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Football: Spurs halt Fulham charge, Chelsea eye summit

Fulham squandered an opportunity to escape the Premier League relegation zone on Saturday after going down 3-1 at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Felix Magath's improving side had won their two previous games and they reacted impressively after falling behind to a close-range Paulinho strike in the 35th minute, with Steve Sidwell equalising almost immediately. However, second-half goals from Harry Kane and Younes Kaboul secured victory for Tim Sherwood's Spurs, with Sidwell seeing a late penalty saved by Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Defeat left Fulham two points from safety, having played a game more than all the teams immediately above them, ahead of a home game with Hull City next weekend. Sixth-place Spurs closed to within four points of the Champions League places, although they have played a game more than both fourth-place Arsenal and fifth-place Everton. With leaders Liverpool not in action until Sunday, when they visit Norwich, Chelsea can provisionally take over at the top of the table if they win at home to bottom club Sunderland in Saturday's late game. Elsewhere, second-bottom Cardiff City will look to exploit Fulham's setback when they host Stoke City, while struggling Swansea City travel to Newcastle United. In the day's other games, Aston Villa host Southampton and London rivals West Ham United and Crystal Palace face off in a mid-table tussle at Upton Park.