Brian McBride helped Fulham fans try to forget Louis Saha as he marked his debut with the goal which ended Tottenham's 100% Premiership record in 2004.

The USA international, signed last week from Columbus Crew but familiar to English fans after a loan spell at Everton, came off the bench after 58 minutes and bundled home the winner just eight minutes later to seal Fulham's comeback.

Robbie Keane had given Spurs the lead from the penalty spot after 17 minutes when Fulham's other debutant Ian Pearce handled.

Steed Malbranque equalised in first-half of injury-time also from the spot, after Luis Boa Morte's charging run was brought to a halt by Michael Brown, although replays suggested the offence was fractionally outside the box.

McBride - signed after former favourite Saha joined Manchester United - then popped up with the winner after Kasey Keller did well to keep out Pearce's header from a corner, and that was enough to see Chris Coleman's side back to winning ways.

The swirling wind and rain made good football hard to come by but the game sprang to life when Fulham goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar needed every inch of his giant frame after 16 minutes as he dived to his right to tip Keane's fierce low drive on to his post.

A minute later Keane won Spurs a penalty. Using his trickery he tried to chip the ball over Pearce but the defender blocked the ball with his hand and referee Matt Messias had no alternative but to point to the spot.

Keane confidently tucked the ball inside the bottom left corner to register his ninth league goal of the season - and his second penalty success in successive Premiership games.

There was almost a rapid reply from Fulham as Steed Malbranque played in Barry Hayles but his 20th-minute shot from the edge of the area was brilliantly saved by Keller.

Pearce conceded a corner with a misplaced header back towards goal in the final minute of the half and van der Sar did well at his near post to beat out Postiga's inswinging corner.

Fulham earned their own penalty in injury-time as Gary Doherty tried to clear down the right and Stephane Dalmat lost possession. Boa Morte charged forward and was tripped by Brown right on the penalty box line. The referee awarded the spot-kick and Malbranque fired the equaliser into the top right corner.

Spurs had been hoping to see the best of Postiga after he finally broke his Premiership goalscoring duck against Liverpool a fortnight ago, but after 49 minutes he embarrassingly swung at Keane's cross and mis-kicked from close range.

He almost made amends with a fierce low drive after 55 minutes but van der Sar dived to his right to make the save.

Coleman introduced McBride after 58 minutes in place of Barry Hayles and he went close after 65 minutes as he raced towards goal wide on the right. He tried to lob Keller but his fellow American made an important block.

Fulham were celebrating a minute later - and it was McBride who got the final touch as they took the lead.

A Davis corner on the left was headed down at the far post by Pearce. Keller did well to stop it, but McBride pounced on the line to bundle the ball home.

Teams

Fulham: Van der Sar, Volz, Pearce, Knight, Bocanegra, Djetou, Malbranque, Sean Davis, Clark, Boa Morte (Petta 89), Hayles (McBride 59).

Subs Not Used: Crossley, Inamoto, Sava.

Booked: Hayles.

Goals: Malbranque 45 pen, McBride 67.

Tottenham: Keller, Carr, Gardner, Doherty, Ziege, Davies, Brown, King, Dalmat, Keane, Postiga (Zamora 79).

Subs Not Used: Burch, Bunjevcevic, Jackson, Kelly.

Booked: Ziege.

Goals: Keane 18 pen.

Att: 17,024

Ref: M Messias (N Yorkshire).