Tottenham are in crisis and facing a real possibility of relegation after a shock 3-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace following Micky van de Ven’s sending off.
Igor Tudor is only 21 days into his role, but there seems to be no solution.
Spurs (who were last relegated from the top flight in 1977) are just one point above the drop zone and next face Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League. But every game now looks extremely difficult for Spurs, who are without a win in a club-record 11 league games.
They squandered their chances of winning this derby. Archie Gray’s exquisite footwork to tee up Dominic Solanke was a brief moment of hope for the home fans.
The opener came shortly after Palace saw Ismaila Sarr’s deflected shot ruled out for an offside check. It was as if they had judged his face before the play. However, it was when Sarr got in behind the Spurs defense again and Van de Ven pulled him out that the momentum really changed.
Penalties. Red card. Spurs’ second captain in five games heads to the tunnel before half-time. Sarr calmly took the spot-kick, sparking Spurs’ collapse.
The difference in strength between the teams was on display in Palace’s second goal, when Evan Gesand beat Papu Sarr to a poor pass from Matthijs Tell before Adam Wharton slipped in to feed Jorgen Strand Larsen. England’s playmaker had time and space to find Sarr for his third goal before the break, causing a massive exodus from the home section.
Guglielmo Vicario was booed by the remaining fans when Strand Larsen’s shot went through his legs and allowed Sarr the third goal. And it’s not the first time this season.
The Spurs players put up some fight in the second half to at least limit the damage, but they stood confidently on the floor after being down to 10 players battered by injuries.
Then, over Tuesday, Sunday, Wednesday and Sunday, brutal and decisive games follow, including a six-point relegation clash with Nottingham Forest before and after the Liverpool trip, and a Champions League away home game against Atletico Madrid.
They have to somehow find something from somewhere else there could be Championship football being played in this £1bn stadium next season.
Spurs next 6 games
Tuesday 10th March: Atlético Madrid (A) – Champions League, kick-off 8pm) Sunday 15th March: Liverpool (A) – Premier League, kick-off 4.30pm (live on Sky Sports) Wednesday 18th March: Atlético Madrid (H) – Champions League, kick-off 8pm (live on Sky Sports) Sunday 22nd March: Nottingham Forest (H) – Premier League, 2.15pm kick-off (live on Sky Sports) 12: Sunderland (A) – Premier League, 2.00pm kick-off (live on Sky Sports) Saturday 18th April: Brighton (H) – Premier League, 5.30pm kick-off (live on Sky Sports)
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Sky Sports’ Gary Cotterill and Peter Smith analyze Tottenham Hotspur’s home loss to Crystal Palace, which leaves them in danger of being relegated.
Spurs’ disappointing statistics
Tottenham Hotspur have failed to win 11 consecutive league games for the first time since October 1975 under Terry Neil (D7 L4). Tottenham Hotspur have lost five consecutive games (six defeats) in the Premier League for the first time since November 2004. Igor Tudor has become the second Tottenham Hotspur head coach in Premier League history to lose all of his first three games in charge, after Martin Jol in November. 2004. The only time Tottenham Hotspur endured a longer winless period before the start of a calendar year than the 11 games in 2026 was in 1935 (the first 15 games). Tottenham Hotspur have conceded two or more goals in nine consecutive league games for the first time in club history. Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven received the club’s first red card in all competitions. (86 appearances), and only Chelsea (7) have had more red cards in the Premier League this season than Spurs (4).
Tudor: I believe more now.
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Tottenham Hotspur head coach Igor Tudor said he believes in his team more than ever after their 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace.
In his post-match remarks, Tudor claimed he had enough prospects to be confident Spurs would avoid a drop.
“I understand the feelings of the fans. I wanted more,” said the Croatian, who has suffered three consecutive defeats since taking over. “We wanted more too. The red card changed everything.
“It may sound strange, but after this game I believe more than before.
“I saw something. The boat is going in the direction I want it to go, so I need to pick the right people. Those who are on the boat can stay, or (they) can get off the boat.”
“Once the other players come back, I’m sure we’ll come back as a good team. It’s not easy to accept the current situation.”
Mr. Glasner is pleased with the palace’s progress.
Meanwhile, Palace manager Oliver Glasner said he was satisfied with his side’s progress after their second successive win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“In recent weeks we have had more time to train again and integrate the new players,” he said.
“We can see that the new players understand how we want to play better.
“It’s not my right to talk about Spurs. I talk about Crystal Palace.
“I remember we lost 3-1 here and we had no chance of winning this game. They were much better and if you look at the last two games we won here, I think we were better than before. That’s the growth of Crystal Palace and that’s where I see it.”
