Tottenham Hotspur made it three straight wins as Archie Gray and Jan Paul van Hecke scored in a 2-0 victory over ten-man Crystal Palace at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, after Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off just 13 minutes into the London derby.
Roberto De Zerbi made only one change from the side that won 2-0 at Chelsea last weekend, with Dominic Solanke returning in place of James Maddison, who was named on the bench after the fitness boost confirmed by De Zerbi before the game. Palace boss Pierre Sage, already under pressure, saw his evening unravel almost before it had begun.
Mateta Red Card Changes Everything
The match turned on a reckless moment in the 13th minute. Mateta lunged in on Micky van de Ven and caught the Spurs defender on the Achilles with his studs. Referee Michael Oliver initially showed a yellow card, but after VAR official Jarred Gillett sent him to the screen, the colour changed to red for serious foul play, as the NBC Sports live report detailed. Palace, who had conceded 19 Premier League goals already this season, were left to play 77 minutes a man short.
Spurs wasted little time making the advantage count. Gray was booked in the 15th minute, but ten minutes later the 20-year-old rose unmarked at the far post to head home Mohammed Kudus's looping corner, across Dean Henderson and into the net. It was Gray's first goal of the season, and it rewarded a first half of total control: at the break Tottenham led the possession count 78 to 22, the shots 8 to 1 and the expected-goals tally 0.74 to 0.04.
Van Hecke Bundles Home the Second
De Zerbi protected Gray's yellow card at half-time, sending on Pedro Porro, and Spurs kept squeezing. Oscar Mingueza was booked as Palace defended deeper, and Henderson had to push away a powerful Solanke shot after the striker swivelled on to a Porro pass, then gather a Marmoush header. Palace changed shape with Eddie Nketiah and Anan Khalaili introduced on the hour, while Conor Gallagher replaced Solanke for the hosts.
The second goal finally arrived in the 73rd minute, and it was gloriously scruffy. Mateus Fernandes delivered a teasing deep cross, Van Hecke's first header was pushed by Henderson on to the crossbar, and as the ball dropped the Dutch defender, by then on the floor, headed it over the line off his own leg, as football.london's live coverage described. Henderson later denied Gallagher a third, chesting down and shooting from close range.
There was still time for a moment the home fans loved: Dejan Kulusevski and Destiny Udogie returned to a huge ovation in the 77th minute, and 18-year-old Luca Williams-Barnett made his Premier League debut in the 88th minute, immediately beating his man twice and setting up Kudus, who fired wide in stoppage time.
So What Does It Mean?
For Tottenham, this is a third consecutive win, something they had not managed since February 2025, and it lifts them to 12 points from nine games with a goal difference wiped back to zero. More importantly, the pattern is now clear: De Zerbi's side are dominating the ball, defending their box and getting goals from all over the pitch, including both young full-back Gray and centre-back Van Hecke. Set pieces, with Kudus's delivery, have become a genuine weapon.
For Palace, the picture darkens. They remain on seven points, Mateta now faces a suspension that removes their focal point in attack, and Sage's side offered almost nothing going forward even allowing for the early red card, finishing with just a fifth of the possession. Bravery in a low block kept the score respectable, but moral victories do not move a team away from the bottom.
Beyond the Final Whistle verdict: The red card decided the shape of this game, but not its result — Spurs were already in control, and the patience, set-piece quality and squad depth De Zerbi can now call on mark this out as a team building real momentum. Palace, meanwhile, are paying for indiscipline and a leaky defence at the worst possible time.
Can Tottenham now sustain this run and push into the European places — and is Pierre Sage's job at Palace in real danger? Let us know what you think in the comments.
