Relegation becoming shock reality as Palace deal 10-man Spurs another knockout blow
DOWN AND OUT?: Tottenham Hotspur fans are starting to fear the worst. Pic: John Walton/PA
A first relegation since 1977 took a huge step towards becoming a reality as Tottenham imploded spectacularly at their least favourite ground - their own.
A fifth straight Premier League defeat has left the sorry collective managed - for now - by Igor Tudor still just a point above both Nottingham Forest and West Ham.
Tottenham took the lead through Dominic Solanke moments after Palace had seen a goal ruled out by VAR.
But Micky van de Ven was sent off almost straight after and the 10 men were unable to stop Ismaila Sarr scoring twice either side of Jorgen Strand Larsen's goal to put Palace 3-1 up at the break It seems incredible that a club that is going well in Europe - their next game is against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday - can be so inept domestically and especially at home.
Yet it was the same story under Ange Postecoglou last season - except that he won a trophy and relegation was never on the cards.
Spurs fans have long been at loggerheads with the owners, who tried to deflect that by ousting Daniel Levy and replacing Postecoglou with the less-combustible Thomas Frank.
But none of that worked and nor has bringing in Tudor - a man sacked by Juventus earlier in the season. Tottenham, with no league wins in 2026, are on course to be in the same division as Lincoln City and will probably have to endure a summer where Arsenal are celebrating a first Premier League title since 2004 as well.
The signs were there from the start as not a minute was on the clock before Guglielmo Vicario in the Spurs goal was forced into a save, batting away Adam Wharton's first-time effort from 10 yards.
And seven were showing on the scoreboard when Souza, the teenager signed in January, scythed Daniel Munoz down to put himself on a yellow-coloured tightrope. Munoz had suffered a shoulder injury and was replaced by Nathaniel Clyne.
Palace thought they had taken the lead on the half-hour mark through Sarr.
The Senegal forward's shot took a hefty deflection off Pedro Porro as the Spaniard slid in, sending it looping over Vicario, but a lengthy VAR check ruled the scorer had been minimally offside when played in by Evann Guessand.
Tottenham's response was a goal of their own four minutes later - and this one stood.
Archie Gray jinked past Chris Richards on the right of the box and cut the ball back milliseconds before it would have gone out of play for Solanke to slam home from four yards.
Home roars soon turned to cries of disbelief as Tottenham pressed the self-destruct button straight away. Van de Ven yanked Sarr back by an arm after Strand Larsen's flick on had put him goal-side of the Dutchman and referee Andrew Madley lost no time in producing a red card.
Sarr ambled up to stroke home the penalty and Tudor reshuffled by hooking Souza and Muani for Conor Gallagher and Yves Bissouma.
Palace still found a way through the reshape, with Wharton slipping in Strand Larsen to fire through Vicario in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. Spurs had been the architects of their own downfall again as |Mathys Tel's pass to Pape Sarr was easily overturned.
There was still time for more disaster before the break, with Sarr again the scorer, in the seventh extra minute. Wharton played the ball in between Porro and Joao Palhinha for Sarr to poke delicately past Vicario.
The half time whistle was met with boos from around the stands - and it was clear that many home fans did not return for the second period.
The 10 men put in a decent shift for that, putting Palace under pressure as much as they could. Kevin Danso saw a header blocked before Palhinha fired wide as the sloppy Eagles gave the impression that they thought the contest was done and dusted.
It was of course but those who remained still had the class to give Brennan Johnson warm applause when he replaced Guessand.
The Wales winger scored the winner against Manchester United in last season's Europa League final but was mostly kept on the bench by Frank.
Clearly Oliver Glasner doesn't fancy him that much either but seeing as the Austrian is off at the end of the season, whoever takes over at Selhurst Park might give him more game time.
It's whoever takes over at Tottenham that has a big job on his hands. But there is always a silver lining - the EFL has announced that eighth will be enough for a play-off place next term so Spurs might not be gone for long...
Vicario 7; Porro 5 (Simons 74, 4), Danso 6, Van de Ven 4; Gray 7, Palhinha 5, Sarr 6, Souza 5 (Gallagher 43, 6); Muani 4 (Bissouma 43, 6), Tel 5; Solanke 6 (Richarlison 74, 4).
Henderson 7; Canvot 6, Richards 7, Riad 6; Munoz 5 (Clyne 14, 6), Wharton 8 (Hughes 81, 4), Kamada 6, Mitchell 6; Sarr 8, Guessand 7 (Johnson 67, 4); Strand Larsen 7 (Uche 80, 4).
Andrew Madley 6
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