Foyth scores as Spurs rule in the Palace rain

Crystal Palace 0 : 1 Tottenham Hotspur

A Juan Foyth goal in the second half separated the sides in the teeming south London rain as several records connected with general Palace fecklessness extended their lifespan. The home side extended their unwanted record of home games without a goal to six. They have still not scored at home from open play all season.

If such a side can have a talisman forward, it is Eagles’ Wilfred Zaha but he was unavailable for the home side who had also lost their last six matches against their North London visitors before today. In addition Palace had not won at home for five games and had not won a game without the Ivory Coast winger since October 2016 when they beat Sunderland 3-2.

Max Meyer, who Palace signed on a free from Schalke, finally had a chance to show why he came with such a high reputation. In Zaha’s absence, Jordan Ayew got his sixth league start of the season with Meyer receiving just his third.

Dele Alli started for the first time in two months for Spurs but Mousa Dembele and Davinson Sanchez were missing. Spurs’ Argentinian defender Foyth who gave away two penalties against Wolves, retained his starting place in Sanchez’s absence and raised more doubt with the early concession of a needless free-kick. His heroics were yet to come.

The first threat came from the home side and only an excellent defensive header from Lucas Moura stopped an easy chance for the waiting James MacArthur.

Spurs suffered a setback when Kieran Tripper left with a thigh injury in the 22nd minute, Serge Aurier replacing him. Ben Davies supplied a fantastic cross from the left which Alli bizarrely tried to place in Kane’s path rather than go for goal. In the end, he did neither and it was a good chance well wasted.

Luka Milivojevic gave the ball away to the otherwise quiet Harry Kane but Palace stopper Wayne Hennessey bailed him out with a regulation though good looking diving save. Moura impeded Alli who was waiting to leap at a right wing cross, and then was forced to watch forlornly as an off balance Brazilian headed woefully wide to his and Mauricio Pochettino’s obvious frustration.

But it was a surprise to no-one that the first half was scoreless given that 25 of the last 26 goals between these sides have come in the second half.

Spurs took the lead in the 66th minute when a Kane header was blocked on the line by Milivojevic and Foyth reacted first to head in, probably giving greatest joy to his compatriot Pochettino the manager, as much as to him.

Another Argentinian fared less well.

Erik Lamela left the field bleeding profusely from a head wound and may miss Argentina’s twin friendlies against Mexico in Cordoba and Mendoza. He left the stadium in an ambulance. He was poised to win his first cap in two years for his native land. Harry Winks replaced him.

In stoppage time, the otherwise out of form Hugo Lloris saved a great opportunity from Palace’s Norwegian substitute Alexander Sørloth who should have done better.

Tottenham took the hint and ran down the clock cynically thereafter for their fourth win in eleven days. Chelsea next Saturday however will present a tougher prospect.

Palace visit Old Trafford and are starting to become embroiled in a relegation fight with Newcastle, Cardiff and Huddersfield all beginning to finally collect points.