September 20 2015

Alex McCarthy: Let the winner go through his legs

Crystal Palace lose 1-0 at White Hart Lane with the only goal coming from South Korean Son Hueng-min.

Damien Delaney returned in the centre of defence, however Scott Dann picked up a calf strain, so Brede Hangeland kept his place in the team.

Alan Pardew opted to keep the rest of the team that lost narrowly to Manchester City last week.

There were no places for Mile Jedinak or Dwight Gayle on the bench, and Connor Wickham was still ruled out through injury.

The Eagles came under a lot of pressure in the first half. Erik Lamela, Dele Alli and Nacer Chadli all brought good saves from Alex McCarthy. However Palace were unlucky not to be a goal to the good at half time when Yohan Cabaye had a great shot from a tight angle that cannoned off the post.

Palace were forced to make a change at the break, with Frazier Campbell coming on for Wilfried Zaha. Zaha wasn't in the game much in the first half, and was reported to be feeling unwell before the game started.

Bakary Sako had Palace's best chance in the second half when his excellent shot was tipped onto the post by Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris.

However shortly after the Eagles let the only goal of the game in, when Spurs made a quick counter attack, and Son Hueng-min forced a shot through the legs of McCarthy to give the home side the lead.

Palace threw everything at Spurs in the last 10 minutes but were unable to get an equaliser.

The Eagles drop one place to 8th in the Premier League table as Swansea have a superior goal difference.

Palace: McCarthy, Kelly, Hangeland, Delaney, Souaré, Cabaye, McArthur (Mutch, 76), Zaha (Campbell, 45), Puncheon, Sako (Bamford, 84), Bolasie

Subs not used: Mariappa, Hennessey, Lee, Ledley

Bookings: Kelly, Bolasie