Tottenham win at Crystal Palace in Premier League
Gray heads winner in first half, while Richarlison twice has goals disallowed by VAR for offside
Spurs win eases pressure on manager Frank after back-to-back defeats
Calvert-Lewin earns Leeds 1-1 draw at Sunderland - full report here
FT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
Right, it's time to bring this live text to an end.
Not long before the next lot of games. There are six on Tuesday including leaders Arsenal at home to in-form Aston Villa (20:15 GMT kick-off).
I'll leave you with pictures of Tottenham's teenage goal hero.
It's been a day Archie Gray will never forget.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur goalscorer Archie Gray, speaking to Sky Sports on his goal: "When I turned around, I didn't see my teammates celebrate with me. I was a bit confused, I was like 'Have I just scored, or?'. But, no, it's a good feeling. It's definitely one that took too long. I don't know how long it's taken, especially since the one against Leicester for Leeds wasn't my goal. It's an amazing feeling.
"To be honest, I didn't really think about anything. It was just a matter of I'm so close to the goal. I didn't really have to do much, I don't think. Obviously, I'm so close to the goal I only had to flick it on. [Jean-Philippe] Mateta was stood so close on the line, and [Dean] Henderson couldn't do much."
On how he felt when he celebrated: "I can't even describe it. To be honest, after games, even the Leicester one, even though, like I said, it wasn't my goal, I remember the feeling, and it's the best feeling. You work your whole life for that moment, and hopefully, I can keep it going."
On what his teammates said after his goal: "Everyone was just saying they weren't expecting it to be a header. I wasn't expecting it to be a header as well. But I think that one came off my dad's instinct, so thankful for my dad for that."
FT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Sometimes you need those margins to help you a little bit and that could have helped massively in a tight game. In the end we got over the line. The team showed great resilience today and I think the desire beat the details in the game, the desire just to win.
"I liked the discipline in the team, the way we gave very few transitions away which is the threat of Crystal Palace. The discipline to not give those away was good because that is what they want. We defended excellently, we gave maybe one chance away in open play and the rest was set pieces. In such a tight game to get the 1-0 win and a clean sheet, in a performance that is not perfect, is a massive thing."
On the side's resilience: "I don't think it's for me, they fight and they battle because they want to be a good team. They fight for each other, for the club, the staff, the fans most importantly. I liked the character and mentality in team today, there is so much to improve but you need to have that in the Premier League, especially away from home."
On Gray's performance: "Very pleased for him. He shows a lot of character and there has been a lot of growth in him, no doubt about that, he just adds small layers. It's not like we are a fully free-flowing team yet, there have been a few bumps on the way, and he has been in the team and keeps doing well. Sometimes it is easier coming into a team where everything is working in a perfect way, so I think he shows that he has that resilience."
On the goal coming from a set piece: "I think it's hugely important. It shows that one moment can decide the game. We've seen a lot of set piece goals this season from a lot of teams, so we work very hard on it. First and foremost the players need big praise because they are buying into it and understand how important it is."
On pressure easing after this win: "Every win is very nice. It was a good win, it instilled things in the character of the team which is important because that will get you through bad spells, but there is so much more we can improve."
FT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
Image source, ReutersCrystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, speaking to Sky Sports: "It feels very frustrating and disappointing because we felt it was a game you can never lose, but we lost, and it's a little bit the story of this year. We are consistently underperforming in the chances we create and how many goals we score. We have to agree that we are now struggling with scoring goals. When you see who is scoring, very often it is from a set plays our defenders. And our attackers, if we have chances, we are missing them and we are punished from set plays.
"I can't remember that we dominated Tottenham in parts of the game, but in the end, where the game is decided, in the box, we are not good enough. At the moment, we have a little bit of a lack of finishing quality, but it is now to support the players and encourage them because I see all the effort, all the structure in the game looks nice. We are getting into the right area, but it is missing goal or taking a wrong decision.
"I don't remember how often we are in the dangerous area, but the closer we come to the goal, the more nervous we get and the more wrong decisions we take, and that' why we lost the game in the end."
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Danso needs to start over Romero, he's a proper defender. Richarlison was tireless today and very unlucky not to score.
Derek, Surbiton
FT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank, speaking to Sky Sports on whether it feels like an important win: "It was. You asked me before the game, and I said it was important to win, so I listened to you and got the three points. Jokes aside, very important win, clearly a game where desire beats detail, but I don't think that we hit a top performance today. But I liked how we dug in, worked hard, and I think we were very disciplined against a very good Crystal Palace team.
"And I think we also managed to create enough chances going the other way, and we defended very well. I think we gave away one chance in open play, and then the rest was set pieces. So to do that in a game that's tricky and come here and win 1-0 is so important to do that in a long Premier League season."
On Archie Gray scoring the winner: "He got his matchwinner moment. Very big. Very happy for him. I think he's growing a lot. I think he's doing a lot of things right in the middle of the park. Really liked that today. He just ended up with a goal. I think it was very good."
On where he sees his side: "I think we are in that transition process where we have been the whole time. Coming into a season where we play Champions League and want to compete in the Premier League as well, I think there's been a lot of positives in terms of the resilience we showed today in a game that's not perfect. Coming here and winning 1-0 in a tight, tricky game, I think, shows huge quality.
"We just need to keep building small layers every single game."
On the January transfer window: "Of course, the window will open, and we will be in the market and see if there's anything we can do, but it will have to be something where we can improve the team. If not, rather wait, but we will be out there."
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Simply not good enough. Too easily knocked off the ball. We desperately need Muñoz and Sarr back. Mateta is looking totally lost up front. Players need to rotate at better intervals. Bringing on Esse with 5 minutes to go is fruitless and not good to anyone.
Robert, Norway
FT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
Tottenham's 2025 Premier League record:
Played: 37
Won: 11
Drawn: 6
Lost: 20
Points: 39
FT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
Image source, Getty ImagesTottenham boss Thomas Frank, speaking to BBC Match of the Day about Gray's performance: "Very pleased for him. He shows a lot of character and there has been a lot of growth in him, no doubt about that, he just adds small layers. It's not like we are a fully free-flowing team yet, there have been a few bumps on the way, and he has been in the team and keeps doing well. Sometimes it is easier coming into a team where everything is working in a perfect way, so I think he shows that he has that resilience."
FT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
Tottenham's next game is another London derby - and it's H-U-G-E for Thomas Frank, who goes back to his old club Brentford (20:00 GMT kick-off).
Spurs have moved up from 14th to 11th with this win - but they're still seven points off the top four.
Small steps and all that...
Image source, ReutersFT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
Crystal Palace midfielder Will Hughes, speaking to Sky Sports on where they have fallen short today: "I'd say being ruthless in front of goal. We had our chances throughout the game, just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net. I think the manner of the defeat, we can be proud of the performance as a whole compared to last week against Leeds, where I think the manager said we deserved to lose, and that was one of the first games in a long time. The manager was really honest with us in terms of performance. But performance doesn't get you three points, and that's why we're frustrated today."
On if it's lazy to blame fatigue for poor form: "Yes, definitely lazy to say that because it's nothing to do with energy or fatigue. It's just we're going through one of those stages now, all teams will go through it, where they're creating chances and don't put the ball in the back of the net. Unfortunately, we're going through it at the moment. We're creating the chances, that's the most important thing, the next thing is putting the ball in the back of the net, and results will change, we've seen that previously."
On where he's disappointed at conceding another set piece goal: "Yeah, especially after last week, conceding four. I think we've been pretty strong on them previously for the majority of the season.
"It's minor details. There's been a lot of goals in the Premier League this season from set plays, so we'll have a look at it again and try to figure it out."
On leaning on the positives of a historic 2025 for the club: "It's hard to see that now, being emotional after the game, but I think we'll take a step back and look it over the next few days, going into the new year and look back on the year as a whole and see it as very successful for Palace. Unprecedented in terms of what we've done, the trophies we've won, so right now it's hard to see it like that after the result, but I'm sure this week we'll see it."
FT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
More from Tottenham Hotspur goalscorer Archie Gray, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's been quite a few difficult games. We've had a few good performances, a few not so good ones. It's just good to get a good result and turn things round, and hopefully carry this on.
"Every day on the training pitch with the manager, we're learning new things and trying to get better as a unit in the way we press and the way we build up. Learning new things every day, and we're just getting better as it goes."
FT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
More from Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Very disappointing result. It's a little bit like many games this year, if you don't score you can't win. It's not that we don't create the chances, we just miss them right now, and then we get punished with a set play. It's a little bit the story that happens more or less every game.
"I can't remember that we dominated Tottenham like we did today, pushing them into their half, creating chances, chances, chances but at the end losing the game. The players gave all of their effort, it looked like everything works but the most important thing, getting the ball into the goal, did not work. That is the most important part in football.
"We can't always need the bench. In the first half an hour we had situations where we not only could score but we arrived in so many dangerous situations but we were taking wrong decisions. We don't have the final pass, we don't have the final shot and all this stuff.
"All of the patterns we are talking about and training are there but the closer we get to the goal the more nervous we look and the more wrong decisions we make. We see who scored our goals in the last couple of games and very often it was a defender from a set play.
"We need the support. We know we are missing a few players who are always involved in our goals, Daniel Munoz, Ismaila Sarr, Daichi Kamada. I see the effort but to be honest the finishing quality was not there today."
FT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
Tottenham goal scorer Archie Gray, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "That is a huge win, it was really important that we came away with three points it's a really important game for us. It was a scrappy game but good that we have the three points."
On pressure from his team-mates: "I wouldn't say it's pressure, we are frustrated. You can feel it from the fans and everyone. We know we can do better and we have been working hard to put that right."
On scoring his first senior goal: "It'sincredible, I don't know how to sum it up. It's a feeling I have been waiting for a very long time. After 112 appearances, I will give myself leeway because of the positions [I have played] but it's an incredible feeling. I think my family will be bantering me about how I have only scored now."
FT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
It's amazing what a win can do.
Good to see Thomas Frank smiling and looking so much happier in his post-match television interview.
Spurs have lost 20 Premier League games in 2025. But they will start 2026 in confident mood after this win.
FT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, speaking to BBC Match of the Day:
On January reinforcements: "Let's see. When I see the way we are playing against a Tottenham team who looked like every shot was a goal, one set play, we will see. Again it is quite simple. You just need to look at the stats. We are the team that are constantly underperforming in scoring goals when we create a lot, but nobody does it on purpose. We need to get this fixed."
On looking back at 2025: "Not just this [winning the FA Cup] but also in the calendar year table we are sixth in the Premier League, even when we lost today. 37 games, 59 points, winning two trophies playing in the knockout stage of European football - I think it was by far the best season in Crystal Palace's history. It feels like we are not far away from being constantly in these areas. We are missing little things that are important to stay where we are."
On Guehi's future: "Of course we want to keep everybody."
FT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
Oliver Glasner is asked about the prospect of bringing in January reinforcements to help his side.
"Let's see," says the Palace boss.
FT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
Crystal Palace have lost three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since October 2024, while it’s the first time they’ve lost three successive league matches at Selhurst Park since December 2023 (a run of 4, which began with defeat to Spurs).
Image source, ReutersFT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
Archie Gray is being interviewed by TV right now. He looks younger than 19. Isn't it his bedtime soon? Reaction from the Spurs goal hero coming up.
FT: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham
Alan Pardew
Former Crystal Palace manager on Sky Sports
They [Crystal Palace] look like the Christmas champagne, they were flat. There was no bounce to them, no spark. It all looked a bit slow, and that's the mode they're in at the minute. They've only won two games at home, so it's not a surprising result. They have been struggling a little bit.
It was a game that was perfect for Spurs. They got the first goal. Thomas Frank set his team up, it had his blueprint all over it, and unfortunately for Crystal Palace, it didn't happen for them.
At a glance
Teenager Archie Gray heads Tottenham in front before half-time
Spurs hang on despite Richarlison having two goals disallowed
Tottenham climb to 11th and within reach of the top half
Teenager Archie Gray's first senior goal ensured Tottenham bounced back from consecutive Premier League defeats with a narrow victory over Crystal Palace, as Thomas Frank's side ended the year on a positive note at Selhurst Park.
The 19-year-old Gray punished Palace's failure to deal with a corner from close range three minutes before half-time, after Randal Kolo Muani and then Richarlison were able to win aerial duels following Pedro Porro's delivery to the back post.
Spurs were denied a more comfortable conclusion to the match when Wilson Odobert's attempt struck the post, while Richarlison twice had goals disallowed by the Video Assistant Referee for offside.
The Brazilian mistimed his dart to meet Mohammed Kudus' cross in the closing stages, having already had a finish ruled out because of an offside against Lucas Bergvall in the build-up when Spurs threatened for the first time after 17 minutes.
Palace offered the greater first-half threat as Jean-Philippe Mateta's strength and excellent hold-up play caused Tottenham issues, but the Frenchman sent a shot narrowly wide and headed over inside the six-yard box with his two best chances.
Justin Devenny blazed over inside the Spurs box and Maxence Lacroix headed agonisingly wide as Palace probed for an equaliser - but they ultimately failed to land a second-half attempt on target as they fell to a third straight league defeat.
Victory moved Tottenham up three places to 11th, one point behind Crystal Palace, who remain ninth.
While Frank has been unable to oversee a dramatic upturn in Tottenham's fortunes during an inconsistent start since his summer appointment, these important three points ensured there remains much to aim for in the second half of the campaign.
Spurs will begin the new year as they began 2025, positioned in the bottom half of the Premier League, as Frank attempts to put his stamp on his new team.
The former Brentford boss had celebrated just one win in the past eight league games – taking five points from a possible 24 - and, while a transition period was always going to be required, the toothless nature of some of those performances has contributed to fan frustration.
For the fifth time this season – a tally matched only by second-from-bottom Burnley – Spurs failed to attempt a shot in the opening 30 minutes of a Premier League match.
Following Gray's crucial goal, they went another 30 minutes without registering an attempt before Odobert was inches away from securing the points.
But in a low quality contest, Frank's men showed the necessary grit and determination to seal a victory which he will hope can provide a springboard.
Spurs showed resilience - Frank
While Oliver Glasner refused to blame fatigue for his side's comprehensive defeat by promoted Leeds United last week, there can be no doubt that his players are feeling the effects of the hectic schedule created by their first campaign in major European competition.
Having lost their previous two Premier League matches by an aggregate score of 7-1, the Eagles often appeared flat and short on ideas as they searched for a second-half response.
Although they attempted 15 shots, Palace failed to create a single big chance on home soil as they equalled their longest losing run in the competition under Glasner in what was their eighth and final game of an exhausting December.
Mateta's failure to make more of two decent first-half chances when his side were in the ascendancy hinted at the loss of sharpness that has caused.
While appearing otherwise solid defensively, set-pieces continue to prove Palace's Achilles heel. Eight of the last nine goals they have conceded in all competitions have come from those situations.
After delivering one of the best years in FA Cup winners Crystal Palace's history, Glasner will now hope the January transfer window can provide his stretched squad with necessary reinforcements.
The closer we got to the goal, the more nervous we looked - Glasner
Crystal Palace host Fulham in the Premier League on Thursday, 1 January at 17:30 GMT, while Tottenham visit Brentford later on New Year's Day (20:00).
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 33 | 11 | 22 | 42 |
| |
| 18 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 43 | 17 | 26 | 40 |
| |
| 18 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 29 | 19 | 10 | 39 |
| |
| 18 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 30 | 26 | 4 | 32 |
| |
| 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 30 | 19 | 11 | 29 |
| |
| 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 32 | 28 | 4 | 29 |
| |
| 18 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 20 | 18 | 2 | 28 |
| |
| 18 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 28 | 26 | 2 | 26 |
| |
| 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 26 |
| |
| 18 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 25 | 26 | -1 | 26 |
| |
| 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 27 | 23 | 4 | 25 |
| |
| 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 20 | -2 | 25 |
| |
| 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 26 | 25 | 1 | 24 |
| |
| 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| |
| 18 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 27 | 33 | -6 | 22 |
| |
| 18 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 32 | -7 | 20 |
| |
| 18 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 18 | 28 | -10 | 18 |
| |
| 18 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 19 | 36 | -17 | 13 |
| |
| 18 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 19 | 34 | -15 | 12 |
| |
| 18 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 39 | -29 | 2 |
|
Manager:Oliver Glasner
Formation:3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager:Thomas Frank
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager:Oliver Glasner
Formation:3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager:Thomas Frank
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
High chance of scoring
Medium chance of scoring
Low chance of scoring
Dominant period
Match momentum measures the swing of the match by comparing each team’s threat to see who is more likely to score within that minute. The momentum value is the difference between each team’s most dangerous moment, or team threat, in that minute.
Match momentum measures the swing of the match by comparing each team’s threat to see who is more likely to score within that minute. The momentum value is the difference between each team’s most dangerous moment, or team threat, in that minute.
| Minute | Team with most threat |
|---|---|
Kick off 1' | Crystal Palace |
2' | Crystal Palace |
3' | Crystal Palace |
4' | Crystal Palace |
5' | Tottenham Hotspur |
6' | Crystal Palace |
7' | Crystal Palace |
8' | Crystal Palace |
9' | Crystal Palace |
10' | Crystal Palace |
11' | Crystal Palace |
12' | Tottenham Hotspur |
13' | Tottenham Hotspur |
14' | Crystal Palace |
15' | Crystal Palace |
16' | Crystal Palace |
17' | Crystal Palace |
18' | Tottenham Hotspur |
19' | Crystal Palace |
20' | Crystal Palace |
21' | Tottenham Hotspur |
22' | Crystal Palace |
23' | Crystal Palace |
24' | Crystal Palace |
25' | Tottenham Hotspur |
26' | Tottenham Hotspur |
27' | Crystal Palace |
28' | Crystal Palace |
29' | Crystal Palace |
30' | Crystal Palace |
31' | Crystal Palace |
32' | Crystal Palace |
33' | Crystal Palace |
34' | Tottenham Hotspur |
35' | Crystal Palace |
36' | Crystal Palace |
37' | Crystal Palace |
38' | Crystal Palace |
39' | Crystal Palace |
40' | Crystal Palace |
41' | Crystal Palace |
42' | Tottenham HotspurGoal |
43' | Tottenham Hotspur |
44' | Tottenham Hotspur |
45' | Tottenham Hotspur |
45'+1 | Tottenham Hotspur |
45'+2 | Tottenham Hotspur |
45'+3 | Crystal Palace |
45'+4 | Crystal Palace |
Half time 45'+5 | Crystal Palace |
46' | Crystal Palace |
47' | Tottenham Hotspur |
48' | Tottenham Hotspur |
49' | Crystal Palace |
50' | Crystal Palace |
51' | Crystal Palace |
52' | Tottenham Hotspur |
53' | Crystal Palace |
54' | Crystal Palace |
55' | Crystal Palace |
56' | Crystal Palace |
57' | Crystal Palace |
58' | Crystal Palace |
59' | Crystal Palace |
60' | Crystal Palace |
61' | Crystal Palace |
62' | Crystal Palace |
63' | Crystal Palace |
64' | Crystal Palace |
65' | Tottenham Hotspur |
66' | Crystal Palace |
67' | Crystal Palace |
68' | Crystal Palace |
69' | Crystal Palace |
70' | Crystal Palace |
71' | Crystal Palace |
72' | Crystal Palace |
73' | Crystal Palace |
74' | Crystal Palace |
75' | Crystal Palace |
76' | Tottenham Hotspur |
77' | Tottenham Hotspur |
78' | Tottenham Hotspur |
79' | Tottenham Hotspur |
80' | Crystal Palace |
81' | Crystal Palace |
82' | Tottenham Hotspur |
83' | Crystal Palace |
84' | Crystal Palace |
85' | Tottenham Hotspur |
86' | Tottenham Hotspur |
87' | Tottenham Hotspur |
88' | Tottenham Hotspur |
89' | Tottenham Hotspur |
90' | Tottenham Hotspur |
90'+1 | Tottenham Hotspur |
90'+2 | Tottenham Hotspur |
90'+3 | Tottenham Hotspur |
90'+4 | Tottenham Hotspur |
90'+5 | Tottenham Hotspur |
90'+6 | Crystal Palace |
90'+7 | Tottenham Hotspur |
Full time 90'+8 | Tottenham Hotspur |
Premier League
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Crystal Palace did the Premier League double over Tottenham last season, as many victories as they’d managed in their previous 22 against Spurs (D3 L17).
Tottenham lost this exact fixture 1-0 last season – they’ve never lost consecutive away league games against Crystal Palace before.
Spurs lost 1-0 away and 2-0 at home to Crystal Palace in the Premier League last season. It’s the first time in their league history they’ve both lost and failed to score in consecutive league meetings with the Eagles.
Crystal Palace have won their final league game in each of the last four calendar years, never doing so in five in a row before. Indeed, they hadn’t won their final league game in any of the previous nine years before this run (D7 L2).
Tottenham have only lost their final league game in one of the last 16 calendar years (W8 D7), going down 3-1 at home to Wolves in 2018.
Crystal Palace have lost their last two Premier League matches (0-3 v Manchester City and 1-4 v Leeds United) and would equal their longest losing run in the competition under Oliver Glasner with a defeat here (3 games between September and October 2024).
When facing opponents starting the day above them in the table, Tottenham have only won one of their last 19 London derbies away from home in the Premier League (D6 L12), with that lone victory coming against Brentford in February this year (2-0).
Jean-Philippe Mateta has scored 23 goals across his last 31 Premier League starts at Selhurst Park, while he scored the game’s only goal in this exact fixture last season: a 1-0 win for Crystal Palace in October 2024.
Pedro Porro leads all Tottenham players for line-breaking passes (133) and passes breaking the opposition’s defensive line (13) in the Premier League this season, while only Mohammed Kudus (22) has created more chances for them than Porro (20) this term.
If Adam Wharton is named in the starting XI in this game, he’ll have made more Premier League starts for Crystal Palace than any other player while aged 21 or younger (47). His 46 to date are currently the joint-most for the Eagles, along with Michael Olise (46).
