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Tottenham 4-0 Crystal Palace: Report, Ratings & Reaction as Spurs First Half Masterclass Earns Win

Tottenham returned to winning ways with a 4-0 thumping of Crystal Palace. Following just the two points in their last three games, this was a much needed win for the Lilywhites.

Palace will be disappointed with the result and the performance, but they came across a fired up Spurs side who they just couldn't keep out at the back.

The impressive Son Heung-min opened the scoring with a neat run and finish after a stunning pinged through ball by Toby Alderweireld. ​

Patrick van Aanholt then directed the ball into his net following a cross from Serge Aurier, before Son doubled his tally with an emphatic finish from another Aurier cross.

Erik Lamela also got in on the act after a delicious cross from Harry Kane - all this in just the first half.

However, that was it for Spurs. They seemed to take their foot off the gas for the whole of the second half, but to be fair, you can't really blame them.

A 4-0 win for Spurs was the perfect tonic after a slow start to the season, but a second half clean sheet could be enough to suggest to Crystal Palace fans that it was simply a first half blip.

TOTTENHAM

​Key Talking Point

There were huge question marks over the ​Spurs team following a poor start to the season. The right back position was also a massive dilemma.

But guess what? With the transfer window now closed and Mauricio Pochettino picking an actual right back in that position, they suddenly looked much more the side that we are used to seeing. Surely not a coincidence. 

FBL-ENG-PR-TOTTENHAM-CRYSTAL PALACE

With the squad now settled and ​Aurier performing brilliantly today - which could possibly result in him getting a chance to prove himself in defence - Pochettino will want things from this point forth to head in a positive direction.

Player Ratings

Starting XI: Lloris (6); Aurier (8), Alderweireld (7), Vertonghen (6), Rose (6); Sissoko (6), Winks (7); Lamela (8), Eriksen (6), Son (9*); Kane (7)

Subs: Ndombele (6), Davies (6), Lucas (N/A)

STAR MAN


Although a case could be made for Aurier, ​Son was quite brilliant and deserves the star man award. Pochettino will be absolutely delighted to see such a key player back to his best after coming back into the team recently following suspension.


On his day, his pace and finishing is a joy to watch, and today was most certainly his day. Two emphatic finishes capped off an all round brilliant display.


The Son was really shining on Tottenham today.

CRYSTAL PALACE

Key Talking Point​

Following back to back wins, it was going to be interesting to see if Roy Hodgson's men could grind out another snatch and grab victory.

This wasn't to be the case today, as they came across a Spurs side who were going all guns blazing. It was their best performance in a while.

FBL-ENG-PR-TOTTENHAM-CRYSTAL PALACE

Hodgson may be worried at how easily Spurs opened them up - they were seriously poor at the back in the first 45 minutes. One thing is for sure though, he definitely won't panic, especially after an improved second half display.

Player Ratings

Starting XI: Guaita (5); Ward (4), Cahill (5), Sakho (5), van Aanholt (3); Townsend (5), Milivojevic (6), Kouyate (6), Schlupp (5); Zaha (6*), Ayew​ (5)

Subs: Benteke (6), McCarthy (6), Camarasa (N/A)

STAR MAN


I mean, this was a tough one. No one really played well in a ​Palace shirt. But ​Wilfried Zaha was probably the liveliest of a bad bunch.

He was isolated a lot in the final third, but still tried his absolute best and won a number of fouls in dangerous positions.

It wasn't a brilliant performance, but on a bad day for Palace, he stood out the most - as he so often does. 

Looking Ahead


This is a huge win for Spurs. A victory is one thing, but in this fashion it makes it even better. Their fans will now be hoping that it puts some of the criticism to bed, and they can look forward to the next couple of games with a spring in their step.

Two tricky away ties are to come for Tottenham, as they head to Greece to take on Olympiacos in the Champions League, whilst their next Premier League fixture is against a wounded Leicester side at the King Power.
Toby Alderweireld

Crystal Palace will take this result on the chin knowing that they had a bad day in the office. They came up against a better team on the day, and Hodgson will know that.

The Eagles return to Selhurst Park next week against a struggling Wolves, and know they have a great chance of picking up three points and compounding Wolves' misery.


Source : 90min