Tottenham might just shock the footballing world by getting relegated this season.
Tottenham once again ended up on the wrong side of the result after losing at home to Crystal Palace on Thursday night. The Lilywhites took an early lead thanks to a wonderful goal from Dominic Solanke. The brilliance shown by Archie Gray in creating that goal suggested that the squad was eager to secure a positive result and end their winless run in the Premier League. However, a reckless challenge from Micky van de Ven just a few minutes after taking the lead meant that the North Londoners had to play for an hour with ten men.
Van de Ven’s red card shifted the momentum of the match and tilted the outcome in Palace’s favour. Inside just seven minutes, the Eagles made their advantage count by scoring three quickfire goals. A brace from Ismaila Sarr and a brilliant strike from Jorgen Strand Larsen ensured that Oliver Glasner’s side entered the break with a 1-3 lead. The scoreline remained the same in the second half, but the Spurs players showed enough fight to try and change the outcome of the game despite being reduced to ten-men.
The defeat to Palace meant that Spurs slipped further down the table and are now just a point above the relegation zone. The reaction of the match-going supporters indicated that Igor Tudor has a huge task on his hands, and he must produce immediate results that could determine whether the Lilywhites maintain their top-flight status in the coming months.
Tottenham are in real danger of damaging their Premier League legacy by getting relegated
Just nine months ago, Tottenham fans were celebrating their club’s Europa League triumph after defeating Manchester United in the final in Bilbao. The Lilywhites were on cloud-9 at the time, and it almost felt as though the sky was the limit for them. They had the opportunity to close the gap on their rivals and build on that historic achievement this season. However, the North Londoners have instead endured the complete opposite, as they now sit just a point above the relegation zone during the business end of the season.
Chris Cowlin has now shared his concerns regarding Spurs’ prospects of getting relegated from the Premier League this season. Speaking to the BBC, Cowlin said,
“I’m lost for words with what I’ve seen. You want fight, you want desire and, most importantly, you need the points to get out of this mess. How are we going to do it because what is an easy game for us right now? Whoever we play against we’re struggling, especially at home. The fans are extremely disappointed and angry in the manner of these goals we’re conceding.”
The Spurs correspondent added,
“It’s too much for a lot of people and the reality now is Spurs might get relegated. If we don’t buck up our ideas very quickly we will find ourselves in the Championship. All the other teams down there are showing fight and desire, and we lack that completely. I’ve never known a time like this and it’s very sad to see.”
Chris Cowlin believes Spurs players have not shown enough desire or fight to get out of the mess the club currently finds itself in. The club correspondent adds that there are no easy games for the Lilywhites in the coming weeks, and there are no signs of improvement in recent performances. The North Londoners are facing the harsh possibility of relegation as other teams around them are showing far more determination to escape the drop zone, making it difficult for Igor Tudor to get the best out of his players.
Spurs fans have witnessed plenty of highs and lows in recent years. They saw their club compete for the Premier League title and reach the Champions League final under Mauricio Pochettino, before finally watching their side end the long-standing trophy drought under Ange Postecoglou. However, the fans never imagined that the Lilywhites would face the possibility of dropping to the second division in a season where the club spent heavily on new players.
Therefore, Igor Tudor must ensure that Tottenham preserves its top-flight status as the club looks to reset in the summer. Will the Croatian tactician manage to produce positive results in the coming weeks? Only time will tell.