SPORTS DIGEST
STORY OF THE WEEK
Tottenham Hotspur’s capitulation at Craven Cottage completed a remarkable full season double for Fulham — and illustrated in vivid terms the diverging trajectories of two London clubs. Spurs are now winless in 10 consecutive league matches, their worst run in Premier League history, with a club possessing their resources and squad depth four points from relegation. For Fulham, two wins in a week represent a genuine shift in momentum that has placed European football at least in the conversation with ten games to play.
FOOTBALL
Wilson and Iwobi sink Spurs as Cottagers complete the double over their rivals
Fulham FC — Premier League Fulham 2–1 Tottenham Hotspur (Craven Cottage) — Sunday, 1 March
Harry Wilson and Alex Iwobi produced the goals that ended Tottenham’s season at Craven Cottage, completing a league double over Spurs and sending them deeper into a relegation crisis that feels more real by the week. Wilson got the opener after just seven minutes, his ninth league goal of the season, firing in after a contested challenge.
Iwobi doubled the lead on 34 minutes with a superb strike from distance – Wilson’s cross reached him at the edge of the box and he arrowed a first-time shot into the bottom far corner that left Tottenham with a mountain to climb. Substitute Richarlison pulled one back on 66 minutes to briefly stir hope, but Marco Silva’s side held firm through six minutes of stoppage time, Issa Diop and the defence repelling wave after wave.
Tottenham’s winless league run now stands at 10 matches – equalling their worst-ever Premier League run – and with 29 points they are just four above the bottom three. Fulham are ninth on 40 points, and with ten games remaining the talk at Craven Cottage is increasingly of European qualification.
Arsenal weather Chelsea storm to go five points clear at the top
Chelsea FC — Premier League Arsenal 2–1 Chelsea (Emirates Stadium) — Sunday, 1 March
Arsenal went five points clear at the Premier League summit but this was far from comfortable against a Chelsea side who pressed, created and had a goal disallowed before Pedro Neto’s red card changed the match decisively. William Saliba headed Arsenal in front from a corner, only for a Piero Hincapie own goal – the Arsenal defender’s cross turned in under pressure – to level at 1-1.
Jurrien Timber then converted a second Arsenal corner to restore the lead, and when Neto was sent off with twenty minutes remaining Chelsea’s fightback was effectively over. Arsenal go to 64 points. Chelsea, who remain unbeaten in the league under Liam Rosenior against every team except Arsenal, drop to sixth on 45 points after their first league defeat to Arsenal this season having drawn 1-1 at Stamford Bridge in November before losing the League Cup semi-final in February.
Premier League Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | Pts | W | D | L | GD | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 29 | 64 | 19 | 7 | 3 | +36 | WDWWW |
| 2 | Manchester City | 28 | 59 | 18 | 5 | 5 | +32 | DWWWW |
| 3 | Manchester United | 28 | 51 | 14 | 9 | 5 | +12 | WWDWW |
| … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| 6 | Chelsea |
28 | 45 | 12 | 9 | 7 | +16 | WWWDL |
| … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| 9 | Fulham |
28 | 40 | 12 | 4 | 12 | -2 | LLLWW |
| … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| 16 | Tottenham Hotspur | 28 | 29 | 7 | 8 | 13 | -5 | LLLLL |
Arsenal five points clear at the top with Manchester City having a game in hand. Chelsea 6th on 45 points. Fulham 9th on 40 points. Tottenham 16th on 29 points — six above the relegation zone.
Dons dig deep for point from behind at Mansfield
AFC Wimbledon — League One Mansfield Town 2–2 AFC Wimbledon (One Call Stadium) — Saturday, 28 February
AFC Wimbledon produced one of their most determined performances of the season to rescue a point after twice going behind at Mansfield. Jonathan Russell gave the hosts the lead on 7 minutes and then doubled it on 29, leaving Johnnie Jackson’s side with a significant task. But James Tilley pulled one back on 14 minutes before the equaliser arrived on 58 — Matty Stevens stepping up calmly to convert a penalty. The final half-hour was end-to-end, with Wimbledon’s goalkeeper making four saves as Mansfield pressed for a winner, but the Dons held on. Mansfield’s winless run extends to eight matches, while Wimbledon remain in mid-table on 43 points from 33 games, a solid if unspectacular position with ten fixtures remaining.
League One Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | Pts | W | D | L | GD | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff City | 34 | 72 | 22 | 6 | 6 | +32 | WWWLW |
| 2 | Lincoln City | 34 | 71 | 21 | 8 | 5 | +32 | WWDWW |
| 3 | Bolton Wanderers | 35 | 61 | 16 | 13 | 6 | +16 | WDDWW |
| … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| 14 | AFC Wimbledon |
33 | 43 | 12 | 7 | 14 | -7 | WWDWD |
Cardiff lead by one point from Lincoln City with ten games remaining. AFC Wimbledon 14th on 43 points — comfortably clear of the relegation zone.
Lister off the bench to break Luton’s resistance and keep Fulham Women unbeaten
Fulham Women — FA WNL Division One South-East Luton Town Women 0–1 Fulham Women (away) — Sunday, 1 March
Fulham Women maintained their unbeaten league run with a hard-fought victory at Luton Town, substitute Leila Lister proving the difference in a game the visitors dominated without reward in the first half. Fulham pressed and created throughout the opening 45 minutes but could not find the breakthrough, entering the interval goalless despite their clear dominance. The change came swiftly after the restart – Lister came off the bench and scored within minutes of her introduction, converting to make it 0–1 and give the visitors the lead their play deserved. Fulham held firm in the closing stages to bring all three points back from Bedfordshire. With a high-profile fixture to come – Fulham Women host Milton Keynes Dons at Craven Cottage on Sunday 29 March – the momentum and confidence within this squad continues to build.
FA WNL Division One South-East
| Pos | Team | Pld | Pts | W | D | L | GD | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fulham Women |
16 | 44 | 14 | 2 | 0 | +34 | — |
| 2 | Norwich City | 17 | 43 | 14 | 1 | 2 | +36 | — |
| 3 | London Bees | 16 | 32 | 10 | 2 | 4 | +20 | — |
RUGBY UNION
Quins end Cup campaign on a high with commanding second-half display
Harlequins Men — Premiership Rugby Cup Harlequins 35–14 Newcastle Red Bulls (Twickenham Stoop) — Saturday, 28 February
Harlequins closed out their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign in style, a dominant second-half display — inspired by England internationals returning from duty — securing a 35-14 victory over Newcastle Red Bulls. It was level at 14-14 at the break after a scrappy first half: Chandler Cunningham-South and Kieran Treadwell crossed for Quins, with Reuben Parsons and Oli Spencer responding for the visitors. But the second half belonged entirely to Harlequins. Cadan Murley broke through from halfway for the crucial score on 54 minutes, Connor Slevin — outstanding with the boot, landing five from five conversions — then dotted down his own try, and impact replacement Jamie Benson added a fifth in the corner to seal it. Slevin’s five-from-five conversion record was the cherry on top of a polished home performance that ends Harlequins’ Cup pool with a positive note, if too late to affect the standings.
