The Mirror

Igor Tudor's nightmare with Tottenham is showing no signs of letting up as his team sits dangerously close to the relegation zone

An Italian news outlet has delivered a bleak verdict on Tottenham's situation under Igor Tudor. The 3-1 Premier League loss to Crystal Palace on Thursday marked the Croatian manager's third defeat in as many matches since taking over as interim boss last month.

Spurs saw their 1-0 lead after 34 minutes turn into a 3-1 deficit by half-time, following the dismissal of stand-in captain Micky van de Ven. Supporters began leaving the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in their hundreds at half-time, with boos echoing around the ground post-match, marking a new low in an already dismal domestic campaign.

The repercussions of a fifth consecutive loss and an 11th match without victory are even graver, considering Spurs now sit 16th in the table and just a single point above the drop zone. There's an increasing sense that Tottenham could face relegation from the top flight for the first time in 49 years, especially with Nottingham Forest and West Ham showing better form lately.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

It seems the severity of Tottenham's alarming form has caught attention even in Italy. The country's famous pink newspaper, La Gazzetta dello Sport, issued a scathing critique after Thursday's defeat, attributing the club's current state to poor decision-making at the top. The report also highlighted the formidable challenge facing the under-pressure Tudor.

The paper wrote: "The dismissal of Thomas Frank three games ago, likely months late for a manager hired from Brentford who never seemed to have the right mentality for a big club, hasn't changed matters much.

"Igor Tudor, a surprise signing, has come on strong against Spurs just as he did last season at Juventus and the season before at Lazio, but not even his brisk, to-the-point manner has been able to shake up a team adrift, one that seems to have long since lost its way to respectability on the pitch."

The publication went on to identify Tottenham's persistent defensive frailties, having conceded a staggering 46 goals in the league this campaign. It also claimed the players and club were no longer meeting even the basic standards needed to stay in the Premier League.

It added: "Being second in the Forbes ranking of the most profitable football clubs in 2026, with a valuation of €2.84billion, or having the most beautiful stadium in the Premier League, alone won't be enough to avoid Tottenham's nightmare of a first relegation since 1977.

"Even Tudor's charisma, already under scrutiny after their third defeat in three, risks not being enough. The boos, a mixture of fear and disappointment, from the fans who stayed until the end against Palace won't be enough."

The outlet claimed Tottenham must rediscover their courage and self-belief to secure wins - qualities they have "stopped" showing. Tudor, meanwhile, insisted there were encouraging signs after the match.

He explained: "I will tell you now, maybe it will sound strange, but I believe more after this game than I believed before. I saw something. I need to choose the right guys because the boat is going in the direction that I want to go and needs to go and whoever is in the boat can stay.

"Otherwise, they can leave the boat. So, when the other players will come back, I’m sure we will have a good team and the victories will come back. It’s not easy to accept the moment where we are now but it is how it is."

Tottenham's hopes of avoiding relegation to the Championship suffered a blow on Thursday, as they were beaten 2-1 at home to Crystal Palace to spark a mutiny among the home crowd

Igor Tudor had ended a disastrous night in Tottenham by speaking about a boat. Spurs seem to drive their head coaches to despair and naval analogies, with Thomas Frank having declared before his exit that the north London club is a big super tanker that would take a while to turn.

Such analogies, though, only conjure images of sinking ships. The HMS Tottenham Hotspur is taking on water because it's been punched full of holes by the decisions of the club's players, head coaches and hierarchy.

At half-time of the 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, a couple of Spurs fans shouted across at the club analysts that they are 'taking the club down'. Another bellowed 'You've killed the club' up at those in the director's box, including CEO Vinai Venkatesham, sporting director Johan Lange and one of the owners, Vivienne Lewis.

The fans are disgusted by the club and in the 94th minute the travelling Palace faithful sang 'You're going to boo in a minute'. The remaining Tottenham supporters duly did. It was a game that turned horribly in the space of a handful of first-half minutes.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

Nineteen-year-old Archie Gray, Spurs' man of the match by a country mile, jinked around two Palace defenders before picking out Dominic Solanke to score. But Spurs captain Micky van de Ven put his brain into standby mode, grabbed Ismaila Sarr's arm as he ran towards goal and pulled him to the floor.

Referee Andy Madley had no choice but to brandish the red card and award the penalty that Sarr scored. Tottenham have the second most red cards in the Premier League (four) and the most bookings (72).

When asked if there was a discipline issue at the club Tudor bewilderingly responded: "There is no discipline issue at all. Opposite." His misplaced optimism felt similar to Frank's on the night before he was sacked.

Will Tottenham be relegated? Give us your prediction in the comments section.

"Maybe it will sound strange but I believe more after this game than I believed before," said the Croatian. "I saw something. I need to choose the right guys because the boat is going in the direction that I want to go and needs to go and who is in the boat can stay. Otherwise they can leave the boat."

The Tottenham hierarchy must decide whether to give the Tudor reign more time or decide they have made yet another managerial mistake and frantically look for anyone else who can give these players a lift. A routine email sent to the media on Friday confirmed Spurs' press conference in Madrid with Tudor on Monday night ahead of the Champions League last-16 first leg tie.

That's not a cast-iron guarantee the Croatian will be in the Spanish capital but it's a sign that some expect him to be. The problem for Spurs is the lack of alternatives to step into the dugout, those available reading like a panel of television pundits.

There's Harry Redknapp, who turns 80 next year and last managed in the Premier League 11 years ago when he left QPR second from bottom. He would be the nostalgic choice for fans after seeing what Martin O'Neill has done at Celtic. Others mentioned are Tim Sherwood, mainly by Tim Sherwood, along with Jermain Defoe and Ryan Mason.

Seeing that quartet coming over the hill is something akin to the four horsemen of the Tottenham apocalypse. Ange Postecoglou is also currently available, although his return would be far too awkward for Venkatesham and Lange. Their positions will be under scrutiny following the decisions made at a club that is lurching from one mess to another.

Spurs need to be saved, for relegation would be a disaster and leave a reported £250million black hole in their finances. Many inside the club fear for their jobs due to the cutbacks that would need to be made.

Something needs to jolt Tottenham to life at Tottenham because they are currently sleepwalking towards the Championship and that would impact far more than just the 11 players on the pitch.

Tottenham Hotspur have already changed manager once this season but a run of defeats has led to speculation over Igor Tudor's future

If Tottenham Hotspur decide to move on from Igor Tudor just weeks into his managerial tenure then their best option may be a manager currently without a club. Jurgen Klopp is unlikely to be that man, though, with the German essentially ruling out a Premier League return with any club other than Liverpool.

Tudor's slow start has prompted speculation that Spurs could cut ties with the Croatian before the end of his short-term contract. His three matches in charge have all ended in defeat, with Arsenal, Fulham and most recently Crystal Palace gaining the upper hand in London derbies.

They are winless in 11 in the league, with Thomas Frank sacked when that run stood at eight. Former Spurs chairman Alan Sugar was calling for the club to turn to Klopp as long ago as December, and things have only got worse since.

"With the massive fortune of the Lewis family it would be a win win situation if they hired Jurgen Klopp in January," Sugar wrote on social media after a 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest. "Loads of money for players and a great manager. Who agrees?"

There has been no indication from Klopp that he has changed his mind on future managerial roles since leaving Liverpool. He confirmed his exit in January 2024, seeing out the remainder of the 2023/24 season but making it clear he planned to take a break afterwards.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

"What I know definitely – I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100 per cent," he said when announcing he would step down. "That’s not possible. My love for this club, my respect for the people is too big.

"I couldn’t. I couldn’t for a second think about it. There’s no chance. This is part of my life, we are part of the family, we feel home here. There’s no chance to do that. But all the rest, will I ever work again? Of course, I know myself, I cannot just sit around.

"I will find something else maybe to do. But I will not manage a club or a country at least for a year, that’s not possible, I cannot do that and I don’t want to. That’s all."

Klopp took over as Red Bull's global head of soccer in January 2025, a role which he still occupies today. There has been no immediate suggestion that he plans to leave the company but he appeared to open the door to another Liverpool stint during an appearance on the Diary of a CEO podcast in October.

"I said I would never coach a different team in England. So that means if [I returned to the Premier League] then it’s Liverpool. Yeah, theoretically it’s possible," he said.

At the time, he made it clear he didn't miss coaching, though he accepted things might change one day. "I’m 58. From your perspective that might be old, but from other perspectives, it’s not that old," he added.

"That means I could make a decision in a few years. I don’t know. Do I have to make a decision today? I will not coach again, but thank God I do not have to do that, I can just see what the future brings."

Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte predcited an issue that the club would face in the future

Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte had previously predicted that the club could be dragged into a relegation scrap. The Italian tactician spent fewer than 18 months at the helm but delivered a stark warning during his time in charge.

Tottenham are positioned just one point above the drop zone with nine fixtures left to play. Igor Tudor's squad suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace on Thursday, stretching Spurs' winless streak to 11 league outings, having failed to secure a single Premier League win in 2026.

Conte, who replaced Nuno Espirito Santo in November 2021, boasted an impressive track record. He won the Premier League crown as Chelsea boss in 2017 and had captured the fourth Serie A title of his managerial career just months prior to his Spurs arrival.

After reaching the 2019 Champions League final, Tottenham had started slipping down the table before Conte took over. While the coach guided the club back into the top four during his debut campaign, the 56-year-old pointed to Everton as an example of a team facing an improbable relegation fight.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

"The level of this league is so high," Conte said in March 2022. "You have to pay great attention and it's my forecast that in the future it will be worse.

"Worse in the sense that it will be very, very difficult and then you'll have to pay [even] greater attention. Teams that at this moment seem to be in the middle, they could slip. For sure, Everton is a good example."

The previous season, Everton had been tipped to challenge for European qualification under Carlo Ancelotti. Yet successive managerial changes sparked relegation worries before they ultimately secured 16th place.

"You look at the squad of Everton, their players, and you can think it's impossible that Everton is fighting relegation," Conte explained. "That they had such an important coach in Rafa Benitez, who won the Champions League and titles, and was sacked. And now they're fighting for the relegation zone.

"Everton is a good example to understand that this league is very, very difficult and in the future it will become much more difficult."

Conte's warning that mid-table sides would face increased jeopardy has seemingly proved accurate this campaign, with Wolves and West Ham United both occupying bottom-three positions. Furthermore, the Italian boss had already categorised Tottenham as being "in the middle", heightening concerns about a potential relegation battle.

Back in January 2022, after a 2-0 loss to Chelsea, Conte said of Spurs: "If you compare the two teams there is not a comparison. We are talking about a team ready to win - today we have seen the difference between the two teams. We are a team in the middle.

"This game confirmed what I thought about the difference between the teams. In the last years the level of Tottenham has dropped a lot."

He added: "There is a lot of work to do, in this moment, it is very difficult to understand which part you take to improve because there is a lot of situations to improve. We need so much time and patience."

Tottenham find themselves firmly in a relegation battle after losing 2-1 at home to Crystal Palace, leading fans to call for Igor Tudor's sacking after only three games in charge

Beleaguered Igor Tudor has refused to confirmed whether he'll be in charge for Tottenham's next game. Croatian boss Tudor has lost all three of his games in charge of Spurs, who are in the thick of a relegation battle.

Thursday's damning 3-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace has left Spurs just one point above the relegation zone with nine matches left to avoid the drop. Tudor was in a spiky mood post-match and when asked if he'd be in the dugout for Tottenham's Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid next Tuesday, the former Juventus manager gave a two-word response.

"No comment," Tudor told TNT Sports. The 47-year-old then refused to entertain any questions about his hot-button future, saying: "I don't think in that direction, I have a job to do, that's all."

Tudor added: "We need to stop speaking about pressure. This is not a topic to speak about."

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

Despite the loss, with Spurs having taken the lead before a first-half collapse, Tudor feels more confident about survival than prior to the clash. "It sounds strange, but I believe more after this game than I believed before," he explained.

"I saw something; some energy, some passion. I need to choose the right guys because the boat is going in the direction I want it to go and needs to go and who is in the boat can stay. Otherwise, they can leave the boat.

"So when the other players will come back and choosing the right players I am sure we will have a good team and the victories will come. It is not easy to accept the moment where we are now but it is how it is. It's about believing and growing. There are still nine games to play."

Should Tottenham sack Igor Tudor? Have your say in the comments section.

Tottenham's next domestic game is away to Liverpool on Sunday, March 15. They'll then play the return leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie before a massive home game against Nottingham Forest, the team directly below them.

Tudor might not make that far, though, as he's facing calls for the sack less than three weeks after taking the job. Spurs are on a row run of five consecutive defeats and their last victory in the Premier League came in December under Thomas Frank.

Tottenham Hotspur sit just one point clear of the relegation places in the Premier League but have been far more consistent in Europe this season

As Tottenham Hotspur fans deal with the very real threat of relegation, the London side occupy an unlikely position. They might be just one point clear of the bottom three, but they are also into the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Spurs finished fourth in the league phase of the European competition to march straight into the round of 16. Remarkably, they boasted the exact same record in last season's Europa League - fourth spot with five wins, two draws and a defeat - before going on to win that competition.

Last season's run came at the expense of Spurs' league form, though they never found themselves in as much danger as they do this term, thanks in large part to three teams failing to breach 30 points in the Premier League.

This term, though, West Ham in 18th and Nottingham Forest in 17th each have 28 points from 29 games, with Spurs themselves on 29. If the unthinkable happens and Spurs slip down to the Championship, though, it wouldn't stop them playing in Europe next season.

If they win the continent's top prize, which qualifies them to defend their crown next season, and finish 18th domestically, they would not be stopped from playing Champions League and Championship football in the same campaign. No team has ever played in both simultaneously.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

But it's a different story with other European competitions. Most recently, Wigan Athletic won the 2012/13 FA Cup but were relegated in the same season, leaving new manager Owen Coyle contending with a Europa League group stage campaign on top of what would end up being an unsuccessful promotion push.

They aren't the only ones, either. Birmingham City also had a Europa League campaign after combining their League Cup win with relegation in 2011, while Ipswich Town qualified for the UEFA Cup through the fair play rankings in 2002 despite failing to cling onto Premier League survival, reaching the second round.

While they wouldn't be banned, and a Champions League trophy would significantly soften the blow of going down, it would put Spurs in the unenviable position of balancing the expanded European format with the notoriously tricky 46-game league campaign.

Their next Premier League match comes against Liverpool, while relegation rivals Forest and West Ham face Fulham and Manchester City respectively. Before then, though, Tudor's team travel to Atletico Madrid's Estadio Metropolitano for the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie.

They've already played Spanish opposition once this season, in their European opener. On that occasion, an own goal from Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior was enough to give Spurs all three points.

Atletico were forced to come through a play-off tie with Club Brugge. After a 3-3 draw away from home, they triumphed 4-1 on home turf to progress. But it's Spurs who will have the advantage of hosting the second leg this time, although how strong an advantage that is in their current predicament could be questioned.

Tottenham's disastrous 3-1 loss at home to Crystal Palace has plunged Igor Tudor's men into deeper trouble, as they languish just one point above the relegation zone with nine games to go

Just when you thought that things couldn't get any worse for Tottenham, they did. Spurs are now closer than ever to falling into the relegation zone after a nightmare set of results in midweek.

After both West Ham and Nottingham Forest picked up points, Thursday's clash with Crystal Palace became a must-win game - or must not lose. Dominic Solanke put Tottenham in front towards the end of the the first half, but in 10 mad minutes before the break in North London, Igor Tudor's side were reduced to 10 men and quickly found themselves 3-1 down.

Palace had capitalised on Micky van de Ven's desperate red card and raced into a comfortable lead. It stayed that way until the final whistle, leaving Spurs just one point and two places above the drop zone after three straight losses under Tudor.

With only nine games remaining for most teams, all eyes are on who plays who before the season ends on May 24. Mirror Football takes a look at the six clubs currently involved in the relegation scrap and predicts who'll go down.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

Predicted results

GW30: Burnley 1-0 Bournemouth, West Ham 1-3 Man City, Crystal Palace 2-1 Leeds, Nottingham Forest 1-1 Fulham, Liverpool 4-2 Tottenham, Brentford 1-1 Wolves

GW31: Wolves 2-2 Arsenal*, Fulham 3-1 Burnley, Leeds 2-1 Brentford, Aston Villa 2-0 West Ham, Tottenham 2-1 Nottingham Forest

*Fixture already played

GW32: West Ham 3-1 Wolves, Burnley 2-4 Brighton, Nottingham Forest 2-0 Aston Villa, Sunderland 1-1 Tottenham, Man Utd 3-1 Leeds

GW33: Leeds 2-0 Wolves, Nottingham Forest 2-1 Burnley, Tottenham 0-1 Brighton, Crystal Palace 2-2 West Ham,

GW34: Sunderland 1-0 Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth 2-1 Leeds, West Ham 2-1 Everton, Wolves 2-3 Tottenham, Burnley 0-1 Man City

Who'll be relegated from the Premier League? Give us your prediction in the comments section.

GW35: Aston Villa 1-0 Tottenham, Brentford 2-2 West Ham, Chelsea 4-0 Nottingham Forest, Leeds 2-1 Burnley, Wolves 2-0 Sunderland.

GW36: Brighton 3-0 Wolves, Burnley 1-3 Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest 2-1 Newcastle, Tottenham 3-1 Leeds, West Ham 0-3 Arsenal

GW37: Arsenal 3-0 Burnley, Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham, Leeds 3-2 Brighton, Man Utd 4-1 Nottingham Forest, Newcastle 2-3 West Ham, Wolves 3-1 Fulham

GW38: Burnley 1-3 Wolves, Nottingham Forest 2-0 Bournemouth, Tottenham 4-1 Everton, West Ham 3-1 Leeds

Tottenham’s worrying season has lurched into a full-blown crisis, with the North London side now staring at the very real threat of relegation from the Premier League right in the face

Igor Tudor is already a man under serious pressure at Tottenham Hotspur. The Croatian was the man drafted in as a replacement for Thomas Frank, with the North London club on the slide.

But his arrival has arguably made things even worse. Spurs have lost each of their opening three games under Tudor, which leaves them sitting precariously just one point above the relegation zone.

With nine games of the season still to be played, Spurs could choose to make yet another change in the dugout as they desperately try and steer themselves away from a place in the Championship.

But who could actually come in should beleaguered boss Tudor be jettisoned? Mirror Football takes a look at five realistic candidates:

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

Ryan Mason

A former Spurs midfielder, Mason has actually been parachuted in on a number of occasions despite his fledgling managerial career. He took the reins from Jose Mourinho back in 2019 and led Spurs to four wins from seven games at the end of that campaign.

Mason was then entrusted with the role once more two years later following the disastrous stint of Cristian Stellini. This time, he won two of his six games at the helm.

Mason has since embarked on a managerial career of his own but saw his first job away from Spurs with West Bromwich Albion ended after just 27 games.

Harry Redknapp

A name that needs no introduction to Spurs supporters, the now 79-year-old enjoyed a brilliant four-year spell with the club earlier in his career. He helped the North London side reach the Champions League.

Since then, Redknapp has had spells with Queens Park Rangers, the Jordan national team and Birmingham City. After leaving the latter, he retired from management but it would be hard to envisage him not being tempted by a return to Spurs.

Robbie Keane

Another with Spurs links, their former forward was also linked with a return immediately after Frank’s sacking. The ex-Ireland striker has caught the eye since deciding to move into management.

Following spells as an assistant with Leeds, Middlesbrough and the Republic of Ireland, he was handed his first role with Maccabi Tel Aviv. But it’s at Ferencvaros where Keane is making his name.

He has already claimed the Hungarian title with the side and has guided them through to the last-16 of the Europa League.

Will Spurs be relegated? Have your say in the comments

Roberto De Zerbi

Should Spurs be tempted to look elsewhere, they might revisit their interest in former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi. The Italian caught the eye with his work at the Amex Stadium ahead of a move to Marseille.

He left the French side in explosive circumstances earlier this season but would still be an excellent option. De Zerbi would of course join as a free agent.

Edin Terzic

The final option that Spurs could turn to is a man who has also been linked with the job before. It was reported that former Borussia Dortmund head coach Terzic has been identified as a potential option last month.

The 43-year-old would arrive in North London, having helped the Bundesliga side to the German Cup, as well as a place in the 2024 Champions League final. He has been out of work since leaving the Signal Iduna Park that summer.

Tottenham saw their crisis grow even more concerning in their 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace with Dominic Solanke among those to speak out after the North London club’s latest defeat

Dominic Solanke revealed that Tottenham stars held dressing room crisis talks following their latest humbling defeat. The North London side slumped to a miserable 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at home on Thursday night.

The ex-Bournemouth striker had actually given his side the lead, only for an Ismaila Sarr brace and a strike from Jorgen Strand Larsen before the break to flip the game on its head. To make matters worse, Spurs defender Micky van de Ven was also sent off.

It represented the club’s 14th Premier League reverse of the campaign, leaving them just one point and two places above the relegation zone with nine games to play.

Asked how his side responded to the defeat, Solanke revealed that talks were held among the players in the dressing room. Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: "We've just had a big conversation. We know the position we are in is definitely not where we want to be so we need to figure out how we are going to get out of it as soon as possible.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

"We know there's been difficulties but we're not in a position to make any excuses anymore. We need to do the job on the pitch. It is easy to say we want to be better but we want to be better on the pitch.

"We need to fight and realise the position we are in. We know the club is not used to being in this position so we need to understand it and understand it's not going to be easy and we need to fight every single game, every single minute, to make sure we improve."

Igor Tudor, drafted in as an interim boss until the end of the season, also gave his verdict, having lost each of his three games in charge so far. Speaking in his post-match press conference, he said: "I want to be positive.

Will Spurs be relegated? Have your say in the comments

“I cannot tell the guys nothing in the end after this game. They gave everything. Unfortunately, we pay every detail. We pay every detail. If we can say that red card is a detail, there is always something to say.

“With all the problems we have now, missing the defenders today, missing the full-backs, these are the problems we already know. I don't want to speak about that, but we need to stay together now.

“I always repeat the same things, but it is how it is. Believing and growing. Do not make mistakes. This is the key in the end of football. Stay there, don't make mistakes. One goal, you always score.

“Two goals, you can score, but it's important to not make mistakes in football. Unfortunately, now, in this moment, we pay everything, but in return, I believe, we change everything. Still nine games to play. Still nine games to play."

TOTTENHAM 1-3 CRYSTAL PALACE: Spurs' relegation fears increased in Thursday night as Micky van de Ven's first-half red card sparked a collapse in yet another defeat

Igor Tudor was brought in to make an impact. Tudor has certainly done that - just not in the way they were hoping.

They look even worse now than when he took over. Tottenham’s interim boss has lost his three games in charge, pushed the club closer to relegation and the fans have given up on him already.

Supporters left in their droves at half time while those still in the stadium booed the players off after they pressed the self-destruct button. Tottenham went from 1-0 up after 34 minutes to going in 3-1 down at half time after their stand-in captain and best player Micky van de Ven was sent off.

The ever-optimistic stadium announcer Paul Coyte tried to convince the fans at the break: “This game is a long way from over.” Not sure he was fooling anyone.

It is little wonder that angry supporters even turned on the club analysts sat in the stands. “Analyse that - we’re f***ing going down.” It was hard to disagree. Fans then shouted abuse at the hierarchy in the directors’ box before the start of the second half as this place turned really toxic.

But at what point do Tottenham accept the impact manager - who had won all of his first games in charge at his last five clubs - needs to go if Spurs want to have a chance of staying up?

Tottenham are just a point above the relegation zone but West Ham and Nottingham Forest are showing a lot more fight and determination to get out.

Spurs were wretched, rudderless and the players looked as desolate as the supporters. It looks as if the players have given up on the manager. They looked shot to bits.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

Tudor has tried everything and it simply has not worked. This time, Tudor made four changes and even dropped the club’s £34m January signing Conor Gallagher along with Xavi Simons, Yves Bissouma, and Radu Dragușin.

In came Souza, Kevin Danso, Pape Sarr, and Mathys Tel. Brazilian teenager Souza scythed down Daniel Munoz who then went off injured and that looked to be a real blow as Nathaniel Clyne came on to replace him.

But Palace were well organised, they have picked up again under Oliver Glasner and had the ball in the net after Ismaila Sarr’s shot deflected in off Pedro Porro only for VAR to intervene with the tighter of offside decisions.

That felt so harsh. And four minutes later, Tottenham were ahead. Archie Gray - one of few Sours players to emerge with credit - scampered down the right, cut the ball back for Dominic Solanke to sweep home.

The stadium came alive. There was hope and Spurs fans started to believe. But that lasted all of four minutes.

Sarr broke into the Spurs box, van de Ven almost instinctively pulled him back and referee Andy Madley had no hesitation in producing a red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity and awarding a penalty.

It was a carbon copy of Palace defender Maxence Lacroix being sent off at Manchester United on Sunday and Sarr coolly stroking home to put the visitors level after 40 minutes.

Palace were ahead in the first minute of first half injury time. Mathys Tel’s loose pass conceded possession, Evann Guessand did well before Adam Wharton slipped in Jorgen Strand Larsen to score.

In the seventh minute of first half injury time, it got even worse. Wharton played a lovely ball between Pedro Porro and Joao Palhinha and Sarr nipped in to nudge the ball past Guglielmo Vicario.

In fairness to Spurs, they actually showed some heart in the second half as the ten men dug deep and refused to cave in but it was too little too late and there was no way back.