Tottenham are going to have to produce something very special indeed if they are to secure a top-half Premier League finish come May. Ange Postecoglou's side have now lost 15 of their 29 league games this campaign, .

had looked on course to leave Craven Cottage with at least a point before goals in the final 12 minutes from Rodrigo Muniz and saw Fulham pick up a vital three points in their quest for European football. now trail Bournemouth in tenth by nine points heading into their final nine league fixtures of the season and a bottom-half finish for the first time since the 2007/08 campaign appears to be on the cards.

It is worth pointing out that Tottenham did win silverware that season under Juande Ramos. The Lilywhites do have a chance to end their silverware drought by lifting the Europa League trophy in late May but there will have to be a huge improvement on the pitch if that is to be the case.

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After seeing Fulham threaten on a few occasions in the first half, Spurs were much the better side after the break as Dominic Solanke went close a couple of times and forced Bernd Leno into a great save with a curling effort. However, their failure to capitalise on their possession and openings was punished by Fulham as Muniz and Sessegnon secured the points.

Postecoglou and Tottenham will feel they should have done much better with the goals they conceded, . It was an excellent finish from the former Tottenham man but just how easy he was able to win possession of the ball and get a shot away was frightening from a Spurs perspective.

In his post-match press conference, . "It was a tight game and we knew it would be — it always is here," explained the Australian. "It’s a tight ground and you know when you go that it is not going to be open.

"First half defensively we were pretty solid and they didn’t really create anything. We weren’t great with the ball and didn’t create much ourselves but I thought second half started really positively and had a couple of really good chances to get in front. We were definitely in much better control.

"Like we have done a lot of times this year we concede a soft goal. That just gives the opposition everything to gain from and get momentum out of it and the game gets away from us."

It may have been a different story had still been on the pitch at that point as he made way on 68 minutes. James Maddison's introduction in place of the Argentina international may have raised a few eyebrows .

Romero perhaps would have dealt better with Sessegnon than Davies but he was watching on from the bench at the crucial time. It was a very similar story three days earlier as AZ Alkmaar got back into the Europa League tie moments after had been substituted on the hour mark.

Prior to the Dutchman's exit, Spurs had looked so strong at the back as Romero and Van de Ven resumed their excellent partnership and kept their opponents at bay. Speaking to Tottenham's Review Show about his defence after the AZ game, said: "I thought we looked so solid at the back, solid as we have all year for that first hour, and that's a great sign because those guys are still not at full fitness. We now get a chance to keep working with them, get them up to the levels we need them to be. We’re in the quarter-finals of a European competition, which is super.”

What has been clear to see in Tottenham's past two games against Fulham and AZ is the need to keep Romero and Van de Ven on the field together or at least one of them for the full match. It may be a case of both continuing to improve their levels over the coming weeks before they consistently start to play 90 minutes for Tottenham week in, week out.

Spurs need that to be the case as AZ profited from Van de Ven's substitution on Thursday night and the same can be said about Fulham and the change involving Romero. They must ensure that does not happen against Eintracht Frankfurt next month as their season very much hinges on the Europa League after a dire Premier League campaign to date.

Wilson Odobert's starring role and how is Djed Spence not in the England squad? - to listen to the latest episode of Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham

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