Tottenham beat 10-man Crystal Palace 2-0 at home to record a third straight win and maintain the pressure on Eagles boss Pierre Sage, with his side dropping into the relegation zone.
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 13th-minute red card was followed just 12 minutes later by Archie Gray’s headed opener at a corner.
Jan Paul van Hecke’s scrappy second-half rebound finish then settled the game to give Spurs three consecutive league wins for the first time since February 2025 and move Roberto De Zerbi’s side up to eighth.
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But Palace’s third league loss in a row, which leaves them third-bottom, came after Mateta was sent off for a late studs-up sliding tackle on Micky van de Ven’s Achilles.
Referee Michael Oliver had originally shown a yellow card to the Palace striker, but VAR sent Oliver to the monitor, and he changed his decision to a red for serious foul play.
Not only did the straight red card lead to Palace’s defeat, but it leaves them without Mateta for their next three Premier League games – a run which could be crucial in deciding Sage’s future as they face Liverpool, Coventry and Hull.
Palace showed plenty of fight and grit for the under-pressure Frenchman at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Spurs struggled to find a second goal to make the win safe.
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But Van Hecke’s bundled finish brought relief to the Spurs faithful, who saw their side win back-to-back home league games for the first time since November 2024.
There was nearly more late Spurs joy too, as teenager Luca Williams-Barnett should have had an assist on his Premier League debut after he wonderfully set up Mohammed Kudus, who somehow missed from close range.
What defeat means for Sage…
Sky Sports News’ Chris Reidy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:
“The pressure is continuing to grow on Pierre Sage. Every loss now pushes Steve Parish and Crystal Palace decision-makers closer to making a change.
“Since the 5-0 defeat at Brighton, the powers that be have wanted to see defensive improvements in the team and results pick up. Since then they’ve lost twice in the Premier League, but at least with some improved performances, notably in cup competitions against Besiktas and Fulham.
“Palace weren’t expected to win at Spurs, especially after going down to 10 men, but they’re now in the bottom three with Liverpool visiting Selhurst Park next Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
Kick off 2:00pm
“A vulnerability from set-pieces has been a theme under Sage, which again will be a worry for the hierarchy.
“For the second game running, Palace’s away support chanted Sage’s name; there’s an understanding from them he’s been dealt a tough hand after losing Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Munoz in the summer. And the players at Spurs certainly didn’t show a lack of effort; in fact, it was the opposite, they put in a shift.
“But this is a results business, as Sage has admitted himself, and Parish hasn’t been afraid to make ruthless decisions: think back to Patrick Vieira.
“It feels right that Sage should get fixtures against Coventry and Hull to prove himself, but football isn’t always so kind. The performances against Fulham in the Carabao Cup and Tottenham tonight have at least shown fight and resilience.
“It’s going to be another interesting few days waiting to see if Parish and co stick or twist.”
Story of the match in stats
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