Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League home form has grabbed all the negative headlines in the media this season
Tottenham endured a week to forget on the road, suffering back-to-back defeats under Thomas Frank. Their first away loss of the Premier League season came in the North London Derby, where Arsenal ran riot and scored four times without ever needing to shift into second gear.
That dismal outing was followed by a chaotic Champions League clash against PSG. Spurs travelled to Paris and somehow surrendered the lead twice against the reigning European champions. Despite producing a strong performance for large periods of the game, the North Londoners still contrived to concede five goals and walked away empty-handed.
After such a gruelling week, most teams would welcome a return home to steady the ship. But for Tottenham, a home fixture against Fulham offers little comfort. The Lilywhites have one of the worst home records in the league, winning just one of their opening six matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season. Even more concerning, they have managed only three home Premier League victories across the entire calendar year.
Tottenham fans not making it easy at home for the team
Tottenham’s contrasting form has become a defining theme of their campaign. Away from home, they look bold, aggressive, and capable of upsetting anyone. At N17, however, they appear cautious, passive, and unable to impose themselves despite having home advantage. Thomas Frank is still searching for answers as he attempts to reverse the club’s fortunes on their own turf.
Danny Murphy believes the home crowd is unintentionally contributing to Tottenham’s struggles. Speaking to BBC Sport, he explained,
“It does have an effect. It’s a simple case of the anxiety of the crowd is transmitted on to the pitch in the same way their confidence is when they are all for you and things are going well. So, when things are going badly, the same players who are capable of doing things with the ball, you see them playing with more freedom on the road and they start playing a bit safer at home.”
The pundit adds,
“That is because they don’t want to be the one who gets the moan and the groan from the crowd when they give the ball away. It can sometimes take real mental toughness for a player to get through that, and you need a good result or two at home to then go back to playing freer.”
Tottenham fans are known for growing restless when performances dip, and the tension inside the stadium has added another layer to the team’s home struggles. Players, wary of negative reactions and the backlash they might receive, often choose the safer option, resulting in predictable play and a lack of creativity.
According to Murphy, Spurs simply need a favourable run of fixtures to bring supporters back onside. A comfortable home win with a fully fit squad could help Thomas Frank shift the narrative and restore confidence at N17. But, crucially, he believes the fanbase must remain patient and allow the team the space to play their way through this difficult period as the season progresses.
