Tottenham failed to build on last week’s triumph, succumbing to a resilient Crystal Palace side, who clinched a 1-0 victory at Selhurst Park to earn their first Premier League win of the season. Despite Spurs’ dominance in possession, it was Palace who showed the grit and determination needed to secure all three points.
The breakthrough came in the first half when Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven was dispossessed deep in his own half. After a scramble in the box, Jean-Philippe Mateta powered home to give Palace the lead, lifting them out of the relegation zone.
Palace, who had been struggling in front of goal this season, defended fiercely, holding their shape and frustrating Tottenham's attempts to equalise.
Eberechi Eze, back to his creative best, was a constant threat. His clever movement and vision set up Mateta’s goal and continued to create issues for Spurs throughout the match.
Eze also had a close call in the second half, slipping the ball past Spurs’ keeper Guglielmo Vicario, though it was ruled offside. Later, Eze sparked controversy by appealing for a penalty when he was pulled down in the area, though no foul was awarded.
Tottenham, missing the influence of injured captain Son Heung-Min, looked disjointed and lacked attacking cohesion. Stand-in captain James Maddison saw little opportunity to make an impact, and Dean Henderson in the Palace goal produced a brilliant fingertip save to deny him from scoring on his 200th league appearance.
Spurs’ late efforts fell short, with substitute Richarlison missing a close-range chance that could have drawn the game level. Palace’s defence, which had kept just one clean sheet this season, held firm to deny Spurs a single goal.
This result marks a huge relief for Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, who has been under pressure with just three points from eight games before this match. Palace’s newfound resilience, as Glasner noted, sets a "benchmark" for future performances, while Tottenham’s failure to capitalise on their dominance sees them falter, dampening their top-four ambitions.
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