Harry Kane heads home last-gasp winner as Tottenham snatch all three points against Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1: With just one-minute left on the clock, Kane rose highest to head home Christian Eriksen's cross as Spurs moved into the top four
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Harry Kane did what he has done so often. With Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur side appearing likely to pass up the chance to move two points ahead of fourth-placed Chelsea, the forward rose to meet Christian Eriksen’s corner for the 89th minute winner.
It was a goal that didn’t look likely to come as Spurs floundered against a Palace side fighting to stay out of the bottom three. Kane, though, took full advantage of Damien Delaney’s failure to track his run at the far post to meet Christian Eriksen’s 89th minute corner and head past Wayne Hennessey poor attempt to save.
The goal took his tally to 35 for the season, and more importantly increased the pressure on Antonio Conte’s Chelsea side immediately before they faced Manchester United at Old Trafford.
This was a game of great significance to both sides but while Pochettino was able to come into the clash from a position of strength, Hodgson’s options were severely limited by an injury list that ran to 12 senior players.
A lack of defensive options meant the Palace manager was forced to give 20-year-old academy product Aaron Wan-Bissaka a debut at right-back while Timothy Fosu-Mensah and James Tomkins made up a makeshift centre-back pairing, charged with the task of keeping Kane quiet.
Little wonder Hodgson admitted his club’s growing injury crisis was his major concern as his team attempted to stay out of the bottom three and with Manchester United and Chelsea Palace’s next opponents.
"I am thinking of the day when I will have a full Palace squad to choose from,” said the manager before kick-off. “For now, I am trying to get by with what I have. I still think the 11 players who start the game against Tottenham are more than capable."
By contrast, Pochettino’s only late concern was the withdrawal of centre-back Jan Vertonghen who picked up a knock in training on Saturday. The manager made ten changes to the side that drew with Rochdale in the FA Cup but, more significantly, Vertonghen was the only absentee from the line-up that started in the impressive 2-2 Champions League draw at Juventus.
It was little surprise then, that it was Spurs who assumed early control of the game, helped on their way by a succession of errors that reflected the patched-up nature of the Palace line-up.
Three times in the opening six minutes Tottenham were presented with a good opportunity to make the breakthrough after a Palace mistake, with the best of those chances falling to Harry Kane in the 10th minute after Patrick van Aanholt miscued a routine clearance back towards the England striker.
Kane was just eight yards out when the ball unexpectedly came his way but Palace keeper closed the forward down quickly and diverted a hurried shot over the bar.
A close offside call handed Palace a let off after Kane had been brought down inside the home penalty area, but Hodgson’s side began to demonstrate more concentration and better organisation as the first half progressed.
And while the home side offered little going forward in the absence of the injured Wilfried Zaha, they ensured a congested midfield offered Tottenham’s playmakers few opportunities to unpick an increasingly convincing backline.
Tottenham clearly needed an injection of fresh ideas and creativity in the second half although early efforts from Kane and Eriksen offered few signs Pochettino’s side were about to click into gear. Both players were guilty of skying shooting opportunities when they found space inside the Palace box and the sense that Spurs were well below par was reinforced when Eriksen ballooned a corner over the waiting crowd of players and out for a goal-kick.
By then, Palace had finally shown more intent going forward with January signing Alexander Sorloth twice leading counter-attacks that unsettled the visitors. And a third Tottenham penalty appeal, this time following Patrick van Aanholt’s clumsy challenge from behind on Dele Alli, only added to the frustration of Pochettino and his players.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments