Crystal Palace secured their first victory of the Premier League season, as they beat a sluggish Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
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Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first half goal was enough to get Oliver Glasner’s side over the line and they were the better, more energetic and dangerous team throughout and could’ve easily added to their tally.
Ange Postecoglou was left fuming on the sidelines as his side only had a handful of chances and looked so disjoined as they’ve lost back-to-back away games in the Premier League.
With the win Palace have six points. Tottenham remain on 13 and lose further ground on the top four.
Sluggish Spurs not up for the fight on another horrible away day
Ange Postecoglou slammed the effort and commitment of his players as they lost 3-2 at Brighton in their last away trip in the Premier League. Of course, this 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace wasn’t as shambolic but the same feeling will be eating away at Ange. Are his players up for the fight? They weren’t on Sunday as Palace bullied them in midfield, overran them and simply wanted it more. Spurs have the more talented players but they acted like that would be enough. It wasn’t at Brighton in their shocking collapse and they could have lost by three or four at Palace on Sunday. Sure, they missed Heung-min Son in both of these away defeats but Spurs have enough quality to win these games and it’s not starting to become a question of mentality and character. That is never a good thing. When Spurs are on and up for it they are unstoppable. But too often in recent months they’ve turned up thinking they will romp to victory. On Sunday they didn’t earn the right to play their lovely flowing football and never turned up. Things can happen which mean you lose a game but to not turn up for the fight is inexcusable and something Postecoglou will be livid with.
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham player ratings (via FotMob.com)
What’s next?
Crystal Palace head to Wolves on Saturday, Nov. 2. Tottenham host Aston Villa on Sunday, Nov. 3.
How to watch Crystal Palace vs Tottenham live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10 am ET Sunday (October 27)
Venue: Selhurst Park, London
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham final score: 1-0
Mateta 31'
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Vicario with a great stop to deny Wharton
Wharton drills a shot with his right foot towards the top corner but Vicario does really well to claw it away. What a save. Palace have been pushing really hard for this second.
Triple sub for Spurs
Sarr, Richarlison and Werner are on for Kulusevski, Moore and Maddison. Moore, just 17, struggled to get in the game. Kulusevski and Maddison both had a decent chance to score but, like Spurs, were fading.
Vicario denies Sarr then Munnoz fires wide; Eze also smashes wide
Eze is causing chaos as he sets up Sarr but his shot is saved by Vicario’s legs. The rebound is smashed wide by Munoz and moments later Eze smashes a decent chance wide. Palace pushing hard for a crucial second goal.
No penalty after a VAR check
Eze drops his shoulder in the box to try and get some space but goes down. It looks like Van de Ven pulled Eze’s shirt but the decision wasn’t given on the pitch and VAR says “a touch but nothing more” according to commentary. It looked like VDV had a good tug at Eze’s shirt there.
Eze has the ball in the net but he’s just offside
Wharton’s ball is perfect through to Eze and he squeezes a low shot past Vicario, but the offside flag is up. VAR checks it and the decision stands. No goal. That is a warning for Spurs who are playing such a high line.
Good start to the second half from Spurs
Kulusevski has been denied by Henderson and teenager Mikey Moore has been involved.
Half time: Crystal Palace 1-0 Tottenham
A very good first half from Palace as they overpowered Tottenham and have a deserved lead. Spurs will surely improve after the break, and are missing Son badly, but their first half was all about being sloppy on the ball and sluggish with defensive work. Ange will surely read the riot act at half time.
Henderson with a superb save to deny Maddison
Right on half time Spurs are almost level. A cross from the left picks out Maddison and he does everything right but his low shot is brilliantly saved by Dean Henderson and Palace clear. After his error on Monday against Nottingham Forest, that will do Henderson’s confidence the world of good.
Postecoglou does not look happy
The Australian coach doesn’t usually look overjoyed at the best of times, but he looks particularly peeved on the sidelines today. Spurs have been overrun by Palace and look sloppy and sluggish on and off the ball. Big half time teamtalk will be needed by Ange to help Spurs turn this around.
Spurs hit the post!
Tottenham almost level right away. A corner is whipped in to the near post, is hooked on by Van de Ven and it hits Brennan Johnson and hits the post before Palace scramble it off the line. This game has really come to life now.
Mateta finishes to give the Eagles lift-off! - Crystal Palace 1-0 Tottenham
Palace deserve the lead. Spurs are caught overplaying at the back and Munoz whips in a cross that Eze flicks on marvellously to Mateta and he settles himself well to finish, via a deflection, and send the home fans wild. Glorious celebrations for Palace and Mateta duly whips out his trademark celebration to kick the over the corner flag.
Lacroix heads over
Lovely little short corner routine from Palace and the ball is clipped in to Lacroix who is unmarked. He almost gets up too early and ends up sort of shouldering the ball over the bar from close range. That was a big chance for Palace. They’re growing into this game and Spurs are yet to get going at all.
Injury to Lerma as Hughes comes on
Jefferson Lerma hobbles off with an injury and Will Hughes is on. Palace forced into an early challenge and it is turning into a proper physical battle, especially in midfield. Hughes will relish this.
Even start at sunny Selhurst
Spurs are dominating possession but Palace are forcing them to do most of their passing in midfield and backwards and sideways. Very even start in the sunshine in south London.
Crystal Palace lineup
Henderson; Lacroix, Guehi, Chalobah; Munoz, Wharton, Lerma, Mitchell; Eze, Sarr; Mateta
Tottenham lineup
Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bissouma, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Moore
Crystal Palace team news, focus
OUT: Chadi Riad (knee), Rob Holding (undisclosed), Chris Richards (thigh), Matheus Franca (chest/abdominal) | QUESTIONABLE: Cheick Doucoure (ankle)
Tottenham team news, focus
OUT: Heung-min Son (soreness) | QUESTIONABLE: Djed Spence (groin)
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham prediction
Postecoglou has worked out a regular rotation between PL and Europa League games, which in theory should push and improve the first XI and keep things turning over when injuries inevitably pop up. James Maddison will have to impact the game in a big way in Son’s absence, likely drifting wider and higher up the field. Crystal Palace 1-2 Tottenham.
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham preview
Aside from their second-half collapse against Brighton, Tottenham (7th place - 13 points) have been mostly brilliant for over a month now. Ange Postecoglou’s aggressive, risk-taking tactics have led to lots of goals (18 - 2nd-most behind Manchester City), but the real improvements have come defensively with a better balance to how they defend without the ball and how they use suffocating possession to defend when they have the lead. Shipping three goals in 20 minutes to go from 2-0 up and to lose 3-2 to Brighton garnered lots of loud headlines, but appears to been an aberration for a side seemingly hitting its stride.
The same cannot be said for Crystal Palace (18th - 3 points), as Oliver Glasner finds himself under a bit of pressure early in his first full season in charge. To be winless after eight games is one thing, but to be so with just five goals scored is a different level of worrying. Palace average 14 shots per game (10th-most in the PL), but they sit 16th in the league xG table (9.1). For Palace, the positive has been that their defending has kept them in games, so the Eagles have only lost by multiple goals once this season.