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Tottenham can take title says Huddlestone
TOM HUDDLESTONE believes Tottenham will emerge as title contenders as long as they add consistency to their class.
Huddlestone’s 64th-minute goal was controversial, but Spurs deserved to end Fulham’s unbeaten Premier League record for they have added steel to their style.
“If we can be a bit more consistent, because we’ve dropped a few sloppy points, then why not?” said Huddlestone.
“Title contenders? That’s a big statement to make, but the way the season is going, everybody keeps taking points off each other.
"If you’re up there March, April time, you’ve got a great chance.” After striker Roman Pavlyuchenko had cancelled out Diomansy Kamara’s 30th-minute opener, referee Mike Dean left Fulham manager Mark Hughes fuming over the winner.
After initially disallowing Huddlestone’s long-distance effort because William Gallas was offside, Dean consulted his line official then awarded the goal.
Spurs play Inter Milan on Wednesday and Huddlestone said: “The ref thought a Fulham player had touched it and had to confirm.”
Hughes remonstrated with Dean at the end. He said: “I’m disappointed we’ve lost our unbeaten record. But I’m pleased with what we’re producing.”
Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer 7; Baird 7, Hughes 7, Hangeland 7, Salcido 6; Davies 6, Greening 6 (Johnson 84), Murphy 7 (Kelly 52, 6), Dempsey 7; Dembele 6 (Gera 75, 5), Kamara 7. Booked: Dempsey. Goal: Kamara 30.
Tottenham (4-4-1-1): Gomes 8; Hutton 7, Gallas 7, King 7 (Bassong 44, 6), Assou-Ekotto 6; Modric 6, Huddlestone 7, Sandro 6 (Lennon 46, 6), Bale 7; Van der Vaart 7; Pavlyuchenko 7 (Crouch 70, 6). Booked: Sandro. Goals: Pavlyuchenko 31, Huddlestone 64.
Referee: M Dean (Wirral).