Substitutes Frederic Kanoute and Robbie Keane pounced in the second half to settle a dismal spectacle in Tottenham's favour at White Hart Lane.

Spurs' appalling record in London derbies - they had registered just one victory from their last 22 Premiership matches against capital opposition before this game - looked set to continue until Martin Jol brought on the strike duo.

Kanoute fired a 78th-minute free-kick past Fulham 'keeper Edwin van der Sar and Keane guaranteed the three points with an injury-time strike as the visitors' defence crumbled late on.

Jol had named both players on the bench after choosing to start with Jermain Defoe and Mido and while his first choice forwards did little wrong, it was their replacements who provided the spark the match so desperately needed.

Egyptian forward Mido impressed occasionally in his third appearance since arriving on loan from Roma in January as his powerful frame provided Spurs with a useful physical presence up front which caused Fulham's defence plenty of problems.

But his side's lack of creativity meant he was reduced to trying his luck from half chances while Fulham were guilty of failing to threaten their opponents' goal on one single occasion.

There was a bright opening, however, as Spurs created an early half-chance when Michael Brown threaded a pass through to Stephen Kelly but the Irish right-back was tackled by Papa Bouba Diop while in the process of hitting his shot.

Mido dragged a weak shot wide of the right post after a slick counter from the home side. and another promising move involving Defoe and Simon Davies was completed when Mido smashed the ball into the stands while trying his luck from an impossible angle.

Kelly and Davies combined in the 14th minute but the latter's cross was cleared by van der Sar for a corner which the Dutch 'keeper then punched to safety after scrambling off his line.

Andy Reid sprinted down the right wing to collect a long pass played from the defence but he was unable to control the ball with Liam Rosenior in close attendance and a heartbeat later Brown went desperately close with a header.

After a lethargic opening 20 minutes Spurs were beginning to put Fulham's goal under sustained pressure, although the visitors' defence was proving hard to unlock.

Reid forced a fine save from van der Sar in the 28th minute after pulling the trigger with the outside of his boot from the edge of the area but the 'keeper palmed the ball - destined for the top left corner - to safety.

Spurs continued to crank up the pressure with skipper Ledley King escaping Bouba Diop at a corner before heading wide, while in contrast there was very little happening at the other end.

Fulham enjoyed a brief flurry at the end of the first half with Luis Boa Morte trying to force his way through a packed defence in injury time but he was easily bundled off the ball.

Defoe fired wide moments after the interval and Mido nodded off target for a goal kick, although the ball appeared to have struck Zat Knight before slipping out of danger.

Noureddine Naybet headed over the crossbar from a corner as Spurs' bright opening to the second half continued, giving Fulham's defence little chance to catch their breath.

In a bid to breathe some life into his side, Fulham boss Chris Coleman substituted Andy Cole for Collins John in the 60th minute - a decision which did not sit well with the former England striker who stormed down the tunnel.

But the move made little noticeable difference as the game once again deteriorated into a shocking spectacle with both sides losing possession with ease and displaying a chronic lack of invention.

Reid squandered a glorious chance in the 73rd minute after being set up by Davies but he directed his header wide, although the effort took a deflection before bouncing out of play.

Kanoute and Keane were brought on - Defoe and Mido made way - and their appearance finally gave Spurs fans something to cheer.

Fulham skipper Lee Clark clattered into Reid and Kanoute steered the resulting 25-yard free-kick into the net with an indecisive van der Sar rooted to the spot.

Kanoute and Keane combined but the Republic of Ireland international was guilty of a glaring miss as he failed to place the ball into what was virtually an empty net.

But Keane made amends in injury time by picking up a long ball from Michael Carrick, shaking off a Boa Morte tackle and rounding van der Sar before steering home to seal the result.

Teams

Tottenham: Robinson, Kelly, Naybet, King, Edman, Davies, Brown, Carrick, Reid, Mido (Keane 79), Defoe (Kanoute 73).

Subs Not Used: Cerny, Ziegler, Pamarot.

Goals: Kanoute 78, Keane 90.

Fulham: Van der Sar, Rosenior, Knight, Goma, Bocanegra, Radzinski, Clark, Diop, Jensen (McBride 86), Boa Morte, Cole (John 59).

Subs Not Used: Crossley, Volz, Legwinski.

Booked: Clark.

Att: 35,885

Ref: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).