Spurs lead top four charge

Spurs goalie Heurelho Gomes holds off Fulham’s Bobby Zamora [GALLO/GETTY]

Tottenham Hotspur strengthened their claim for a top-four finish in the English Premier League with a comfortable 2-0 win over Fulham as Liverpool could only manage a 0-0 draw at struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Peter Crouch and David Bentley scored Tottenham’s goals at White Hart Lane to keep the north London club in fourth place with 41 points, above a clutch of clubs battling for a shot at next season’s Champions League.

Liverpool could not break down Wolves despite Steven Gerrard returning from a hamstring injury to play the full 90 minutes, but moved up one place to fifth, three points back.

Manchester City, who play Manchester United in the League Cup semi-final on Wednesday, are also three points behind Tottenham but have two games in hand while Aston Villa are on 36 points before their home game with Arsenal.

Burnley dropped into the relegation zone for the first time this season after a 1-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers who enjoyed their first win under manager Owen Coyle who joined them from Burnley this month.

Bolton moved up to 15th, ahead of West Ham United who stay above the drop zone on goal difference after a 1-1 draw at bottom club Portsmouth.

Up for grabs

With the title race now between champions Manchester United and Arsenal and Chelsea, who both have the chance to go top on Wednesday, the scrap for fourth place looks like going all the way to the end of the season.

Tottenham did their chances no harm with a routine win over a Fulham side with just one away league win all season.

Results & fixtures

Wednesday January 20  Arsenal 4-2 Bolton  Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham Saturday January 23  Man Utd 4-0 Hull Tuesday January 26  Bolton 1-0 Burnley  Portsmouth 1-1 West Ham  Tottenham 2-0 Fulham,  Wolves 0-0 Liverpool

A terrible lapse in Fulham’s defence gifted Spurs their opener after 28 minutes, Crouch scoring from close range after Luca Modric robbed a day dreaming Bjorn Helge Riise in the area and crossed low for the England striker to convert.

Riise was involved in Tottenham’s second goal early in the second half, although this time he was unlucky as Bentley’s curling free kick flicked off his leg to wrongfoot Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer.

“Three points was the main thing tonight,” Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, whose side have stuttered of late, told Britain’s Sky Sports.

“It was a good performance and well deserved, we dominated the game and our keeper didn’t have much to do.”

Chung Yong Lee’s goal was enough for Bolton against Burnley at the Reebok Stadium where some Burnley fans held aloft “Judas” banners aimed at Coyle.

Danny Webber salvaged a point for Portsmouth after West Ham had gone in front at Fratton Park with an own goal by Younes Kaboul.