Tottenham beat Crystal Palace after Mateta’s early red, increasing pressure on Pierre Sage
Tottenham defeated Crystal Palace in a Premier League match at Spurs on 31 October 2026 after Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off early, leaving Palace manager Pierre Sage under intensified scrutiny. Archie Gray and Jan Paul van Hecke scored for Tottenham, who moved into the top half of the table.
Tottenham recorded a third successive victory for the first time in 616 days, a run that follows three full-time managers since that previous streak, and Roberto De Zerbi left the pitch visibly satisfied. Palace suffered a third straight league defeat and now sit in the bottom three, a situation that has left Sage’s position described as hanging by a thread. Club chair Steve Parish is reported as the person who will decide Sage’s future, with Liverpool up next at home before the international break and Sean Dyche and Thomas Frank mentioned as alternatives.
Palace selection saw Oscar Mingueza handed his first Premier League start on the right flank as a reward for an excellent display against Fulham midweek, and the visitors began brightly with Mateta testing Antonin Kinsky. Disaster arrived in the 13th minute when Mateta, unable to reach the ball before Micky van de Ven as the Spurs defender passed back to his goalkeeper, caught van de Ven on the back of the heel with his studs. Referee Michael Oliver initially showed a yellow card but the VAR directed him upstairs, and the yellow was upgraded to a red following the review.
After the dismissal Palace managed to hold Tottenham at bay for a period, but a Mohammed Kudus corner created space at the back post for Archie Gray to head in unmarked; Gray had previously scored his first Spurs goal against Palace in a rare win under Thomas Frank last year. Cameras cut to Parish in the stand appearing unimpressed, and Gray was substituted at half-time for Pedro Porro after another corner routine nearly produced a second goal.
De Zerbi’s side pressed harder early in the second half as Mathys Tel, Matheus Fernandes and Omar Marmoush all attempted efforts while Palace retreated. Jan Paul van Hecke missed a close-range chance by ballooning a header into the crowd, and Sage introduced Eddie Nketiah in an effort to change the game, a substitution met with jeers from Spurs supporters. Dwight McNeil had a rare sight of goal that was blocked, and Tottenham nearly punished Palace shortly afterwards when Henderson saved at full stretch after Marmoush blocked Tyrick Mitchell’s attempted clearance and a Spurs break developed.
The match was settled when Fernandes found Van Hecke; the Dutchman, on the ground, nodded the ball over the line after Henderson had pushed his initial header onto the bar. Dejan Kulusevski later produced a strike that was tipped over as De Zerbi’s side searched for a third to round off an otherwise favourable afternoon.
Palace’s defeat leaves them in the relegation zone and places Sage’s tenure in further doubt, with Parish set to make a decision and Liverpool the club’s next league opponents at home before the international break.