Tottenham beat 10-man Crystal Palace 2-0 at home to record a third straight win and maintain the pressure on Eagles boss Pierre Sage, with his side dropping into the relegation zone.
Jean-Philippe Mateta's 13th-minute red card was followed just 12 minutes later by Archie Gray's headed opener at a corner.
Jan Paul van Hecke's scrappy second-half rebound finish then settled the game to give Spurs three consecutive league wins for the first time since February 2025 and move Roberto De Zerbi's side up to eighth.
But Palace's third league loss in a row, which leaves them third-bottom, came after Mateta was sent off for a late studs-up sliding tackle on Micky van de Ven's Achilles.
Referee Michael Oliver had originally shown a yellow card to the Palace striker, but VAR sent Oliver to the monitor, and he changed his decision to a red for serious foul play.
Not only did the straight red card lead to Palace's defeat, but it leaves them without Mateta for their next three Premier League games - a run which could be crucial in deciding Sage's future as they face Liverpool, Coventry and Hull.
Palace showed plenty of fight and grit for the under-pressure Frenchman at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Spurs struggled to find a second goal to make the win safe.
But Van Hecke's bundled finish brought relief to the Spurs faithful, who saw their side win back-to-back home league games for the first time since November 2024.
There was nearly more late Spurs joy too, as teenager Luca Williams-Barnett should have had an assist on his Premier League debut after he wonderfully set up Mohammed Kudus, who somehow missed from close range.
What defeat means for Sage...
Sky Sports News' Chris Reidy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:
"The pressure is continuing to grow on Pierre Sage. Every loss now pushes Steve Parish and Crystal Palace decision-makers closer to making a change.
"Since the 5-0 defeat at Brighton, the powers that be have wanted to see defensive improvements in the team and results pick up. Since then they've lost twice in the Premier League, but at least with some improved performances, notably in cup competitions against Besiktas and Fulham.
"Palace weren't expected to win at Spurs, especially after going down to 10 men, but they're now in the bottom three with Liverpool visiting Selhurst Park next Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
"A vulnerability from set-pieces has been a theme under Sage, which again will be a worry for the hierarchy.
"For the second game running, Palace's away support chanted Sage's name; there's an understanding from them he's been dealt a tough hand after losing Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Munoz in the summer. And the players at Spurs certainly didn't show a lack of effort; in fact, it was the opposite, they put in a shift.
"But this is a results business, as Sage has admitted himself, and Parish hasn't been afraid to make ruthless decisions: think back to Patrick Vieira.
"It feels right that Sage should get fixtures against Coventry and Hull to prove himself, but football isn't always so kind. The performances against Fulham in the Carabao Cup and Tottenham tonight have at least shown fight and resilience.
"It's going to be another interesting few days waiting to see if Parish and co stick or twist."
Sage: I'll never give up and have 'rage to train more'
Crystal Palace head coach Pierre Sage speaking at his post-match press conference about their lowly position:
"Yes, it's a disaster for every club in the Premier League, but I have to speak about my club, and I agree with you.
"I'm not comfortable with the situation on the table, but it's a consequence of what we did badly on the pitch, and my only action is on the team and on the pitch.
"But my only way to change things is on the pitch, and that's why I told the players I want to be the first on the pitch on Monday.
"They can trust in me; I will never give up. I will do the best session I can do on Monday because now I have the rage to train more because the game I saw this evening is not in line with my conviction, and I don't like when we let the initiative go to the opponent too much."
On his confidence over whether he will be given time: "It's not me to decide this thing, but if I have one hour, I will give my best during one hour, and if I have 10 years I will give my best during 10 years.
"But you know, for me I'm responsible of the situation, and I am the guy who will find the solution for the situation."
De Zerbi praises 'unbelievable' Tonali
Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi speaking at his post-match press conference:
"I'm very happy with the performance because we showed to be a mature team with clear ideas, and we didn't concede a counter-attack, maybe just one in the second half.
"We created many, many chances. If we want to follow the perfection, we have to be more nasty.
"But it's an individual thing, because if I'm the No 9, the No 10, I want to score. But I can't say nothing. We are improving the physical condition.
"(Sandro) Tonali today was unbelievable, incredible. We played with two players more. Tonali was the double today."
'A lot more to come from Spurs'
Tottenham defender Jan Paul van Hecke speaking with Sky Sports about De Zerbi and the winning run:
"He's a top manager. I have a really good relationship with him.
"That's a big reason why I came here because he gets the best out of me, and I think there's a lot more to come from us.
"When you win games, the confidence grows. When you keep a clean sheet, that also helps.
"Now we need to stay calm and keep going, and we will win a lot of games for sure."
Opta stats: Palace record their lowest PL possession
- Crystal Palace have lost 5-0 against Brighton, 2-0 against Newcastle and now 2-0 against Spurs in their last three league games. It's the first time they've lost three in a row without scoring since March 2023.
- Spurs had 34 shots in this match - it's the most they've had in a Premier League game since February 2016 (34 vs Swansea), and the most Crystal Palace have faced on record in a game in the competition (since 2004-05).
- Spurs had 79.4 per cent possession against Crystal Palace, their second-highest on record (since 2003-04) in a Premier League match (80.2 per cent vs Newcastle in August 2019). Meanwhile, it was Crystal Palace's lowest ever recorded in a Premier League game (20.6 per cent).
- Among ever-present sides, Crystal Palace have lost the most games (15) and conceded the most goals (52) of any Premier League side in 2026, while they've also won the joint-fewest games (6) and scored the joint-fewest goals (29) this calendar year.
