Cairney goes from hero to zero as Fulham skipper is sent off for horror tackle

The Cottagers skipper had an eventful 20-minute cameo off the bench as Marco Silva's side escaped with a 1-1 draw in north London.

Cairney was introduced off the bench in the 62nd minute with Fulham trailing following Brennan Johnson's opener.

And just five minutes later, he hauled the visitors level with a beautiful curling strike into the bottom right corner.

It was his first goal away from home since March 2010 during his time spell at Hull.

But he soon went from hero to zero after being given his marching orders in the 82nd minute.

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The 33-year-old was initially given a yellow card by referee Darren Bond for a challenge on Kulusevski.

But he was then instructed to go to the pitchside monitor by VAR where replays showed Cairney's studs-up lunge into the back of the Sweden international's calf.

And Bond was given no chance but to upgrade his initial booking to a straight red for serious foul play.

Commenting on the tackle on talkSPORT commentary, Sam Ellard simply said: "That could have broken his leg."

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Meanwhile the Premier League Match Centre's X account posted: "The referee's call of yellow card for the challenge by Cairney on Kulusevski is checked by VAR, who recommended an on-field review for serious foul play.

"The referee then issued a red card to Cairney."

Cairney will now miss the next three games for Fulham.

He will now be absent for Thursday's clash with Brighton at Craven Cottage.

And he will then be unavailable for next Sunday's clash with Arsenal in west London and then the trip to Liverpool on December 14.

Thankfully for Fulham, Spurs didn't make them pay for having a man less as they shared the spoil at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The result leaves Spurs in seventh spot - three points off the top four.

As for Fulham, they remain in tenth spot - just one point behind Ange Postecoglou's men.