Tottenham Hotspur increased the pressure on Crystal Palace coach Pierre Sage as they took advantage of Jean-Philippe Mateta’s early red card to secure a third successive Premier League victory.
Palace is now in the bottom three with only two league wins in nine games under Frenchman Sage, whose cause was not helped when striker Mateta was sent off after only 13 minutes for an ugly lunge at Spurs defender, Micky van de Ven.
Mateta was dismissed after a video assistant referee (VAR) review by Michael Oliver, and the Eagles’ task made even harder when Archie Gray took advantage of poor marking from Mohammed Kudus’ corner to head home after 25 minutes.
Palace showed plenty of spirit but the numerical advantage took its toll as Spurs dominated, although it took a crucial block from Dominic Solanke to deny Dwight McNeil when he had a big opportunity after the break.
Spurs sealed the win after 73 minutes when defender Jan Paul van Hecke showed swift reactions to head in from a prone position in the six-yard area after Palace keeper Dean Henderson had turned his first effort on to the bar.
It meant Roberto de Zerbi and Spurs have now moved into the top half of the table as confidence and self-belief return after times of struggle.