Archie Gray’s maiden senior strike earned Tottenham a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Gray, making his 112th senior outing, nodded home from close range after a corner just before the interval, with his effort sealing only a second Premier League win in nine matches for Spurs and leaving Palace lamenting their profligacy.
Oliver Glasner’s men controlled large spells of the contest but were unable to turn dominance into goals, with Jean-Philippe Mateta nodding over from their clearest opening of the first half, before Justin Devenny and Maxence Lacroix wasted gilt-edged chances after the restart.
Gray’s goal arrived against the flow of play, although Spurs did see the ball hit the net twice more, with Richarlison, deputising for the suspended Xavi Simons, ruled offside on both occasions following VAR reviews.
Palace, who were forced to add defender Chris Richards to an already extensive injury list, faded late on as the demands of their congested schedule took their toll. They are now without a victory in five matches across all competitions.
Spurs threatened to double their advantage late in the game, with substitute Wilson Odobert striking the woodwork and Rodrigo Bentancur drawing a save from Dean Henderson.
Ultimately, Gray’s breakthrough goal, glanced into the net from Richarlison’s flick-on, proved enough to secure a vital win that eases the pressure on head coach Thomas Frank and lifts Spurs up to 11th place, just one point behind Palace in ninth.
However, beyond the emotion and frustration, data analysts remain sceptical about Palace’s ability to maintain a push for the top four over an entire season.
As reported by Sky Sports, the Opta supercomputer has run thousands of simulations and still projects Crystal Palace to finish in ninth place — three spots higher than last season’s 12th-place finish, but well short of their current elevated position.
This outlook comes despite Palace’s impressive early momentum — built on structure, confidence, and standout performances — and despite the growing belief within Oliver Glasner’s squad. The model factors in long-term consistency, squad strength, fixture congestion, injuries, and historical trends. Even with Palace’s strong opening stretch, Opta expects the numbers to balance out by May.
Even so, the forecast still places the Eagles in a healthier position than last term, when they ended 12th but secured European qualification through their unforgettable FA Cup success. A ninth-place finish would signal progress, stability, and the continued evolution of a club flourishing under a manager whose philosophy has clearly reshaped the mood around Selhurst Park.
For now, though, Palace supporters will keep their eyes on the current standings — with their side sitting ninth, battling for every point, short on confidence, and eager to rediscover momentum as the new year approaches.