Crystal Palace 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
A goal apiece; a goalkeeping error apiece; a point apiece.
And while a Premier League draw at Crystal Palace is generally considered a decent result, Spurs will know this was a missed opportunity against opponents who have only won two of their past 10 home fixtures.
So much so in fact that, by the time you read this, they may have been overtaken at the top of the table.
Highlights of the game
So far this season Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has masterminded a number of performances – including emphatic victories over Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal – leading to headlines that vintage Mourinho is back in town and, for so long, it seemed he was on course to do exactly the same at Selhurst Park.
Harry Kane – who else – put them on course for a sixth win in seven league games with a swerving shot from 30 yards which Vicente Guaita probably should have stopped, although by then the home goalkeeper had already shown he was in fine form by denying Tanguy Ndombele, Sergio Reguilon and the England captain.
Indeed, if it hadn’t been for the goalkeeper, Spurs could have been out of sight by the break.
Palace’s cause wasn’t helped by the fact that star man Wilfried Zaha – reportedly wanted by the north Londoners on a number of occasions since their first bid more than four years ago – went off for treatment, although managed to return.
Yet Mourinho, who has been smiling again of late, would have been aware this was a potential banana skin as he met a manager who has an aura of England’s favourite septuagenarian, Roy Hodgson, not to mention a reputation for getting more than normally expected out of midtable sides.
That concern was warranted nine minutes from time as another goalkeeping error, this time from Hugo Lloris, earned Palace a battling point.
At that stage, the Premier League leaders were on course to equal the club’s top-flight record of five consecutive clean sheets.
Then Jeffrey Schlupp arrived.
When he netted an equaliser against Spurs in July, it was the first Eagles goal in 13 hours versus Tottenham. Here he was, proving that lightning can strike twice.
Exciting youngster Eberechi Eze, who had earlier hit the post, hit a free-kick which a possibly unsighted Lloris spilt and Schlupp bundled in the equaliser from close range.
It was frustrating for Spurs who quickly went in search of a winner and would have got it in stoppage time had substitute Ben Davies not struck the crossbar before Guaita made a spectacular save – one for the weekend’s Premier League highlights compilation – to keep out a free-kick from Eric Dier.
In contrast, this was particularly satisfying for Hodgson, now in his 45th year of a wide-ranging managerial career and displaying no indication of retirement, although chances are when he does decided to call it a day it will be only made public at the 11th hour – just as it was when Sir Alex Ferguson decided to retire.
Key statistics
Son and Kane have combined for 12 of Tottenham’s 24 Premier League goals in 2020-21 – only Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton in 1994-95 have linked up for more in a single season (13).
The 1-1 draw in last season’s corresponding fixture in July ended Palace’s nine-match Premier League losing streak against Spurs.
Palace’s solitary victory against them in the past 15 Premier League clashes was 2-1 at home in January 2015.
The Eagles are on an 18-match winless home run against established top-six opposition in the Premier League.
Spurs are unbeaten in 11 games, winning seven and drawing four.
Mourinho has won 40 of his 64 Premier League London derbies.
Kane has scored 21 goals and assisted 11 others in 30 league appearances under Mourinho.
Since Mourinho’s first game in charge of Spurs, Kane has been directly involved in more goals in all competitions than any other Premier League player (43 – 29 goals, 14 assists).
He has also become the third player within the top five European leagues this season to already reach the 15 goal mark in all competitions, behind only Bundesliga duo Erling Haaland (17) and Robert Lewandowski (16).
What’s next?
This was the start of another hectic week for both clubs. Palace are at West Ham on Wednesday night (December 16) and then host reigning champions Liverpool next Saturday lunchtime (December 19).
Spurs are at Liverpool on Wednesday night and host Leicester next Sunday afternoon.
Check out the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds for all those games and more.
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