The thought of Tottenham getting relegated even a month ago seemed ludicrous. A team that won the Europa League last season and subsequently mixing it with Europe’s elite should have more than enough to avoid flirting with the bottom three.
By the end of Thursday evening that flirting had turned into almost a full romance. Igor Tudor suffering a third successive defeat since taking the reins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – the ground itself another cauldron of boos at the final whistle.
The expending of negative energy that was not only directed to the club’s higher ups but also the Spurs players left on the pitch. A desperately poor performance at home to Crystal Palace, their situation towards the bottom of the table now looking more desperate.
MASTERS OF THEIR OWN DOWNFALL
Once again, Tottenham only have themselves to blame in a game that almost saw Adam Wharton score in the first minute for the visitors. His early effort already turning a tetchy home atmosphere into something far nervier.
While Tottenham’s nerves looked to have been shred on the half hour. Palace with the ball in the net thanks to Ismalia Sarr. His deflected effort looping over Guglielmo Vicario to give the visiting support something to shout about. Their celebrations eventually came to a halt thanks to VAR stepping in.
Sarr offside by a literal nose. The finest margins of technology resetting the score back to zero. A let off for Igor Tudor. Celebrations just moments later as Dominic Solanke fired home from close range to put Spurs ahead.
For the first time in weeks the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium had something positive to focus on. Getting behind the team in the hunt for a bigger advantage. Then Micky van de Ven went and did something rather stupid and spoiled it all.
The Dutch defender not reading the flight of the ball and pulling back Sarr in the box. Referee Andy Madley with no other choice but to give Van de Ven his marching orders. The feel-good factor in N17 lasting for just four minutes.
While it was Sarr who followed up from the spot and it was this exact moment that the evening fell into disarray for the relegation-threatened Spurs. The house of cards collapsing before the break by the time Palace incredibly found themselves ahead by three goals to one.
PALACE IN DREAMLAND
January signing Jorgen Strand Larsen adding to Palace’s joy in first half injury time. Oliver Glasner’s men using their extra man to precision and with space opening up for the former Wolves forward, he fired past Vicario.
A bad evening getting worse for Igor Tudor, the nadir still yet to come. A nadir created six minutes later as Adam Wharton once again turned creator. Not long after creating the second did he create the third. Senegalese international Sarr also found himself in acres of space as he scored his second of the game.
The game as good as done at the break and even though there was slightly more endeavour from the hosts after the break. It was all for nothing. Palace seeing off any half chance that came their way. Spurs have more than half a chance of now getting relegated.
