Solitary Son strike sends Spurs into joint second

Heung-min Son’s second-half winner ensured Tottenham made Crystal Palace pay for a series of missed chances at Wembley.

Wilfried Zaha in particular was guilty of missing an open goal after rounding goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, who was making his Premier League debut for Spurs with Hugo Lloris and Michel Vorm both out. Spurs’ third choice also saved well from Andros Townsend and Scott Dann as Palace’s search for a first away goal in the league continued.

The hosts were visibly suffering from a Champions League hangover following their victorious exploits against Real Madrid in midweek, but somehow Son found the cure. A cross ricocheted kindly for the Korean on the edge of the area, and his curled effort into the bottom corner was enough to hand Spurs all three points.

Lucky or not, it’s another win on the board for Mauricio Pochettino’s men - and that sends them to joint second in the table alongside Manchester United.

Sleepy Spurs somehow steal it: The hosts took an age to get going in this midday Sunday kick-off at Wembley, and they were lucky to come up against a Palace side who were wasteful in attack. Son’s goal was just one of two shots on target for Spurs, while Harry Kane was not at the races at all this afternoon. A win is a win, but it was a crash back down to earth for Spurs following their memorable win over the European champions earlier this week.

Paulo Gazzaniga(Tottenham): 687 days on from his previous Premier League appearance, there were a few eyebrows raised when Gazzaniga was on the teamsheet for Spurs, but with Lloris and Vorm both out, Pochettino was forced to turn to his third choice. It turned out to be a dream Spurs debut for the former Southampton player, as he made some decent saves to keep the hosts in this one.

Spurs: Gazzaniga 8, Aurier 5, Sanchez 6, Vertonghen 6, Rose 7, Dier 8, Winks 5, Sissoko 6, Eriksen 6, Son 7, Kane 6. Subs: Dembele 6, Llorente 6, Davies N/A

Palace: Speroni 6, Ward 7, Dann 8, Sakho 7, Schlupp 6, Fosu-Mensah 6, Milivojevic 7, Cabaye 6, Loftus-Cheek 6, Townsend 7, Zaha 7. Subs: Sako 6

31’ - CHANCE! Aurier's deep cross is met by Rose at the back post, but the left-back proves he's a left-back by heading well wide of the mark.

37’ - GREAT SAVE! Gazzaniga to the rescue for Spurs. Dann rises highest from a corner and his header is destined for the bottom corner, but the Spurs keeper parries it and the hosts just about clear.

49’ - GOOD SAVE! Very loose ball from Aurier finds Townsend, who bursts down the other end and is one-on-one with Dier before shooting low across goal, but Gazzaniga does well to parry it wide for a corner.

58’ - HUGE CHANCE! Oh dear, Zaha should have put Palace ahead! Another loose ball from Aurier finds Townsend, who sends Zaha on his way. Gazzaniga is hesitant to come out, but when he finally does, Zaha beats him to it, goes around him but then fires wide of the open goal. From an angle, but he has to do better.

64’ - Son scores for Spurs! Palace are made to pay for their earlier missed chances. A cross ricochets kindly to Son on the edge of the area, and he takes a touch before curling one into the bottom corner.

82’ - CLOSE! Oh Son... the Korean is through on goal, he gives Speroni the eyes and goes for the near post, but fires wide of the mark.