Shaken up Spurs Slump to Disappointing First Defeat of the Season

Saturday 11th September 2021

Match Report

Crystal Palace 3 – 0 Tottenham Hotspur

Competition: English Premier League

Venue: Selhurst Park, London

Numerous injury woes and suspect suspensions following a nightmare International break for current league leaders Spurs, had people guessing which names would make the team-sheet.

No Lo Celso, Romero or Sanchez due to the South American COVID-related suspensions, Son failed to make it back to full fitness in time having picked up at knock competing for South Korea, though Oliver Skipp, who limped off with a groin injury on England U21's duty, was deemed fit to start. He lined up alongside fellow academy graduate Harry Winks to one side and his usual midfield partner Højbjerg on the other.

This pushed Dele into a more advanced position to cover for Son. Many would have liked to have seen exciting prospect Bryan Gil given a start, but they also would have welcomed the chance to see Dele with a licence to attack. More akin to his old position.

The other interesting addition to the line up was the new signing from Barcelona; twenty-two year old Brazilian right back, Emerson Royal coming straight into the starting line-up having only arrived at Hotspur Way a week ago.

An electric atmosphere from the off and despite playing inside a sunny, packed out Selhurst Park, it was good to hear the Spurs travelling support in full voice, holding their own against the home crowd.

The only real moment of note in the opening half an hour was Spurs' ever-present centre back Eric Dier limping off in considerable pain following a hospital pass from Lloris. Having lunged to poke the misplaced pass to safety, he was caught on the foot by a Palace attacker in the process. He tried to play on but soon ended up back on the deck signalling to the Spurs bench that he wouldn't be able to continue.

Off he went gingerly down to the dressing room and Joe Rodon was given his first chance of the season to impress new boss Nuno. The upcoming Welsh centre back who had an excellent campaign at the Euros for Wales in the summer. He slotted into central defence alongside Tanganga, who having played at right back in each of the three opening games, found himself rewarded with a chance in his more natural centre half position. This was however the first time the two relatively inexperienced youngsters had paired up at the back together.

Palace started to take a hold of the game from 30 minutes onward, and Spurs had some pressure to deal with as the home fans grew in intensity, sensing a breakthrough.

Gallagher and Zaha looked real threats but Spurs managed to weather the storm, Arsenal legend Patrick Viera's men not being able to find a breakthrough before halftime.

Tottenham would have been pleased to make it to the break unscathed, but they'd also have been concerned by the fact that they failed to muster a single effort on goal compared to Palace's seven.

"Thoughts at Half Time – Dele's looked lost out there, he's clearly not a wide player. I'd say a young, exuberant Bryan Gil would be a better option. There's also an argument to be made that Tanguy Ndombele should be brought on for his first appearance of the season. We need to command some control in the middle of the park and pick out some incisive passes going forward. Spurs just aren't creating anything so far and they're losing possession as soon as they break into the Palace half. This has led to them constantly inviting pressure back onto themselves and Palace look dangerous."

No changes, but a fiery start to the second half almost saw Wilfred Zaha see red. A man with a reputation for losing his control, he lashed out at young Japhet Tanganga following a hefty challenge on him. Zaha's hands were raised to Tanganga's face. A lucky man to only see yellow in my opinion. A scuffle involving the majority of the twenty-two players ensued the incident and set the encounter on the brink of the boil.

Palace continued to threaten and Japhet Tanganga, who also found himself in the book following the confrontation with Zaha, minutes later lunged into a sliding challenge deep inside his own half having given the ball away. This earnt the youngster a second yellow in quick succession and his marching orders on just the fifty-eight minute.

Naivety shown from young Tanganga on his big chance at centre back and a huge task for an already struggling Spurs to face ahead.

Winks was immediately sacrificed for Ben Davies as an already struggling Spurs suddenly found themselves down to ten men with over half an hour yet to play. It wasn't looking promising with earlier substitute Joe Rodon lacking match fitness, and an ageing left back Ben Davies now forming the central defensive partnership in a back four. This highlighted Spurs' selection headache and perhaps a lack of squad depth.

Seventy minutes in and Spurs inevitably found themselves under increasing pressure. Reguilón, who struggled throughout, did manage to make a magnificent headed clearance off the line and over to safety while running back towards his own goal.

Still, Spurs offered nothing going forward. Kane, quiet as a mouse isolated upfront on his own following a lot of minutes for England in the preceding week.

Long, hopeful long balls only momentarily delayed the next Palace onslaught, until eventually their constant pressure was rewarded with a penalty; a clear Ben Davies handball following a cross. Zaha, who could easily have been red carded earlier in the half, stepped up to confidently slot away the penalty, sending Hugo Lloris the wrong way and putting Palace into a deserved lead on the seventy-sixth minute.

It was down to ten man Tottenham to throw something forward. Something they'd still failed to do all match with not a single chance created.

Then, to add to Spurs' misery, Palace brought on debutant Édouard inside the final ten minutes. His first touch in a Palace shirt saw him control a low cross from Zaha just inside the penalty area, and his second sent the ball beyond an outstretched Hugo Lloris into the bottom left corner to make it 2-0 to the home side.

From there, things went from bad to worse for Spurs. In the ninety-second minute, a dream debut for Édouard became even better. Having come off the bench as a late substitute he found himself scoring a second; a simple through ball splitting open that messy makeshift centre back pairing of Rodon and Davies, and from six yards out, Édouard sidefooted past Lloris, who could only deflect it into his net. 3-0 to Palace.

That's how it finished and things are suddenly looking worrying for Spurs – humbled by a decent Palace side today with Chelsea and rivals Arsenal to come in their next two Premier League fixtures.

Spurs Player Ratings:

• 1. Hugo Lloris – 4 – Can't really say he was at fault for any of the three goals. Didn't make many saves of note either though.

• 3. Sergio Reguilón – 3 – Looked shaky all game. Offered nothing going forward and apart from a good goal-line clearance, didn't do much defensively either.

• 25. Japhet Tanganga – 4 – Big chance in his favoured centre back role. Looked solid until his display of naivety, succumbing to the fever pitch atmosphere and seeing himself sent off early in the second half following two rash challenges in quick succession.

• 15. Eric Dier – N/A – Subbed off after 10 minutes following what looked a pretty damaging injury.

• 12. Emerson Royal – 4 – Showed flashes of why we bought him, but not enough to be named a nailed on starter just yet.

• 29. Oliver Skipp – 3 – Looked lost in the middle of the park. Something didn't seem quite right. Probably rushed back as a necessity following the groin injury sustained playing for England U21's in the week.

• 8. Harry Winks – 2 – Sadly what we've come to expect from Winks. Simply isn’t going to work for him at Spurs any longer. Once again failed to offer anything defensively or going forward which is desperately disappointing when you're a central midfielder. Dragged off for Davies following Tanganga's red.

• 5. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 3 – Similar to Skipp, looked a little lost and leggy following the international break.

• 20. Dele Alli – 2 – non-existent out there on the flank. Barely remember him having a touch.

• 27. Lucas Moura – 4 – Tried his usual industrious head down Lucas runs on occasion. Unfortunately they ended up with him running into an opponent, or himself into the ground. A sight we've sadly become all too familiar seeing.

• 10. Harry Kane – 3 – Isolated and ropey upfront. No service into him whatsoever. Struggled to get on the ball. Looked tired following a lot of minutes for England over the past week.

Substitutions:

• 15. Eric Dier <-- 10' --> 14. Joe Rodon – 3 – On as an early sub for the injured Dier. Noticeably shaky on his first appearance since the Euros in the summer.

• 8. Winks <-- 60' --> 33. Ben Davies – 2 – Thrown in at centre back following Tanganga's dismissal which highlighted Spurs' selection headaches. Clearly not a position he's cut out for and looked lost throughout his time on the pitch. Gave away a penalty to add insult to injury, quite blatantly throwing out an arm to block an incoming cross.