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Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou bemoaned the "soft" goals his side conceded in the 2-0 loss at Fulham as they suffered their 15th defeat of an "unacceptable" Premier League campaign.

"Fifteen defeats nowhere near good enough," said Postecoglou following their latest loss at Craven Cottage, where former player Ryan Sessegnon added insult to injury by scoring Fulham's second.

The result leaves Spurs languishing in 13th, with 34 points from 29 games, having lost their joint-most games at this stage of a league season since 1997-98.

Any prospect of European football next term rests entirely on winning the Europa League.

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"I said to the players, I'm not going to let anyone just think about Europa and nothing else," Postecoglou said.

"We can't let this league season go the way it has. We've lost way too many games, unacceptable.

"I understand the supporters' frustrations with that. It was another day where we let a game get away from us when we shouldn't. We had chances to go 1-0 up which would have put pressure on them, then they scored a really soft goal.

"Today the opposition haven't blown us off the park. For 75 minutes we were where we wanted to be, the fact we come out of that game with nothing is disappointing."

A crucial victory over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night kept alive Spurs' campaign with Europa League progression and Postecoglou shuffled his pack with seven changes in west London.

That decision ultimately came back to bite the Australian as, after a dull first 45 minutes and a series of squandered second-half chances, Rodrigo Muniz and latterly Sessegnon pounced.

Asked if it is difficult to get his players motivated for the Premier League, Postecoglou added: "I don't think so. Hope not. We made a lot of changes today.

"When we get back [from the international break] this is going to be our schedule we need to make sure we have as many [players] in good condition.

"They had to play today to top them up. We had to rest a couple as well. Sometimes players go through these spells and he needs to find a way to break through that."

Bissouma hooked as Postecoglou tries to manage squad

Sky Sports' Peter Smith:

Postecoglou spoke plainly when asked why Yves Bissouma had been subbed off at half-time for the second Premier League game in a row. "Sometimes Biss lets the game drift by him," said the Tottenham boss. "He needs to be more dominant in the way he gets on the ball. The game gets away from him and today we needed more in that position.

"But at the same time Biss and a few others are lacking a bit of confidence."

His replacement, Lucas Bergvall, added impetus and energy after the break at Fulham and was unfortunate not to win a penalty at 1-0 down. So why not start him? Because Bergvall - just 19 - started in the Europa League win over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday and Postecoglou is trying to get the balance right in his squad.

"We need to make sure we have as many in good condition [as we can]," he said, referring to the seven changes he made from the AZ win. "They had to play today to top them up. We had to rest a couple as well."

The Europa League quarter-final with Eintracht Frankfurt is the priority for Spurs now. Postecoglou wants as many options on the pitch and on the bench ready to swing that tie their way. But he has also described Spurs' 15 Premier League defeats this term as "unacceptable" and Mathys Tel was filmed trying to placate Spurs fans after the final whistle at Craven Cottage.

Getting the balance right between rotating in the league but still delivering performances and results to maintain confidence and momentum for the key European nights is going to be a challenge.

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Ange Postecoglou has hit back at 'Mr Hindsight' critics and vented about doubts over his ability to manage Tottenham Hotspur.

Postecoglou, who led Spurs into the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday, came out fighting with an extraordinary response to the pressure he has been under during his second season at the club.

Ahead of facing Fulham on Sunday in the Premier League, Postecoglou was asked how he had handled questions over his future and whether there is more scrutiny at Tottenham than in his previous jobs, with the club sat 13th in the table.

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In a press conference that lasted for over 30 minutes, he said: "Yeah, the scrutiny is more because there's more noise, but that doesn't mean it needs to affect you.

"I've said many, many times that it doesn't concern me because I'm not really sure how people kind of perceive this role and particularly me as a person, that they would think that I would worry about tomorrow if there's a negative outcome. I just don't live my life that way. I don't speak that way. I don't think that way.

"I love what I do. I get up every day, take on the challenge, see where the possibilities are and keep moving.

"There's a lot of noise. I think there's always kind of two sides to that. One is people kind of do some critical analysis of what I do. Others, just like the story of a manager being under pressure, people get excited by that.

"Some people really enjoy that process for some bizarre reason and the more they try and push individuals, whether it's me or anyone else, to that sort of position, then it generates for them whatever sort of satisfaction they get out of it. But it doesn't infiltrate my world.

"Irrespective of what happened last night (vs AZ Alkmaar), I still would have gone home and asked my kids how the concert went. My life goes on. It's not that overwhelming that I feel the need to block it all out or to react to it. It doesn't bother me.

'Google my name and get some headlines'

When asked if it is more intense because of where he comes from, Postecoglou said: "If I say that, then people will just kind of see me playing the victim card and I don't want to do that. But 100 per cent there's an element of that. There's no doubt about it.

"Let me give you an example. Whatever profession you're in, you're a journalist, you're a plumber, you're a policeman, you're a lawyer, you're a doctor, you've been doing that job for 26, 27 years.

"Irrespective of whatever you do, do you reckon that person's got a pretty good idea about that job? Would you ever question his knowledge on that job? Would you ever question whether every decision he makes he's thought about or experienced before?

"If you survive for 26, 27 years, it means you haven't stuffed up too many times. Whatever you do, because if you're a plumber, then everywhere you've gone, if there's leaks, then you're not going to get another job. If you're a doctor and people are dying, then you're unlikely to kick on.

"If you're doing it for 26, 27 years, he's got a fair idea about what he's doing. But then you might say maybe he's just a grinder?

"But then if that person started pretty much on the factory floor of that industry, whatever industry it was, maybe you're a CEO or whatever, and he ends up in the position where the top one per cent of his profession get to, then you've got to say, OK, this guy must have something. You don't get to that from the factory floor, from the basement to the top one per cent in your field.

"I'm talking about the level, I'm not talking about expertise. But then you might say, OK, but he's out of his depth now. But if you've taken a club that finished eighth to fifth in your first full year...so when you put all that together and then you hear, like I said, he's out of his depth, he doesn't know what he's doing, he's got no idea, his methods don't work, his philosophy doesn't work. In any other industry, you wouldn't do that.

"You might be critical of his performance, but you wouldn't do that. Google my name and get some headlines. Just plaster them on a wall. And you'd say, I don't think that fits somehow. But it does. Because that's kind of where we're at.

"There's critical analysis of performance at every level. And like I said, as you get higher, there are bigger things at stake, for sure.

"Forget the football manager, forget me. Just any other, would you say he's got no idea what he's doing. He's got no plan B. He's stubborn, his methods don't work. He's out of his depth.

"Where does that come from? From people that probably...some weren't even born when I first started managing. I started in 1996-97.

'A manager's greatest nemesis is Mr Hindsight'

"You've got to just accept that it's part of the world I'm in. But I accept it. I don't have to react to it. I can just laugh it off because I just think it's ridiculous.

"And it doesn't change me as a person, It doesn't change anything I do or what I believe or how I continue to go on. Because my career will go on. Everyone realises that, whatever happens, my career will go on. That's a long answer, isn't it?"

Do you still enjoy it even during this time?

"I love it. No, I'm not saying that sort of facetiously. I love the fact that, you know, there's a massive challenge there and people are doubting you and all that sort of stuff.

"I do love it. But I also think that some of it is just ridiculous beyond its nature of being anything other than just cheap and very shallow. I'm not talking about critical analysis. I'm not talking about, you know…oh, jeez, I'm going on now…

"I've got one more story and then I'll let you go. You know who the greatest nemesis for any manager is? In today's world, and he's only come to the surface probably in the last five, six years, maybe 10 years. Mr Hindsight.

"You know who Mr Hindsight is? He's the guy who, when the outcome's there, the result's already done, he's got all the answers with the greatest of certainty that was so obvious, and he's never wrong.

"And Mr Hindsight will go out there every time and profess to be the oracle of all oracles because he just deals with what's happened after the event, never before. And there is such a mass of Mr Hindsight. The Killers should do a song about him. I'd definitely buy it.

"You want to be critical or you want to have really strong sort of opinions about things? State them before the event. Make them really clear and stand by them when they're wrong because I guarantee you they'll be just as wrong as any manager who's wrong probably more often.

"But there aren't many of those. There are some who if they don't do it before the event, after the event will always put a perspective on their analysis. But I see them, mate, and I hear them after the event. 'Oh, so obvious. Oh, how did he get that team selection wrong?'

"It's easy to deal with an outcome. Anyone can deal with an outcome. You don't need to even understand football. That team won, that team lost, that team's better, that coach is better, those players are better, that system's better, those selections are better, those decisions are better, they were always going to be better - I could have told you that before the game. You never did. Everything's obvious so what's the point?

"If it's just results what's the point of having anything else? All we'll do is whoever won, you put a column there and say everyone writes the same piece for that and whoever lost, you put a column there, everyone writes the same piece there. These managers are under pressure, these managers are the best. And then flip it the following week because results always go the other way.

"But anyway, we should have had this offline, I've said too many things that I'm going to regret tomorrow."

Robinson withdraws from USA squad through injury

Fulham’s Antonee Robinson has withdrawn from the USA national team due to injury, along with Celtic’s Auston Trusty.

Maurico Pochettino's side will play in the CONCACAF Nations League finals during the current international break.

They face Panama in the first semi-final on March 20 in Los Angeles.

The winners will face either Canada or Mexico in the final on March 23.

Robinson withdraws from USA squad through injury

Fulham’s Antonee Robinson has withdrawn from the USA national team due to injury, along with Celtic’s Auston Trusty.

Maurico Pochettino's side will play in the CONCACAF Nations League finals during the current international break.

They face Panama in the first semi-final on March 20 in Los Angeles.

The winners will face either Canada or Mexico in the final on March 23.

Hard to describe feeling – Sessegnon ‘so happy’ with Craven Cottage goal

Fulham full-back Ryan Sessegnon was lost for words after his long wait to score again at Craven Cottage ended with the clincher in a 2-0 win over old club Tottenham.

Sessegnon endured an injury-hit five-year spell at Spurs where he made only 57 appearances after a string of hamstring issues.

It resulted in the one-time England hopeful being released last summer and he turned to boyhood side Fulham to get his career back on track.

While Sessegnon had to wait until December to make a second Premier League debut for Marco Silva’s men, he has started to get further chances and marked his latest display off the bench with a superb curled effort with his weaker right foot in the 88th-minute on Sunday.

There was no celebration from Sessegnon out of respect for Tottenham, but the big smile on the face of the 24-year-old was clear to see after he struck in front of the Hammersmith End at Craven Cottage for the first time since 2018.

“I was still waiting for that moment for me to happen and I am so happy it happened in an important game,” Sessegnon told FFCtv.

“I spent five seasons there [at Tottenham], still have a lot of respect for the club and for the people that work for the club hence why there was no celebration.

“I knew when I come on today if there was any loose ball or chance I could get, I wanted to make sure I took the chance and I did. Yeah, it’s hard to describe this feeling. It is amazing, honestly.

“The noise was incredible when the ball went in the back of the net and I was just happy to help the team to a vital three points.”

The Verdict: Fulham eyeing Europe after win against 'toothless' Spurs

Sky Sports News reporter Gary Cotterill and senior football journalist Peter Smith review Fulham's win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

Silva on Sessgnon's 'emotional' goal against Tottenham

Marco Silva described Ryan Sessegnon's goal against Tottenham as "emotional" given the difficulties the Fulham player has been through in his career.

After bursting through at Fulham as a 16-year-old, Sessegnon joined Tottenham in 2019 but a series of injuries disrupted his time in north London and he has now returned to Craven Cottage.

"It was emotional," said Silva, about Sessegnon's 88th-minute stunner against Spurs. "The injuries, sometimes that can be hard for the players to deal with.

"He’s in much better shape right now. We all know his quality. The first goal again at Craven Cottage, against Tottenham as well, he did it in a fantastic way, right-footed, something he’s been working on in the training sessions. It was a nice reward for him.

"He’s still very young. He was one of the biggest talents in his position in the country. That was the reason why a club like Tottenham came and spent the money. Sometimes life and football is not as we expected, everyone expected a bright future for him in that moment. He wasn’t fortunate at all in terms of injuries."

FREE MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: FULHAM 2-0 TOTTENHAM

Report: Sessegnon scores stunner in Fulham win

Ryan Sessegnon struck a stunner against his former club as Fulham boosted their hopes of European qualification with a 2-0 win over toothless Tottenham at Craven Cottage to move up to eighth in the Premier League.

Fulham 2-0 Tottenham: Ryan Sessegnon scores against old club after Rodrigo Muniz opener as Marco Silva's side go eighth

Sky Sports

Analysis: Fulham powered by super subs

Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:

When you're in the European chase, as Fulham are, it's mighty handy to have players off the bench who can change games. Players who can rescue something. Or turn a likely draw into a win.

Fulham have scored 13 goals from substitutes in the Premier League this season, including two against Spurs (Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon), the outright most in the division.

Sessegnon's moment will stand out against his former side, not least for the quality of the strike. The last time he scored at Craven Cottage was Boxing Day 2015. "It's the story of our season", manager Marco Silva said, when asked about impact of his bench this season.

Rodrigo Muniz’s opener was his fifth as a substitute. And the striker epitomised Fulham's tenacity to chase victory on the day, and punch above weight more broadly. "People didn't expect this at the beginning of the season, it’s never a problem for us." Silva added.

The squabble over European qualification intensifies and Fulham are more than in the race.

Silva warns of Spurs boost after Europa League success

Fulham boss Marco Silva expects Tottenham to be buoyed by their Europa League success when they visit Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Spurs kept their hopes of European glory alive with a 3-2 aggregate win over AZ Alkmaar to reach the quarter-finals on Thursday night, overcoming a 1-0 first-leg defeat.

And last weekend Tottenham asserted themselves late in the second half to salvage a 2-2 Premier League draw with Bournemouth, having trailed 2-0.

"Last Sunday a tough first half, great reaction in the second half," Silva told Fulham TV. "Then (in the Europa League) to be able to turn around the defeat from the first leg and they went through in the competition.

"And you know when you go through in an important competition and you go through the final stages, you know that gives you the confidence.

"I don't need to say, they recognise the last two, three months for them in terms of results have not been the best, but more than all of us they know why, and of course if they have a lot of injuries it's always much more difficult to handle and cope with that situation."

'Clearly our fault we lost' – Silva reflects Brighton loss

Marco Silva insisted Fulham only had themselves to blame for a last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Brighton.

Joao Pedro scored a stoppage-time penalty as the Seagulls finally beat Fulham in the Premier League at the 10th attempt.

Albion looked set to be frustrated by the Cottagers once again but Pedro’s spot-kick at the death settled the battle of the European hopefuls in Brighton’s favour and moved them up to sixth, just a point behind Manchester City in fourth.

Raul Jimenez’s well-taken opener for Fulham had earlier been cancelled out by Jan Paul van Hecke’s towering header from a free-kick in the first half.

“It’s a difficult one to take, to lose like we lost,” said Cottagers boss Silva. “But that’s the reality. It’s football. We gave them two moments.

“The first half from us was a good level, the second half I disagree. When the game was really quiet and we were completely in control, we conceded a goal from a free-kick.

“We gave them a chance and then it was not a good second half from us. It’s clearly our fault that we lost the game.”

The penalty, awarded in the seventh minute of added time, looked soft, with Pedro going down under Harrison Reed’s challenge.

But Silva added: “I’m not complaining. A clever striker felt contact and won the penalty.

“We expect this type of striker to do his job. If it was my side, I’d ask for a penalty.”

Report: Pedro's injury-time penalty moves Brighton up to sixth

Joao Pedro's injury-time penalty saw Brighton beat Fulham 2-1 at the Amex as Fabian Hurzeler's side moved up to sixth place in the Premier League.

Brighton 2-1 Fulham: Joao Pedro's injury-time penalty moves Seagulls up to sixth in Premier League

Sky Sports

WATCH FREE HIGHLIGHTS: BRIGHTON 2-1 FULHAM

WATCH: Iwobi on FA Cup, club legends and dressing room vibes

Silva's praise for Fulham players...

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been nominated for the Premier League’s manager of the month award for February, which he feels is testament to the efforts of his players.

“What gave me more satisfaction is that the team reacted really well after a very good end of November and December,” the Fulham boss said.

“The load of the games was very big, and January as a month was not the best. For me to be there means that the team did well in February.

“For me, that is the most important thing. The reaction from the team has been really good. We have been performing well.”

Fulham team news...

Fulham will be without midfielder Sasa Lukic as he starts a two-game ban after collecting 10 cautions in the Premier League, while winger Adama Traore is a doubt with an ankle injury picked up at Old Trafford.

Silva warns Fulham’s impressive away form will be tested by Brighton trip

Fulham boss Marco Silva feels his side’s top away form will come under a stern test when they head to Brighton against a team on an “incredible” run of results.

The Cottagers have not lost a Premier League fixture against Brighton since Silva took charge in the summer of 2021, with four wins out of five matches.

Having seen his side pick up four victories out of the last six away league games, as well as come through a penalty shoot-out at Manchester United to book a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals, confidence in the Fulham squad is high.

However, Silva has warned against any sense of complacency when they head to the Amex Stadium on Saturday to face a Brighton team who have picked up maximum points from their past three league games, as well as progressing in the FA Cup with an extra-time win at Newcastle.

“It [our record against Brighton] gives us confidence, definitely, but all those games were really difficult because they are a really good side,” Silva said.

“They always create a lot of problems, a really offensive side that is always playing with two strikers, the wide players are really quick, and it is always difficult to play against them.

“They have been on an incredible run of results as well after the heavy [7-0] defeat against Nottingham Forest, they reacted really well.”

Silva added: “Our away form has been top as well so far, and it is going to be a really good game, in my opinion.

“It is always good when you have a very good record. The reality is that it gives us and our fans the confidence that we can repeat again, and let us hope we can get a good result.”

Silva says Man Utd win was an important result

Marco Silva says Fulham have moved on from their FA Cup victory at Manchester United.

Fulham progressed to the last eight of the FA Cup on Sunday with a penalty shoot-out victory at Old Trafford, their first success against United in the competition since 1908.

"It was really important for us, it was our goal," boss Silva told ffc.tv ahead of their Premier League trip to Brighton on Saturday.

"The time for celebrations was after the match with the fans. The players had their moment as well.

"The focus straight away was on the next game. We haven't won anything. We have gone through to the next round of the competition, nothing more.

"We have to be proud we are playing in the quarter-final, but just that. We have to be realistic and keep our feet on the ground.

"We must be humble enough to understand what we want from ourselves.

"To think big you have to realise it was good, it was important, but nothing more than that."

Fulham condemn Bassey online abuse

Fulham have condemned a series of racist messages directed at defender Calvin Bassey online.

Bassey shared on Snapchat a number of screengrabs of messages he received via Instagram, the contents of which Sky Sports News will not repeat.

Fulham have said today: “The club is utterly appalled at the racist and homophobic abuse received and subsequently shared by Calvin Bassey on social media after yesterday’s FA Cup tie against Manchester United.

“We strongly condemn this abhorrent behaviour which has no place in football or society. Such actions are entirely unacceptable, and we stand in full support of Calvin Bassey, who will continue to receive our full backing.

“We will do everything in our power to work with the relevant authorities in identifying the perpetrators of these vile messages and taking the strongest form of action against them.

“Fulham Football Club is committed to maintaining a firm stance against all forms of discrimination and remains dedicated to fostering an environment of respect and inclusion.”

Leno 'one of the best'

Bernd Leno's save from Chido Obi in extra-time helped take the game to penalties and his subsequent stops in the shoot-out ensured that Fulham beat Manchester United in their FA Cup clash at Old Trafford.

His head coach praised the German afterwards. "Not just because he defended the penalties," said Marco Silva.

"We waited a long time for him to come to our football club. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League in my opinion. He has been showing that week in, week out and he showed that at Arsenal and Leverkusen too."

Player ratings: Leno the hero for Fulham at Man Utd

Man Utd: Onana (5), Mazraoui (6), Yoro (6), Maguire (6), De Ligt (6), Dalot (7), Fernandes (7), Ugarte (5), Eriksen (6), Hojlund (5), Zirkzee (5).

Subs: Lindelof (5), Garnacho (7), Casemiro (6), Obi (7), Heaven (6).

Fulham: Leno (8), Castagne (6), Andersen (6), Bassey (7), Robinson (7), Berge (7), Lukic (7), Traore (5), Pereira (6), Iwobi (6), Muniz (6).

Subs: Smith Rowe (7), Willian (6), Jimenez (6), Reed (n/a), Sessegnon (n/a).

Player of the match: Bernd Leno.

Man Utd 1-1 Fulham (Pens 3-4): Joshua Zirkzee and Victor Lindelof penalties saved in FA Cup shoot-out as holders exit

Sky Sports

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Fulham drawn against Crystal Palace in FA Cup quarters

Fulham will host Crystal Palace in the FA Cup quarter-finals after knocking out Manchester United on penalties.

The four last-eight ties are scheduled to take place across the weekend of March 29/30.

FA Cup quarter-finals draw: Bournemouth to host Man City, Fulham to play Palace, Aston Villa face Preston

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