Tottenham Hotspur climbed to 11th in the Premier League standings after a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The win, secured just before the new year, eases the mounting pressure on manager Thomas Frank following a run of only one win in eight league matches.
Despite losing four of their last five away fixtures in all competitions, Spurs showed defensive resilience to hold off a Palace side that controlled large portions of the game but failed to convert their chances.
The decisive moment arrived in the 42nd minute when 19-year-old Archie Gray scored his first senior goal in his 60th appearance for the club. After a Pedro Porro corner was kept alive by Randal Kolo Muani and flicked on by Richarlison, Gray was alert at the back post to nod the ball home from three yards.
"It’s the best feeling," Gray told Sky Sports after becoming the youngest Englishman to score for Spurs in the league since Dele Alli in 2016. "You work your whole life for that moment, and hopefully I can just keep it going." Manager Thomas Frank praised the teenager's growth, noting he "loved that goal because he was alert."
Jean-Philippe Mateta missed a clear opportunity for the hosts when he headed over from close range, while Maxence Lacroix and Justin Devenny also squandered second-half chances. Tottenham was denied a more comfortable lead as Richarlison had the ball in the net twice; once in each half, only for both strikes to be ruled out for offside.
Late in the game, substitute Wilson Odobert hit the post for the visitors, but Gray's scrappy header proved enough to settle a contest where Palace registered 15 shots without landing a single big chance on target.
Following the whistle, Thomas Frank described the result as a "massive win" and a "huge mentality shift" for his players. "Was it a top performance? No," Frank admitted. "Is there things we can improve? Yes. But to go here, it’s a huge mentality effort from the players."
Conversely, Oliver Glasner attributed the loss to a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal, stating, "We have to accept right now that we have a little bit of a lack of finishing quality in the team." Glasner noted that while Palace dominated parts of the game, they were ultimately punished by another set-piece; a recurring issue that has seen them concede 12 league goals from such situations this season.
Tottenham enters 2025 with renewed momentum, now sitting just four points off fifth-placed Chelsea ahead of a trip to Brentford on Wednesday. They managed the win despite missing key players like captain Cristian Romero and playmaker Xavi Simons due to suspensions.
For Crystal Palace, the defeat marks a third straight league loss and brings to light a squad stretched by their first-ever European campaign and a grueling December schedule. As the January transfer window approaches, Glasner suggested reinforcements are necessary, remarking that if spectators watched the game, it was "pretty clear what we need."
