HARRY KANE STRUCK late to secure Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday that moved Mauricio Pochettino’s side into the top four immediately ahead of Chelsea’s visit to Manchester United.
Spurs appeared set for disappointment after struggling to break down a Crystal Palace side, who are fighting to move clear of the relegation places.
But Kane finally found the breakthrough on 88 minutes, meeting Christian Eriksen’s corner at the far post and directing a header past goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey who should have done better after getting a firm hand to the ball.
Spurs’ relief was matched by the frustration felt by Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson and his players who appeared to have done enough to hold onto the point.
The win pushed Pochettino’s men two points above Chelsea and while they knew the positions could be reversed by the end of the day, they could be satisfied they had increased the pressure on Antonio Conte’s side.
Pochettino made 10 changes to the side that drew with Rochdale in the FA Cup seven days previously but the more significant fact was that his line-up showed just one change to the team that drew at Juventus in the Champions League.
The withdrawal of Jan Vertonghen after the centre-back picked up a knock in training the day before the game meant Eric Dier slotted in alongside Davinson Sanchez in central defence in an otherwise familiar Spurs line-up.
By contrast, Hodgson’s hand was forced by the absence of 12 senior players, leaving the Crystal Palace manager with few options.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 20, came in at right-back for his senior debut and the depth of the home side’s injury problems was reflected on the substitutes’ bench where four of the seven replacements had yet to make a Premier League appearance for the club.
The makeshift nature of the Palace line-up was reflected in a disjointed start that could have seen Tottenham three up inside 16 minutes had the visitors made more of a succession of defensive errors.
Ben Davies should have done better after Andros Townsend unexpectedly failed to clear Eriksen’s free-kick although the left-back insisted he had a strong claim for a penalty after colliding with Hennessey.
Then two minutes later, an even better opportunity fell to Kane who was uncharacteristically wasteful when Patrick van Aanholt sliced a clearance into the forward’s path. Kane was only eight yards out but placed his shot too close to Hennessey who diverted the effort over the bar.
A third Palace error allowed Dele Alli to evade the offside trap and collect Eriksen’s floated ball over the top but the England midfielder rushed his attempt to direct a header over the onrushing Hennessey.
It seemed only a matter of time before Palace’s defence would be unpicked and Timothy Fosu-Mensah was fortunate an offside flag meant his clear foul on Kane inside the home area went unpunished.
But Hodgson’s side grew in confidence and began to cut out the mistakes as the first half progressed.
They offered little going forward, but by getting bodies behind the ball, the home side halted a succession of Tottenham attacking moves, leaving Kane frustrated at the lack of opportunities to come his way.
A sliced shot that flew high and wide by Kane early in the second half confirmed things were not going the visitors’ way. And having withstood the early pressure, Palace began to appear increasingly threatening on the counter-attack, without ever managing to test keeper Hugo Lloris.
Alexander Sorloth, the striker signed during the last transfer window, led two breaks that ensured Tottenham were forced to apply a degree of caution as they pursued the breakthrough.
But the visitors’ frustration was compounded when a third penalty appeal was rejected, this time after Alli went to ground following a clumsy challenge by Van Aanholt, before relief came in the form of Kane’s header — the striker’s 35th goal of the season.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
[button href=”https://www.instagram.com/the42.ie” label=”Follow us: the42.ie” icon=”url”
Shaw’s looking lively, hope he can find some consistent form in the coming weeks
Souness and Lennon criticism Pogba on tv3 just when everyone is realising just how good he is. They talk some sh#te. They said matic is a better player hahah. Don’t get me wrong matic is good but no Pogba..
@Breno Rodgers: everyone? I think most people outside of united fans think he’s inconsistent with good moments.
@Paul Mallon: Ye forgot Henderson is better or can or wijnaldum or or …. Ye nobody best all round cm in the league imo. De Britney best cam and Kante best cdm
@Breno Rodgers: oops you did it again
@Breno Rodgers: abit sensitive
@Paul Mallon: coming from someone called melon
@Breno Rodgers: Naby Keita is better.
Should be a stroll in the park for United. Resting De Gea, Matic and Zlatan for the weekend. 4-0
@Enda McCallion: what makes you think it’s going to be a stroll? United got lucky against arsenal
@Acedeuce: You still sore over that Ace?
@Nollaig Elliot: just got back curious as to why he’s so confident
@Acedeuce: united murdered arsenal
@Acedeuce: since we’re bringing up old games, I’d 8 – 2 be an Arsenal supporter
@Acedeuce: my guess is the quality of the opposition. Although he was wrong, no hiding CSKA are shit.
Acedeuce….yeah lucky to score more goals , lucky to defend like hell , lucky to play with 10 men , best goalkeeping performance in the league , arsenal couldn’t capitalise on numeric advantage….only scored once ? but united were just lucky , your fking clueless mate
He was not offside as he went off the pitch as a part of play and without permission from the ref, he is considered to still be “active within the game.”
@John: go away with your facts and knowledge, they are not welcome here.
Celtic stream?
@Ollie Watson: who?
@Ollie Watson: Celtic Tenors??
@Johnny Bravo: haha
Should have been a penalty earlier, but that goal should not stand….
@Graham: Of course it stands. Blind was the 2nd player keeping him on.
@seancreaven13: blind isn’t active?
@Lefty: Blind slid off the pitch. He couldn’t get back on to effect the game therefore he is not in play. If he just strolled off voluntarily then he would still be in play. Goal should not have stood.
@Lefty: Well it’s down to the officials to decide whether he’s active or not. A defender can’t run off the pitch to play a striker offside.
So yes, in this case, the officials decided he WAS active.
Doesn’t matter in the context of the game now, but it WAS definitely a goal.
@Lefty: look up the rules, if a player leaves the pitch without permission from the ref they are still considered to be in play (Blind was considered to be on the goal line)
@Arthur Pewty: Sorry, but you’re wrong. He COULD have gotten back on the pitch, and didn’t.
Whether he leaves the pitch voluntarily or not isn’t the issue. He COULD have gotten back on the pitch, so he’s correctly deemed to be active.
@The Dude: Ya to be honest it’s a sketchy rule and on the television they were in no doubt it shouldn’t have stood and there point seemed pretty valid think it’s harsh on Blind but suppose his intentions can lead for debate!!the confusion was also led by the fact they didn’t acknowledge dzagoev as the goalscorer
@seancreaven13: he couldn’t have though…. That’s where you are wrong.
@Arthur Pewty: The point is there was nothing to prevent him coming back, nor forcing him off. Therefore the striker is potentially disadvantaged by his absence BEHIND the line… so he is deemed “active”, because he could be.
It’s a goal. Let it go ffs.