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London - Gareth Bale's 11th goal of the season took Tottenham Hotspur into the top four of the English Premiership with a 1-0 win over struggling London rivals Fulham at White Hart Lane here on Saturday.
The Wales international rose highest to head in Rafael van der Vaart's free-kick past Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer three minutes before half-time.
Fulham rarely threatened but did come close when Spurs' Michael Dawson hacked Andy Johnson's goalbound shot off the line.
Defeat left Fulham in the relegation zone, just a point above basement club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has often insisted his side are genuine title contenders and the fact they won this match while below their best will only strengthen his belief they can challenge for the Premier League crown.
And this third straight victory of the holiday period, unlike the previous two, did at least see Spurs finish with all 11 players on the pitch as they avoided yet another red card.
Fulham's Clint Dempsey had the first chance of note when he shot wide from the edge of the box in the 20th minute.
And on the half hour, Spurs at last tested Schwarzer, who saved well from defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto's 35-yard drive.
But Bale broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute when, in what is proving to be a superb season for the converted midfielder, his well directed header from 12 yards out following van der Vaart's free-kick wrong-footed Schwarzer.
Spurs though were nearly made to pay for not doubling their advantage midway through the second period when Johnson's shot from eight yards out was palmed across goal by Heurelho Gomes.
But before the onrushing Dempsey could follow-up to score, Dawson cleared.
Bale could have made the game safe when he shot over from 12 yards following Vedran Corluka's cut-back before Tottenham's Aaron Lennon was also off-target after surging into the Fulham box, not that either miss proved too costly come full-time.
