PREMIER LEAGUE
SUNDAY 11TH MAY, 2025
(2.15PM)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0(0) CRYSTAL PALACE 2(1)

Scorer:-
Eze 45, 48

Attendance:- 60,254

Referee:- Chris Kavanagh
Assistants:- Ian Hussin, Richard West
Fourth official:- Simon Hooper
VAR:- Graham Scott
Assistant VAR:- Constantine Hatzidakis

Teams:-
Spurs (4-3-3):- 31. Kinsky; 23. Pedro Porro (sub 7. Son, 58), 4. Danso, 33. Davies, 24. Spence; 14. Gray, 29. Sarr, 30. Bentancur (Capt.) (sub 8. Bissouma, 46); 28. Odobert, 21. Kulusevski (sub 47. Moore, 19), 11. Tel
(Armband to Davies, then Son)

Subs not used:- 1. Vicario; 17. Romero, 37. Van de Ven; 22. Johnson; 9. Richarlison, 19. Solanke

Booked:- Bentancur (foul on Sarr)

Palace (3-4-3):- 1. Henderson; 26. Richards, 5. Lacroix, 6. Guehi (Capt.); 12. Munoz, 19. Hughes (sub 55. Devenny, 87), 8. Lerma (sub 18. Kamada, 61), 3. Mitchell (sub 25. Chilwell, 61); 7. Sarr (sub 21. Esse, 78), 14. Mateta (sub 9. Nketiah, 60), 10. Eze

Subs not used:- 30. Turner; 17. Clyne, 58. Kporha; 11. Franca

Booked:- Lerma (Dissent after foul on Tel)

Spurs B team loses to Palace A team

Both teams have Cup Finals on the horizon. As expected, Ange Postecoglou rested most of those who had won in Norway on Thursday. Palace coach Oliver Glasner didn't read the script, and Adam Wharton was the only first choice player missing from a Palace side which faces Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday.

The Spurs B team did not perform or even compete. We were overrun by Palace, who gave a display of football they hope to repeat in the FA Cup Final.

The statistics resulting from this match do not make edifying reading, now or next season, even if we do win the Europa League. 20 league defeats; 17th place below even a pathetic West Ham team (who beat our Europa League Final opponents at Old Trafford); 9 home defeats, and our lowest ever Premier League points tally (we are not getting six points from our last two games against teams battling for European qualification). Crystal Palace achieved their first ever league double over Spurs.

My utter disappointment with our Premier League season will not be assuaged by victory in Bilbao. Kulusevski lasted 19 minutes today, succumbing to an apparent knee injury. Postecoglou (once known as "Big Ange" and also once loved) said he should be okay, but "Deki" has yet to recover form or full fitness since his recent absence through injury. Spurs had no playmaker after his departure and potentially at Bilbao. I have no confidence in my team.

There was the sound of "Y viva Espana" and "Can't smile without you" (I can't smile at all, Spurs), and of course the trumpet-led "Oh when the Spurs..." before Palace kicked off in the warm sunshine in front of over 60,000 people.

Arguably Spurs' most exciting moment of the game came after 40 seconds when Pedro Porro raced ahead of Odobert and won a corner. That came to nothing, and Dean Henderson was not truly bothered all day in the Palace goal.

Munoz impressed on the right wing and Palace's Sarr met his cross at the back post, where Kinsky managed to save. Kinsky was playing for the first time in three months and looked a little nervous. We reverted to type with edgy play in and around the box, often struggling to get out of our half.

Archie Gray intercepted in midfield and had an effort go wide after a one-two exchange. We thought we had gone one down after 8 minutes. Eze passed to Munoz on the right, and Sarr converted his cross. The goal was announced before VAR decreed that Mateta had been offside. It was the first of two VAR decisions in or favour.

Palace presented the ball to Spurs and Kulusevski got into the box on the right, but his shot was blocked for a corner. At the other end, Kinsky initially fumbled a shot by Munoz, but recovered to hold the ball.

The injured Kulusevski was replaced by Mikey Moore, who has also not been seen much in a Spurs shirt of late. Mikey initially played on the left with Odobert on the other flank and Tel in the middle. It didn't matter much because thee Spurs attack did not see enough of the ball.

Kinsky made a great save after a Palace corner in the 25th minute. Sarr threatened, but it was a close range shot by Mateta that Kinsky saved. Palace had two or three corners here and in a subsequent attack Munoz skimmed the bar with a rising shot. Two more corners followed and Kinsky saved from Lerma and Richards. Bentancur had been left behind by Mateta in one of the Palace moves.

Bentancur was wearing the captain's armband for the first time this season and was the seventh Spurs player to wear the armband at kick-off.

Palace were guilty of overplaying when Munoz tried to tee up Mateta, but there had been an offside in any case. Spurs were being over-run and Eze fired just wide from 25 yards before VAR came to our rescue again. Guehi had apparently "scored" after a corner, but the ball had gone in off his arm.

Palace did take a thoroughly deserved lead though. Munoz raced away down the right and his cross was converted by Eze. I thought Munoz might have been offside, but this time VAR allowed the goal.

Spurs played a lengthy video tribute at half-time to those fans we have lost over the last year. They might have added satisfying and entertaining football by the home side to that list.

Bentancur (who had been booked) was replaced by Bissouma and Ben Davies took the armband. It wasn't long before Spurs were two down. They had been on the attack with both Odobert and Pedro Porro having shots blocked but were caught out when Sarr raced away down the right (past Spence) and crossed for Eze to score with an easy finish.

There would be no way back for Spurs. Kinsky saved from Mateta, and conceded a corner when Danso headed out a Palace long throw move. Mikey Moore just missed out when Odobert's cross reached the back post and Sarr headed wide after an excellent Pedro Porro cross.

Pedro Porro was now replaced by our captain, making his first appearance for a month. Archie Gray moved to right back. Mikey Moore moved to the right with Tel to the left of Son.

Man of the match Eze demonstrated skill at close quarters in the box before his shot was just over. Odobert had a shot blocked after Son's pass. In the closing stages, Son was closed down after a good pass inside by Tel. Palace substitute Eddie Nketiah had been given the traditional ex-Arsenal welcome by Spurs fans and failed with a shot in added time.

I suspect Postecoglou will give more of his key players a run-out at Villa Park on Friday night before the big night in Bilbao on Wednesday 21st May. This season, and next hinges on the result against Manchester United. In truth, nothing else matters.

. London Derby results since 1997.

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