Spurs clinch Juan-nil win
Young Argentinian defender scores only goal of game at Crystal Palace
Tottenham defender Juan Foyth had an uncomfortable debut in the Premier League last weekend. His second game in England’s top flight went a whole lot better.
The 20-year-old Argentine centre back scored a second-half goal to earn Spurs a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace that moved them level on points with second-placed Chelsea and Liverpool before both played overnight.
A week ago, Foyth made his first appearance in the Premier League and gave away two penalties in Tottenham’s 3-2 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“What a difference a week makes,” read a tweet from Tottenham after the match.
Signed from Estudiantes in the 2017 off-season, Foyth is getting a run in the first team only because of an injury crisis that has robbed Spurs this season of nine of their 12 players who featured in the World Cup in Russia.
The latest casualties were Colombia centre back Davinson Sanchez, who injured his hamstring in their Champions League win on Wednesday, and England right back Kieran Trippier, who hobbled off injured midway through the first half against Palace.
Without really hitting their stride this season, Tottenham are in contention in the title race.
Five of their last six wins in the league have been by one goal, with their only league defeat since midSeptember coming at home to leaders Manchester City.
“This type of game is crucial in the battle for the top four,” Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said. “This is one of the toughest stadiums to play in. The three points are massive.”
Emotional tribute
Action on the field seemed very much an afterthought at King Power Stadium as Leicester honoured their late owner who was killed with four others in a helicopter crash two weeks ago.
The 0-0 draw with Burnley was the first game at the stadium since the tragic accident that saw Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s helicopter crash shortly after the previous home game.
Some injured Leicester players, including England defender Harry Maguire, led a march of fans from the city centre to the stadium ahead of the match. Fans, players and staff remembered Vichai before, during and after the game.
Wins for strugglers
On a rather lacklustre day in the Premier League when only 11 goals were scored in six matches, there were crucial and confidence-boosting second wins of the season for struggling Newcastle and Cardiff.
Newcastle climbed out of the relegation zone after beating Bournemouth 2-1 at home, with on-loan Venezuela striker Salomon Rondon setting Rafa Benitez’s team on the way with two early goals.
After going 10 games without a victory at the start of the season, Newcastle have won two in a row.
Cardiff also won against Brighton 2-1, their winner coming in the 90th minute through Sol Bamba following an amazing goalmouth scramble in which the ball struck the goal frame twice before the centre back eventually scored.
Brighton played from the 34th minute with 10 men after Dale Stephens’ red card.
The other two games were 1-1 draws. Felipe Anderson’s goal earned West Ham a point at Huddersfield, and Jose Holebas equalised with a deflected strike nine minutes from time to earn Watford a draw at Southampton, who were angered that a Charley Austin goal was incorrectly disallowed for offside.