Tottenham not at their best; get win anyways

Tottenham did what was necessary to keep pace with Chelsea on Wednesday, but they didn’t look particularly pretty doing it.

Though a magnificent strike from Christian Eriksen earned Tottenham a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace, the team struggled for much of the match otherwise.

Mauricio Pochettino elected to drop Heung-min Son from the starting lineup so as to return to a proper 3-4-2-1 formation, with Ben Davies and Kyle Walker returned to wing-back.

Though the formation has proved a revelation in virtually every other match in which Pochettino utilized it, the first half at Selhurst Park proved that it isn’t a one-size-fit all tactic.

The 3-4-2-1’s primary advantage is that it pushes Spurs’ most dangerous players — including the full-backs — forward into positions that are better able to exploit any space, mistakes or chances the opposition gives up.

Expected this, a well-drilled Palace side sat in rigid lines just in front of their own goal. Any route to goal — be it between the lines, over the top or from wide areas — was impressively dealt with by Palace’s multi-dimensional defending. By half-time Spurs had only registered one shot on goal.

It was broadly the same set of tactics Sam Allardyce used to nullify Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool over the last month. Bottle up top heavy teams, then wait for your chances.

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Only it wasn’t just about waiting. Wilfried Zaha, Andros Townsend and even Christian Benteke buzzed about the pitch, pressing in advanced areas and hoping to force the mistakes they needed to break toward Hugo Lloris’ goal. It was a familiar creative disruption that even Pochettino must have begrudgingly admired.

Even if Palace failed to make the most of those counter-attacks, it was clearly a gaping vulnerability. With so few people committed to deeper positions, Pochetinno clearly felt a change was necessary.

That change came with an unprecedented double substitution at half-time. Son was brought on for Victor Wanyama — on a yellow card for a silly challenge in the first half — while Moussa Sissoko came on for Mousa Dembélé.

With these new faces came a change in shape. Spurs reverted to their classic 4-2-3-1 formation, with Eric Dier pushing up into midfield and Christian Eriksen dropping deeper.

The benefits were immediately clear. Tottenham had more cover behind them with the full-backs deeper, a reliable base in Dier and two players capable of stretching play on both flanks.

Palace found themselves on the back heel almost immediately, with most of their attacks hitting a brick wall before ever even hinting at danger.

While Spurs’ ship appeared steadied, Palace’s fortifications remained in tact. Though Dele Alli came close on two occasions and chances were more frequent, by the 78th minute this match seemed destined to end as a draw.

Then Tottenham’s most in-form player decided to step up. Eriksen, fresh off his man-of-the-match performance in the 4-2 loss to Chelsea on Saturday, retrieved the ball just outside the center circle. Dribbling forward, he looked up to goal about 35 yards out and aimed for the left post.

The result was a phenomenal goal that, in a moment, ruined all the good work Palace did to frustrate Tottenham up to that point.

Thereafter, it was simply a waiting game. Palace attempted to break out and level matters, but Spurs’ defense was equal to their efforts.

Next: Eriksen keeps Tottenham's title hopes alive

Tottenham’s 1-0 victory at Selhurt Park wasn’t pretty. Indeed, the quality of play was dispiriting in a way, following as it did arguably Spurs’ worst loss of the season. This wasn’t the commanding comeback Pochettino might have wanted.

What it was, though, was further proof that this isn’t the same Spurs team of old. Failures disappoint, but they no longer avalanche. Eriksen’s winner suggests there is spirit and ability left to tap in this team. With five matches to go the title remains very much in sight.