PREM: Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham

Juan Foyth the unlikely hero

Juan Foyth bounced back from a difficult Premier League debut to score the winner as Tottenham battled to a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The 20-year-old, who gave away two penalties against Wolves last weekend, headed home from close range in the 66th minute at Selhurst Park to secure a fourth win in a row in all competitions for Spurs.

Palace, without injured forward Wilfried Zaha, struggled to create chances, with substitute Alexander Sorloth spurning their best opening in injury-time when he was denied by Hugo Lloris.

Spurs have now won seven of eight away Premier League matches this season while Palace are yet to win at home and have lost six of their last seven games in all competitions.

Palace looked to be up against it from the start due to the absence of Zaha, having not won a Premier League game without him in the starting line-up since September 2016.

However, the hosts did show some promising early signs as Lucas Moura headed away from an open Cheikhou Kouyate in the box and then Andros Townsend shot into the side-netting.

 

Spurs lost Kieran Trippier to injury in the 24th minute, but were soon in the ascendancy.

Dele Alli headed wide from Ben Davies' cross and Harry Kane then forced Wayne Hennessey into a save with a shot from 25 yards out.

Spurs looked in control of the game before the break, only for Palace to battle back at the start of the second half and see James Tomkins spurn a good chance when he headed wide at the back post from a corner.

 

But it was from a Spurs corner that the deadlock was eventually broken in the 66th minute.

Kane's header was deflected up into the air and, as Jordan Ayew waited for the ball to drop, Foyth leapt and headed in from close range.

Palace applied pressure in the final 10 minutes but Lloris saved a 20-yard shot from Jeffrey Schlupp and then denied Sorloth in injury-time after the striker was presented with a clear sight of goal in the box.