Fulham 1-1 Tottenham

Spurs defender Lee Young-Pyo challenges Fulham's Brian McBride

Pascal Chimbonda's late equaliser salvaged a point for Spurs and condemned 10-man Fulham to a sixth consecutive Premiership draw.

Vincenzo Montella's 84th-minute penalty, awarded after Michael Dawson handled Brian McBride's shot, looked to have given Fulham victory.

But Chimbonda stole in four minutes later to shoot home from 10 yards.

Fulham's Heidar Helguson, who had been denied by Paul Robinson's fine save, was sent off for two bookable offences.

Interview: Fulham boss Chris Coleman

Interview: Tottenham boss Martin Jol

Steed Malbranque was jeered every time he got the ball by Fulham fans angry at his acrimonious departure for Spurs earlier this season.

And it was his former club who created the better chances in a scrappy first 45 minutes.

Spurs keeper Robinson needed to be at his best to ensure Martin Jol's side remained on level terms at the interval.

606 DEBATE: Give your thoughts on the match

He made a vital point-blank block from Helguson's flick as he stole in on to Carlos Bocanegra's cross.

And he made an even better stop after 43 minutes when McBride looked certain to score from Franck Queudrue's cross.

McBride connected powerfully from eight yards, but once again the England keeper was brave and denied Fulham with a diving stop.

Little had been seen of Spurs as an attacking force, although Anthony Gardner should have done better than head tamely over from Tom Huddlestone's cross.

Fulham were reduced to 10 men after 53 minutes when Helguson, who had already been shown a yellow card, was sent off by referee Mike Dean for a second bookable offence, this time a high challenge on Huddlestone.

Jol attempted to inject some firepower into his side on the hour, sending on Aaron Lennon for Hossam Ghaly, and shortly afterwards replacing Jermain Defoe with Robbie Keane.

Fulham took the lead with six minutes left as Spurs paid the price for a desperately lack-lustre display.

Gardner's poor header gave McBride a shooting chance, and referee Dean adjudged Dawson handled his goal-bound shot, which keeper Robinson appeared to have covered.

The experienced Montella, on a six-month loan deal from AS Roma, dispatched the kick with great composure to give Fulham an advantage to protect.

Sadly for Fulham, they could only protect it for four minutes as Chimbonda took advantage of confusion in the area to slid a shot low under Jan Lastuvka, who should have done better.

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Fulham boss Chris Coleman:
"I've got mixed feelings because I couldn't fault the players for their effort - and yet you feel as if you should win if you are1-0 up with two minutes two go.

"Our goalkeeper was hardly being peppered with shots, so to lose an equaliser so late is very disappointing.

"It was good for Vincenzo Montella to get another goal. If you look at his goalscoring record in Italy it is second to none.

"He not quite 100% fit, but with Brian McBride and Heidar Helguson in attack, picking two out of those three complement each other very well."

Spurs boss Martin Jol:
"I was very happy with the team because we matched them when they tried to outmuscle us. From the first minute it was a real battle.

"There was no danger. If they play against us they use a certain style which can be a problem but we matched them.

"I'm disappointed in some ways though because at home we create sometimes 20 chances, we are not as good away."

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Fulham: Lastuvka, Rosenior, Christanval, Bocanegra, Pearce, Queudrue, Volz (Dempsey 81), Brown, Radzinski (Montella 71), McBride, Helguson.
Subs Not Used: Warner, Knight, Omozusi.

Sent Off: Helguson (53).

Booked: Helguson, Queudrue, Brown.

Goals: Montella 84 pen.

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Gardner, Young-Pyo Lee, Ghaly (Lennon 61), Tainio (Zokora 27), Huddlestone, Malbranque, Defoe (Keane 67), Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Assou-Ekotto.

Booked: Malbranque, Dawson.

Goals: Chimbonda 88.

Att: 23,580

Ref: M Dean (Wirral).