Murphy: We targeted Spurs keeper (From This Is Local London)

Murphy: We targeted Spurs keeper

9:59am Monday 17th November 2008 in

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FULHAM midfielder Danny Murphy has revealed that his side deliberately targeted Spurs' error-prone keeper Heurelho Gomes during their 2-1 win on Saturday.

The Brazilian stopper fumbled a routine shot into his own net to put Tottenham under the cosh at Craven Cottage, and the goal proved to be decisive as the hosts squeezed past Harry Redknapp's side, ending his six-game honeymoon period at the White Hart Lane helm.

After enduring a torrid start to his career in North London, Fulham identified Gomes as the weak link, and got their just reward.

“We did 20 minutes’ training specific to Gomes on Friday,” admitted Murphy. “We changed our set-plays completely for the game. We nearly scored off two of them [corners]. We basically aimed to get corners with pace and under the bar.

"We had our two big men near him, [Brede] Hangeland standing near him. Konchesky was coming over from left back to do the inswinger, which we don’t usually do. Jimmy [Bullard] was putting them under the bar, which we don’t usually do. Usually, the nearer the keeper you put them, they come and grab them.”

Cottagers boss Roy Hodgson also revealed that it was an intentional ploy from his troops to try and expose Gomes, who could now be dropped by Redknapp, while the Spurs manager is also understood to be eyeing up a move for Newcastle's Shay Given.

“We put a lot of people closer to goal on corners so you could argue that, yes, we targeted the keeper,” said Hodgson. “We realised that’s not his real strength but we do that with a lot of teams.”