Harry Kane broke the record for most headed goals in a season to help Tottenham produce one of the narrow football scores of the weekend in the Premier League. After a lackluster first half, Kane made the difference for struggling Spurs by scoring on his tenth header of the year, setting a new Premier League record, to increase their chances of qualifying for Europe. Kane also passed Wayne Rooney to take over second place in the all-time scoring rankings with his 209th goal of the competition, and he now has his sights set on Alan Shearer’s total of 260. While 26-goal Kane keeps setting records, his colleagues are still unconvinced. Cristian Romero had previously struck the crossbar from a corner, but Spurs struggled to exploit a well-prepared Palace team in open play. They had the appearance of a squad that had lost their last four games.
For their part, in-form Palace had come into the game with high spirits and would be regretting themselves for failing to build from a promising second-half start that saw Wilfried Zaha and Ebe Eze miss their shots. In the end, it was obvious that they were frustrated. Ryan Mason, the interim manager and the Premier League’s youngest head coach at age 31, will be pleased to defeat Roy Hodgson, the division’s oldest manager at age 75, and see his team post a rare clean sheet after allowing 15 goals in their previous four games. Heung-Min Son’s late one-on-one was saved by Sam Johnstone, which would have made it a more easy victory for him in his switch to a back four.
It was probably inevitable that Tottenham royalty Kane would make his imprint on the King’s Coronation day, and it was hard not to wonder what the team would have done without him when he headed in at the back post just before halftime. Spurs’ play had been brutal and the atmosphere had been bland until that time. Romero’s header from a Porro corner hit the crossbar in minute 17 but Spurs, who were positioned in a new-look 4-4-2, found it difficult to get past a well-drilled Palace team in open play. Midway through the half, after exchanging passes with Kane, Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg should have performed better, but the visitors offered everything they had, and Michael Olise’s goal was successful.
Kane made the difference by successfully executing a maneuver that supported Mason’s decision to shift Porro even more to the right. Beginning the second half brightly, Palace had chances via Zaha and Eze before Son’s pivotal header stopped Olise from advancing on goal and Emerson Royal diverted a Zaha cross into the roof of the Tottenham goal. However, Cheick Doucoure then attempted a shot that was blocked by Fraser Forster.
Spurs also had a strong stretch, with Johnstone tipping over a deflected attempt from Porro. When Son caught Romero’s ball over the top, the custodian was once again alert. The game ended in a sloppy manner as free kicks hampered play as Spurs sought their first league-leading clean sheet in ten games. In the end, Tottenham fought to defeat Palace for the eighth straight home league victory. And one that is desperately needed.
“I’m thrilled to have won the London derby, and keeping the scoreless was crucial. We put a lot of effort into the practice field. Although it was a close game, I believed we earned three points,” Tottenham interim boss Ryan Mason said. “We didn’t want Palace in our final third racing at us because we know they have individual brilliance and wanted to engage them further up the pitch. We made a valiant effort. I must congratulate the players because I think it’s crucial that they make that move now.”
“I observed us striving to get into the appropriate spots for significant stretches of the game when on the ball. We weren’t as successful as we were the week before or the week before that, but Tottenham deserves praise for choosing to defend the way they did against us. After Kane’s miraculous goal, we took the game to Tottenham and it appeared as though we could have the chance we needed to get back into the game,” Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson said. “Conceding just before halftime is frustrating because that is football. We didn’t, in my opinion, merit to start out down 1-0. However, it shouldn’t take away from the fact that the team’s first-half performance was in line with our expectations. All throughout the second half, we outplayed Tottenham and eventually switched to a 4-4-2 formation in an effort to score. Nevertheless, it was disheartening that during the final eight minutes, we were unable to get the ball out of the corner.”
For more football scores, click here
