Crystal Palace’s performance in our 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur could hardly have been more convincing – and here are just five things we loved about it…
Momentum was the order of the day in Palace’s last Premier League match before their FA Cup Final at Wembley.
A performance of style and attacking verve certainly generated just that: Palace recorded 23 shots (10 on target); accrued an xG total of 3.83 (to the hosts’ 0.80); and put the ball in the net four times (with two disallowed efforts); proving wholly dominant in North London. The perfect preparation.
Not only was Sunday’s win our first away at Tottenham since November 1997, and our first-ever at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – the Eagles had lost on all seven of our previous visits, scoring just twice in that time – but it also saw us write more statistical history for the club.
Indeed, in what is the 25th different season in which we’ve met Tottenham in league competition, this was our first-ever double over the North Londoners.
What’s more, the win meant that Palace have now won both home and away against every Premier League side to have established their place in the top league since our return in 2013.
Sunday’s three points took Palace onto 49 for the season – with two matches yet to play.
Breaking the 50-point barrier would be another historic achievement for the club, as 49 represents our joint-best, achieved previously on three occasions: 2023/24 (last season), 2018/19 and 1992/93 (the latter being a 42-game season in which Palace were relegated).
History would beckon with at least a draw against either Wolverhampton Wanderers (at home) or Liverpool (away).
And, yes, if you were counting – that result does assure of at least a 12th-placed finish, while the possibility is still there for the Eagles to finish as high as eighth after their two remaining matches.
Tenuous nomenclature puns aside, the England international’s brace also saw him score for three consecutive league games for the first time in his career, and record his 10th goal involvement (seven goals, three assists) in his last 10 appearances in all competitions – which have all fallen following his first goal for England back in March.
On his own personal form, he said: “It’s been a weird season, but [I] gradually got there. [I’m] gradually getting some rhythm and playing how I want to be playing, helping the team as much as I can. It's a good time right now.”
Manager Oliver Glasner said it all in his post-match interview: “I really hope that all our fans had sun protection today, because they were the whole time in the sun, and it was really warm in the sun!
“It’s our fans, we can always count on them. I think they can count on the team that they always have 100 per cent effort. Great connection, great game for them, and I think everybody who is close to Crystal Palace is now looking forward to Wembley.”
