Tottenham were set to move up into the top four today, with Alan Pardew only moving to Crystal Palace a few days before today’s game. This accompanied by Tottenham’s impressive run and a number of players on form meant that the game looked over before it started.
This wasn’t the case, as Palace faced up to Tottenham every minute of the game, both teams having good spells of possession, but both teams finished the rather even half with confidence. Neither teams put in amazing performances but as the second half began, both teams started to come to life. Pardew’s introduction of Adlène Guedioura gave a massive boost to Palace, and Dwight Gale began to frustrate the Tottenham’s severely slow midfield and defence. Palace were silenced four minutes in as the in-form Harry Kane slotted yet another goal in, raising his overall tally in all competitions to an outstanding twenty three.
This is where the game flipped on its head. The term “new manager syndrome” is likely to be thrown around. But credit to Pardew and the Palace fans, the team came to life, and the spirit and atmosphere at Selhurst Park was electric, and Palace’s run of possession resulted in an absolutely terrible foul from Benjamin Stambouli which gifted Dwight Gale the opportunity to turn the game around. And he did exactly that with a well-struck penalty past Lloris, which sent the Palace fans bellowing with support for their reinvigorated squad.
Source: tottenhamhotspur.com
Pochettino made a strange substitution as the game restarted, bringing Etienne Capoue on for Andros Townsend. Although Townsend had a pretty shocking game, this substitution damaged Tottenham’s attacking efforts severely, and they allowed Palace to dominate even further. The introduction of Wilfred Zaha was Tottenham’s demise, as him and Gayle upstaged a stranded Spurs squad, left with no ideas or spirit to turn the game around. Pochettino’s next substitution was another confusing one, as he bought on an insecure Roberto Soldado in an attempt to change the game.
Further reduction from the spurs midfield meant that Jason Puncheon could fire a shot past a rooted Lloris, which ended the game from there. Palace took off Gayle after a great game eighty three minutes in, probably with the confidence that Spurs dug themselves a hole that they couldn’t pull themselves out of. The Glaziers remained dominant, and although Tottenham showed desire in the last few minutes of the game and extra time, it was far too late for them to make a difference. Tottenham desperately tried to get something from the game, but their fantastic run of games ended in this defeat today.
Credit to the Eagles though, as Pardew’s debut was a promising one, and his attempt to restart his career at Palace could prove very fruitful. But for Spurs, Pochettino’s lack of midfield quality and absolutely terrible tactical substitutions means that beating Chelsea does not spell the end for Tottenham’s worries. And it is evident that in order to stop dropping points, something needs to change. Hopefully this change will be evident to us all soon, and looking at the premier league table, it isn’t all doom and gloom for Spurs just yet. Hopefully a win in the FA cup against Burnley can give us a boost going into the next league game against Sunderland. Until then, come on you Spurs!
Matt Healing
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The Capoue sub was made before the goal, I think. Wanted more stability in the midfield. It was more individual errors like Stambouli. I thought it was a dive from Ledley but who dives in there when there was no threat to the goal. Also that wasn’t the only time Stambouli looked uncomfortable, althouth he wriggled out of them with some fancy footwork. We don’t have the calm that Bentaleb brings