Spurs Hold Off Late Flourish To Beat Palace

The poor form against Spurs continued Friday night with the hosts putting in a disappointing showing at Selhurst to leave fans heading home frustrated.

MATCH INFORMATION

• 8pm – 27th October 2023
• Crystal Palace 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
• Selhurst Park, Holmesdale Road, London SE25 6PU

PLAYER RATINGS

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES – 4 Rob HOLDING, 26 Chris RICHARDS, 31 Remi MATTHEWS, 44 Jairo RIEDEWALD

OPPOSITION LINE-UP

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES – 4 Oliver SKIPP, 15 Eric DIER, 18 Giovani LO CELSO, 20 Fraser FORSTER

TEB VERDICT

This was the second of two consecutive games that looking at the fixture list we knew would be tough, let alone with certain creative players missing through injury. As Roy said, Spurs are top of the table for a reason but other than a late burst, the Eagles rarely threatened them and at times it was a walk in the park.

The next phase of fixtures is the important one heading to Burnley next week but that does not excuse this performance which showed nothing going forward and frustratingly allowed the Spurs back line to have as much of the ball as they wanted without being threatened.

It must be said though, the comments from Roy about Rak-Sakyi and Franca were very odd indeed and not what those players needed to hear. We are big fans of Roy here at TEB, but he was wrong in this instance to make such comments in our opinion.

BOB’S POINT OF VIEW

Bob White was a coach at Palace under the tenure of Steve Coppell and Alan Smith and will be sharing his point of view each week in our review article.

POST GAME QUOTES

ROY HODGSON

“I thought our first-half performance was good. We gave them a good game throughout. We are playing a good team. When you are 2-0 down it becomes very difficult. We took some chances and put some players on the field who have not played much for us and had a look at them. Right to the end, the team was fighting. We scored a late goal, had lots of corner kicks and were pressing. I am not disappointed in the performance but I am in the result of course.

I trust the team and the players and in the first half I thought our structure was good. We made life difficult for Tottenham. At the break we were satisfied, but when the first goal goes in with their ability to keep hold of the ball it makes it difficult. We are playing against the team top of the league. We were trying and wanted to do it, but they are not top of the league for nothing. It was easy for them at 2-0 to take all the time in the world on the ball.

The performance was very different to the one last week. My overriding feeling is disappointment that we couldn’t build on the first-half performance.”

ANGE POSTACOGLU

“I really like the way we handled tonight. They’re a very well drilled team defensively. I knew it wasn’t going to be an open game with bags of chances. The boys were patient and found the gaps in the ways we spoke about. And then real composure when we got ahead. A bit of drama at the end but I thought the lads handled it really well.”

MATCH STATISTICS

POSITION IN THE TABLE (at the final whistle)

UPCOMING FIXTURES

04/11/23 Burnley (a) – Premier League 3pm

11/11/23 Everton (h) – Premier League 3pm

25/11/23 Luton Town (a) – Premier League 3pm