Tottenham Hotspur survived a late onslaught to earn a somewhat fortunate 3-1 win at London rivals Fulham Sunday and remain fifth in the Premier League standings. At the other end of the table, Bolton Wanderers crushed Stoke City 5-0 and Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Wigan Athletic 3-1 to inflict the visitors' eight defeat in a row. Goals from Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe gave Tottenham its seventh win in eight league matches to move it alongside Chelsea on 22 points, although Spurs have a game in hand on all the teams in the top four. Tottenham was 2-0 ahead at the break but manager Harry Redknapp, recovering at home after heart surgery, would have suffered as his team hung on grimly after Younes Kaboul's 57th-minute own goal started a Fulham siege. Tottenham keeper Brad Friedel made several reaction saves, Luka Modric cleared one shot off the line and Fulham had a strong penalty shout turned down after a frantic goalmouth scramble before Defoe scored on the break in stoppage time. “He (Tottenham keeper Brad Friedel) was probably the best player on the pitch,” said Fulham manager Martin Jol, who was sacked by Tottenham in 2007. “We had 26 or 30 attempts on goal after halftime and yet we just couldn't sneak one in,” Jol told Sky Sports. “We deserved at least a point, for sure. At least a point.” The top five in the Premier League all won over the weekend, Manchester City remaining on top with 31 points from 11 matches after a 3-2 win at Queen's Park Rangers. Champion Manchester United is second, five points behind, after beating Sunderland 1-0. Newcastle, which beat Everton 2-1, is a further point back, followed by Chelsea and Tottenham.
