Report & Highlights: Eagles beaten at Tottenham after early setback

31 Oct 2026

van Hecke 73'

Gray 25'

Crystal Palace slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham having played much of the game a man down after an early red card for Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Summary:

Pierre Sage names Henderson for the first time in a Premier League game since the third game of the season
10: Kamada forces a good save from Kinský
12 - Red card: Mateta is sent off following a VAR review after his challenge on van de Ven
24 - Goal: Gray heads Tottenham into the lead from a corner
32: Disasi makes a vital intervention to deny Kudos a header from only yards out
HT: Spurs 1-0 Palace
47: Fernandes goes close to a second for the hosts
51: Solanke forces an excellent stop from Henderson
60: Sage brings on Nketiah and Khalaili in a bid to turn things around
63: McNeil goes close but sees an effort blocked
74 - Goal: van Hecke bundles in from close range to give Spurs a second
81: Henderson makes another excellent save to deny former Eagle Gallagher
85: Kudos has the ball in the net, but is correctly flagged for offside
FT: Spurs 2-0 Palace

The Eagles were looking for a second all-London success of the week, having toppled Fulham on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup.

They had the first effort of note in the game ten minutes in, Daichi Kamada finding space for a snapshot just outside the box that was turned away by Antonín Kinský.

Yet within minutes they were on the wrong end of a game-changing decision. Jean-Philippe Mateta stretched for a loose ball just over halfway, but made a flying challenge that made contact with Micky van de Ven’s Achillies.

After a swift pitch-side review Michael Oliver showed the red card, leaving Palace bang up against it.

Despite the numerical advantage, Spurs didn’t create a clear cut chance in the opening quarter of the game.

Their best moment came when the dangerous Tel picked out Mohammed Kudos at the back post, his sliding effort unable to trouble Palace captain Dean Henderson.

Just as the Eagles started to look secure, they were hit with another hammer blow.

Kudos’s deep corner found Archie Gray at the back post, who had a fairly simple task of heading into the net.

The remainder of the half followed a similar pattern – Spurs holding possession, with Palace forced into some last-ditch defending at various points.

Robertson stung the gloves of Henderson with a long-range effort, while Axel Disasi made a couple of vital interventions, but Palace went in at half-time trailing by a goal and with a man disadvantage.

Palace had won on their last two visits to this stadium. But doing so again never looked likely in a difficult second-half.

The hosts nearly doubled their lead instantly, Mateus Fernandes seeing his shot deflected just past the post with Henderson rooted.

The Eagles’ skipper then made an spectacular one-handed stop to keep out Dominic Solanke, showing quick reactions to keep the Spurs striker at bay.

Pierre Sage made a double change on the hour, bringing on Eddie Nketiah and Anan Khalaili – and it nearly had an instant impact.

Forcing pressure following a long throw, the ball sat up kindly for Dwight McNeil in the penalty area, only for a white shirt to block when he looked certain to score.

Eventually Spurs got their second to extinguish any hope of claiming a point, Fernandes put in a dangerous ball to the back post where Jan Paul van Hecke headed from yards out.

Henderson made an excellent initial save, only for the Tottenham defender to bundle in on the rebound.

The remainder of the game was played out with little incident, Henderson making another first-class save to deny former Palace man Conor Gallagher and ensure the deficit remained at two.

The Eagles will aim to bounce back in Europe on Thursday against Hoffenheim, before Liverpool visit Selhurst Park next Sunday.

Tottenham: Kinsky (GK), Gray (Porro, 45), Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Robertson (Udogie, 77 ) Tonali, Fernandes, Kudus (Kulusevski, 77), Marmoush, Tel (Williams-Barnett, 88), Solanke (Gallagher, 66).

Subs: Dubravka (GK), Senesi, Maddison, Davies.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Richards, Disasi, Canvot, Mingueza (Khalaili, 60) Kamada (Hughes, 88), Wharton (Lerma, 88), Mitchell, Pino (Nketiah, 60), McNeil (Osorio, 77), Mateta.

Subs: Benítez (GK), Chilwell, Doucouré, Guessand.