Mateta's red card leaves Palace with ten men and in relegation zone

Tottenham secured a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace, who played with ten men following Jean-Philippe Mateta's red card in the 13th minute. Mateta received a straight red for a dangerous tackle on Micky van de Ven after the referee initially issued a yellow card, which was overturned following a VAR review. This defeat marks Palace's third consecutive loss, leaving them in the relegation zone and increasing pressure on manager Pierre Sage.

Archie Gray opened the scoring for Spurs with a header from a corner just 12 minutes after Mateta's dismissal. Jan Paul van Hecke then added a second goal in the second half, ensuring Tottenham's third straight league win. This victory allows Spurs to climb to eighth in the Premier League, while it is the first time they have achieved three consecutive league wins since February 2025.

Despite being reduced to ten players, Crystal Palace showed resilience throughout the match, making it difficult for Spurs to secure a second goal. However, Van Hecke's scrappy finish provided the Spurs fans with relief. The match also saw teenager Luca Williams-Barnett make his Premier League debut, where he assisted Mohammed Kudus, who missed a close-range opportunity.

The loss leaves Palace in a precarious position, sitting third-bottom in the league. With crucial matches against Liverpool, Coventry, and Hull on the horizon, the pressure mounts on Sage to improve results. The team's struggles have raised concerns about their defensive capabilities, particularly from set-pieces, which has been a recurring issue under Sage's management.

Tottenham's dominant performance included a remarkable 34 shots, the most they have recorded in a Premier League match since February 2016. The match also saw Spurs hold 79.4 percent possession, their second-highest in Premier League history, while Palace recorded their lowest ever possession at just 20.6 percent.

via Sky Sports