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Tottenham Hotspur's nightmare season continued as they fell to a 3-1 home defeat against Crystal Palace, their fifth consecutive Premier League loss. Captain Micky van de Ven received the first red card of his career as Spurs' relegation fears intensified.
Tottenham 1-3 Crystal Palace: Van de Ven sees red
Tottenham Hotspur are in deep trouble after suffering yet another defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, this time against London rivals Crystal Palace.
The hosts actually started brightly and took the lead through Dominic Solanke, who finished well after good work from Archie Gray. Moments earlier, Palace had a goal ruled out when VAR spotted that Ismaïla Sarr's forehead had been fractionally offside.
But the match turned dramatically when Van de Ven brought down the same player inside the penalty area. Referee Andrew Madley had no hesitation in showing a straight red card to the Dutch defender, who was making his way back as last man.
It was a significant moment for Van de Ven. The 24-year-old had never been sent off in his entire career – not at FC Volendam, VfL Wolfsburg, Tottenham or with the Netherlands national team. Now, wearing the captain's armband in his team's hour of need, he was forced to leave his teammates to fight on with ten men.
Sarr dusted himself off and converted the resulting penalty to make it 1-1. Palace smelled blood and took full advantage before half-time. Former FC Groningen striker Jørgen Strand Larsen fired home to put the visitors ahead, before Sarr completed his brace to make it 3-1 at the break.
The second half was a damage limitation exercise for Tottenham, who could not mount a comeback with ten men. The final whistle confirmed a fifth straight league defeat – a run that has left them staring at the very real prospect of relegation.
Tottenham's alarming run
Five consecutive Premier League defeats is Tottenham's worst run in years. Under Igor Tudor, who was appointed to save their season, the situation has only deteriorated:
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 22 | Tottenham vs Arsenal | L 1-4 |
| Mar 1 | Fulham vs Tottenham | L 2-1 |
| — | — | L |
| — | — | L |
| Today | Tottenham vs Crystal Palace | L 1-3 |
Spurs' last Premier League win came on December 28. They are now just points above the relegation zone, and with their captain suspended for the next match, the outlook is bleak.
Van de Ven's red card
The dismissal was a moment of desperation from Van de Ven. Sarr had beaten the offside trap and was bearing down on goal when the Dutch defender grabbed his shirt and hauled him to the ground. It was a clear denial of a goalscoring opportunity.
Van de Ven will now serve a one-match ban, leaving Tottenham without their captain and best defender for their next fixture. Given the defensive frailties they have shown all season, his absence could prove costly.
Thursday's Result
- Tottenham Hotspur 1-3 Crystal Palace (Solanke 18' – Sarr 32' pen, 44', Strand Larsen 38')
Dutch players in action
- Micky van de Ven (Tottenham) – Captain, first career red card, suspended for next match
Relegation battle
Tottenham's position is becoming increasingly precarious:
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Tottenham Hotspur | — | — |
| 17 | Nottingham Forest | — | — |
| 18 | West Ham United | — | — |
What was once unthinkable is now a genuine possibility: Tottenham Hotspur could be relegated from the Premier League.
