Redknapp suffers first defeat as Spurs slip back into bottom three

Harry Redknapp suffered his first defeat as Tottenham manager after a Heurelho Gomes howler set up Fulham’s 2-1 win at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

After six matches without defeat since replacing Juande Ramos as Spurs boss, Redknapp was undone when Gomes spilled a Simon Davies cross into his own net before Andrew Johnson increased Fulham’s lead in the second half.

Fraizer Campbell got one back for Spurs in the final stages but it was too late to rescue Redknapp’s unbeaten record.

The defeat pushed Spurs back into the relegation zone, while Fulham remain in midtable after their second successive victory.

Fulham were on top from the moment when Johnson skipped past Jonathan Woodgate and picked out Danny Murphy, but the midfielder’s shot was blocked by Vedran Corluka.

Clint Dempsey forced a superb tip-over from Gomes as the American drove in a long-range effort.

Gomes was back in action moments later when the Brazilian rushed out to collect the ball from Johnson after Bobby Zamora’s pass sent the former Everton striker through on goal.

Spurs should have taken the lead in the 29th minute when Luka Modric’s cross was deflected off John Pantsil to David Bentley, whose volley beat Mark Schwarzer but fell just wide of the post.

Seconds later Darren Bent should have done better when a long pass from Tom Huddlestone fell at his feet inside the penalty area but he shot straight at Schwarzer.

It was a costly miss as Fulham went ahead in the 32nd minute thanks to a disastrous blunder from Gomes.

Davies sent a teasing cross into the penalty area and after taking a slight deflection off the head of Woodgate, Gomes allowed the ball to slip through his grasp and into the net.

The goal was credited to former Spurs midfielder Davies although it was clearly thrown into the net by Gomes.

Redknapp made two changes during the interval with Aaron Lennon and Roman Pavlyuchenko sent on.

But it was Fulham who continued to dominate. Gomes made a fine save to keep out a ferocious Jimmy Bullard free-kick in the 53rd minute and the visitors were lucky to escape when captain Ledley King appeared to handle the ball inside the area.

Spurs finally started to apply some pressure and King was unlucky with a volley that flashed over in the 66th minute.

Fulham had raised the tempo once again and when Spurs failed to clear Paul Konchesky’s corner, Johnson pounced to score their second from six yards in the 69th minute.

Redknapp replaced Bent with Campbell and he rewarded the coach with a well-taken strike in the 80th minute.

Gomes pulled off a stunning save to deny Bullard from adding a third and although the visitors applied plenty of late pressure, they could not find an equaliser.