{"id":17437,"date":"2023-10-24T10:24:14","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T10:24:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/spurs-bolster-unexpected-title-pursuit-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-10-24T10:24:14","modified_gmt":"2023-10-24T10:24:14","slug":"spurs-bolster-unexpected-title-pursuit-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/spurs-bolster-unexpected-title-pursuit-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Spurs bolster unexpected title pursuit | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nLONDON:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tottenham surged to the top of the Premier League as Son Heung-min and James Maddison<\/a> sealed a 2-0 win against Fulham on Monday.<\/p>\n

Ange Postecoglou’s side extended their unbeaten start to nine league games thanks to Son’s opener and Maddison’s first goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since his close-season move from Leicester.<\/p>\n

Tottenham leapfrogged Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool to go two points clear at the top of the table.<\/p>\n

Fulham are the only team to beat Tottenham<\/a> this season, knocking them out of the League Cup on penalties in August.<\/p>\n

But they avenged that loss by recording a third successive league victory to strengthen their unexpected title challenge.<\/p>\n

The north Londoners’ superb start to Postecoglou’s debut season have awoken dreams of the club’s first top-flight title since Bill Nicholson’s 1961 double winners.<\/p>\n

While that ambitious target may yet prove beyond Tottenham, who haven’t won a major trophy since 2008, the Australian has undoubtedly had a huge impact on a club that was in turmoil when he arrived from Celtic.<\/p>\n

A toxic combination of Tottenham’s poor results and dour displays under Antonio Conte last term, combined with Harry Kane’s close-season move to Bayern Munich, left many expecting another year of turmoil.<\/p>\n

Yet Postecoglou has astutely guided Tottenham to calmer waters, winning over doubters with his down-to-earth personality and attacking game-plan.<\/p>\n

Monday’s victory gave Postecoglou the record for most points gained by a new manager in their first nine Premier League<\/a> matches, with his 23 surpassing the mark previously held by Mike Walker and Guus Hiddink.<\/p>\n

Postecoglou’s next challenge is ensuring his players are ready for a quick turnaround, with their London derby at Crystal Palace scheduled for Friday.<\/p>\n

In keeping with their vibrant form under Postecoglou, Tottenham made an enterprising start and Son was denied an early goal by Bernd Leno’s smart save from his close-range shot.<\/p>\n

Heading into this weekend, no player had provided more assists in the competition this term than Maddison’s five.<\/p>\n

The playmaker nearly added to that tally when his free-kick was volleyed over by Micky van de Ven.<\/p>\n

Fulham almost snatched a shock lead through Joao Palhinha, whose header was brilliantly clawed to safety by Guglielmo Vicario.<\/p>\n

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg tested Leno with a fierce strike before Richarlison side-footed just wide from the edge of the area.<\/p>\n

Tottenham’s pressure was rewarded in the 36th minute as Calvin Bassey carelessly surrendered possession and Richarlison flicked a pass to Son on the edge of the area.<\/p>\n

Son’s deft touch took him away from two flat-footed Fulham defenders, giving him time to curl a fine finish into the far corner for his seventh goal this season.<\/p>\n

Dejan Kulusevski’s goal-bound strike was deflected wide for a corner as Tottenham pushed for a second.<\/p>\n

They had to wait just nine minutes after half-time before delivering the knockout blow, with a hearty assist from Fulham’s lacklustre defence.<\/p>\n

Kane’s departure was expected to destabilise Tottenham, but Son and Maddison have formed a dynamic duo almost as effective as the South Korean’s prolific partnership with the England captain.<\/p>\n

Hojbjerg intercepted a miscued Bassey clearance and picked out Son, who laid a composed pass into Maddison to apply the finishing touch with a low strike from 10 yards.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n