Match Report: Spurs 1 Palace 0 (hurray! We’ve won one under young Mason).
Finally, Mason has won a game as an interim manager (this is his second time around as our interim boss, the first time was after the Mourinho sacking a few years ago). One draw, one defeat and now one victory. And the fans cheered to the rafters… as if scoring a winning goal was something unusual for Spurs… and I suppose, of late, it is. We are delighted, but I still wouldn’t want the inexperienced Mason to take over on a full-time basis. We are supposed to be a top-four progressive club. Instead, we’ve turned into a laughing stock under Levy’s administration. But not to worry, I have faith (not) that he will get it right this time around… anyway, we might as well deal with the positive… and tables can turn quickly in the blink of an eye… we’ve got three games left, and all will be difficult. Even so, we won’t be finishing in the top four, more like Europa League or Europa Amateur-time-Conference League… if we are lucky.
The game…
Harry Kane became the second-highest goalscorer in Premier League history as we ended a four-game winless run with a much-needed victory over the clipped-winged Eagles.
Kane, headed in Pedro Porro’s cross in first-half, added time to reach 209 goals in the competition and surpass former Manchester United and Everton striker Wayne Rooney. Next up will be Alan Shearer… but the question is, will he be at the club next season, or will Daniel Levy have finally frightened him away with his misery control over the football side of his masterpiece, his glorious money-spinning Arena? And if he does go, it will be to win trophies… something he hasn’t managed under Levy’s domineering eyes.
Anyway… our win proved enough to earn a first victory under interim boy scout manager Ryan Mason and move us above Brighton into sixth. Brighton lost over the weekend, however, they still have two games over us. Aston Villa, who also lost this weekend gone, will face us next weekend. They could go above us or at least draw level. Manchester United and Newcastle United both lost, but I can’t see them losing their spots in the top four.
If we lose this weekend and Brighton beat Arsenic, they will also go above us. But that story is for another day. Today it is all about our victory over Palace.
Thoughts on the game…
We had gone closest to a breakthrough before Kane’s opener when Cristian Romero’s near-post header shot off the crossbar. At the same time, at the opposite end, Clement Lenglet produced a superb tackle to halt Jeffrey Schlupp’s progress towards goal.
Sam Johnstone kept Palace in contention with a close-range save to deny Son following an excellent pass by Romero inside the final quarter of an hour.
Roy Hodgson suffered his second loss in seven games since returning to management, leaving his side 12th.
While Hodgson has efficiently guided Palace to near-certain safety, we, on the other hand, have faltered amid a run of one win in seven league games.
Give credit to Mason as he has created a more attacking team, but alas, our defence is still crap and desperately needs sorting out once we get our new manager onboard.
Mason ensured that he would not make the same mistake; a rare clean sheet provided the foundation for victory over a revitalised Palace.
Mason will also be pleased with the determination shown by the team to see out the closing stages as Palace were forced to leave empty-handed.
Three hard games left… all winnable, however, we are talking Spurs here. I envisage our hardest game out of the last three will be Leeds United. I can see us beating Villa and Brentford but teetering against Leeds, who may or may not be relegated by the time we meet.
Again, we will be leaving another season Under Levy without a trophy (well, apart from the League Cup 2008).
COYS
Glenn
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