Notebook – Crystal Palace vs Spurs

Our Premier League campaign continues tonight as we head to Crystal Palace (kick-off 8pm).

Ahead of the fixture, here are all of its key points of note…

1 - A chance to bounce back

After the disappointment of our New Year’s Day clash with Aston Villa, this match couldn’t come sooner enough for us. Having suffered defeat on the first day of 2023 with the Villans running out 2-0 winners at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, we have only had to wait three days for an opportunity to bounce back as we make the trip to Selhurst Park tonight as we take on Crystal Palace - a side we seemingly like to face.

2 – A strong showing against Palace

We have quite the record when it comes to facing Crystal Palace in the Premier League. Of every side we have taken on in the top flight on at least 20 occasions, only against Sunderland (66 per cent) do we have a higher win rate than Palace (58 per cent – 15 out of 26 meetings).

Our last meeting: Spurs 3-0 Crystal Palace | December, 2021

3 – London derby travel difficulties

Despite our good fortunes against Crystal Palace though, our recent record in away London derbies does not make easy reading. In each of our last 10 trips on the road to our number of city neighbours, we have been unable to take victory, losing six and drawing four of those games – our longest ever such run in the Premier League. Our last away win in London in the top flight came in March, 2021, as we defeated Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage.

Highlights: Fulham 0-1 Spurs | March, 2021

4 – Palace’s London derby difficulties

Crystal Palace have a rather strange record in London derbies when it comes to such a match being their first league game of a calendar year. Of their last seven maiden games of the year which have come against a rival side in the city, they have lost each of them – a run that stretches back 23 years. They started off last year with a 3-2 home defeat to West Ham United.

5 – Palace at home at Selhurst

Under Patrick Vieira though, the Eagles have quite the record at Selhurst Park. Having overseen 30 matches so far at their SE25 home, Wednesday’s opponents have lost just seven times with Vieira (W14 D9). However, they did lose 3-0 to Fulham in their last outing their – their biggest defeat at Selhurst under their French manager to date.

6 – Eagles feeling the cold

While they have been quite resolute at Selhurst Park though, it is noticeable that Crystal Palace have a trend of struggling in January. Of their last 15 Premier League matches in the first month of the year, they have been unable to win (D6 L7). They last won a league game in January in 2021 when they defeated Wolves.

7 – Harry at the Palace

Harry Kane is a player who seemingly enjoys facing Crystal Palace. In his last six Premier League matches against the Eagles, he has been involved in eight goals, scoring five and assisting three. Palace are one of the two teams Harry has both scored five-plus goals (eight) and assisted five-plus goals (five) against in the top flight – the other being Southampton (11 goals, six assists).

8 – Kane’s Wednesdays

If Harry keeps up his strong performances against Crystal Palace this evening, he could also make Premier League history. On Wednesdays in the Premier League, Harry has scored nine goals to date. If he finds the back of the net against Palace, he will be in double figures for goals on six different days of the week (he’s also scored 10-plus goals on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday).