Fulham 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur: FA Cup fifth round – as it happened

Read Dominic Fifield’s match report here:

“Oh well, better to go out to Spurs than beat them and go out to the men in Lincoln green in the next round,” emails Fulham supporter David. “Or, even worse ... Millwall!”

Right, that’s about it from me. Thanks for your company this afternoon. I’ll be back with coverage of the FA Cup quarter-final draw about 6.15pm, once Blackburn Rovers’ tie with Manchester United has been wrapped up here:

Harry Kane speaks, clutching the match ball. “I thought he [Pochettino] was going to take me off soon so when I put a chance over the bar I thought that was it,” he says. “Luckily I managed to put that one [to complete his hat-trick] away though.

“Winning gives you confidence and now we will be looking forward to Thursday,” he says of facing Gent in the Europa League at Wembley next week.

That was ruddy good from Tottenham. It was three and easy for Kane, and in truth they ought to have had more. Fulham will perhaps feel as though they did not do themselves justice, allowing Spurs a very comfortable passage through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Pochettino and Kane walk off the pitch applauding the travelling support, and the feel-good mood is restored amongst Spurs after a tricky couple of weeks.

90+1 min: Fulham get the clappers going again, but only in vain. Sissoko, Trippier and then Son all queue up for a fourth but the latter miscues his free header.

90 min: There will be three added minutes at Craven Cottage.

89 min: Almost! Sissoko drives at goal from an acute angle and it’s always going wide but Bettinelli makes sure by clawing it clear for a corner. The Fulham goalkeeper then punches clear the corner with a thud.

87 min: Tottenham win two corners in quick succession, after Eriksen’s shot from distance tested Bettinelli and then Son had shot blocked by the backside of Ream. Can they find a fourth? More to the point, do they even want a fourth?

86 min: Alli is withdrawn, with Joshua Onomah on to replace him.

84 min: The silence is deafening amongst the home supporters. This game is slowly petering out you feel.

83 min: Spurs are coasting through these final few minutes. Toby Alderweireld, for example, is seeing plenty of the ball. As is Jan Vertonghen, and Moussa Sissoko.

81 min: Very nearly a consolation goal for Fulham and Scott Parker! Vorm saved superbly, while Parker was actually flagged offside anyway. He heads Cairney’s free-kick goalwards and Vorm collects from just a few yards out.

78 min: Now there’s those ironic, sarcastic cheers as Eriksen is given offside while played through on goal. It’s been that kind of afternoon. Moussa Dembele is on for Tottenham, formerly of Fulham of course, in place of Harry Winks, who has been excellent in the middle of the park.

77 min: “He’s magic, you know, Mauricio Pochettino,” sing the travelling Spurs supporters, as Ryan Sessegnon is guilty of taking his eye off the ball. It’s been quite the footballing lesson for Slavisa Jokanovic’s side.

76 min: It’s surely game over now for Fulham. They have shown teeny glimpses of quality but they have been largely outclassed. Tottenham, meanwhile, have plans of adding a fourth and Eriksen, who has been fantastics tries to curl one from distance. Just wide.

74 min: Kane is coming off for Tottenham. He was about to replaced before he completed his hat-trick. It’s been the perfect watching brief for Vincent Janssen, but it’s Moussa Sissoko who comes on in place of the striker.

73 min: Just as Fulham were finding their feet a little, Kane supplies the hammer blow. Scott Parker is now on for the hosts, after replacing Kevin McDonald.

71 min: Fulham have definitely prevented Trippier from rampaging freely down the right since Sessegnon was introduced 20 minutes or so ago. That’s freed up a lot of space for Scott Malone to join attacks as well. A smart move, and once perhaps they would have benefited from the off.

70 min: Alli plays in Harry Kane over the top, but the striker, at full stretch is unable to help himself to a hat-trick. Ream did just enough to put the striker off, after Odoi played Kane onside. Fulham, in fairness, have not just rolled over and they go up the other end, with McDonald nodding over after evading Wanyama at a corner.

69 min: Johansen is penalised for a high boot on Alli, who quickly gets back on with it.

68 min: McDonald is robbed by Eriksen on the halfway line. Eriksen charges forward after jinking away from Johansen, but he misses the chance to slide in Dele Alli, whose face says it all. He was ready to twirl away, after what would have been a tap-in. Instead, Bettinelli gathers.

65 min: Tottenham seem to be getting a little sloppy themselves. Perhaps that’s why Fulham’s head coach, Slavisa Jokanovic has waited until now to add Cyriac into the mix, in place of Aluko. A Fulham free-kick sees the ball land at the feet of Sessegnon but the youngster is eased off the ball.

63 min: “Despite much hoo-haa I don’t think Eriksen has scored from a free kick all season,” emails John. “Every kick within sight of the goal is declared as being his territory but certainly not this season.”

62 min: Trippier crosses from the right for Kane, whose eyes will have lit up for a moment, before the Fulham keeper Bettinelli smothers. Up the other end, the teenage substitute, Ryan Sessegnon, has Trippier back-peddling.

60 min: Fulham rally a little. Johansen strikes goalwards from a corner, before McDonald puts in a neat challenge on Winks. Fulham need more of that if they are to garner anything from this tie. Tottenham have simply been too comfortable for long stretches.

59 min: It would have been a superb team goal but Alli scoops over from close range! Son frees up Eriksen, and his floated cross leaves Alli what looks like a simple tap-in. But Ndoi gets back at the midfielder and forces Alli to fire over.

58 min: Tottenham fans are singing about going to Wembley. They are there on Thursday, against Gent in the Europa League. Harry Kane’s at the centre of all of their noise, too. He’s looked razor-sharp here.

55 min: Kane gets his legs in a tangle just as he nicks the ball back from Ream. Trippier had slid a through ball into the striker, who tripped Kalas en route to goal before essentially falling over after Ream played him in. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Ryan Sessegnon is on for Fulham.

54 min: And it is straight into, er, Kane! The next one Eriksen will surely pass up. He’s not been at his best from those free-kicks this afternoon.

53 min: Davies surges forward and he’s tripped by Odoi just outside of the box. Christian Eriksen stands over it, with Harry Kane trudging away after a brief conversation ...

52 min: A stat courtesy of our friends at Opta. Harry Kane has netted eight goals in nine appearances for Spurs in 2017. Meanwhile, a replay of Kane’s second shows Tim Ream’s leg may well have kept the England striker onside after all.

51 min: Ah, so Fulham’s hard work, half-time team talk and more look a little redundant now. Kane made it look easy but it was brilliant from Eriksen and a cute finish, even if it was indeed offside.

48 min: Trippier gallops down the right, cutting the ball back for an unmarked Eriksen, who, first time shoots at goal. Bettenelli comfortably gathers.

47 min: The Fulham clappers are all go, with Fulham showing some intent, as Kalas makes a huge header, beating Kane to the ball. Fulham already in some ways look a better team than they did so in the first 45 minutes. There’s more energy, and more willingness to do battle.

46 min: Spurs start the second half as they did the first. Son and Trippier combine to pen Fulham in early on.

There is about 60 seconds to go until the second half. The final half-time word is from Dimitar Berbatov’s efforts to land himself a new pay packet. “I am still trying to find a team,” he says. “It is difficult to let go. I can still continue a little bit more.”

Some half-time emails then. “I don’t want to get too technical, but Fulham do not seem very good at football,” emails Ian.

“I for one hope that this is just the beginning of Dimitar Berbatov’s punditry career,” emails Daniel. “I can picture him spending the majority of an episode of Match of the Day sitting in silence between Shearer and Lawrenson, with a look of disinterest on his face, only rousing once to make a single pithy and concise comment that renders all other analysis redundant.” Nice, and so before the second half, let’s hear from Mr Berbatov, who says “Fulham have made it difficult for themselves” in that first 45 minutes.

The second half is coming up shortly!

45+2 min: Aluko tests Vorm just before the half-time whistle! Malone whips in a teasing ball, but Kebano’s outstretched legs cannot quite meet it. It was a lovely ball in, which Aluko eventually controlled before firing at Vorm.

45+1 min: And right on cue Vertonghen makes a mess of a lofted high ball and Johansen ends up hammering a volley just wide. Some cause for optimism, with Fulham still very much in this while they trail by just one goal.

45 min: Fulham will just want to get in for half-time at this rate. Two minutes of added time at Craven Cottage. There is of course a danger, or hope for Fulham at least, that Spurs might get careless.

42 min: Tottenham look really up for this, chasing lost causes, while Fulham actually look pretty stale.

41 min: A huge cock-up by Bettenelli from the goal-kick, sees the goalkeeper pass the ball straight to Kane. Johansen does brilliantly to fend off the striker, with a good old-fashioned shoulder barge, and he relieves the danger. On another day, Kane rattles that in for his second.

40 min: It’s one attack after the other for Tottenham, with Fulham struggling to get any kind of foothold on the tie. Then again, this is practically a full-strength Spurs side. McDonald has a thankless task, trying to pick up one of or both Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, who keep finding holes in front of the Fulham back line.

39 min: Fulham throw all players behind the ball in a bid to clear the attack, with Eriksen’s free-kick failing to beat the first man, Aluko. Spurs are back at them through Kane almost instantaneously and Alli throws a foot at the ball, winning a corner in the process. It’s all very first gear and nonchalant for Spurs at present.

38 min: Eriksen is chopped down by Malone down the right. The Dane stands over it ...

35 min: Fulham have a go down the right, with Aluko up against Ben Davies but he’s pulled back for a foul on the Spurs defender. Even though they are praised for playing some slick stuff, Fulham look most dangerous when just throwing bodies forward at Spurs.

34 min: Pochettino is barking at his players on the touchline, while Alan Pardew, a less than interested spectator, yawns away in the stands. Pochettino will be very happy with this display, with his team in cruise control, even though they have just the one-goal lead.

32 min: Fulham supporters boo Bobby Madley’s decision not to award a foul for Trippier’s challenge on Cairney. Alli duly drives forward but his cross is too deep for Son at the back post. Meanwhile, Kane catches McDonald with an unfortunate flailing hand but he’s OK.

31 min: Eriksen again manages to find acres of space behind the Fulham midfield. Kevin McDonald has got nowhere near Eriksen or Alli so far this afternoon. The midfielder eventually shoots over after more good work from Kane and at this rate you would think it’s just a matter of time before Spurs have themselves a second.

29 min: Vorm and Vertonghen play a dangerous game at the back, dinking the ball back and forth over Ayite, but they are so comfortable in possession.

27 min: Tottenham have a go down the left flank, with Ben Davies marauding forward. He cuts back inside, finding Son but Ream does well to send him away from goal. Shortly after, Spurs have the ball in the net but it will not count, with Kane offside. Alli picked out Kane, who forced a save from Bettenelli before Winks drills low into an empty goal.

25 min: Fulham then take back possession, only for Cairney to hand it to Kane on a plate, just outside the box. The striker assesses his options, before finding Eriksen to his right. The Dane charges forward but his effort on goal is high and wide. A big chance, and a big let-off for Cairney, who in truth has been a little sloppy with the ball at his feet.

24 min: Eriksen thunders it straight into the wall. Not his best effort.

23 min: Johansen slides through the back of Trippier, who is key to everything Spurs are doing at the moment. Tottenham have a free-kick, fairly centrally, about 20 yards out ...

22 min: Eriksen sprays the ball out for Trippier, who again is racing down the right flank. Harry Winks bombs into the box to meet the full-back’s cross but it lands on the crown of his head and bounces away from goal. Another fine attacking move, with Trippier at the heart of it once more.

20 min: Vorm nearly gifts Fulham an equaliser! A sloppy pass, meant for Vertonghen, lands straight at the feet at Tom Cairney but his low shot is relatively tame, and Vorm, in fairness, does well to make amends. Tottenham then surge forward again.

18 min: Tottenham wave forward once more through Kane and then Wanyama, of all people. He, too, fluffs his lines a little at the decisive moment. Spurs are clearly in the ascendency here now.

17 min: Tottenham’s tails are up now. Alli is in twice in quick succession, but his final touch, as he bares down on Bettenelli’s goal is poor. A let-off for Fulham, who are increasingly exposed at the back with this high line of theirs.

14 min: Tottenham break nicely through Eriksen and then Kane, but the England striker makes a bit of a mess of it. He dawdles on the ball before Fulham hoof it clear.

12 min: Wanyama then clatters into Tom Cairney in no-nonsense fashion. He’s up on his feet after some quick TLC. Meanwhile, Antonio Conte is in the crowd, as is Richard Osman, the bloke from Pointless.

11 min: Malone picks the ball up on the edge of the box, skips past Son and then just let’s fly. His effort is never troubling Michel Vorm but it bobbles and dips before heading narrowly wide. Tottenham allowed Fulham to come on to them all too easily there.

9 min: The corner is whipped in but Vertonghen cannot quite flick it goalwards. Fulham again look a little nervous at the back and struggle to fully clear the ball from danger. Son then looks to race inside Ndoi down the left flank but he’s offside. Panic over.

8 min: Johansen goes up the other end and gets to the byline before pulling the ball back to, well nobody really. A disappointing end to a promising spell of possession. Tottenham, now, build an attack of their own and win a corner out of Ndoi.

7 min: Wanyama, as a junior tracksuit manager would say, lets Ayite knows he’s there with a crunching challenge. Fulham get the ball back but Malone squanders possession.

5 min: Alli’s effort shaves the post! Fulham fail to clear the ball from the original corner, and Alli’s flick causes confusion in the hosts’ defence and the ball cannons back at the England midfielder. He shoots low and his effort is just wide. A very positive start by Spurs.

4 min: A great save by Bettenelli! Wanyama, Kane and then Alli all play head tennis, with the ball eventually falling for Eriksen, but his low strike is tipped away for a corner by the Fulham goalkeeper.

2 min: Ayite does really well to steal back the ball inside the Spurs box but Kebano cannot do anything substantial with it. Tottenham go on the counterattack through Son but he’s shepherded away from goal by Ndoi.

1 min: Spurs enjoy some early possession but Ndoi does well to nick the ball away from Dele Alli, allowing Fulham to seize the ball and push forward themselves.

The two teams are out on the pitch, Spurs in their gold third strip and Fulham in their usual home kit. We are just the pre-match handshakes and other formalities away from kick-off.

Tottenham have won two of their last six matches, but more worryingly today, only two of their last 14 away matches. Fulham, meanwhile, have been pretty imperious at home, winning their last four at the Cottage.

Mauricio Pochettino speaks about his strong starting lineup, feat. Kane, Alli etc. “We need to respect the opponent, we chose a starting eleven we think is best to reach the next round,” he says. “The game against Wycombe in the last round was very stressful. We have a big opportunity to go the quarter-finals.”

Scott Parker has been banging the Craven Cottage drum pre-match. “Go to the stadium and the stadium will give you an understanding of what this club is about – it is a very special place,” he says, before waxing lyrical about Ryan Sessegnon, who was born in 2000 ...

Dimitar Berbatov, of all people, has been talking in a TV studio squeezed into a corner of the Cottage. “I would like a draw today,” he says sat alongside Jermaine Jenas and Mark Schwarzer, two stalwarts on the media merry-go-round this season. “I had great memories at Fulham and Spurs. Both teams are in my heart.”

With no Hugo Lloris today, Harry Kane captains Tottenham. Fulham’s skipper, Tom Cairney, is worth keeping an eye on this afternoon too. His club have slapped a £20m price tag on the former Hull City midfielder, with Newcastle, Bournemouth and more sniffing around his services last month.

An eye-bulging valuation, and one Cairney himself has taken in his stride. “I might change my name to ‘Cairneyaldo’,” he joked this week. “I still get banter from the rest of the lads if I misplace a pass or a shot goes wide. They’re like, ‘£20m? For that?’ But I look at Dele Alli at Tottenham and his [£5m] move from MK Dons has been great for lower league football.”

The last time these two London sides met at Craven Cottage was in December 2013. Who scored the winner that day? Lewis Holtby. Rene Meulensteen was in charge of the Cottagers while Andre Villa-Boas was in the away dugout. Jan Vertonghen is the only survivor from the 22 players that started that day, with the defender shaking off an ankle injury to return to the Spurs defence.

A question: is there a better ground – encompassing the gentle jaunt from the station, the walk along the River Thames etc – than Craven Cottage?

It’s a view shared by the Fulham manager anyway. “The Cottage is the world’s best ground,” Jokanovic said this week. “It’s amazing. I believe our stadium is the best not only in England but in all football.”

Team news news: Harry Kane starts. And just look, there’s Dele Alli, Victor Wanyama and Christian Eriksen too. Mauricio Pochettino seemingly means business. Meanwhile, those hoping to see Fulham’s 16-year-old Ryan Sessegnon, who sounds every bit a Spurs player, is named on the bench – as is ex-Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker and the striker Chris Martin.