Key events
Match report
Here’s Ed Aarons’ verdict from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The latest Premier League golden boot standings are here; Van Hecke’s second goal of the season means he is now Tottenham’s top scorer this season.
Some post-match thoughts from Jan Paul van Hecke: “We created a lot of chances, the red card helped us … we had to be patient because we know they play a low block. We took a while to score the second, could have scored more, but we’re happy.”
A well-timed Uber Eats ad there, featuring Tony Pulis, Sam Allardyce and Alan Pardew. The ghosts of Palace past!
Updated at 15.30 EDT
“I think it was José Mourinho who pooh-poohed the old saw about not looking at the table until 10 games are done; points are points after all,” writes Gary Naylor. “So many clubs seem to be inconsistent or actually imploding before our very eyes. All that manager churn can’t help – coaches need stability to build confidence.”
Here’s the Premier League table:
ShareFull time! Tottenham 2-0 Crystal Palace
Save for one nervy moment when Dwight McNeil got a sight of goal, this was very comfortable for Spurs, who took a firm grip of the game after Mateta’s red card. There will be tougher tests ahead, but Tottenham look like a cohesive team again. Palace, on the other hand, look to be in trouble.
92 mins: Kulusevski unleashes a rocket towards the top corner, but Henderson is equal to it again. He’s been Palace’s best player.
Updated at 15.21 EDT
90 mins: A lovely little cameo from Williams-Barnett, jinking through Palace defenders like a spring lamb and squaring for Kudus – who shanks away from an open goal in the Sunday League style.
Updated at 15.37 EDT
88 mins: Sage hooks Wharton and Kamada, throwing on Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma. “It’s been Van Hecke of a game for Spurs!” honks Peter Oh.
87 mins: Tel takes his leave after a very impressive display, and he’s replaced by homegrown hopeful Luca Williams-Barnett. Big cheers all round.
Spurs’ Mathys Tel gets the better of Crystal Palace’s Oscar Mingueza and Yeremi Pino. Photograph: Jed Leicester/Tottenham Hotspur FC/ShutterstockShare
Updated at 15.31 EDT
85 mins: Kudus gets in behind the back four and flicks the ball past Henderson – but he looks a mile offside, and the flag duly goes up.
83 mins: Not much happening now, as Palace fans contemplate that long cross-capital journey home. On which subject, here’s Julian Borrill: “Just looking at London, the longest trip looks like Bromley to Wealdstone at 1hr 54min. But a shout-out to Brentford-Hornchurch at 1hr 24min – all on the District Line.”
Updated at 15.15 EDT
81 mins: Another fine stop from Henderson, springing to his left to save Gallagher’s goalbound shot. Palace look like they’re going to need him if they’re to stay out of trouble.
A strong hand from Dean Henderson denies Tottenham another goal. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PAShare
Updated at 15.32 EDT
79 mins: Should they hold on to this lead, Tottenham will move up to eighth. Their next four games are Leeds (A), Ipswich (H), Sunderland (A) and Fulham (H) – and then it’s the North London Derby.
76 mins: Kulusevski and Udogie come on, replacing Marmoush and Robertson. Now their injury problems are easing, Spurs’ bench is starting to look quite stacked.
The centre-back has been playing almost as an auxiliary forward in the second half, and he does a decent Harry Kane impression here, stretching to beat two Palace defenders with a header. Henderson saves, it hits the underside of the bar, then bounces in off Van Hecke’s bonce as he falls to the floor.
ShareGOAL! Tottenham 2-0 Crystal Palace (Van Hecke 73′)
Spurs finally have their second goal, thanks to Jan Paul van Hecke, who bundles home Fernandes’ superb cross at the far post. Game over now, surely.
Jan Paul van Hecke’s header is pushed onto the bar by Dean Henderson … Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images/ReutersVan Hecke (centre) reacts quickest to nod the ball over the line. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PAAnd then celebrate his goal. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images/ReutersShare
Updated at 15.34 EDT
71 mins: Oof! Robertson plays an instinctive one-two with Marmoush, but his touch then lets him down and he’s forced to try and chip Henderson from an impossible angle, sending the ball behind.
Andy Robertson gets his shot past Crystal Palace’s keeper Dean Henderson but it’s too tight an angle to find the net. Photograph: Carlos Jasso/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 15.05 EDT
69 mins: A potential Palace breakaway is halted by a handball decision. Still, with 20 minutes to go, the visitors have a route to get a result, which looked unlikely at half-time.
67 mins: Tel tries to recreate his clinical finish at Stamford Bridge, but sends his shot crashing into the hoardings to the left of goal.
65 mins: Pedro Porro is the latest Spurs player to fire high and wide. A second change from De Zerbi: Conor Gallagher is on, replacing Solanke and allowing Marmoush to push further forward.
63 mins: Marmoush has options to his right, but his pass is poor and cut out by Mitchell – only to then ricochet back towards Henderson, who has to parry it away! Proper pinball stuff at either end.
62 mins: Maybe now, as Kamada’s cross floats across the Spurs box and finds McNeil’s boot – but his well-struck shot is blocked by Solanke. That gives Tottenham the chance to break …
Updated at 14.53 EDT
61 mins: Van Hecke has a blast from 30 yards out that isn’t particularly close. At what point do Spurs fans start to get antsy about this slender lead?
59 mins: Two changes for Palace, with Anan Khalaili and midweek scorer Eddie Nketiah replacing Pino and Mingueza. Spurs fans give former Gunner Nketiah a frosty reception.
58 mins: Pino is robbed in midfield and Spurs use the little bit of extra space, Tel finding Solanke whose shot is deflected behind. A tenth corner for the hosts, but it comes to nothing.
An unchallenged Dean Henderson (centre) plucks the ball from the air. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PAShare
Updated at 14.52 EDT
56 mins: Jan-Paul van Hecke finds himself in the area and has a shot that’s charged down at close range. Pierre Sage, who sounds to me like a French philosopher, chews on his pipe and ponders some changes.
54 mins: In the first 10 minutes of the second half, the ball has spent about 20 seconds in the Spurs final third. There’s a penalty shout as Fernandes’ shot hits Disasi on the shoulder, but not low enough to interest the VAR.
53 mins: Mingueza goes in the book after catching Tel with a flailing arm. From the free kick, Spurs keep the ball and keep the pressure on.
52 mins: Possession is close to 80-20 in Tottenham’s favour, and the territorial battle must be even more one-sided. The hosts’ latest attack ends when Solanke is penalised for a foul.
50 mins: Solanke is next to have a go, taking down Perro’s cross, swivelling and lashing a shot at goal. It’s central, but Henderson still has to throw up a strong arm to stop the power alone beating him.
49 mins: Robertson and Tel are working well together on the left, and the full-back curls in a cross that Marmoush can only head towards Henderson.
46 mins: Tel’s shot is deflected off Richards’ shins for a corner, which is headed out into the path of Fernandes. He drills a shot that is flicked off target by a Palace boot – I think that was heading in.
ShareSecond half
A half-time change for Spurs, with Pedro Porro replacing the goalscorer, Archie Gray. Not sure if that’s injury-related – Gray was excellent in the first half.
“Re: Mateta. If a player decides to slide in, uncontrolled from behind, with their studs up … c’mon, we’ve all got work in the morning,” writes David Penney.
ShareHalf time: Tottenham 1-0 Crystal Palace
Spurs end the first half a goal and a man up thanks to Archie Gray’s header, after Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off following a VAR review. The hosts have dominated, but need another goal or two to avoid any second-half nerves.
46 mins: Unfortunately, Dwight McNeil’s through ball lands harmlessly in the giant, Jean-Philippe Mateta-shaped hole in the Tottenham half.
45 mins: Two added minutes, and another Spurs free kick to fend off for Palace. Fernandes’ cross is cleared at the far post, and Palace try to break …