Unbeaten Tottenham defeat Crystal Palace to open 5-point EPL lead

Tottenham, on Friday night, defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 win to move five points clear at the top of the Premier League, their biggest ever lead in the competition.

Tottenham’s entertainers were tamed during a low-key first half in south London but James Maddison’s cross-shot soon after the interval forced Joel Ward to turn into his own net.

The playmaker then showed brilliant footwork in the box before feeding sub Brennan Johnson to pull the ball back for in-form Heung-min Son to add a second and his eighth of the season.

Maddison may not have achieved an official goal involvement to become the first player to register a goal or assist in each of his first six Premier League away games for a club but his influence was plain to see.

There was late drama when Jordan Ayew set up a frantic finish with his super strike four minutes into injury-time and Matheus Franca lashed wide with virtually the last kick of the game, but Tottenham came through for a victory which means boss Ange Postecoglou has secured a record 26 points from his first 10 games as a Premier League manager.

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Spurs’ nearest competitors Arsenal, at home to Sheffield United on Saturday, and Manchester City, in the derby at Old Trafford on Sunday will be aiming to trim Spurs’ lead over the weekend, but Postecoglou’s unbeaten side have shown they can find different ways to win this week, after backing up Monday’s victory over Fulham.

There were moments during the opening 45 minutes when it looked like Roy Hodgson could be the one celebrating on his landmark night, and there was almost a late twist, but his 500th game as a manager in English football saw his initially disciplined side eventually broken down and ultimately fall short in the final third.

Palace stay 11th, as close to the relegation zone as the top four in terms of points, but are likely to fall over the coming days.

Crystal Palace next travel to Burnley on November 4 before hosting Everton the following weekend on November 11.

Tottenham are back at home against Chelsea on Monday, November 6, and then travel to Wolves in the lunch-time fixture on November 11.

The Star