Ranieri defiant after painful Fulham defeat

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Claudio Ranieri praised his players but admitted their lack of experience showed. [Picture: Simon Matthews/PA Wire]

A defiant Claudio Ranieri insisted Fulham could take heart from their performance against Tottenham.

The Whites, one off the bottom of the Premier League, were cheered off at half-time, having taken the lead courtesy of Fernando Llorente’s own goal and with new signing Ryan Babel impressing on his Fulham debut.

They fought hard in the second half as well, but defensive lapses led to Dele Alli equalising and then, in the final seconds, Harry Winks heading in a winner for Spurs.

“Unbelievable. Our first half was fantastic,” Fulham manager Ranieri said after the 2-1 defeat.

“Second half we controlled the match very well in different ways. We gave a gift with the first goal and the second goal is unbelievable.

Babel made his first appearance for Fulham. [Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire]

“We lack experience. Calm, stay calm, keep possession, finish the match.

“We are alive, we continue to fight. The team showed fantastic performance.

“I can only say well done. But stay smart until the end. A lot of them the first time they play in the Premier League.”




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