There was only one change to Fulham’s starting eleven to face Spurs on Sunday afternoon from the Team that defeated Sunderland at Craven Cottage in the Club’s penultimate match of the season last weekend.

The Club’s leading scorer, Clint Dempsey, missed out on the trip to North London through injury, resulting in Manager Martin Jol handing Academy graduate Kerim Frei a starting berth on the left hand side of midfield.

Fulham’s bench also featured two further graduates, with Matthew Briggs and Marcello Trotta named amongst Jol’s substitutes. Fulham got Sunday’s highly anticipated fixture underway, with Spurs looking to claim a Champions League place and Fulham targeting a Club record points tally in the Barclays Premier League.

Spurs got off to the best possible start, when Adebayor fired the home side ahead after less than two minutes of play. Luka Modric’s precise through ball set Adebayor clean through on goal down the left hand side of the area and the striker’s right footed strike curled into the far corner of the net.

Modric was certainly pulling the strings in midfield during the opening stages of the game as Fulham looked to settle the play inside a buoyant White Hart Lane. The Whites successfully defended a succession of corners and raids down the flanks from Bale and Lennon in the opening 15 minutes.

Sunday’s match was certainly played at a frenetic pace and Tottenham’s early goal aside, Fulham stood firm to the home side’s early barrage of pressure. In fact, as the game passed the 20 minute mark, it was Martin Jol’s team that took control of possession.

In midfield, Dembele’s influence grew as the minutes passed and Frei was given the chance to attack rather than track back down the left flank. There was certainly no lack of attacking intent from Jol’s Team, with Riise and Kelly pressing high up the pitch from defence.

Fulham were making serious ground down the left flank as the half hour mark approached and an equaliser looked on the cards, with the balance of play falling in Fulham’s favour. However, there was almost a sting in the tale after 33 minutes, when van der Vaart fired just wide of Schwarzer’s post with a left footed drive from inside the area.

Eight minutes before the break John Arne Riise almost pulled Fulham level with a superb drive following a solo run from just inside Tottenham’s half. The Norwegian tore through the home side’s midfield before forcing Friedel into a fine save with a fierce left footed drive from the edge of the area.

Seconds later Dembele fired just wide of Friedel’s far post with Fulham ending the half the stronger side. The early carnival atmosphere inside White Hart Lane had been replaced by the cheers of those who had made the journey from SW6.

The deficit at the break was almost doubled seconds before Phil Dowd blew his whistle for half time, when Bale’s stinging drive during added time forced Schwarzer’s into a fine reaction save.

Despite being a goal behind, there was plenty of encouraging signs to suggest that Fulham could still achieve a major upset at White Hart Lane in the second half.

The start of the second half saw Danny Murphy pick up a booking almost immediately from the restart, after bringing Aaron Lennon’s charge down the right flank to an abrupt halt.

Harry Redknapp made the first substitution of the match just three minutes into the second half, with Ryan Nelsen replacing the injured Kyle Walker at right back.

The first clear cut chance of the second half fell to Spurs midfielder Sandro, who headed Lennon’s cross from the right flank goalwards from just six yards out. Fortunately for Fulham, Mark Schwarzer was perfectly positioned to save on the line.

Sandro’s effort aside, there was very little between the two teams as the hour mark approached but Dembele almost brought Fulham level with a left footed drive from 25 yards that had Freidel beaten but flew just wide of the goalkeeper’s far post.

Harry Redknapp made his second change seconds after Dembele’s effort, introducing Jermain Defoe for van der Vaart. Defoe’s impact was immediate, firing past Schwarzer after 52 minutes to put Tottenham two-nil ahead. Defoe’s opportunity from close range came after Lennon’s cross from the right flank had deflected into the striker’s path, leaving Schwarzer with no chance.

Martin Jol made his first change of the game after 66 minutes, with Captain Danny Murphy making way for Pajtim Kasami in midfield. Defoe’s goal left Fulham with a mountain to climb but credit to Jol’s players, who continued to strive for a way back into the game in the final twenty minutes.

Tottenham’s final change of the day came after 76 minutes, with Adam Smith replacing the injured Younes Kaboul. Ten minutes from time Dembele, who looked the most likely to score for Fulham in the second half, once again burst through midfield on a 30 yard run that almost set Pogrebnyak through on goal.

With five minutes remaining Fulham just lacked a finishing touch in front of goal when Duff's cross from the right flew along the six yard line, evading a host of Tottenham defenders. It was all Fulham in the final minutes, with Dembele forcing Friedel into a superb fingertip save from a 30 yard drive. Seconds later it was Diarra's turn to test Friedel with a dipping volley from the edge of the area.

Once again Fulham were ending the half in fine form but Tottenham's clinical edge in front of goal proved decisive on Sunday afternoon as the home side claimed maximum points.

The final match of the season may have ended in defeat for Fulham, but it could not take the gloss off another fine campaign for the Club. In the final week of the season Fulham's Development Squad claimed second place in the Barclays Premier Reserve League South, the Club's Academy won the Barclays Premier Academy League title and Martin Jol's Team secured ninth place in the Barclays Premier League.