Eriksen keeps Spurs in hunt for title
What a hit. Not just the shot, but the impact it had on the title race. tottenham looked to be floundering. Looked tired, shorn of much of their swagger after Saturday’s Fa Cup semi-final defeat. they were the better team but the game seemed to be heading for a draw.
So, with 12 minutes left, Christian Eriksen tried one. It’s times like this that call for extreme measures. and a punt from 30 yards out is nothing if not extreme. Spurs had tried a few already without any joy. this one pitched perfectly, and how.
It wasn’t the most powerful shot, didn’t fly into the top corner. But, boy, did it do the job.
the shot stayed low, flew towards the left corner of the goal and bounced just in front of keeper Wayne hennessey. If anything, the element of surprise defeated him. he wasn’t expecting it. Frankly, not too many at Selhurst Park were.
tottenham had the best chances as they chased the game in the second half. Dele alli could have scored at the far post from a Kyle Walker cross; hennessey made the save of the night from an alli shot after 62 minutes; Eric Dier headed an Eriksen corner narrowly over.
Spurs weren’t at their best but, either way, the important thing for them was three points and they got them. It is quite possible they would have dropped two vital points had this fixture been played a year ago.
So this was a fine result, given the 4-2 defeat at Wembley on Saturday won’t have helped breed confidence. It would have been very easy for tottenham to go out here with a whimper and hand Chelsea a six-point cushion. Instead, there it is. Just four points, with Chelsea to visit Everton on Sunday.
Spurs, of course, face arsenal, who would love nothing more than to torpedo the title challenge. But at least it’s still on.
‘It was unbelievable,’ said boss Mauricio Pochettino. ‘Very good. It was difficult in the first half for us to create or be fluid, but the second half was much better.
‘It was good to get the three points and be alive in the race for the title. the challenge is to keep going.’
the sight of Pochettino hurrying to the dressing-room when the first half ended to maximise the time with his players told the story of the opening 45 minutes.
Unsurprisingly, tottenham seemed to be suffering more of a hangover from their Wembley semi-final than Chelsea. harry Kane had remained a threat, though, not least after nine minutes when Eriksen lobbed the ball to him and he struck a half-volley from 20 yards that flew close. Eriksen had another try 20 minutes later, first with a shot that was blocked and then reacting quickly to the rebound to force a save.
Yet tottenham were lucky not to be at a numerical disadvantage after 35 minutes when Victor Wanyama committed two daft fouls. he was booked for the first, on Luka Milivojevic. then, eight minutes later, he dived in on andros townsend, was beaten by his pace, and sent the former tottenham man flying.
two yellows? Maybe one and seven-eighths. Even so the locals were furious when Moss decided instead to have a long chat to Wanyama and his captain Kane.
Palace also were not at their best but still produced a display that never allowed tottenham to settle. they are a good team now, and Sam allardyce has made them so. they are physical and direct, but also quick and sharp.
townsend was a problem for his old club and teed up Christian Benteke for Palace’s first chance after 15 minutes, a shot saved by hugo Lloris. then, in the 40th minute, great work by Mamadou Sakho found townsend, who raced on goal and shot over the bar with the best chance of the half.
It was a giant blow to Palace when Sakho landed awkwardly on his left knee eight minutes into the second half. Just as well that, despite this defeat, Palace look just about safe now.