Tottenham and Fulham have shared many players in common over the last few years.
Former Spurs midfielder Scott Parker came off the bench for the Cottagers in the FA Cup fifth round game between the two sides, while studio guest Dimitar Berbatov and his dreamy eyes has both teams on his CV.
But Tottenham fans will be thanking someone else with Fulham connections after grinding out a 3-0 win in West London.
No, not Mousa Dembélé, who played the last 11 minutes at Craven Cottage.
We’re talking about the Fulham ball-boy, who helped set up the fast-paced attack which led to the first of Harry Kane’s three goals in the lunchtime kick-off.
Ball boy was huuuuuuge today. https://t.co/24tOhMubLN
— Dilla (@E_Dilla) February 19, 2017
For a side as good on the counter as Tottenham, speed of distribution is key. Without the fast hands from the man on the sidelines, there’s every chance the free-flowing play from Kieran Trippier, Christian Eriksen and Kane would have been cut off at the source.
And Spurs fans were quick to pay tribute to the man who started the move that helped them break the deadlock.
https://twitter.com/SchrodngrsTaint/status/833344985206501377
https://twitter.com/Mduzit/status/833351198094659584
https://twitter.com/alijamieson/status/833403841097900032
https://twitter.com/gloryglorythfc1/status/833366470889447426
The victory sent Tottenham through to the quarter-finals, where they have another London derby in store as Millwall – fresh from their 1-0 victory over Leicester City – visit White Hart Lane.
If they can launch rapid attacks with the help of opposition ball-boys, imagine what they’ll be able to do with their own crop.
Catch up with this week’s episode of 888sport Football Friday Live
