MATCH FACTS
- Date – 26th April 2017
- Venue – Selhurst Park
- Attendance – 25,596
- Referee – Jon Moss
- Bookings – Wanyama, Walker, Kane, Ward, Milivojevic, Zaha
- Goals – Eriksen (78)
- Star Eagle – Luka Milivojevic (7.6)
TEB VERDICT
An excellent first half showing was not matched by a tiring Palace side. It eventually took a goal from distance to break the hosts resolve in a game that clearly frustrated a title chasing Spurs side. The Eagles were good value for a point who can feel a little aggrieved by what was a frustratingly poor refereeing performance. The loss of Sakho was perhaps the turning point in the game as the influential central defender left the pitch to what looks like a season ending knee injury. Perhaps the players with wear Sakho shirts in the warm up before the game on Saturday ….
PLAYER RATINGS (courtesy of Who Scored)
13 Wayne Hennessey (6.2) – Good game for the Welshman between the sticks. Nothing glamorous, just did the simple things well. Harsh to be critical over the goal.
2 Joel Ward (6.4) – Struggled a little in this one up against a side strong in the challenge throughout. Found it difficult to get forward and support the attack.
34 Martin Kelly (6.8) – Proving to be an inspired move in the centre of defence and going about his business with the littlest of fuss.
12 Mamadou Sakho (6.4) – Excellent game right up until what looks very much like a season ending injury, may also be the last time we see him wearing a Palace shirt too sadly. Replaced by 27 Damien Delaney (6.4) on 57 minutes who slotted in and stood firm for the time he was on.
31 Jeffrey Schlupp (7.0) – Once again proving his turn of pace is a real asset particularly when having to cover or get back into position.
28 Luka Milivojevic (7.6) – Another towering game from the Serbian enforcer in the midfield which is making people look up and struggle with his name more often than not.
18 James McArthur (6.8) – The return of the midfield machine and the Scot showed just what we had been missing with a superb first half but ran out of steam in the second half due to lack of match fitness. Replaced by 7 Yohan Cabaye (5.8) on 64 minutes and a point in the game where the visitors were asserting themselves and the Frenchman found it difficult to get involved.
42 Jason Puncheon (6.8) – Not his best game but was a constant nuisance for the opposition and a big part of why Spurs made changes at the break.
11 Wilfried Zaha (6.7) – A very good battle with England full back Kyle Walker which the enigmatic winger just edged with his skill and slight of touch in full effect.
10 Andros Townsend (6.6) – Keen to impress against one of his former clubs and continued with his good recent form working hard up and down the flanks.
17 Christian Benteke (6.4) – Found it difficult up against an in form defensive unit but still caused them difficulties at times. Wasted a good chance early on. Replaced by 9 Frazier Campbell (6.0) on 81 minutes who hardly managed a touch of the ball as the visitors were intent on keeping the ball to see out the game.
Unused substitutes – 1 Julian Speroni, 3 Patrick van Aanholt, 4 Mathieu Flamini, 26 Bakary Sako
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAID
‘Outstanding team effort by the players, who have had less time to recover against an exceptionally good side. Our application was outstanding and we gave Tottenham a hell of a game in the first half, nip and tuck, but of course it would happen that we would tire given the lack of recovery time compared to Tottenham.’ – SAM ALLARDYCE talking to BBC Sport.
‘It was unbelievable. Very good performance. I think second half we played much better than in the first half. It was difficult in the first half for us to move the ball and find the space but we changed the shape at half time and it was more fluid, we started to find the space and started to push Palace deeper and deeper.’ – MAURICIO POCHETTINO talking to BBC Sport.
MATCH STATISTICS
The Who Scored man of the match was Christian Eriksen (8.2) while Harry Kane (5) had the most shots. Jeffrey Schlupp (5) made the most tackles while Wilfried Zaha and Harry Kane (4) had the most dribbles.
- Team rating: 6.55 – 7.07
- Total shots: 6 – 18
- Shots on target: 1 – 4
- Possession: 31% – 69%
- Pass success: 57% – 83%
- Dribbles: 8 – 13
- Aerials won: 21 – 23
- Tackles: 24 – 22
- Corners: 2 – 11
- Dispossessed: 20 – 14
POSITION IN THE TABLE
Palace remain 12th in the Premier League table on 38 points from 34 games, one point ahead of Stoke City and level with Bournemouth and West Ham United in 13th and 14th respectively.
REMAINING FIXTURES
- 29/04/2017 Burnley (h)
- 06/05/2017 Manchester City (a)
- 14/05/2017 Hull City (h)
- 21/05/2017 Manchester United (a)
