Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 Fulham FC on 23 October 2023

Tottenham Hotspur returned to the top of the Premier League as goals from Son Heung-min and James Maddison comfortably saw off Fulham.

Spurs had only dropped points this season in London derbies - against Arsenal and Brentford - but they were always in control against a limited Fulham side.

Captain Son curled in an excellent goal in the 36th minute after Calvin Bassey's poor pass was cut out by Micky van de Ven.

Maddison doubled the lead in the second half with an almost identical goal, as another Bassey pass was cut out and the England playmaker was teed up by Son to slot home confidently.

Fulham went closest when Joao Palhinha forced Guglielmo Vicario into an impressive stop with a header from a corner.

Tottenham have made an impressive start to life under Ange Postecoglou and they began the game with the air of a team full of confidence.

Richarlison curled a shot wide when he should have done better after he was set up by Dejan Kulusevski, but Son soon curled in the opener for his seventh goal of the season.

Tottenham could have made it 2-0 before half-time but Kulusevski's effort was blocked from close range after some excellent play involving Maddison, Son and Destiny Udogie.

Fulham caused Tottenham problems on the counter attack at times but could not make Spurs pay before Maddison's goal secured the win to move Spurs two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the league.

A lot was made of what life would look like for Spurs after Harry Kane left for Bayern Munich, but Postecoglou's impressive impact has masked their former striker's absence.

Son Heung-min continues to fill the goal void left by Kane and scored his seventh goal of the season in another superb performance in the centre of Tottenham's attack.

The South Korea forward has taken on the armband as well as the central striker position and looks at home, with Kulusevski and Maddison for support.

Maddison has looked a perfect fit since he arrived in the summer and his goal against Fulham was surprisingly the first he has scored in his new home.

The former Leicester City player barely put a foot wrong all evening and his passing range started off so many of Spurs' attacks.

Postecoglou said in the match programme that it was too early in the season to look at the table but it will not be too many weeks before some supporters start to believe they are genuine title contenders.

Marco Silva's Fulham are always well organised but their lack of a goalscorer will surely hinder what he is able to achieve with the side this season.

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored 14 league goals last season and his move to Saudi Arabia has limited Fulham's attacking options.

The Cottagers started with former Tottenham striker Carlos Vinicius up front but he was withdrawn for Raul Jimenez at half-time.

Jimenez signed in the summer from Wolverhampton Wanderers but did not score in 22 appearances last season and is yet to find the net for his new club.

Substitute Harry Wilson could not convert a late chance to make it nervous for the home side in added time.

Fulham's chances in the match were not helped by the absence of Issa Diop, who has been in fine form this season, and it was his replacement Bassey - a summer signing from Ajax - who twice gave the ball away close to his own box to give Spurs the opportunities to clinch three points.