Tottenham beat Fulham to secure a top-four league spot but will only book a Champions League place if Chelsea lose the final of Europe's top tournament.

Arsenal won 3-2 at West Brom to finish third and leave Spurs waiting to discover their European fate.

Emmanuel Adebayor slotted in to put Tottenham ahead against Fulham, who hit the post through Moussa Dembele.

Jermain Defoe confirmed Tottenham's win when he diverted in a shot after Aaron Lennon's deflected effort.

Redknapp reflects on fantastic season

Spurs made sure of the win they needed to confirm a top-four spot but, hopes that Arsenal may slip up at West Brom to elevate them into third, ultimately proved in vain.

On an afternoon when there were cheers at White Hart Lane at West Brom's goals, and silence greeting Arsenal's strikes as the scores from the Hawthorns filtered through, Tottenham were left in a state of European flux.

Chelsea will take Tottenham's spot in Europe's elite competition if they win the Champions League final against Bayern Munich on 19 May, leaving Spurs to drop down into the Europa League.

Spurs would feel hard done by if that were the case and they will look back at a recent run of one win in nine league games as costly if they do miss out on the Champions League.

England watch

  • England and Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker had to go off early in the second half with injury

They might also rue the fact they could not produce the kind of determined performance against Fulham during those damaging results.

Fulham boss Martin Jol was back at White Hart Lane for the first time since his sacking by Spurs in October 2007 and any thoughts he might have had of earning a measure of revenge by potentially denying his former club a top four spot quickly began to evaporate.

Jol's side were on a run of five wins in seven league games and needed a point to equal their record Premier League points haul of 53.

But Tottenham got off to the ideal start as Adebayor played a one-two with Rafael van der Vaart before slotting a shot past keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Analysis

Image of John Motson John Motson BBC Match of the Day commentator

"Once they knew the Arsenal result, it wasn't quite the day that Tottenham fans wanted. But by the same token it still means that Harry Redknapp has a chance of Champions League football next season. As regards today, Spurs did their job by beating Fulham 2-0."

The goal served to settle any Spurs nerves and they produced plenty of fluent eye-catching football which the Cottagers struggled to stem.

Spurs were quicker in thought and more urgent in their play, with a Van der Vaart shot curling the wrong side of the post.

Fulham raised themselves and twice came close to equalising. John Arne Riise had a powerful shot saved by Spurs keeper Brad Friedel, who was quickly back in action to keep out a strike from Dembele.

At half-time Spurs were third in the Premier League - with Arsenal drawing 2-2 at West Brom and Newcastle losing.

Tottenham almost let their lead slip when a Dembele shot beat Friedel only to come back off the post.

Spurs heeded the warning as Lennon's deflected strike fell for Defoe to divert home a left-footed shot from eight yards, although Spurs did not know whether to celebrate or not.

Jol happy after tough season

Fulham boss Martin Jol: "If you concede a goal after 90 seconds it is always difficult, you make it difficult for yourselves.

"We know that if you come to a place like White Hart Lane you have to play with flair and not be intimidated.

"In the first half an hour they were better, stronger and sharper and had everything to play for.

"We created a few chances and then they scored again after a bad clearance and that is exactly what you shouldn't do."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (4)

Tottenham Hotspur

  • 24 Friedel
  • 04 Kaboul (Smith - 76' )
  • 13 Gallas
  • 28 Walker (Nelsen - 49' )
  • 03 Bale
  • 07 Lennon
  • 11 Van der Vaart (Defoe - 60' )
  • 14 Modric
  • 29 Livermore
  • 30 Sandro
  • 10 Adebayor

Substitutes

  • 23 Cudicini
  • 33 Nelsen
  • 51 Smith
  • 15 Saha
  • 17 Giovani
  • 18 Defoe
  • 37 Kane

Fulham

  • 01 Schwarzer
  • 02 Kelly
  • 03 JA Riise
  • 05 Hangeland Booked
  • 18 Hughes
  • 13 Murphy Booked (Kasami - 67' )
  • 16 Duff
  • 19 Diarra
  • 21 Frei
  • 07 Pogrebniak
  • 30 Dembele

Substitutes

  • 12 Stockdale
  • 14 Senderos
  • 28 Briggs
  • 10 Kasami
  • 15 Gecov
  • 17 BH Riise
  • 42 Trotta
Ref: Dowd
Att: 36,256

Match Stats

Shots

15 10

On target

9 7

Corners

9 3

Fouls

8 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:07 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +1:56

Luka Modric takes a shot. Blocked by Brede Hangeland.

90:00 +0:52

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mahamadou Diarra by Jake Livermore. Free kick taken by Mahamadou Diarra.

88:51

Short corner taken by Luka Modric from the left by-line.

87:50

Outswinging corner taken by Pajtim Kasami from the left by-line, Mahamadou Diarra takes a shot. Brad Friedel makes a save.

87:31

Moussa Dembele takes a shot. Save by Brad Friedel.

87:05

Corner from the right by-line taken by Damien Duff, Emmanuel Adebayor makes a clearance.

86:43

Damien Duff takes a shot. Save by Brad Friedel.

85:36

Short corner taken by Kerim Frei from the left by-line.

85:16

Pajtim Kasami takes a shot. Ryan Nelsen gets a block in.

84:44

Pajtim Kasami takes a shot. Ryan Nelsen gets a block in.

83:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Luka Modric by Pavel Pogrebnyak. Free kick taken by Ryan Nelsen.

80:50

The offside flag is raised against Kerim Frei. Free kick taken by Brad Friedel.

78:44

Aaron Lennon sends in a cross, Pavel Pogrebnyak makes a clearance.

77:58

Luka Modric takes a short corner.

75:40 Substitution

Substitution Younes Kaboul leaves the field to be replaced by Adam Smith.

73:59

Mahamadou Diarra produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses wide left of the target.

72:41

Foul by Brede Hangeland on Jermain Defoe, free kick awarded. Gareth Bale takes the free kick.

70:34

Outswinging corner taken by Luka Modric from the right by-line.

69:17

Effort on goal by Jermain Defoe from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.

67:43

The ball is sent over by Luka Modric, clearance made by Brede Hangeland.

66:22

Brad Friedel restarts play with the free kick.

66:22 Substitution

Substitution Danny Murphy leaves the field to be replaced by Pajtim Kasami.

66:22

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on William Gallas by Pavel Pogrebnyak.

64:39

Unfair challenge on Kerim Frei by Raniere Sandro results in a free kick. John Arne Riise takes the direct free kick.

62:33

Assist on the goal came from Aaron Lennon.

62:33 Goal scored

Goal - Jermain Defoe - Tottenham 2 - 0 Fulham Jermain Defoe fires in a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Tottenham 2-0 Fulham.

62:23

Aaron Lennon takes a shot. Blocked by John Arne Riise.

62:00

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Brad Friedel.

62:00

The referee blows for offside against Damien Duff. Brad Friedel takes the direct free kick.

60:44

Foul by Jermain Defoe on Mahamadou Diarra, free kick awarded. Mahamadou Diarra takes the direct free kick.

59:32 Substitution

Substitution Rafael Van der Vaart goes off and Jermain Defoe comes on.

59:08

Moussa Dembele has an effort at goal from outside the area hitting the post.

58:26

Unfair challenge on John Arne Riise by Emmanuel Adebayor results in a free kick. Kerim Frei takes the direct free kick.

53:14

Emmanuel Adebayor is ruled offside. John Arne Riise takes the free kick.

51:38

Raniere Sandro takes a shot. Save by Mark Schwarzer.

50:12

Foul by Damien Duff on Rafael Van der Vaart, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Luka Modric.

48:32

Jake Livermore takes the direct free kick.

48:32 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Nelsen comes on in place of Kyle Walker.

48:32

Danny Murphy concedes a free kick for a foul on Jake Livermore.

46:40

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Rafael Van der Vaart from the left by-line.

45:38

Luka Modric delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, Aaron Hughes manages to make a clearance.

45:38 Booking

Booking Danny Murphy booked.

45:22

Danny Murphy concedes a free kick for a foul on Aaron Lennon.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:05 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

45:00 +0:46

Effort on goal by Gareth Bale from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

45:00 +0:33

Gareth Bale produces a drilled left-footed shot from 20 yards. Save by Mark Schwarzer.

42:30

Moussa Dembele concedes a free kick for a foul on Raniere Sandro. Brad Friedel takes the direct free kick.

42:10

Rafael Van der Vaart concedes a free kick for a foul on Mahamadou Diarra. Free kick taken by Danny Murphy.

41:19

Effort from outside the penalty box by Kyle Walker goes wide right of the target.

39:32

Effort on goal by Mahamadou Diarra from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.

38:01

Moussa Dembele takes a shot. Save by Brad Friedel.

37:12

John Arne Riise takes a shot. Save by Brad Friedel.

33:44

Rafael Van der Vaart has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.

32:24

Pavel Pogrebnyak is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Direct free kick taken by Gareth Bale.

31:46

The ball is crossed by Kerim Frei, clearance made by William Gallas.

25:57

Shot on goal comes in from Rafael Van der Vaart from the free kick.

25:50

Foul by Brede Hangeland on Emmanuel Adebayor, free kick awarded.

27:51

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Damien Duff by Younes Kaboul. Free kick taken by Mahamadou Diarra.

27:26

Rafael Van der Vaart takes the inswinging corner, Brede Hangeland makes a clearance.

25:57

Rafael Van der Vaart has an effort direct from the free kick.

25:57 Booking

Booking Brede Hangeland receives a caution.

25:50

Unfair challenge on Emmanuel Adebayor by Brede Hangeland results in a free kick.

17:52

Unfair challenge on Gareth Bale by Mahamadou Diarra results in a free kick. Kyle Walker produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.

17:05

Luka Modric gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephen Kelly. Stephen Kelly takes the direct free kick.

13:58

Rafael Van der Vaart takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Mahamadou Diarra.

13:42

Pavel Pogrebnyak concedes a free kick for a foul on William Gallas. Free kick taken by William Gallas.

13:01

Jake Livermore produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.

12:26

Foul by Moussa Dembele on Raniere Sandro, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Raniere Sandro.

11:07

Rafael Van der Vaart takes a inswinging corner.

10:29

Luka Modric takes a shot. Blocked by Brede Hangeland. Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Rafael Van der Vaart from the left by-line, Younes Kaboul takes a shot. Save by Mark Schwarzer.

7:44

Inswinging corner taken by Luka Modric from the left by-line played to the near post, Mahamadou Diarra manages to make a clearance.

6:16

Foul by William Gallas on Pavel Pogrebnyak, free kick awarded. Mahamadou Diarra takes the free kick.

3:22

Foul by Danny Murphy on Emmanuel Adebayor, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Luka Modric.

1:35

The assist for the goal came from Rafael Van der Vaart.

1:35 Goal scored

Goal - Emmanuel Adebayor - Tottenham 1 - 0 Fulham Emmanuel Adebayor finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Tottenham 1-0 Fulham.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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