Tottenham picked up a vital 1-0 victory away at Crystal Palace, a result that eased some of the growing pressure on Thomas Frank after a difficult run of form. Two straight defeats had put the spotlight firmly on the Spurs boss, but a first-half header from Archie Gray was enough to send the travelling fans home happy and restore a bit of calm around the club.
Even so, this was far from a comfortable afternoon for Tottenham. Crystal Palace looked tired after a hectic December schedule, yet Spurs never fully took control of the game. There were moments when Palace threatened to turn the match, and Frank will know that the performance, while good enough for three points, still left plenty of room for improvement.
Tottenham did have the ball in the net on two other occasions, which would have made the scoreline look much healthier.
However, both goals were ruled out for offside, keeping the contest tight right until the final whistle. Frank applauded at the end, but his expression told its own story. There is still work to be done on the training pitch if Spurs want to push on consistently.
One of the biggest positives on the day was Richarlison. The Brazilian had impressed off the bench against Liverpool, and Frank rewarded that cameo with a start at Selhurst Park. Richarlison led the line with energy, aggression, and intelligence, giving Palace’s defenders a difficult afternoon.
He thought he had opened the scoring inside the first 20 minutes, only for VAR to rule the goal out due to an offside call in the build-up. Rather than letting that affect him, Richarlison stayed fully involved. Just before half-time, he played a key role in the goal that did count, cleverly flicking the ball into Archie Gray’s path for the midfielder to head home from close range.
In the second half, Richarlison once again saw the flag deny him, as another goal was chalked off. Despite that frustration, his overall contribution was immense.
He pressed well, linked play intelligently, and gave Tottenham a focal point in attack that has sometimes been missing. It was a performance that underlined his value to the team and showed why Frank trusts him in big moments.
In contrast, Randal Kolo Muani endured a very difficult afternoon. With Xavi Simons suspended, Frank deployed Kolo Muani on the left wing to accommodate Richarlison through the middle. Unfortunately, the Paris Saint-Germain loanee struggled badly to make an impact.
Kolo Muani looked short of confidence and sharpness. He failed to complete any of his four attempted dribbles and lost possession 13 times despite having only 26 touches of the ball. He did not manage a single shot and struggled to link up with his teammates, often breaking down promising moves.
Frank’s patience clearly ran out early in the second half. On 63 minutes, Kolo Muani was withdrawn and replaced by Wilson Odobert, a change that felt both necessary and inevitable given how the game was unfolding. It was a tough moment for the forward, but also a reminder that standards remain high at this level.
Elsewhere, Archie Gray stood out as the standout performer. The young midfielder showed composure beyond his years, capped by a well-taken goal and a strong all-round display. Micky van de Ven was solid at the back, while Guglielmo Vicario did what was required without being overly tested.
Tottenham’s midfield was functional rather than flashy, and the full-backs had mixed afternoons, but the team as a whole showed just enough quality and resilience to get the job done.
Tottenham player ratings vs Crystal Palace:
Guglielmo Vicario – 6
Pedro Porro – 6
Kevin Danso – 6
Micky van de Ven – 7
Djed Spence – 5
Rodrigo Bentancur – 5
Archie Gray – 8
Lucas Bergvall – 5
Mohammed Kudus – 6
Randal Kolo Muani – 3
Richarlison – 8 (Man of the Match)
Substitutes:
Joao Palhinha – 6
Wilson Odobert – 7
Brennan Johnson – 6
Radu Dragusin – 6
In the end, this was a result Tottenham badly needed. It was not perfect, and it was not pretty, but it showed fight, discipline, and flashes of quality. Richarlison’s display will encourage Frank, while the struggles of others will give him plenty to think about as Spurs look to build momentum in the weeks ahead.
