Fulham are holding firm against Tottenham Hotspur at half time in Rene Meulensteen's first Premier League match in charge.

The visitors threatened in the opening stages as Etienne Capoue threaded a pass through to Jermain Defoe, whose shot was palmed away by Maarten Stekelenburg.

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Fulham almost opened up the Tottenham defence in the 12th minute when Alexander Kacaniklic played a through-ball to Dimitar Berbatov, but the Bulgarian's first touch was poor.

Their first clear-cut chance came in the 15th minute when Giorgos Karagounis tested Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris with a stinging effort after good link-up play with John Arne Riise.

Spurs should have taken the lead in the 23rd minute when a neat team move ended with Paulinho blazing a shot over the crossbar from 10 yards out.

Erik Lamela forced an impressive save from Stekelenburg in the 34th minute, the Fulham stopper tipping his deflected drive over the crossbar to keep the scores level at the break.