Crystal Palace stuns Tottenham, dashing hopes of a good run as they secure three more points against Tottenham in the Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace now stands 6th in the Premier League table after upsetting Tottenham, securing a 1-0 victory in South London. A goal from Mateta provided the hosts with a narrow lead that ultimately won them the match. Palace entered the fixture without a win this season, while Postecoglou’s men had been in fine form, winning seven of their last eight matches across all competitions. Tottenham was eager to extend that impressive run but faced a setback with the absence of their captain, Son Heung-Min, who was rested as a precaution.
With Wilson Odobert also unfit, the opportunity for a first Premier League start fell to 17-year-old Mikey Moore, who was keen to impress but struggled to make an impact. Despite dominating possession and completing significantly more passes, Spurs were unable to convert their control into goals. Although Tottenham’s defence appeared solid, a mishap in the 31st minute led to Mateta’s goal, assisted by none other than Eberechi Eze.
Here is TTLAB’s player’s match ratings
Guglielmo Vicario – 5
He seemed uneasy with the ball at his feet and was unable to help secure a clean sheet. Coming out of his lines, not everybody can try to play the sweeper keeper. Expected a better performance overall.
Pedro Porro – 5
Started off looking rattled and found it tough to handle Palace’s relentless press. The Spaniard was kept in check down the right, rarely able to charge forward with his usual gusto.
Cristian Romero – 6
Never quite looked comfortable on the ball, appeared nervous and jittery. He managed a few crucial interventions, but it couldn’t keep Palace from breaking through. A reckless pass across the box put Van de Ven in a tough spot, ultimately paving the way for the hosts to score.
Micky van de Ven – 5
Much like Romero, Micky seemed uncomfortable playing out from the back, with nerves showing under pressure. His slip-up on the ball led to Mateta’s opener, though it was set up by a horrendous pass from his defensive partner.
Destiny Udogie – 5
He tried to bring some positivity on the ball but was largely invisible, failing to make an impact. Too often, he was caught out of position, leaving gaps when he should’ve been holding his ground.
Yves Bissouma – 5
Fought hard as the sole defensive midfielder but, as expected, found himself utterly swamped, through no real fault of his own. A midfield reshuffle feels inevitable—and likely sooner rather than later.
James Maddison – 5
Found it tough to create much of anything and lacked his usual spark and creativity. Had a golden chance just before half-time but was handled by Henderson—a bit more precision on the shot might have changed the story.
Dejan Kulusevski – 4
Not the showing from the Swede, who struggled to make any impact on the game. His first half was capped by a needless yellow card—an unfortunate snapshot of his overall performance.
Brennan Johnson – 6
Created one of Spurs’ rare moments of threat in the first half when he rattled the post with a shot that seemed almost accidental. Aside from that fleeting glimpse of danger, his performance left much to be desired.
Dominic Solanke – 7
Tottenham’s standout performer on a lacklustre day, though the competition wasn’t fierce. He made the most of limited service, holding the ball up well and involving his teammates. It’s a shame he didn’t get the support he truly deserved from those around him.
Mikey Moore – 5
The youngster who got his much needed debut today but A real disappointment for him to step into such a dire Tottenham display. While he showcased some glimpses of skillful dribbling, the scrappy nature of the game made it tough for the 17-year-old to find his rhythm. Still, it was a valuable experience for him, even if the circumstances were far from ideal.
Substitutes
Richarlison – 5
Came on for the final 30 minutes but still seemed a few steps away from his ideal sharpness, lacking the usual spark.
Timo Werner – 5
Managed a couple of decent crosses during his half-hour on the pitch but also had his fair share of sloppy moments that let the team down.
Pape Matar Sarr – 5
Brought some much-needed energy to the midfield, but he didn’t quite hit the usual heights we expect from him.
Rodrigo Bentancur – X
Did not see enough game time to have a rating.
