Odsonne Edouard’s dream debut ends Spurs' 100% record in feisty derby
Crystal Palace's Odsonne Edouard celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game. Picture: Adam Davy/PA
Tottenham's previously perfect start to the season came crashing to an end in a bad-tempered and controversial London derby with three late goals for Palace against 10-man Spurs, the result giving Patrick Viera his first win as a Premier League manager.
Much as the former Arsenal captain said it meant nothing special to have beaten Spurs, one could not help feeling the feisty Frenchman would have loved to be in the middle of a full-on derby which included one red card, for Tottenham's Japhet Tanganga, a mass confrontation of 20 players and a raucous home crowd celebrating two late goals on his debut from new striker Odsonne Edouard.
Wilfried Zaha opened the scoring from the penalty spot, though the Palace winger could have been sent off twice, once for swinging a punch at Tanganga in the incident that sparked an unseemly brawl, and again in stoppage time for a petulant kick at Spurs debutant Emerson Royal while on a yellow card.
Instead it was Tanganga who saw red, first for his part in the scuffle with Zaha and then for a sliding tackle on Jordan Ayew, who had earlier escaped unpunished for a stamp on Eric Dier that led to the Spurs defender making an early departure with a suspected broken foot.
It's fair to say referee Jon Moss was not flavour of the month with Tottenham's supporters, who questioned loudly his fitness to referee.
Vieira and Palace did not care though, as this result lifted them away from the foot of the table. They deserved their win and always looked livelier than a stragely subdued Spurs, who were already under-strength before Dier limped off in the 12th minute following Ayew's stamp. Heung Min Son and Steven Bergwijn were injured on international duty, while three players were unavailable after going to South America. Christian Romero, Giovani Lo Celso and Davinson Sanchez are currently training in Croatia before they can return to the UK next Friday, having visited countries on the British government's red list.
Royal had to make his debut at right back, a baptism of fire against Zaha who was always Palace's biggest threat. Zaha set the only clear chance of a dull first-half, when his electric burst to the byline set up Conor Gallagher for a shot that was turned away by Hugo Lloris from close range. The game really burst into life after the break. Lucas Moura went close for Spurs with their only shot on target, but when he went down injured and Spurs appealed for the ball to be put out, Zaha motored towards goal. Tanganga shoved him off the ball, Zaha got up swinging and tried to punch the defender, and two grappled like boxers in a clinch. 18 other players piled in, and when the dust settled Moss showed yellow cards to Tanganga and Zaha. But six minutes later Tanganga slid into a tackle on Ayew and appeared to win the ball, but the Palace forward's tumble convinced Moss it was worth another yellow card.
Spurs had to reorganise, and looked to be coping for a time, with Lloris having little to save. But then Palace were awarded a penalty when Moss decided Ben Davies handled a Gallagher cross from close range, and Zaha converted the penalty.
To cap a perfect day for Vieira, new signing Edouard scored twice in the final few minutes. His first was with his second touch after replacing the ineffective Benteke. Zaha crossed from the left, Edouard took one touch to control the ball and with his second hit a low shot past Lloris.
He scored again in stoppage time having time and space in the penalty area to fire past Lloris from close range.
Tottenham's run of three successive 1-0 wins is over, and they face a defensive crisis for another London derby against Chelsea next week, with Tanganga suspended and Dier out. Nuno Espirito Santo admitted: “It would be fair to say that we didn't perform as well as we should.”
Asked about his team's lack of creativity, he said: “It is a big concern, we had enough quality and talent to play better. We didn't do it, but credit to Palace they were aggressive and they didn't allow too much time on the ball. We lost duels, many, many situations that I think we should do much better. In terms of offensive, much improvement is required.”
Vieira was much happier, naturally. “I was pleased with the result. It was a good team performance.” Asked if it was special to beat Spurs, he said: “No, It was more important that we won and built up our confidence.” He was particularly delighted with Edouard making such an impact after his recent transfer from Celtic. “It was a dream start for him.”
Guaita 7; Ward 6, Andersen 7, Guehi 7, Mitchell7; Gallagher 7, Kouyate 6 (Milivojevic 67), McArthur 6; Ayew 5 (Olise 87), Benteke 6 (Edouard 83), Zaha 8.
Lloris 7; Royal 7, Tanganga 6, Dier 6 (Rodon 12), Reguilon 6; Skipp 6, Hjojberg 7, Winks 6 (Davies 60) ; Lucas Moura 7, Kane 6, Dele Alli 6.
Jonathan Moss.
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