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Ismaila Sarr scored twice as Crystal Palace struck three times in seven minutes to earn a comeback win over 10-player Tottenham and condemn relegation-threatened Spurs to a fifth straight defeat.
Home fans headed for the exits at the end of a miserable first half as Tottenham’s troubled season slumped to a new low, with Igor Tudor losing all three matches since taking temporary charge of a side who have two points from their last seven home league games and are one above the relegation zone.
SARR PUTS PALACE 1-3 UP 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/FwkaRfr63q
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 5, 2026
Spurs received an early reprieve when Sarr’s deflected 30th-minute goal was deemed offside by a Video Assistant Referee check, responding almost instantly when Dominic Solanke put them ahead with a close-range finish following fine work from Archie Gray.
The contest turned when Micky van de Ven was sent off four minutes later for hauling back Sarr, who converted the resulting 40th-minute penalty.
Jorgen Strand Larsen and Sarr then slotted in from Adam Wharton passes during first-half added time, condemning Spurs to a ninth defeat in their last 14 home league matches as Palace rose to 13th.
SPURS PLAY THEMSELVES INTO TROUBLE AND NOW TRAIL 🤯@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/0MJMEdBO5t
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 5, 2026
Analysis: Will Tottenham be relegated?
Fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest’s draw at Manchester City and third-bottom West Ham’s win at Fulham increased the pressure on Spurs on Wednesday, putting both teams a point behind the club who sacked Thomas Frank on February 11.
With Palace in particularly patchy form since head coach Oliver Glasner announced in January that this will be his last season in charge, Tottenham fans had hoped this would be a chance to increase the gap on their nearest chasers.
Sarr scores from the spot ⚽@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/4tDpbUxIxi
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 5, 2026
After that tumultuous end to the first half, Spurs re-emerged early but continued to look laboured after a bright start to the second period, going close when Solanke’s shot from a tight angle was impressively turned away by goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
“They’re in it, 100%,” former England midfielder Joe Cole told TNT Sports of the prospect of Spurs going down.
“They’re right in the mix now, no doubt about it. We’ve got to give Palace their flowers, as well.
VAN DE VEN IS SENT OFF AFTER GIVING AWAY A PENALTY 🟥@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/rn2wg2WlBc
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 5, 2026
“The [Spurs] fans want players with commitment, passion and desire, who match them. When they don’t, it’s a horrible place to be.”
Ex-Tottenham striker Peter Crouch said Palace would have scored more had they not been “in second gear”.
SOLANKE FIRES SPURS INTO THE LEAD ⚡@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/gfBRMXdNq8
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 5, 2026
“Tottenham had to make changes and couldn’t really get at [Palace],” Crouch said of Van de Ven’s dismissal, describing Spurs as “bang in trouble”.
“Palace were by far the better side. You never really felt like Spurs – even with 11 men – could get a goal. Palace had far more matchwinners in their team. “
Sarr thought he had given Palace the lead, but it’s ruled out for offside ❌@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/rqBfezFCMy
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 5, 2026
What’s next for Tottenham and Palace? Fixtures, schedule
With Palace looking likely to finish midtable, both sides return to European action next week.
Spurs have nine league matches in which to avoid a relegation that is almost unthinkable for a club of their stature, starting with a trip to Liverpool on March 15 and followed by a visit from Forest on March 22 that looks like a must-win game.
Tottenham team vs Palace
Tottenham made four changes: left-back Souza was given his first start for the club, with Kevin Danso also coming in at the back.
Winger Mathys Tel was also included, as was Pape Matar Sarr. Xavi Simons, Conor Gallagher and Yves Bissouma moved to the bench and Radu Dragusin was not involved.
Defenders Cristian Romero, Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence, midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski and wingers Mohammed Kudus and Wilson Odobert were injured.
Tottenham starting XI: Guglielmo Vicario, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven, Souza, Pedro Porro, Pape Matar Sarr, Joao Palhinha, Archie Gray, Dominic Solanke, Mathys Tel, Randal Kolo Muani
Tottenham substitutes: Antonin Kinsky, Brandon Austin, Xavi Simons, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Conor Gallagher, Callum Olusesi, Rio Kyerematen, James Rowswell
Crystal Palace team vs Tottenham
On-loan Aston Villa forward Guessand, who had two goals in his previous three appearances, replaced former Tottenham livewire Brennan Johnson in one of two Palace changes.
Chadi Riad supplanted the suspended Maxence Lacroix following the defender’s second-half dismissal during their 2-1 defeat at Manchester United four days earlier.
Midfielders Cheick Doucoure and Jefferson Lerma and strikers Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eddie Nketiah were sidelined.
Crystal Palace starting XI: Dean Henderson, Jaydee Canvot, Chris Richards, Chadi Riad, Tyrick Mitchell, Daniel Munoz, Adam Wharton, Daichi Kamada, Ismaila Sarr, Jorgen Strand Larsen, Evann Guessand
Palace substitutes: Walter Benitez, Nathaniel Clyne, Jefferson Lerma, Borna Sosa, Will Hughes, Justin Devenny, Yeremy Pino, Brennan Johnson, Christantus Uche
Tottenham vs Crystal Palace stats
This was the eighth Premier League game played on a Thursday this season, with the previous seven comprising three 1-1 draws and four 0-0 draws
Spurs are winless in their last 13 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) Premier League games (D3 L9) since beating Brentford 3-2 in January 2024
Tottenham have lost three of their last four Premier League matches, against they have also won 16 of the last 22 league editions of the fixture (D2 L3)
They have lost seven of their last eight home league London derbies (W1), including five of their six this season – already their most home London derby losses in a single league campaign before this match
The other occasion was during the 1993/94 season, when Spurs won one of their final 16
After nine consecutive away league defeats at Tottenham between 2015/16 and 2023/24, Palace have never won consecutive away league games against Spurs for the first time
This was Palace’s third consecutive Premier League meeting with Spurs while above them in the table. They’d only been above Spurs in two of their previous 22 against them (excluding games on the opening day ) since their return to the top-flight in 2013
One of Palace’s last 10 away London derby matches in the Premier League (W6 D3) has resulted in defeat, losing 1-0 at Arsenal in October
Glasner has won all three of his meetings with Tudor: his Eintracht Frankfurt side won home and away against the Croatian’s Marseille during the 2022/23 Champions League group stage
