Tottenham’s Relegation Fears Intensify After Crystal Palace Defeat

Tottenham Hotspur’s struggles continued on Thursday, March 5, 2026, as they suffered a damaging 3-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace, leaving them just one point above the Premier League relegation zone. The loss, compounded by a red card for Micky van de Ven, has plunged the club into crisis and raised serious questions about their ability to avoid the drop.

Match Report: Spurs Crumble Against Palace

The match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, attended by 60,213 fans, began promisingly for Spurs when Dominic Solanke scored in the 34th minute. However, the game took a dramatic turn four minutes later when Van de Ven was sent off for a foul on Ismaila Sarr. Sky Sports reports that this incident sparked a collapse from the home side.

Crystal Palace capitalized on their numerical advantage, with Sarr converting the resulting penalty in the 40th minute. Jorgen Strand Larsen then extended Palace’s lead in the 46th minute, and Sarr added his second goal in added time (90+7 minute) to seal a comprehensive victory for the visitors. NBC Sports highlighted how Palace scored three goals in a 12-minute span.

Van de Ven’s Red Card Proves Costly

Micky van de Ven’s sending off proved to be a pivotal moment in the match. The red card not only gave Crystal Palace a penalty but also left Tottenham with ten men for the majority of the game, making it incredibly difficult to contain Palace’s attacking threat. BBC Sport noted the match turned toxic at the end, with scuffles reported in the stands.

Spurs’ Dire Situation

This defeat marks Tottenham’s 11th league game without a win – a club record – and leaves them in a precarious position in the Premier League table. With nine games remaining, Igor Tudor’s side face a daunting task to secure their top-flight status. Their next fixture is a difficult trip to Anfield to face Liverpool. Sky Sports emphasizes that every game now looks enormously difficult for Spurs.

Crystal Palace’s Resurgence

Crystal Palace, have climbed to 13th in the table with 38 points, moving further away from the relegation battle. Their impressive performance at Tottenham demonstrates their growing confidence and tactical flexibility. NBC Sports reports that with the win, Crystal Palace have lost twice as many games (14) as they have won this season (7).

Key Takeaways

• Tottenham are in serious relegation danger, sitting just one point above the drop zone.
• Micky van de Ven’s red card was a turning point in the match.
• Crystal Palace are enjoying a resurgence under their manager.
• Spurs have now gone 11 league games without a win, a club record.