Tottenham are in crisis after a shocking 3-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace, a result that leaves them just one point above the relegation zone and on a club-record 11 Premier League games without a win.
Igor Tudor is 21 days into the job but has yet to find answers. Spurs — last relegated from the top flight in 1977 — now face a brutal run of fixtures, including a trip to Liverpool, and every game looks far more difficult for a side low on confidence, ravaged by injuries and down to 10 men at half-time.
The match swung dramatically after an early VAR intervention and a moment of individual brilliance. Palace thought they had opened the scoring when Ismaila Sarr finished off a sweeping move, but the goal was disallowed after a lengthy check that deemed Sarr marginally offside. That reprieve was brief. Archie Gray produced an exquisite piece of footwork to set up Dominic Solanke, who put Spurs ahead from close range.
The turning point came moments later when Sarr got in behind Tottenham’s defence and Micky van de Ven tugged him down. The referee awarded a penalty and sent Van de Ven off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity — the second Spurs captain dismissed in five games. Sarr coolly converted the spot-kick to level, and Palace seized control.
Palace’s second arrived from a quick transition. Evann Guessand won the ball from Pape Sarr’s poor pass, Adam Wharton picked out Jørgen Strand Larsen, whose effort squirmed through Guglielmo Vicario’s legs to put Palace ahead just before half-time. Sarr then added a third in stoppage time, sweeping in a composed finish to compound Tottenham’s misery and spark a mass exodus from the home sections.
Vicario, who had earlier failed to keep out Strand Larsen’s shot and then was beaten by Sarr’s strike, was booed by some supporters who remained — not the first time this season he has faced criticism.
Spurs showed some fight in the second half and limited the damage, but they appeared out on their feet. Down to 10 men, confidence low and injuries mounting, the task ahead looks daunting. The club now faces a punishing schedule: Atlético Madrid (A) in the Champions League, Liverpool (A) in the Premier League, Atlético (H) in the second leg, then a relegation six-pointer at home to Nottingham Forest, followed by matches against Sunderland and Brighton.
Tudor, after his third straight defeat since taking charge, insisted he saw enough to increase his belief Spurs will avoid the drop. “I understand the fans, they wanted more,” he said. “We also wanted more. The red card changed everything. It might sound strange, I believe more after this game than I believed before. I saw something. I need to choose the right guys because the boat is going in the direction that I need to go, and who is in the boat can stay, otherwise [they] can leave the boat. When the other players come back, I’m sure we’ll have a good team and come back. It’s not easy to accept the moment we are in now.”
Palace boss Oliver Glasner praised his side’s progress, noting improved training time and integration of new players. “We can see the new players are knowing the way we want to play better and better,” he said. “I talk about Crystal Palace. I remember we lost 3-1 here. And we had no chance to win this game. They were so much better and when I see the last two games we’ve won here, I think we were better than we were and that’s the development of Crystal Palace.”
Key moments
– 29 mins: Sarr finishes a Palace move but the goal is later ruled out for offside.
– 35 mins: Solanke puts Tottenham ahead from close range.
– 38 mins: Micky van de Ven is sent off for pulling back Sarr, denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
– 40 mins: Sarr converts the penalty to level.
– 45+1 mins: Strand Larsen restores Palace’s lead as his shot goes through Vicario’s legs.
– 45+7 mins: Sarr scores Palace’s third before half-time.
Team news
– Igor Tudor made four changes to his Spurs side: Kevin Danso, Souza, Pape Sarr and Mathys Tel came in. Radu Drăgușin was missing from the squad.
– Crystal Palace started Chadi Riad for the suspended Maxence Lacroix, and Evann Guessand replaced Brennan Johnson on his return to north London.
Player ratings (selected)
– Tottenham: Vicario (3), Porro (4), Van de Ven (3), Gray (6), Solanke (5), Tel (6). Subs: Gallagher (4), Bissouma (4), Simons (4), Richarlison (4).
– Crystal Palace: Henderson (7), Canvot (7), Richards (7), Riad (7), Kamada (7), Wharton (8), Sarr (8), Strand Larsen (8). Subs: Clyne (7), Johnson (6), Hughes (6), Uche (6).
– Player of the Match: Ismaila Sarr.
Stats and context
– Tottenham have failed to win 11 successive league games for the first time since 1975 and have lost five Premier League matches in a row for the first time since 2004.
– Igor Tudor is the second Spurs head coach in Premier League history to lose each of his first three games in charge.
– Tottenham have conceded two or more goals in nine successive league matches — a club record.
– Micky van de Ven received his first red card for the club in his 86th appearance; Spurs have four red cards this season, only Chelsea have more (7).
Spurs’ next six fixtures
– Tue Mar 10: Atlético Madrid (A) — Champions League
– Sun Mar 15: Liverpool (A) — Premier League
– Wed Mar 18: Atlético Madrid (H) — Champions League
– Sun Mar 22: Nottingham Forest (H) — Premier League
– Sun Apr 12: Sunderland (A) — Premier League
– Sat Apr 18: Brighton (H) — Premier League
The result leaves Tottenham in a precarious position. They must find form, fitness and resolve quickly to avoid a slide that would be unthinkable at this club — and to steady a ship that looks dangerously close to capsizing.