Gray Nets First Senior Goal As Spurs Silence Selhurst Park
Teenager Archie Gray scored his first senior goal to hand Tottenham Hotspur a hard-earned 1-0 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace, ending Spurs difficult run and deepening the Eagles struggles.
Tottenham Hotspur ground out a determined 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday night, with 19-year-old Archie Gray delivering the decisive moment in a tense Premier League Round 18 encounter.
The visitors struggled to assert control early on as Palace enjoyed more possession and carried greater attacking intent. Jean-Philippe Mateta went close twice inside the opening half hour, while Adam Wharton and Will Hughes both tested Spurs defensive organisation without finding a breakthrough.
Tottenham thought they had taken the lead midway through the first half when Richarlison tapped in from close range, but VAR intervened to rule out the goal for offside in the build-up. Palace were briefly reprieved, but their relief was short-lived.
The breakthrough arrived in the 42nd minute from a set piece. Pedro Porro corner caused chaos in the Palace area and Richarlison flicked the ball into Gray path, allowing the teenager to nod home from point-blank range. It marked Gray first goal in senior football and made him the youngest English player to score for Spurs in the Premier League since Dele Alli.
Palace responded with renewed urgency after the break and dominated large spells of the second half. Despite recording 15 shots and over 62 percent possession, Oliver Glasner side lacked composure in the final third. Mateta and Justin Devenny both squandered promising chances, while Maxence Lacroix headed narrowly wide when well placed.
Tottenham, meanwhile, were content to absorb pressure and strike on the counter. Richarlison twice found the net again only to be denied by offside calls, while Wilson Odobert struck the base of the post late on as Spurs came close to doubling their advantage.
Crystal Palace continued to push deep into stoppage time and registered a higher expected goals figure of 1.31 compared to Spurs 0.84, but Guglielmo Vicario and a disciplined Tottenham back line held firm. Rodrigo Bentancur forced a late save from Dean Henderson, but the scoreline remained unchanged.
The result lifts Tottenham up to 11th place, just two points behind ninth-placed Palace, who have now suffered three consecutive Premier League defeats. Both sides return to league action on New Years Day, with Palace hosting Fulham and Spurs travelling to Brentford.
