Dimitar Berbatov returned to White Hart Lane with a goal that could cost Tottenham a place in next season’s Champions League.
The Bulgarian, who left Spurs for £30.75m in 2008, scored the only goal of the game as Fulham condemned Spurs to their first consecutive league defeat for 18 games and their third defeat in eight days.
There were early signs that Gareth Bale’s return from suspension could be the perfect cure for Tottenham’s San Siro hangover.
The Welshman, slotting in behind Emmanuel Adebayor in attack, had two wayward attempts on the Fulham goal within 90 seconds as Tottenham opened with intent.
Minutes later Gylfi Sigurdsson whipped in a corner that was met by the head of Bale, but his glanced effort was cleared off the line by Sascha Riether.
The home-side failed to maintain their early pressure as Fulham settled into the game and began to dictate the tempo.
Ashkan Dejagah worked well down both flanks for Fulham but, in spite of long-range efforts from Scott Parker and Sigurdsson, neither side were worthy of the lead at half-time.
Dejagah attacked once more on 51 minutes as Fulham capitalised on their early second-half pressure. The Iranian took hold of the ball, charging forward to find Riether with time and space deep in the Spurs half. Riether squared a ball back across goal that found Berbatov who bundled past Hugo Lloris for the opening goal.
Fulham could have doubled their lead seconds later. With the visitors looking to build their advantage, captain Brede Hangeland headed agonisingly wide after Bryan Ruiz flicked on Giorgos Karagounis’s corner
Andre Villas-Boas sent on Jermaine Defoe in search of an equaliser and the substitution nearly paid off. The poacher swivelled on a Steven Caulker cross but he drilled straight at the palms of Mark Schwarzer.
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Spurs finished the game as they began and looked dangerous as Bale and Adebayor came close but Fulham held on for their first win at White Hart Lane for 10 years.
