Tottenham Hotspur vs. Crystal Palace: Preview, Odds, Predictions (May 6)
Initial Thoughts
Two sides with recently installed managers arrive on the back of respective seven goal thrillers. Spurs versus Palace is a tricky London derby for teams, with Ryan Madon’s Tottenham desperately in need of three points and Palace high on confidence after the return of Roy Hodgson.
The Narrative
Against Liverpool last weekend, Tottenham Hotspur were 3-0 down inside the first twenty minutes for the second away match in the row.
But whereas that led to a 6-1 mauling against Newcastle two weeks ago, at Anfield Tottenham fought back bravely under new interim manager Ryan Mason.
Goals from Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Richarlson saw Spurs draw level on 3-3 in the 93rd minute, only for a defensive calamity to hand Diogo Jota the winner less than a minute later.
To lose at the death like that will be a bitter pill to swallow for the Tottenham head coach, who saw his side come right back into the game and looked to have earned a valuable and morale-boosting point at Anfield.
But Mason - in his second stint as interim head coach - will draw plenty of positives from a gutsy second half performance and will now attempt to rally his troops for the final four games of the season.
Crystal Palace hadn’t won a game all year under Patrick Viera, but since Roy Hodgson was reappointed last month the Eagles have been well and truly soaring.
Hodgson won his first three games in a row to an aggregate scoreline of 9-2. And after drawing at Everton and losing to Wolves, Palace got back to winning ways last week with a dramatic 4-3 victory at home to West Ham.
Nuts and Bolts
Both sides head into Saturday’s matchup on the back of seven goal thrillers in their last outing, and it's hard to tell which team has the edge ahead of this London Derby.
Spurs are winless in four matches and thier has backline conceded 15 goals in the last 360 minutes. But the North London club have looked much better under Ryan Mason, and Spurs will feel confident they can get something out of Saturday’s game.
Tottenham ran out 4-0 winners last time these teams met in January and Mason’s side have lost only once in their last seven home fixtures.
Palace haven't beaten Tottenham away since the end of last century, and with four games left to play this is arguably Hodgson’s toughest game of the campaign.
But with their top flight status all but assured on 40 Premier League points, Palace come into this matchup on a high with very little to lose.
So will this be the match where Spurs turn a corner? Or will high-scoring Crystal Palace expose Tottenham’s flimsy back line once again?
Homestand Picks
All odds courtesy of Northstar Bets
All four of Tottenham’s last games have seen four or more goals, and Palace have scored 13 goals in their last four Premier League victories.
Spurs looked much better in the second half against Liverpool, but if they give away early goals Palace are confident enough to come away with at least a point on Saturday.
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