Football Review | Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 3 Crystal Palace

Tottenham Hotspur are in trouble. 

Their fears of a first top-flight relegation since 1977 deepened as Crystal Palace struck three times in a devastating 12-minute.

Author | Greg S

Stadium | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Spurs, who spent more than half the match with 10 men, have now gone 11 league games without victory.

It all started well for the home side

The hosts had moved ahead in the 34th minute when England forward Dominic Solanke finished from close range.

Yet the game shifted dramatically four minutes later when defender Micky van de Ven was dismissed. Palace immediately took control as Ismaïla Sarr struck twice, either side of a goal from Jørgen Strand Larsen, securing consecutive league victories at Tottenham for the first time as thousands of home supporters headed for the exits at half time.

The defeat leaves Spurs 16th, only a point above the relegation zone and still without a league win in 2026, while Palace climb to 13th.

West Ham had increased the pressure on Tottenham earlier in the week.

With 18th-placed West Ham United increasing the pressure after their midweek victory at Fulham, Tottenham needed urgency from the outset.

It was Palace who began sharply at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Within a minute Adam Wharton tested Guglielmo Vicario with a half-volley that the goalkeeper pushed away after a long throw from Chris Richards caused confusion in the penalty area.

Tottenham responded with an attack of their own, Mathys Tel cutting inside from the left before forcing a save from Dean Henderson.
Palace believed they had broken through in the 30th minute when Sarr’s shot took a deflection off Pedro Porro and looped over Vicario. The celebrations were cut short after the video assistant referee ruled the Senegal international narrowly offside when receiving a pass from Jaydee Canvot.

The hosts struck four minutes later. Archie Gray surged to the byline and cut the ball back for Solanke, who converted from close range.

Yet Tottenham again contributed to their own undoing. Van de Ven misjudged the flight of the ball and pulled down Sarr, conceding a penalty and earning a red card. It was the home side’s fourth dismissal of the season and proved costly as Sarr calmly sent Vicario the wrong way to level in the 40th minute.

Tactical changes at half-time didn't pay off

Interim manager Igor Tudor reacted before the break with a double substitution, introducing Conor Gallagher and Yves Bissouma in place of Souza and Randal Kolo Muani.

Palace had already seized the momentum. In the first minute of stoppage time Strand Larsen slipped a low finish through Vicario’s legs after an exquisitely weighted pass from Wharton, marking his third goal since joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers in January.

The visitors added further punishment moments later. Another incisive ball from Wharton split the defence and Sarr finished clinically for his second, prompting a mass walkout from disillusioned Tottenham supporters.

There was less drama in the second-half but the damage was already done. We have to emphasise this again. Spurs are in trouble.