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Tottenham beats Fulham 3-1 in Premier League

LONDON (AP) — Tottenham kept its small hopes of a top-four finish alive and dented Fulham's survival ambition with a 3-1 win over its London rival in the Premier League on Saturday.

Spurs remained sixth in the standings but cut their deficit to fourth-place Arsenal to four points, though the Gunners have played one game less.

Goals from Paulinho, Harry Kane and Younes Kaboul ended Fulham's good run of two consecutive wins and left Felix Magath's team two points adrift from safety with three games remaining.

Fulham took the better start at White Hart Lane, with Alexander Kacaniklic hitting the side-netting and Hugo Rodallega volleying wide, but Denmark playmaker Christian Eriksen, one of the few positives in Spurs' underachieving season, set up two goals as his team struggled against a combative Fulham side.

Paulinho put Tottenham ahead with a simple tap-in after Eriksen's free kick beat the Fulham defense but Steve Sidwell equalized just two minutes later. Kane restored Tottenham's lead after the interval with a header from Aaron Lennon's cross and Kaboul made it 3-1 as he turned home another good free kick from Eriksen.

"The first was just a cross, the second I really went for goal but it was lucky," Eriksen said. "(I wanted to hit them) hard enough, with enough pace to be difficult for defenders."

Sidwell missed a chance to put Fulham back in the match as he saw his penalty saved by Hugo Lloris following Eriksen's handball in the area 15 minutes from time.

"I was a little bit nervous but luckily Hugo made the save," said Eriksen. "We have to thank him for what he did in this win today, and all season."

Lloris was decisive again in the closing stages, denying Fernando Amorebieta's effort to cap a fine display.