![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2.40736401.jpg\")
Tottenham survived the absence of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min as Harry Winks\u2019 stoppage-time header secured a vital 2-1 victory at Fulham.<\/p>\nTottenham survived the absence of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min as Harry Winks\u2019 stoppage-time header secured a vital 2-1 victory at Fulham.<\/p>\n
The striker\u2019s ankle injury and Son\u2019s absence due to international duty had meant a rare start for Fernando Llorente, who after scoring an own goal also missed two fine chances to make amends.<\/p>\n
Dele Alli\u2019s seventh of the season and then one from Winks, from essentially the match\u2019s last move, instead cruelly edged 19th-placed Fulham closer to relegation.<\/p>\n
It kept Spurs on course for a top-three finish, even thought they are under increasing pressure from Manchester United.<\/p>\n
Fulham\u2019s attacking options had been under similar scrutiny, owing to reports of a fight between Aleksandar Mitrovic and Aboubakar Kamara during a yoga session, as well as the recent signing of Ryan Babel.<\/p>\n
With Kamara not even a substitute, Babel was handed his debut at Ryan Sessegnon\u2019s expense, and in the 12th minute he wasted a fine chance to give his new team an unexpected lead.<\/p>\n
Racing onto Mitrovic\u2019s flick-on from midfield, he outmuscled Davinson Sanchez and ran through to go one-on-one with Hugo Lloris before hesitating with his shot and producing no more than a routine save from the goalkeeper at his near post.<\/p>\n
Playing with greater belief and frustrating Spurs by defending deep and in numbers, the hosts required only a further five minutes to take the lead.<\/p>\n
From a right-wing corner Jean Michael Seri crossed to in front of goal, where after Tim Ream had missed a header, under minimal pressure the unfortunate Llorente attempted to clear and instead saw the ball bounce off his shin and beyond Lloris.<\/p>\n
The Spaniard very nearly found a swift response when, from Jan Vertonghen\u2019s superb cross from deep in midfield, his powerful close-range header forced a fine reaction save from Sergio Rico, and before Babel again twice went close.<\/p>\n
First he headed over a cross from Cyrus Christie, and then Mitrovic had a goal disallowed for offside when nodding in the rebound as Lloris impressively stopped Andre Schurrle\u2019s volley.<\/p>\n
Finally, with Spurs still uncharacteristically unconvincing, he was denied with what would have been Fulham\u2019s best chance yet when Calum Chambers fed him with a backheel and Vertonghen produced a last-ditch challenge to block.<\/p>\n
The hosts will rarely have performed better during what has been a difficult season, but perhaps typically it was a defensive error with which they were undermined.<\/p>\n
When in the 52nd minute Ream made a hash of a clearance, after Toby Alderweireld\u2019s hopeful long ball, Christian Eriksen collected possession on the right and calmly crossed to Alli, who then seamlessly scored with his fourth header this season.<\/p>\n
Mitrovic\u2019s subsequent appeals for a penalty were rightly dismissed by referee Craig Pawson, who judged Lloris to have won the ball with his challenge.<\/p>\n
Danny Rose then nearly gave Spurs the lead but saw his right-footed shot deflected onto the crossbar by Denis Odoi.<\/p>\n
It was in the 82nd minute when Llorente headed narrowly wide at the back post from Rose\u2019s free-kick and appeared to have wasted their last chance of all three points.<\/p>\n
Yet in the third minute of the three added on, substitute Georges-Kevin Nkoudou brilliantly crossed to Winks, who from immediately in front of goal dramatically headed Spurs to victory.<\/p>\n