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The Michigan Wolverines sign-stealing scandal continues to reveal one more layer juicier than the last the more that gets peeled back. The latest layer involves

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou credited his side’s 2-0 win over Fulham to their “outstanding” pressing after they returned to the top of the Premier League. Goals from Son Heung-min and James Maddison confirmed the three points for the hosts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Postecoglou also praised the contribution of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who started in place of the suspended Yves Bissouma. “I thought our pressing was outstanding the whole game and maybe in the first half we could have got one or two more to put the game to bed,” Postecoglou said. “I thought Pierre was good and he’s been good in every game he’s played for us and he’s been put in some difficult situations and handled them well, he’s very experienced. “I thought in the first half in particular we stayed calm on the ball and had some good tempo. Like I said I thought our pressing was outstanding all game and I thought he was a big part of that. “He made interceptions for both goals and yeah it was important to have him in there, his experience coming in because Bissouma has been very important for us and in such a crucial role but I thought he was excellent.” Spurs took their foot off the gas after their second goal, which invited pressure from Fulham, who had their chances to score late on. And the former Australia manager was “disappointed” with his side’s second-half efforts. He added: “I’m really disappointed with the second half, we were nowhere near the levels we have been all year and we have got to make sure we stay disciplined in our approach because the keeper made a couple of great saves to keep the clean sheet and within the context we should have had a much better control of the game. “I’m not trying to make a point, it’s just what I saw. I thought we were really wasteful with the ball in the second half. We took some liberties with taking extra touches. “I’ve been around long enough to know if you try to take liberties, you’ll get dragged down pretty quickly. “I’m not going to let the fact that we’ve won the game disguise the opportunity there for us to improve. “In the second half, with the ball we weren’t anywhere near the levels we’ve already shown this year and there was no real reason for it. It wasn’t as if the opposition did anything different. It was more self-inflicted. “My role in that was to give feedback to the players. That’s what they want. They want to get better, they want to improve, I’ve got some stuff there to show them.”Centre-back Calvin Bassey gave the ball away in the 54th minute and Tottenham punished the mistake through Maddison, doubling his side’s lead.And Marco Silva admitted he was disappointed with the manner in which Fulham conceded the second goal.He said: “We were punished by the mistakes that we made. “What disappointed me was the second goal. At half-time we spoke and we conceded a similar goal in the second half. We were punished again with the same type of goal.” Read More Mikel Arteta hopes to be talking about football after Arsenal’s trip to Sevilla Jean Kleyn: RWC final with South Africa ‘outside realm of thinking’ months ago Joe Root acknowledges growing uncertainty surrounding future of ODI cricket 5 things we learned from England’s progress through the Rugby World Cup Jonny May backs ‘genius’ Steve Borthwick to crack the code of rugby with England Muddled selection, ageing squad and no new blood – England’s World Cup problems

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Something is different at Tottenham: check the table, they are top and playing like league leaders as well. Ange Postecoglou’s side returned there after confidently asserting their superiority over Fulham in this comfortable 2-0 win in north London. Tottenham extended their best start to a season since 1960 with a helping hand from the visitors, who were hapless, and Calvin Bassey, who was culpable for both goals and fortunate it wasn’t more. Spurs, in essence, scored the same goal twice, with Bassey giving away possession with a loose pass into midfield and Micky van de Ven sharply intercepting on the half-way line. Son dispatched the first on 36 minutes after dancing past Bassey and curling into the top corner; then Son set up James Maddison to double their lead shortly after half-time. The finish, again, was ruthless. Spurs could have been out of sight long before then had Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski been as clinical, but a seventh victory out of nine so far in the Premier League never felt in doubt after Son continued his own excellent start to the campaign. Spurs enjoyed periods of control and flowed forward dangerously. There was, significantly, a sense that Tottenham’s players were enjoying this. Clearly, that is mirrored in the stands as well: if Postecoglou has arrived and convinced Tottenham they can be something new, the fans chosen to be fun and carefree. It is not surprising, therefore, that that spirit has been brought by those who did not play here under Antonio Conte or Nuno Espirito Santo or Jose Mourinho, and who embody the fresh start that Postecoglou has been able to make. The Australian’s four summer signings who started against Fulham, in Maddison, Van de Ven, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie, were all outstanding again. If Postecoglou’s presence has lifted Spurs, they are the ones who carry his message onto the pitch. Maddison’s quality is obvious in every touch, as is the idea that he has taken responsibility to drag Tottenham out of the existential crisis they faced here last season. The centre-back Van de Ven has become an unlikely fan favourite, bringing an energy and enthusiasm into every defensive action. Tottenham’s two goals would not have been scored without him and it was an illustration of why the German has become so appealing to the fans here: he wants this, and he’s doing it for you. Add in the quality that was already here and this Tottenham side has the makings of something exciting: how good this team really is remains to be seen, but another remarkable aspect of the transformation under Postecoglou is how those who appeared beaten and washed out last season have been revived. Son is devastating again, Kulusevski threatening with every touch, his dribble returning to such a fine, gliding motion. Perhaps most extraordinarily of all, Cristian Romero has emerged as the calm head guiding the defence. Yet in the first half, it was Udogie who shined brightest in spells, the 20-year-old a fearless example of what Tottenham are now all about. In his hybrid role from full-back, the Italian is already becoming vital to this attacking, dangerous Spurs, often playing further forward then Maddison when Postecoglou’s side have possession. Udogie, with his ability to receive the ball with back to goal, absorb pressure, and then shrug it off like a discarded cloak, offered a threat that Fulham struggled to pin down – the visitors breathed a sigh of relief when he was removed as Tottenham went 2-0 up. Udogie went off to a standing ovation. Son turned and beckoned for more. Meanwhile, there is Vicario, who looks as if he won’t concede a goal ever again. Already with the best save percentage in the Premier League before Monday night, the Italian has stepped in to give Tottenham a secure and reassuring presence. The goalkeeper appears built to handle the nervy moments that invariably come with playing for Tottenham, a part that Hugo Lloris, for all his years here, never felt quite fit for. Because for all that Tottenham were dominant against Fulham and the only team who ever looked capable of winning, there have previously been times where such a script has gone wildly off course. On 12 minutes, Vicario was there with an excellent leap and strong left arm to deny Palhinha’s free header, in what was the visitors’ first attack. It was a moment that came after a spell of overwhelming Tottenham dominance, and therefore a natural point for them to concede. But Fulham barely threatened again until it was too late. Silva’s side were a mess at the back, the absence of Issa Diop at the back compounded by Bassey’s woefully inaccurate performance. Fulham teased Tottenham with their reckless play into midfield: it may have worked in the past, against a passive Spurs, but Van de Ven and the excellent Pape Matar Sarr snapped into challenges and from there Fulham leaked chances like a sieve. And so, Postecoglou’s different Spurs left the Premier League table looking as it did at the start of the weekend: Tottenham are back at the top and looking down. Read More Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham LIVE: Latest Premier League updates Ange Postecoglou hopes Tottenham can offer fans ‘escape’ from Israel-Hamas conflict Tottenham reveal Rodrigo Bentancur injury update as key midfielder nears return Can Tottenham’s best-ever Premier League start really go the distance? 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