Kane equals Greaves' goalscoring record in key win at the Cottage - on-the-whistle report

Harry Kane became our joint leading goalscorer of all-time on Monday evening, scoring the only goal of the game as we beat Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The England forward struck a wonderful finish in first-half stoppage time to join Jimmy Greaves on 266 goals for Tottenham Hotspur on what was his 300th Premier League appearance in our colours and, most importantly, give us all three points on a tough evening down by the River Thames.

But, while Kane was busy writing his name in the club’s history, it was a dogged defensive display at the other end of the pitch which gave us the platform for victory as Fulham enjoyed long spells of possession but couldn’t find a way through. Hugo Lloris was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the first period, saving 30-yard efforts from Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Andreas Pereira before keeping out Harrison Reed’s close-range volley on 19 minutes and parrying Willian’s fierce drive later in the half. We had chances as well, Kane brilliantly shrugging aside two Fulham defenders but blazing wide from distance, while Emerson Royal tested Bernd Leno with an angled shot.

Joao Palhinha headed Pereira’s dangerous free-kick over from six yards when he probably should have done better before we snatched the lead in stoppage time at the end of the first period. We’d built up a bit of pressure in the closing minutes when Heung-Min Son found Kane 20 yards out and he turned away from Tim Ream and fired right-footed into the far corner. He almost doubled our lead on 57 minutes, Ben Davies heading back across goal for Kane to power in a header of his own which Leno tipped over the bar.

Fulham responded with plenty of the ball but much of it was in front of our defensive line, although Lloris was called into action again two minutes from time, diving to his left to push Manor Solomon’s curler around the post and we held out for three big points.

'It has to be a starting point'

Antonio Conte said after the match: "Today, I saw the characteristics that we saw a lot last season during games, we showed to be solid, showed the desire to defend the result, the three points. I don’t think we suffered a lot, but I think we were ready to suffer. We were a team with the ball, without the ball, and the players helped each other. Now, it has to be a starting point. There are 17 games to go (in the Premier League) and we have to try to do our best. Then, at the end, we’ll see our position in the table."

Reaction on SPURSPLAY

Highlights on SPURSPLAY

Match data

Goal: Spurs – Kane 45+1.

Yellow cards: Fulham – Palhinha; Spurs – Son, Romero, Bentancur.

Referee: Paul Tierney.

Venue: Craven Cottage.

Weather: Clear skies, light winds, three degrees.

Attendance: 24,190.