POCH’S ENGLAND KANE PLEA
AFTER the glitz and glamour of beating the Champions League winners, the grind of wearing down the worst team in the Premier League.
Mauricio Pochettino’s flat side finally lifted themselves to stay in touch in the title race but this 90 minutes will not enter the club’s Wembley folklore like the outclassing of Real Madrid in midweek has.
That is also because Roy Hodgson’s team offered a more testing examination than did Zinedine Zidane’s Galacticos. Tottenham’s best player was their third-choice goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, who could have been sent off after three minutes.
Palace’s star performer was Wilfried Zaha, who missed an open goal with the score 0-0.
It was that sort of Sunday lunchtime game – after the Lord Mayor’s Show a week before the real event in the City of London on Saturday.
South Korea forward Heungmin Son became the top-scoring Asian player in Premier League history with a gorgeous curling shot soon after the hour.
But a Spurs team missing Dele Alli were also without their usual effortless spark and had to dig deep to force the win. Until Son struck, such an outcome was in doubt.
“In football you must fight every day, it was very difficult and very tough,” admitted a relieved Pochettino.
“We knew it would be a massive challenge for us to be ready again and fresh after Real Madrid. But I’m very pleased. The result was fantastic even if it wasn’t our best performance.
“We were very professional and we fought. We had a lot of possession but conceded a lot of chances. Always you need some said boss Pochettino. “It was such an emotional game and it’s better to avoid a risk.”
Dele Alli is ruled out for England with a hamstring strain, while Harry Winks is a doubt after going off with ankle trouble yesterday.
Pochettino (right) added: “It’s a difficult situation. The most important thing is national teams, including England, understand the needs of our players and help them so they’re fit when they return. We trust in them.” luck to win and I’m so delighted because the three points is so important for us.”
Tottenham’s first bit of luck came when Gazzaniga, who last appeared in the Premier League for Southampton in December 2015, came out and took Mamadou Sakho instead of the ball. Referee Kevin Friend gave a goal kick.
“I wasn’t livid about the lack of the penalty which might suggest the referee, who was in a much better position than I was, got it right,” Hodgson admitted. “Our defeat didn’t hinge at all on the referee.”
What did hurt was Palace’s failure to take chances. They have still failed to score – or earn a point – on the road this season, with Christian Benteke’s