First-half flurry sees Tottenham cruise past Palace

A rampant first-half display carried Tottenham over Crystal Palace 4-0 in a much-needed victory for the home side.

Tottenham Hotspur got just what they needed to get their season on track with a 4-0 win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League. Spurs started fast and with aggression, scoring early and often in a first half that sealed the game for Tottenham. So, what happened and how did Spurs dominate Palace?

The Long Ball

From the opening kickoff on, it was clear that a big part of the Tottenham game plan against the Eagles was to hit long balls over the top. While the big cross-field ball from Toby Alderweireld out to the left wing is a typical staple of Spurs attack, today we got that and some more direct balls over the top to runners as well.

We saw it in the first minute of play leading to a long ball for Harry Winks after Serge Aurier battled for the ball forward. The more Palace defenders laid off the more Tottenham played forward, putting Crystal Palace under immediate and constant pressure. Just when it seemed Palace were getting their feet under them, Alderweireld hit a direct long ball, which Heung-Min Son took deftly off his thigh. Son struck back to his right with his left foot past a wrong-footed Vicente Guaita for Spurs’ first goal and a 1-0 at 10 minutes.

All day long the balls from the back put Palace under pressure as Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, and even Moussa Sissoko got int the act, playing balls both over the top and into feet. Both balls – over the top and into feet – are important for the Spurs offence to click, as they need the ball to go forward and backwards to create space against teams that park the bus, like Palace did. As the ball goes in and out, the defence moves, creating space in the channels for a third ball and man to go forward. It really is Mauricio Pochettino attacking football at its finest and the ball movement in and out was a big part of Spurs success on the day.

Resurgence at Right-back

With KWP and Juan Foyth injured, we saw Davison Sanchez man the right back to less than great effect against Arsenal before the break. With Sanchez picking up a knock over the break, whether by design or because he had no other choice, Pochettino started Serge Aurier at right back today. While KWP has played okay this season, seeing what a more experienced player could bring was eye opening.

Aurier battled all day, playing a big part in Spurs’ second and third goal, laying a beautiful pass on to Son for the team’s third. ON the second goal, Aurier moved in diagonally toward goal when Son was able to push the ball out to him as the defence began to commit. Aurier blasted a cross, trying to get the ball to Lamela or Son in the middle, but Van Aanholdt came across and blocked the ball past Guaita and into the net for Spurs second.

On the third goal, Toby laid the ball back to Hugo Lloris who was under a little pressure and booted it up field and toward the sideline. Aurier went up and won the contested header. From there Serge sprinted up the sideline, where Winks was able to get the ball out to him on the wing. Serge hit a sweet first time cross, which Son slammed home with a nice side-footed volley at the back post. The third truly put the match to bed.

While Aurier wasn’t perfect, he had a lot more opportunities. It was obvious what he brings to the squad and it certainly added to the attack. If Serge was in the doghouse, he sure got himself out today.

Spurs Midfield Masterclass

Maybe it was the lack of pressure, maybe it was the rest from the break, but whatever it was, Spurs midfield was on today. Everyone had their touch and the group was outstanding. Each time a player received the ball with an excellent first touch. Sissoko, Eriksen, and Winks were all quick with the ball today and moved well off it, creating spaces for passing lanes and opportunities to get the ball forward to Lamela, Kane, and Son.

Winks had an excellent game completing over 92% of 57 passes, moving the ball with terrific pace in every direction. Sissoko was also on target with his passes today, completing more than 95% of more than 70 attempts. While Eriksen wasn’t at his best today, the excellence of Sissoko and Winks carried the day.

Where the pair really shined was defensively. They did an excellent job of stopping the Palace counters and harrying the Palace players into mistakes.  While Palace managed 11 shots, with six on target, none of them bothered Lloris as Spurs kept their first clean sheet of the season.

Tottenham’s Interchanging Attack

Part of what has made Tottenham teams of the last several years so dangerous under Pochettino is their tactical flexibility to interchange in attack. Those traits and the success that follows were certainly on display today, as Son, Lamela, and Kane interchanged to great effect, moving defenders off their spots and creating opportunities for one another.

Whether it was Kane dropping deep to get possession, Lamela picking the ball up in midfield, or Son pushing forward with penetrating runs, all three players spent time at the tip of the spear at one time or another. While Kane didn’t get a goal, he had a beautiful cross to Lamela who finished for the 4-0 final score.

While he technically didn’t get an assist on the own goal, it was Son who dropped deeper to pick up the ball and draw Palace’s defence in, creating more space and a better angle for Aurier on the second goal.

The ability to have all three players pick up the ball and play so effectively across the attacking half and final third of the pitch created all sorts of problems for Palace. It’s the way Tottenham have to play for continued success.

What’s Next

Spurs have little time to recover as they are off to Greece to kick off their Champions League campaign on Tuesday against Olympiakos FC at Kariaiskaki Stadium. Tottenham travel to King Power Stadium to take on Leicester City on Saturday in the Premier League. Spurs are back in the top four on eight points, ahead of United and Leicester on goal difference.