Crystal Palace concluded a historic 2025 with a narrow and frustrating 1-0 defeat to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon.
The only goal of the game came from an opportunistic Archie Gray header, which proved enough for the visitors despite the Eagles enjoying large periods of dominance. Tottenham had two Richarlison efforts ruled out for offside by VAR, but held on to end Oliver Glasner's side's five-match unbeaten run.
The result leaves Palace looking to start the New Year on a positive note when they host Fulham in south London on January 1st.
Defensive Duo Shine Despite Defeat
The backbone of Crystal Palace's performance was found in central defence. Maxence Lacroix delivered what was described as an imperious display, earning a standout 8/10 rating. The French defender handled the physical threat of Richarlison with authority from the early stages, endearing himself to the home support.
Alongside him, Marc Guehi (7/10) was composed in possession, frequently picking incisive passes through the Spurs lines during the first half. The makeshift centre-back Jefferson Lerma (6/10) put in a decent shift, though his unconventional positioning was exposed prior to one of the disallowed goals.
Midfield Battle and Attacking Frustration
In the engine room, veteran Will Hughes matched Lacroix's high rating with an 8/10 performance of his own. His relentless energy and crucial sliding tackles were vital as Palace controlled much of the midfield battle. Adam Wharton (6/10) recovered from a shaky start with 30 minutes of misplaced passes to begin dictating play.
The main source of frustration came in the final third. Yeremy Pino (5/10) endured a difficult first half, described as a stinker, before improving his delivery after the break. Justin Devenny (7/10) showed excellent movement and passing but lacked conviction when it mattered most, notably failing to react when a Clyne header fell at his feet.
Up front, Jean-Philippe Mateta (7/10) provided a physical presence and held the ball up well, but was unable to fashion a clear-cut chance for himself and might have done more to challenge for Gray's decisive header.
Looking Ahead to Fulham
While the performance contained positive elements, the lack of a cutting edge proved costly. The defeat is a setback, but the dominant spells of play against a top-six side will offer encouragement to manager Oliver Glasner.
Attention now swiftly turns to the New Year's Day fixture against Fulham, where Palace will be desperate to convert possession and promise into precious Premier League points to start 2026.
Substitutes: Eddie Nketiah (7), Christantus Uche (7), Romain Esse (5).
