Match Report: Crystal Palace 0 Spurs 4 (yes, four… hopefully, it will be things to come) and the Portsmouth review.

Match Report: Crystal Palace 0 Spurs 4 (yes, four… hopefully, it will be things to come) and the Portsmouth review.

I got a text from Janette before the game telling me that the last time Spurs scored first, Liz Truss was Prime Minister!

Everybody I talked to at the game felt depressed and was expecting us to continue where we left off against Villa… but that mood quickly changed, instead, a newly reformed team was out there… and we still have a few players out injured… Will this be things to come? Or was it just a good blip in our poor fortunes?

After getting to the ground, Mel and I had to walk for half an hour; both of us wasn't that fit. He had a foot problem, and I was still on crutches. Two crippled friends united in our passion for following and supporting our beloved Spurs. It reminds me of that song, #They shoot horses, don't they?# And if we were horses, we would have probably been shot by now. Two old codgers following our Spurs all over the place – presumably – to our death! Oh, we laugh… hee-hee! Anyway…

…Harry Kane scored two four second-half goals after we skimmed to a win over Crystal Palace. Kane's header from Ivan Perisic's cross was the first time we had led 1-0 in a game since October 15 (yes, Truss was Prime Minister). But he wasn't finished. Oh, no, he shot a low second goal into the bottom corner from a Bryan Gil pass. He has now scored 264 goals for Spurs, only two behind Jimmy Greaves' club record; sadly, though, he has got nothing to show for it (trophy-wise) while Greaves' had a cabinet full of trophies.

Kane made his 300th Premier League appearance and also had a hand in their next two goals. First, he found Son, who picked out Matt Doherty to slot home. Then he set Son away with a long ball forward with him smashing home, via a deflection, to end a 12-game scoreless run for club and country.

Some say had Palace taken one of their chances before the break, with Hugo Lloris denying Jordan Ayew, it could have been so different… I disagree… right from the start (which is unusual for the first half for Spurs), we came out showing our intent.

Thoughts

Paper headlines before the game were about Conte and his latest quotes about wanting more investment in his team and casting doubt over his long-term future. Some criticise this tactic, however, I agree Levy needs to invest in the team, or future managers will avoid this club as if it was plagued. And why did he give Conte the job in the first place if he wasn't prepared to invest? Or is he just playing games, biding his time… and if so, for what? Levy needs to stand up and show his cards (what he intends to do for our club).

With Dejan Kulusevski still injured and we don't know when he will return, Son's return to the scoresheet is timely. Not only that, but Gill is starting to show his worth. Could he be the one for the future? The jury is out on that one at the moment.

That goal for Son made him the fourth player to score on their 200th Premier League start for Spurs after Teddy Sheringham, Kane and Aaron Lennon. This was only the second Premier League game that Son, who shared the Golden Boot last season, has scored in all season. Before this game, some questioned whether he had gone past his sell-by date.

Palace, who dropped to 12th, actually had more chances in the second half than the first, but many of those came with the game long lost, and we slackened off.

One of my readers (Mike K) said that I usually predict high; on this occasion, I predicted we would win 1-3, but Spurs went higher and got four with no returns… I wonder what I should expect against Portsmouth?

After the game, we had another long walk back to the car, finally getting home at 1 am. Mel, an hour later. We were both totally knackered and needed our beds. I finally got up at 10.30 am.

Match Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs Portsmouth - prediction, team news, lineups and any other titbits I can manage.

Match preview

Spurs

We had witnessed our side labour to a draw with Brentford and capitulate to Aston Villa before we turned on the style in our North London derby against Palace.

We reignited our top-four charge with a bang, but we are still outside the Champions League places in fifth - two points behind Manchester United, having played a game more; hopefully, we can – or try to –  challenge for a trophy this season. We still have no major trophy since beating Chelsea in the 2008  League Cup final (14 years ago… are you listening, Daniel Levy? If so, cough up!). We have eight FA Cups to our name; the last was in 1991 when we beat Forest 2-1(I was at the game… in fact, the only FA Cup finals I missed were in 1901 and 1921, and that was because I wasn't born). Then eight was a record; since then, United and the Arse have smashed our record (with help from Daniel Levy's lack of funding, of course!). The Gooners have won 14, while United have won 12. Liverpool, Yankee-Cheslski and us have all won it eight times. We don't want to fall further behind... Three of those FA Cups were won by Bill Nicholson. Wake up, Mr Levy and don't tarnish our record anymore... invest and let us challenge for it all. Just like Bill Nicholson did... with the support of his board. 

Portsmouth

Portsmouth's, FA Cup winners of 2007-08, now apply their trade in League One. They have just sacked their manager Danny Cowley amid a miserable nine-game winless run in the third tier, along with his brother, who was their assistant manager. A 3-1 New Year's Day defeat to Charlton Athletic proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Cowley, who departs the South Coast side after helping them achieve just seven wins from their 22 League One games this season.

Portsmouth have already seen off Hereford 3-1, and Milton Keynes Dons 3-2 to set up a third-round clash with us, but they have only progressed beyond this stage three times in 12 years since also reaching the 2010 final versus Chelsea.

Portsmouth did overcome Spurs 2-0 in the 2010 semi-finals, with Kevin Prince-Boateng and Frederic Piquionne netting extra-time goals at Wembley Stadium. Still, interim coach Simon Bassey will experience the true definition of a baptism of fire in North London.

Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

WWDDLW

Portsmouth FA Cup form:

WW

Portsmouth form (all competitions):

LWLDDL

 

Team News

Spurs

Still plagued by attacking injuries, we remain without Richarlison, Lucas Moura, and Dejan Kulusevski (whose muscular problem is more serious than first feared), while Rodrigo Bentancur is also nursing a groin problem.

Yves Bissouma will be back from a one-game suspension and could be one of a multitude of changes for us, who will no doubt already have one eye on the North London derby with Arsenal on January 15.

Bryan Gil justified his start at Selhurst Park and, I believe, should hold his spot up top, while Fraser Forster, Japhet Tanganga, Pape Sarr and even Djed Spence could take to the field from the first whistle.

Portsmouth

Midfielder Marlon Pack received his marching orders for two bookable offences in the defeat to Charlton and will sit this one out through suspension, opening the door for Jay Mingi to return.

Clark Robertson has a hip injury, while our loanee Dane Scarlett will not be able to play against his parent club.

My possible starting lineup:

Forster; Tanganga, Sanchez, Davies; Spence, Bissouma, Sarr, Sessegnon; Gil, Kane, Son

Prediction: 5-0

Our youngsters stole the show at Selhurst Park and will no doubt aim to further boost. If we carry on where we left off against Palace and Conte doesn't change the team too much, then we could get five or more. But as the saying goes, it all depends on who or what turns up for this game?

A friend offered me his ticket, so I plan to take Janette with me. She enjoys watching and coming to Spurs to support the team.

We will both get up at 5.30 in the morning and then make our way to Bristol (or near Bristol) to pick Mel up. Then a two and a half hour drive to the Tottenham Stadium (12.30 KO). Lovely jubbly!

Up the Spurs!

Glenn

COYS!