Five things we learned from Tottenham Hotspur’s 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace
Tottenham Hotspur failed to respond after their relegation rivals picked up points earlier in the week and lost 3-1 to Crystal Palace, deepening their relegation woes.
Here are five things we learned from Tottenham Hotspur 1-3 Crystal Palace.
Tottenham errors continue to cost Spurs as Micky van de Ven sees red
It was yet another defeat for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League tonight, making it three London derby defeats on the bounce.
Today’s loss did not even feel unfamiliar but instead served as the perfect representation of Spurs’ season thus far.
Tottenham have been their own biggest enemy this campaign, with individual errors often proving costly, and today it was more of the same.
Just four games ago, we saw Cristian Romero pick up a foolish red card against Manchester United when the game was still level and in its early stages.
Tonight it was Micky van de Ven who made the rash decision early in the first half when Tottenham were leading, bringing down Ismaila Sarr and denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
It was such an amateur mistake, given how early in the game it was. Just let him in on goal and give your team a chance to compete instead of turning the game on its head and throwing your side under the bus.
Pressure grows on Igor Tudor after three defeats
It might still be early days, but at this stage of the season and the situation Tottenham find themselves in, there is little time for patience.
Igor Tudor has managed three games and has lost all three, already conceding nine goals in the process.
Jamie O’Hara has already stated that Tudor could be sacked should he lose against Palace, and, given Spurs’ struggles, that is not entirely far-fetched.
The second-half display might just buy him some time, but there is a growing feeling that if he does not start getting wins on the board soon, his brief tenure might be much shorter.
Tottenham defensive reshuffle as Cristian Romero returns but Micky van de Ven misses Liverpool
Tudor was not too far away from having his first-choice back four fit and available to him, but that is no longer the case.
It has quickly become a situation of one in and another out. Cristian Romero is expected to return against Liverpool, with today’s game the final of his four-match ban.
However, that return will now be marked by the absence of van de Ven, who is set to miss that fixture following his red card. Given the club’s injury crisis, it is the last thing they need at the moment.
Archie Gray shows fight for Tottenham as senior Spurs players struggle
Of course, there was still some positive from today’s game, and it came in the form of 19-year-old Archie Gray.
The teenager just seems to get it, playing like someone who understands exactly what is at stake, putting his body on the line, going in for every tackle and chasing every loose ball.
That is the sort of fight Tottenham need in this relegation scrap. The senior players should take a leaf from the teenager’s book. His assist today was superb, but the display in general from Tottenham was rather disappointing.
Tottenham dragged deeper into relegation battle with nine games remaining
Believe it or not, what might have started as a joke is now a full-on reality – Spurs are in a relegation dogfight.
The difference between Tottenham and 18th-placed West Ham United is now a single point following the Hammers’ victory against Fulham on Wednesday.
Tottenham go to Liverpool next, while West Ham and Nottingham Forest take on Manchester City and Fulham, respectively.
One slip-up from the Lilywhites and a victory for the Hammers will see Spurs drop underneath the dotted line. Nine games remain and it is all to play for in the relegation fight.
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