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Porro was seen shouting at Lucas Bergvall after the match and stormed down the tunnel at the end of another miserable night for Spurs.

There were boos after the game and during it too, largely aimed at Guglielmo Vicario after his poor mistake for Fulham's second goal.

Frank criticised supporters who booed Vicario, claiming "true fans" would not do that, and Porro gave a similar opinion on Instagram the day after the match.

Porro posted: “Football is emotions. In football, as in life, there can always be mistakes.

“What I will not tolerate is hearing disrespect from the fans to my team-mates, hence my frustration at the end of the game.

“And we will get up. We remind you, six months ago, everything was so bad. In the end, it is not how it begins but how it ends.

That was not an entirely popular message among the Spurs fans, but Frank insisted he had no issue with Porro's post.

"I think it's fair," Frank said. "I think it's fair in that sense. Again, the players, they are individual people that can have their own opinions.

"And I think what he put out there was fair in every aspect."

Porro, like Frank, has faced scrutiny for the phrase "true fans", with many unhappy with being told how they should behave during matches.

That is particularly the case considering Spurs' dire home form, which has seen them win just three of their last 21 matches in the Premier League.

However, asked if he was worried that using that phrase would further rile up supporters, Frank responded: "I don't know and you can say, how do you define a true Spurs fan?

"I think all the fantastic fans we have believe they're true Spurs fans. Some react in one way, some react in another, some are a little bit in between.

Thomas Frank has insisted that Tottenham are "nothing without the fans" as he urged them to stick with the team.

The relationship between Spurs supporters and the club’s players came under further scrutiny on Saturday night in the 2-1 home defeat by Fulham.

Guglielmo Vicario was at fault for Fulham's second goal and was booed the next couple of times he touched the ball, and there were then ironic cheers when he kicked it out of play shortly after.

Frank claimed after the match that "true" fans would not act in that manner and called for supporters to get behind the players, saving any frustration for after the game.

Asked about the need to keep the Spurs faithful on side at his press conference ahead of the trip to Newcastle on Tuesday night, Frank talked up the significance of the fans.

"As I said after the game, I completely understand the frustration. If you don't win, there will always be a frustration," he said.

"That is normal, it is part of it. Especially as we haven't won as much as we would have wanted to at home, not only this year but the last long period, maybe years, maybe more.

"So the frustration grows a little bit more. That's understandable. It is my job to do what I can to make sure we are calm and look at the things in a way where we split things up in terms of performance, what is impacting it, how we try to build the team.

"We are nothing without the fans. No club is anything without the fans. Tottenham Hotspur is nothing without our fantastic fans, nothing. We need each other.

"There is nothing we want more than making them happy in every way and my point that during matches that is where we need each other."

Spurs' home form is adding to the pressure on Frank, with his side failing to win at their own stadium in the Premier League since the opening weekend of the season.

Frank and his players being booed off has become a regular occurrence but the Dane insists the relationship is not beyond repair.

Frank said: "Again, I think there's always some that shout louder than others. So I don't think fans, when you say you lose the fans, how many is that? Five per cent? 10 per cent? 15 per cent? 20 per cent? How much is it? I don't know.

"We would like to get all 100 per cent on board and there's only two things we can do. We can perform and keep connected."

Spurs travel up north in desperate need of a result

Spurs boss’ sentiment is right, but the fans’ frustration is understandable

No answer: Thomas Frank

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Matt Verri

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What was it Ange Postecoglou said about turning points and false dawns?

"Every time I've seen the light at the end of the tunnel, it's usually been an oncoming train," the Australian quipped last season amid Tottenham's injury crisis.

The train for Spurs this time was not a pulled hamstring but a Fulham side arriving to pile the pressure on Thomas Frank.

After defeats to Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, it was this match that was supposed to provide some relief.

There had been better signs of attacking intent in Paris, even in a 5-3 defeat, and the idea, at least, was that Fulham's visit would offer the opportunity to kick on from that and prove a real moment for the Frank project.

Instead, it was all too painfully familiar. Fulham had not won on the road in the Premier League this season but left with all three points, seizing control with a 2-0 lead inside six minutes.

A third defeat in a week made it three wins in 13 matches in all competitions for Spurs and extended a dismal home run. They have now just won three of their last 21 home matches in the Premier League, beating only Southampton, Manchester United and Burnley in that period.

The results alone would be enough for Frank to face real scrutiny. Add in the poor performances and the fact Spurs are simply not improving under him, and it becomes a crisis.

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Speaking at his press conference last week, Frank called for some balance in the reaction to individual matches.

"Maybe not the best coach in the world after we beat Man City away, probably not the worst coach in the world after we lost the game," he said after defeat to PSG.

It is telling, though, that Frank's mind had to go back to the win over City for an example of a notable victory. That was on August 23. In more than three months since, Spurs have beaten West Ham, Villarreal, Doncaster, Leeds, Everton and Copenhagen.

Those three Premier League sides are all 14th or below in the table. Copenhagen and Villarreal sit 29th and 34th respectively in the Champions League; Doncaster are 18th in League One.

Thomas Frank defended his goalkeeper

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The early weeks of the season, including that win at the Etihad, were characterised by a newfound defensive solidity for Spurs, a platform on which some attacking patterns of play were to be built.

That foundation, though, is crumbling. Spurs conceded 13 goals in three matches last week, including four at Arsenal when they started with a back five and two defensive midfielders in front of them.

It has been coming too, with only some Guglielmo Vicario heroics stopping heavier defeats in the last couple of months.

The attack is the main source of concern for Frank. More than a third of the Premier League season has been played and the extent of the forward plans appear to be cross after cross from Pedro Porro and Mohammed Kudus.

It is not good enough. Spurs rank 18th for shots in the Premier League, averaging less than ten a match. Only Nottingham Forest have attempted more crosses than them and Frank's approach has become painfully predictable. When the set-pieces don't work, Spurs have no real threat.

Teams know to expect attacks down that right wing - Frank did not even bother playing someone on the left against Fulham.

The pressure seems to be getting to the Spurs boss. He is chopping and changing system and personnel from match to match, desperately searching for answers, but the outcome has just been more confusion.

Frank also cut an irritated figure in his press conference on Saturday night for the first time in his tenure.

When one reporter referred to Spurs being 2-0 down inside eight minutes, Frank interrupted: "Six minutes." Pointing out his team were even worse than suggested felt unnecessary.

The Spurs boss was also forceful in criticising the booing of Vicario after his error, claiming "true" fans would not do that. He emphasised the difference between booing during the match and after, insisting he had no problem with the latter.

It is impossible to separate the two, though. The fans would not have booed Vicario like that had the team been on a better run. It was, to an extent, a response to his mistake but more an outburst of despair at the ongoing shambles at home.

Frank's sentiment is right in that booing individual players when they touch the ball is not helpful. However, after yet another home defeat, he was not speaking from a position of strength in calling out the supporters.

The frustration, even anger, from fans is understandable and being told how a true supporter should act is not going to ease that. Frank's comments are likely to strain the relationship further between the fans and the team.

The Spurs boss has major problems on and off the pitch. Right now, he has no answers to either.

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Spurs get massive selection boost ahead of Newcastle clash but senior stars remain sidelined

Tottenham will hope to recover some injured players before the hectic festive period

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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

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Tottenham will look to get back on track when they play Newcastle at St James' Park on Tuesday.

The two sides are locked together on the same points in the Premier League table after two contrasting matchweeks.

While Spurs suffered defeats in back-to-back London derbies against Arsenal and Fulham, Newcastle beat Manchester City and then followed it up by thrashing Everton 4-1 at the weekend.

Tottenham's loss at home to Fulham, in particular, has seen the pressure increase on head coach Thomas Frank and the players were booed off by supporters at half time as well as after the final whistle.

Captain Cristian Romero will be available for selection ahead of the trip up north after suspension, but Dominik Solanke looks set to miss out once again.

With that in mind, here is the latest Tottenham injury news and return dates…

Dominic Solanke

Dominic Solanke has not been able to get going under Thomas Frank after suffering an ankle injury in pre-season.

He made brief cameo appearances against Paris Saint-Germain, Burnley and Manchester City in the early exchanges of the campaign before suffering a major setback.

Frank had said before the recent international break that he did not know whether the centre-forward would be able to play before the year was out.

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Solanke himself has refused to put a timeframe on his return to action.

“It’s been very difficult,” Solanke told The Athletic. “At first, I didn’t think I would be out for too long but we didn’t really understand the extent of the injury.

“I was trying to get back as quickly as I could but it didn’t happen, so I had to have surgery.”

Potential return date: Unknown

Radu Dragusin

Radu Dragusin is closing in on a comeback from his ACL injury to boost Frank’s options in central defence.

The Romanian stepped up his recovery during the international window last month, playing 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Leyton Orient.

Speaking after the Orient game, Dragusin said: "It felt good, first minutes in 10 months out, finally minutes in the legs and I just have to build on this."

He did not make the matchday squad against Arsenal, PSG or Fulham but could return to the matchday squad this week, potentially the home game with Brentford at the weekend.

Potential return date: Saturday, December 6 vs Brentford (H)

Dejan Kulusevski

Dejan Kulusevski may not be too far behind Dragusin with regards to making a return to first team action.

Having spent months on the sidelines with a patella injury, for which he underwent surgery after last season’s Europa League final, the Swede was back training on grass during the international break.

Frank has said that there is a “good chance” that the winger could play before the turn of the year.

Potential return date: Late December

Recovering: Dejan Kulusevski

Destiny Udodie/Snapchat

Kota Takai

Kota Takai is yet to feature for Tottenham since his arrival from Kawasaki Frontale in the summer.

Frank said before Spurs’ defeat by Chelsea that the Takai would “be training soon”, but the young defender has not make any of the matchday squads in recent weeks.

Potential return date: Unknown

Yves Bissouma

Yves Bissouma has still not made an appearance for Tottenham this season after missing the UEFA Super Cup for disciplinary reasons.

Since then, Bissouma then picked up another issue that forced him to be stretched off just minutes after his return to action for Mali while on international duty.

He has since had surgery, with Frank revealing that the midfielder had suffered ankle ligament damage.

Potential return date: Unknown

James Maddison

James Maddison is expected to miss most of the season since undergoing surgery on a torn ACL sustained in a pre-season meeting with Newcastle.

Potential return date: Summer 2026

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Spurs’ wait for a home win in the Premier League continues

Tottenham have lost three games on the bounce

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George Sessions

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Thomas Frank's Tottenham tenure suffered another setback as Fulham inflicted more home woe with a 2-1 win.

Frank watched Spurs suffer a third consecutive defeat in a horror week after they conceded twice in the first six minutes at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - the second following a moment of madness by goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

An early strike by Kenny Tete and Harry Wilson's sublime lob put Frank's team immediately on the back foot and, despite Mohammed Kudus' 59th-minute effort, Tottenham slumped to their fourth defeat in six Premier League games.

This latest bad result extended an awful run of results at home, with Spurs only winning three of their last 21 home league matches.

Those statistics, combined with a string of toothless attacking displays, mean Frank has plenty of questions to answer going into December, with scrutiny growing.

A spirited display in defeat at Paris St Germain on Wednesday had earned Frank some credit after the derby hammering by Arsenal where fans were scathing of his tactics.

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Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall provided green shoots of encouragement in Paris and Frank trusted the 19-year-old duo in what felt a significant fixture.

Yet before the highly-rated pair had even had time to make a handful of passes, Tottenham were 2-0 down in shambolic fashion.

Fulham broke the deadlock in the fourth minute when, within seconds of a poor header by Kevin Danso, the excellent Samuel Chukwueze cut inside from the left and picked out Tete, who had an 18-yard shot deflected beyond Vicario by Spurs' Destiny Udogie.

Tottenham were stunned but 136 second later conceded again in a moment to forget for Vicario.

The keeper rushed out to intercept Joachim Andersen's pass ahead of Raul Jimenez, but instead of knocking the ball out for a throw, he inexplicably cleared it infield and Joshua King teed up Wilson to curl home wonderfully.

It was a sensational 40-yard lob by Wilson, but Vicario's comical error saw him heavily booed straight after by the home fans.

Chukwueze curled against a post moments later before Danso had to block a shot by Wilson.

Tottenham's lop-sided 4-2-3-1 formation with no left forward continued to struggle to create chances and only a superb tackle by stand-in captain Micky van de Ven prevented another Fulham goal as he slid in to thwart Chukwueze, who had rounded Vicario after Pedro Porro's lapse in concentration.

It was masterful defending by Van de Ven but did not stop loud boos at half-time and, despite no changes by Frank, Spurs returned with much-needed attacking intent.

Randal Kolo Muani had an effort blocked seconds into the second period before a succession of promising openings ended with a poor Tottenham delivery.

When Porro did finally produce a quality cross, Kolo Muani sent his 57th-minute header into the side-netting.

Spurs finally had momentum, though, and the deficit was reduced with 31 minutes left when Bergvall chipped into the path of Kudus and he lashed into the top corner.

Frank immediately sent on Rodrigo Bentancur, Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons and the latter had a shot deflected over by Andersen as Tottenham pushed for a leveller.

The equaliser nearly arrived in the 67th minute when Bergvall flicked on Kudus' corner, but Jimenez brilliantly headed clear and there was no grandstand finish, with Kolo Muani sending a backheel wide as Spurs lost again at home.

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Spurs went into Saturday’s London derby on the back of successive defeats in the past week to Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, conceding nine goals in the process.

Tottenham found themselves behind after just four minutes against their London rivals when Kenny Tete’s effort deflected in off Destiny Udogie at the near post.

Things went from bad to worse for Tottenham two minutes later when Guglielmo Vicario rushed off his line and made a complete mess of a clearance which resulted in Harry Wilson, spectacularly, doubling Fulham’s lead.

However, there was to be no late drama in north London on the pitch - instead it was saved for after the full-time whistle.

Sky Sports’ cameras picked up the right-back screaming ‘Lucas’ several times as the 19-year-old started to walk around the pitch and show his appreciation to the home supporters that had stayed behind.

Porro then stormed down the tunnel, presumably frustrated that he and his team-mates could not find an equaliser to prevent a third straight defeat across two competitions.

Thomas Frank was asked about the incident afterwards and told Sky Sports: "I didn't see the incident so I don't know exactly.

“We are in a tough spell right now and for my players it is about being as calm as possible and doing everything we can to work through it."

Spurs went two goals down inside six minutes and never recovered, even if Mohammed Kudus' strike on the hour mark raised hope of a late charge.

Guglielmo Vicario had charged out of his goal to sweep up a long ball in behind, but he declined two opportunities to send it out of play and instead played a terrible ball down the line.

That allowed Fulham straight back on the attack and Wilson to fire in with Vicario still out of position.

There were loud boos when Vicario had his next two touches of the ball and then ironic cheers when the Italian did send a clearance straight out of play later in the half.

Vicario after the match said he was a "big man" and could deal with the boos, but Frank was far angrier in his reaction.

"I think they booed at him straight after and also three or four times when he was on the ball. For me that's acceptable. They can't be true Tottenham fans.

"Booing after [the match], fair. No problem. But winning is winning together. If we need to turn this around, we need to do this together. That's hugely important to me."

It was put to Frank that the frustration of Spurs fans is perhaps understandable considering it is now a run of three wins from the last 21 Premier League matches at home.

"Yeah but I think we need to be clear on what I talked about," Frank said.

"I talked about after Vic. That I didn't like, I think that's unacceptable. It can't be after one thing. That's very important because if you want anyone to perform, you need to be behind them in my opinion.

"I think that's when you get people to perform in the best possible way. After, no problem."

However, Frank hit back at the suggestion his players were confused and not responding to his instructions, as also appeared to be the case a week ago against Arsenal.

"I think we've seen clearly other times it worked much better. Maybe we haven't been absolutely free-flowing but it looks much better.

"It's isolated, two different games. The Arsenal game was hopefully a big one-off in terms of the overall performance.

"I think PSG it looks like they took on board my messages, that's fair to say? The second half [against Fulham] it looks like they took on my messages.

"I think this game we are behind 2-0 after six minutes with all the nice good questions we get about we want to do so well to get back on track. There's so many things into this."

Tottenham’s nightmare week continues with another London derby defeat as Micky van de Ven saves Spurs from further embarrassment

Guglielmo Vicario had a night to forget as Tottenham were beaten by Fulham at home

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Matt Verri

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Tottenham fell to their third defeat in a week as they were beaten 2-1 by Fulham on home soil.

Thomas Frank’s side were two goals down inside six minutes as Kenny Tete opened the scoring and Harry Wilson pounced on a massive error from Guglielmo Vicario.

It could have got worse before the break for Spurs, but they then pulled one back on the hour mark through Mohammed Kudus.

The late push for an equaliser came up short, making it three wins in 13 matches for Spurs in all competitions.

Guglielmo Vicario 2

Had a shocker. Awful mistake for Wilson’s goal, for some reason playing a pass down the line rather than kicking it out. Then rounded by Samuel Chukwueze and bailed out by Van de Ven.

Pedro Porro 4

Delivery was shocking for most of the match but did pick out Kolo Muani and Simons for big chances and grew into the game. Looked a nervous wreck at the back early on.

Kevin Danso 4

Ragged in the opening stages. Poor headed clearance led to opening goal and he was dominated by Raul Jimenez throughout. Not comfortable pushing out of defence with the ball.

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Micky van de Ven 7

Singley-handedly stopped a full implosion in the first half with two sensational last-ditch clearances. His pace on the cover stopped this being really embarrassing.

Destiny Udogie 4

Had to man the left wing by himself in the first half and unsurprisingly struggled. Cautious when he did get into promising positions, turning back and taking safe option.

Joao Palhinha 4

Snapped into a couple of challenges but off his usual standards. Fulham found it far too easy to get through the Spurs midfield and Palhinha was not there to cover as he should.

Archie Gray 5

Game passed him by in the first half but far from the only player to look lost in that system. Better on the ball after the break but replaced on the hourmark.

Lucas Bergvall 6

A rare source of energy, mounting a one-man press at times. There was not huge quality on the ball but he worked so hard off it, sliding into challenges and harrying Fulham before tiring.

Lucas Bergvall had an effort cleared off the line

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Mohammed Kudus 5

Such a frustrating display. Too often feels the need to beat a defender two or three times, crossing was poor, but produced a brilliant finish to give Spurs hope. Otherwise largely terrible.

Richarlison 3

Offered nothing. Ball bounced off him and weak when he did have the chance to get involved. Confused in his role - not central, not on the left. Lucky to stay on for an hour.

Randal Kolo Muani 7

Only one in attack who consistently threatened, holding the ball up and showing his strength and pace. Headed into the side-netting and back-heeled just wide. Deserves credit.

Substitutes:

Wilson Odobert (Gray 60’) 4

Did well to win a header at the back post but couldn’t keep it down. Shifted to left-back for the closing stages.

Xavi Simons (Richarlison 60’) 4

Shot deflected over - otherwise hardly a kick. Not enough to suggest he deserved to start.

Rodrigo Bentancur (Palhinha 60’) 5

Added much more snap to the midfield but never going to make the difference when chasing for a game.

Pape Matar Sarr (Bergvall 77’) 4

Easy to forget he even came on. Did not make an impact on the match at all.

Mathys Tel (Udogie 85’) N/A

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