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Match of the Day: Vicario mistake piles pressure on Spurs boss Thomas Frank

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Match of the Day: Vicario mistake piles pressure on Spurs boss Thomas Frank - BBC
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Match of the Day pundits Joe Hart and Danny Murphy analyse Guglielmo Vicario's mistake for Tottenham that allowed Fulham's Harry Wilson to produce "a piece of art" and increase the pressure on Spurs manager Thomas Frank.

WATCH MORE: Booing whilst we're still playing is completely unacceptable - Frank

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Guglielmo Vicario booers 'can't be true Tottenham fans' - Thomas Frank

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Guglielmo Vicario booers 'can't be true Tottenham fans' - Thomas Frank - BBC
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Tottenham Hotspur supporters who booed goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario were told afterwards "they can't be true Tottenham fans" by boss Thomas Frank.

Spurs conceded twice in the opening six minutes to lose 2-1 to Fulham, their 10th Premier League home defeat of 2025.

But the main talking point was Fulham's second goal when Vicario lost possession well outside of his box.

He came out to deal with a long ball and took the ball towards the touchline.

However, instead of booting it out of play, the Italian turned and tried to clear, but slipped as the ball skimmed off Harry Wilson and was controlled by Josh King

King laid the ball off to Wales midfielder WIlson, who curled a shot into the goal from the touchline measured at 36.6 metres.

Moments later when the ball came to Vicario again, some Spurs fans booed him.

The team were booed off at half-time, with the club 2-0 down, and again at full-time.

One of those booing sessions really irritated Frank.

"I heard some of our fans apparently booed the incident and booed after, which, in my opinion is completely unacceptable," the Dane told BBC Sport of the fans' reaction to his goalkeeper.

"[They] can't be true Tottenham fans that do that. Fair enough booing after the game, no problem, but when we are playing, we are supporting each other, we are behind each other going forward."

Kenny Tete had given Fulham a fourth-minute lead before Wilson's strike - with Mohammed Kudus netting for Spurs in an improved second-half showing.

Italy international Vicario is in his third season with Tottenham.

The 29-year-old told Sky Sports after this game that he had to accept the criticism.

"The second goal was a mistake of mine, I take responsibility for that," he said.

"The intent was to clear the ball long and I just hit the ball in a bad way. It was an even bigger mountain to climb."

He said being booed "is part of football".

"I'm a big man, what can I say?" he continued. "We cannot be influenced by the situation in the stands. The fans have the right to do what they think.

"It's on us to stay more calm, to focus on ourselves. We are lacking in composure and calmness to overturn results. Today is a bad defeat and it's tough to accept."

Despite Vicario's mistake, it was not an easy goal for Wilson to score.

In fact it was the second longest-range Premier League goal of the season – after Tyler Adams' 43.3m goal for Bournemouth against Sunderland, which incidentally also came on Saturday.

Wilson said he was a "little bit surprised" that he still had an empty goal to aim for.

Ten seconds passed between Vicario coming out of his box and Wilson shooting - which was five seconds after the clearance.

"I felt like the goalkeeper was out of the box for ages," Wilson said.

"I was surprised none of the back four went back to the line. When none of them defended the goal, my eyes lit up a bit.

"[Destiny] Udogie slipped too, which gave me a bit of extra time. Then it was all about trying to make the right contact and get it on target. I had a good feeling, as soon as it left my foot, that it was on the right line."

While Vicario's mistake dominated headlines, this was an all-round bad day for Spurs to continue their home woes.

This was their 10th home defeat of 2025 in the league, a joint club record along with 1994 and 2003.

They still have home games against Frank's old side Brentford and champions Liverpool to come before the end of the year.

Only one of those wins have come since Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou in the summer.

Spurs have lost four consecutive home London derbies for the first time in the Premier League.

And they are averaging 9.5 shots and 3.2 shots on target per game in the Premier League - their lowest averages on record in a single campaign (since at least 2003-04).

"When you're down 2-0 after six minutes, there is a mountain to climb," said Frank.

"When you're in a bad spell, everything seems to go against you as well - the first was a deflected shot, the second is a mistake from Vic.

"This result leaves us in a place where we have lost another game. Every game has a single story, this game we lost in the first six minutes.

"We just need to keep working. The second half was much better and hopefully something we can use to learn."

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Tottenham 1-2 Fulham: Thomas Frank Post Match interview and reaction

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Tottenham 1-2 Fulham: Thomas Frank Post Match interview and reaction - BBC
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Booing whilst we're still playing is completely unacceptable - Frank. Video, 00:02:41Booing whilst we're still playing is completely unacceptable - Frank

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Spurs analysis: Vicario howler sums up shambles of a half

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Spurs analysis: Vicario howler sums up shambles of a half - BBC
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Tottenham's Jekyll and Hyde form continues.

A promising performance in a 5-3 defeat by Paris St-Germain on Wednesday was followed up by a first-half disaster in the 2-1 loss to Fulham.

This was their 10th home defeat of 2025 in the Premier League and they have never lost more than 10 home league games in a year in their history.

Frank's side were sloppy at the back and toothless up front.

For the first goal, Samuel Chukwueze's pass managed to go between two players before finding Kenny Tete.

Moments later Guglielmo Vicario ran out of his box to deal with a long ball, took it to the corner and then hit a weak clearance straight to Harry Wilson for the second goal.

The goalkeeper was booed by his own fans a minute later when the ball came to him again.

Spurs had never trailed a Premier League home game by two goals after six minutes before. And it could have got worse.

Chukwueze hit the post after Spurs failed to deal with a corner – and the winger took the ball around Vicario only to be denied an open-goal opportunity by Micky van de Ven.

In the first half, they had 16 open-play crosses with none finding a team-mate – and did not fashion a single realistic scoring opportunity.

The second half was much better – although it could not have been worse. But only two of their efforts were on target and only Mohammed Kudus was able to beat Bernd Leno, with a fine strike from Lucas Bergvall's clipped ball over the top.

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Tottenham vs Fulham: Confirmed team news

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Tottenham vs Fulham: Confirmed team news - BBC
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Tottenham make four changes from the side that lost 5-3 to Paris St-Germain in the Champions League.

Kevin Danso, Joao Palhinha, Destiny Udogie and Mohammed Kudus replace Djed Spence, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Sarr and Cristian Romero - who is suspended today.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Vicario, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie, Porro, Palhinha, Gray, Bergvall, Kudus, Richarlison, Kolo Muani.

Subs: Kinsky, Simons, Tel, Johnson, Spence, Odobert, Sarr, Bentancur, Davies.

Just one Fulham change from the side who beat Sunderland 1-0 with Samuel Chukwueze replacing Kevin. Sasa Lukic is back on the bench after a ban.

Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Bassey, Andersen, Sessegnon, Berge, Iwobi, King, Chukwueze, Wilson, Jimenez.

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Tottenham vs Fulham predictions: Chris Sutton on Premier League game

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Tottenham vs Fulham predictions: Chris Sutton on Premier League game - BBC
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As Thomas Frank is finding out, Tottenham are just an odd club. Some Spurs fans are questioning whether he has the credentials to manage them, which I don't understand. All he needs is time.

Mark Chapman reeled off a stat on the Monday Night Club that Tottenham are a big-six club because they are fifth in the table for total points gained in the Premier League era.

Come on, Chappers. We are better than that. Have Spurs ever won the Premier League? No. Is there a 'total points' trophy? Also a no.

Spurs are a big club, but that's from their distant history, not from what they have done since 1992. They are well-supported and have got a fantastic stadium, but you don't win trophies for those things either.

They need to get things right on the pitch but when they have brought in a manager who did win something with them, Ange Postecoglou, they have sacked him.

I am sure Spurs will improve, if Frank is given a chance. They played well in defeat against Paris St-Germain on Wednesday and that makes me think they might have too much for Fulham.

Marco Silva's side really needed their win over Sunderland to avoid being dragged into the relegation scrap, and they are still not out of trouble.

Fulham's away record is pretty awful but then so is Tottenham's home form, so the obvious thing to go for here is a draw.

It's only taken me four seasons of doing these predictions, but I am finally applying some logic.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

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Why are Tottenham struggling at home in Premier League?

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Why are Frank's Tottenham struggling at home? - BBC
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After a promising start to life as Tottenham manager, Thomas Frank is quickly discovering that managing Spurs brings a whole new level of pressure.

Sunday's chastening 4-1 defeat by Arsenal was one of the most one-sided north London derbies in recent memory and means Spurs have won only one of their past five Premier League games.

The Lilywhites were much improved in an attacking sense during a Champions League trip to champions Paris St-Germain on Wednesday, despite falling to a 5-3 defeat.

After two tough away games, a return to their own stadium to face Fulham would bring much-needed home comforts for most clubs. Not Spurs.

While they have the joint best away record in the top flight this season, their only league victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium came against newly promoted Burnley on the opening weekend.

Frank's side have looked blunt in front of their own supporters, with creativity, goals and excitement at a premium.

However, these struggles at home have been rumbling for a while. Spurs have won only three league matches in N17 in the past 12 months, their worst run over a 20-game period for 31 years.

It is a far cry from their unbeaten final season at White Hart Lane in 2016-17 when their haul of 53 points out of a possible 57 at home was the best in the Premier League.

With generally positive displays on the road, why has Frank been unable to make his own ground a fortress?

Former Tottenham midfielders Danny Murphy and Michael Carrick give their verdicts on why it has not been home sweet home for Spurs this season.

Spurs have scored seven goals in six home league games this season, while only Burnley have had fewer shots on target than their 18.

Frank's midfield selections have come under fire for being too defensive. Remarkably, Spurs have made four throughballs this season. Leaders Arsenal have made 43.

"When you look at the make-up of their team, the midfield isn't particularly creative," Murphy told BBC Sport.

"It feels like none of their frontline are playing with any confidence. They look a bit lightweight in the front area of the pitch.

"Away from home, that doesn't matter as much, because they can be more pragmatic - look for the set-plays, play on the counter and be hard to beat - and they don't have the expectation of the 60,000 home supporters to go after teams and really try to win games.

"That makes a difference to players. Away from home, you can kind of do it at your own pace and it is OK for you to be without the ball.

"The games we've seen Tottenham do well in away from home have actually been comfortable at times for them - their win at Everton was a good example of that.

"But that lack of cohesion and rhythm in the front three, where things have changed so much - and even that little tweak in midfield where sometimes it's a 10, sometimes it's three midfielders - it all looks a little bit higgledy-piggledy.

"It means Spurs can look a bit too safe at home, with no-one playing with any belief or confidence to get on the ball."

Spurs fans have been quick to get on their side's back, with booing a regular backdrop to home league games this season.

"It does have an effect," says Murphy. "It's a simple case of the anxiety of the crowd is transmitted on to the pitch in the same way their confidence is when they are all for you and things are going well.

"So when things are going badly, the same players who are capable of doing things with the ball, you see them playing with more freedom on the road and they start playing a bit safer at home because they don't want to be the one who gets the moan and the groan from the crowd when they give the ball away.

"It can sometimes take real mental toughness for a player to get through that, and you need a good result or two at home to then go back to playing freer."

Despite only Wolves having a worse record in front of their own fans this season, Carrick and Murphy say Frank will get things right.

"It's early days," says Carrick. "He's trying to change a few things. The priority was defending better as a team and implementing a totally different structure and concentrating on that a bit more.

"As time goes on they will get better."

Murphy says: "Although it's concerning, overall there has been enough improvement under Frank for the fans to have hope things will get better.

"You can't run before you can walk. Of course they would want more points than they have got at home, but I look at them and think they will get better there.

"They just need a bit of luck in the fixture list, where you have your best team available. Get a couple of good wins and you can very quickly change the whole mood.

"Thomas Frank is not daft and I think he sees the problems. He also knows the quality that he has got to come back.

"It is short-term pain for long-term gain for Spurs. I don't think their home form is a problem that is going to last very long once they get their injured players back."

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Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League preview, team news, stats & head-to-head

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Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League preview, team news, stats & head-to-head - BBC
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Newcastle have won five of their last six Premier League games against Tottenham (L1), as many as they had in their previous 17 (D2 L10).

Tottenham have lost their last three Premier League games against Newcastle, last losing more consecutively against the Magpies between April 2006 and December 2008 (6).

Having won just two of their 11 Premier League home games against Spurs between 2010-11 and 2021-22 (D3 L6), Newcastle have now won their last three against them by an aggregate score of 12-2.

Newcastle haven’t lost any of their last 10 home midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) evening matches (7pm or later) in the Premier League (W7 D3) since a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace in February 2021.

Tottenham have won just one of their last 13 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) Premier League games (D2 L10), beating Brentford 3-2 in January 2024. They’ve lost each of their last seven such games, scoring just one goal in the process.

Newcastle United have won 11 of their 16 home Premier League matches in 2025 (69%), their fifth best home win ratio in a calendar year in the competition, with two of those five best coming under Eddie Howe (also 70% in 2023, won 14/20).

Tottenham Hotspur are unbeaten in Premier League games outside of London this season, picking up 10 points in four games (W3 D1). They last had a longer unbeaten run outside of the capital between March and October 2022 (six games).

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has won six of his eight Premier League matches against Spurs manager Thomas Frank, all while the Dane was at Brentford (D1 L1). It’s his joint most wins against an opposing manager, also beating Marco Silva six times (D1 L5).

Bruno Guimarães has been involved in 11 goals in his last 19 home Premier League games for Newcastle (7 goals, 4 assists), scoring (2) or assisting (1) in each of his last three at St James’ Park, his best ever run in the competition.

Richarlison has been involved in six goals in 10 Premier League appearances against Newcastle (4 goals, 2 assists), only having more goals and assists against Liverpool (4 goals, 3 assists). He bagged a brace for Spurs in a 4-1 win in December 2023 in his last game against them.

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Premier League LIVE: Tottenham vs Fulham - score & updates

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Premier League LIVE: Everton vs Newcastle - score & updates - BBC
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After winning eight of their nine Premier League games against Fulham between 2013 and 2023 (D1), Spurs are now winless in their last three against the Cottagers (D1 L2).

Fulham have won two of their last three Premier League games against Spurs (D1), as many as they had in their previous 23 against them (D6 L15).

Tottenham have lost 1-0 against Chelsea and 4-1 against Arsenal in their last two league London derbies. They’ve not lost three in a row in the same campaign since September/October 2021 (a run of four).

Of the 17 ever present sides across the two seasons, none have won fewer home games (3), lost more home games (9) or earned fewer home points (12) in 2025 than Tottenham Hotspur. They haven’t lost 10 home league games in a single calendar year since 2003 (10).

No side have earned fewer away points than Fulham in the Premier League this season (1), while only Wolves (1) have earned fewer at home than Spurs (5). The Cottagers have lost their last five on the road in the Premier League, last having a longer run between January and April 2019 (7).

Tottenham have overperformed their expected goals more than any other side in the Premier League this season, netting almost nine goals more than their xG suggests (20 goals, 11.2 xG). Their 0.07 against Arsenal last time out was their lowest xG in a Premier League game since September 2021 (0.06 v Crystal Palace).

Tottenham have conceded seven goals in their three Premier League games in November, as many as they had in their nine games across August, September and October combined.

Though they rank third (behind Wolves 39 and Chelsea 31) for lineup changes in the Premier League this season (29), only Everton (19) have used fewer different players than Tottenham this term (20).

Having been involved in five goals in his first six Premier League games against Spurs (4 goals, 1 assist), Fulham’s Raúl Jiménez hasn’t scored or assisted in any of his last six against them.

Richarlison has scored 16 goals in his last 22 Premier League starts for Spurs, netting in his last two against Man Utd and Arsenal. However, he’s never scored in eight appearances against Fulham in the competition, only facing his current side and Aston Villa more without scoring (9 each).

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