Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off during Saturday's Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur. The Frenchman, making a rare start after an injury-hit beginning to the campaign, was dismissed by referee Michael Oliver following a late lunge on Spurs defender Micky van de Ven.
Challenge on Van de Ven
The forward slid in recklessly, looking to win the ball with force, but his studs made contact with Van de Ven's Achilles, putting the central defender in serious danger of injury. The Spurs captain avoided that worst-case scenario, but home fans were concerned as he rolled around on the ground in pain after the tackle.
Mateta was initially shown a yellow card for the late challenge, but it was quickly upgraded to a straight red after Oliver had been advised to head to the screen by the video assistant referee.
Palace's uphill battle
The visitors were not forced into an early first-half substitution, instead operating without a recognised striker in their 3-4-2-1 shape. It left Palace with an uphill battle to claim a much-needed victory for under-pressure manager Pierre Sage, with pressure mounting on the Frenchman after the Eagles arrived in north London in the relegation zone of the Premier League table.
Sage's men are without a win since their 3-1 victory over former boss Oliver Glasner and Nottingham Forest at the start of the month. Since then, they were thrashed 5-0 by fierce and high-flying rivals Brighton and Hove Albion and defeated 2-0 at home by fellow underperformers Newcastle United.
