Tottenham beat Crystal Palace 2-0 to record their third straight league win, their first such run since February 2025, and move up to eighth in the table.
The victory ended a 20-month wait for three consecutive wins, a barren stretch that had become an unwanted record for the north London club. Since a 3-2 home loss to Aston Villa left them bottom of the standings, Spurs have responded with a run that has revived talk of European qualification.
De Zerbi's blueprint takes shape
Spurs have shown a clear identity since their opening-day defeat at Brentford, and results are now beginning to follow. Despite failing to win any of their first six league games, manager Roberto De Zerbi never came under significant pressure, with the team demonstrating a plan and a leader whose confidence never wavered as external noise built.
Against Palace, Jean-Philippe Mateta's 13th-minute red card made the task easier, but De Zerbi's side showed the personality, aggression and will to win that had been missing over the previous 18 months. They did not overwhelm Palace, but kept them at arm's length and never looked in serious danger of dropping points.
Late goals and early control
Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus impressed as Spurs dominated and scored in either half to put the game beyond the Eagles. Six of their 10 league goals this season have come in the final 15 minutes, with Jan Paul van Hecke's unorthodox header arriving after 73 minutes.
Archie Gray's 25th-minute opener gave the home side early control, allowing them to play with freedom and without chaos. De Zerbi got the quiet, boring win he would have hoped for, as Spurs dictated possession, increasingly tested Dean Henderson in the Palace goal, and saw out the closing stages with little fuss, including a bright cameo from Luca Williams-Barnett.
