange Postecoglou's side returned to the top of the Premier League table with a rather routine win against the Cottagers.

Marco Silva's men frustrated Spurs in the first half but were unable to provide enough of a consistent threat and return to west London without the points.

Tottenham went close to taking the lead inside the first two minutes when James Maddison slipped through Son Heung-min following a run off the back of Calvin Bassey, but Bernd Leno was quick off his line to smother the South Korean's effort.

A cleverly-worked free-kick routine then saw Cristian Romero head the ball back across goal for centre-back partner Micky Van de Ven, but he was unable to keep his volley down.

Down the other end, Guglielmo Vicario was at full stretch to deny Joao Palhinha's header from a corner.

Home fans thought their team had gone in front at the end of a swift counter attack with Dejan Kulusevski teeing up Richarlison, but the Brazilian curled his shot just past the post.

With 36 minutes on the clock, Spurs broke the deadlock. Bassey's pass into midfield was easily cut out by Van de Ven. The ball was then worked to Richarlison and he played in Son, who left Bassey and Tim Ream in a heap with a neat swivel and turn before firing past Leno.

Moments later, Tottenham came extremely close to doubling their advantage. Maddison's clever pass into Son was flicked into the path of Destiny Udogie, who was denied by a flying flurry of Fulham bodies. The ball fell back to Kulusevski, but his shot deflected behind off Palhinha.

Spurs managed to squeeze in one last attack before the break. Romero carried the ball into the final third from defence and handed over possession to Kulusevski, but the Swede took too long to decide on his next move and Fulham were able to retreat and smother him.

Shortly after half-time, Tottenham added their second. Another poor pass from Bassey was pounced upon by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and he quickly played it to Son, who in turn found Maddison to waltz in behind and roll past Leno.

A third Tottenham goal went begging when Bassey once more lost the ball, with Ream coming in to deny Maddison with a superb last-ditch challenge.

Fulham came close to pulling one back when Kulusevski was shoved off the ball by Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez was sent in on goal, but he was kept out by a low save from Vicario.

The Italian goalkeeper was then on hand to deny Tom Cairney with a simple stop at his near post as Fulham looked to mount a rather unlikely comeback in the dying embers of the game.

But Tottenham were ultimately able to preserve their 2-0 lead much to the jubilation of the buoyant home fans, who danced on the terraces singing 'we are top of the league'.