Tottenham Beat 10-Man Crystal Palace 2-0 After Mateta's Early Red Card

Tottenham Hotspur beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 31, after Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off in the 13th minute. Archie Gray headed the opener and Jan Paul van Hecke added a second-half goal, giving Roberto De Zerbi’s side a third straight Premier League win, Sky Sports reported.

For Palace, the loss was a third league defeat in a row and dropped the Eagles into the relegation zone, adding pressure on manager Pierre Sage.

What happened with the Mateta red card?

Mateta went in with a late, studs-up sliding tackle on Micky van de Ven’s Achilles. Referee Michael Oliver first showed a yellow card, but VAR sent him to the pitchside monitor, and he upgraded it to a straight red for serious foul play, according to Sky Sports.

The red card carries a three-match ban, so Mateta will miss Palace’s next three Premier League games, against Liverpool, Coventry and Hull. Sky Sports described that run as one that could be crucial for Sage’s future.

Who scored for Tottenham?

• Archie Gray, 25th minute: a header from a corner, just 12 minutes after the red card
• Jan Paul van Hecke, second half: a scrappy rebound finish that finally settled the game

Spurs struggled to find the second goal for a long stretch as Palace defended with grit. Late on, teenager Luca Williams-Barnett, making his Premier League debut, set up Mohammed Kudus, who missed from close range.

Tottenham vs. Crystal Palace: the numbers

Opta figures cited by Sky Sports show how one-sided the match became:

• Spurs had 34 shots, their most in a Premier League game since February 2016
• Tottenham held 79.4% possession; Palace’s 20.6% was their lowest ever recorded in a Premier League match
• Palace have lost 5-0 to Brighton, 2-0 to Newcastle and 2-0 to Spurs in their last three league games, their first run of three straight losses without scoring since March 2023

Tottenham vs. Crystal Palace standings: where do they sit?

The win moved Tottenham up to eighth in the Premier League table, per Sky Sports. It was Spurs’ first run of three straight league wins since February 2025 and their first back-to-back home league wins since November 2024.

Palace are now third from bottom. Their next league match is a home game against Liverpool at Selhurst Park.

What did the managers say?

De Zerbi said he was “very happy with the performance” and singled out midfielder Sandro Tonali as “unbelievable, incredible,” though he said his attackers must be “more nasty” in front of goal, according to Sky Sports.

Sage acknowledged the team’s league position was not acceptable. “I’m not comfortable with the situation on the table,” he said, adding that he wants to be “the first on the pitch on Monday” and that he “will never give up.” Asked whether he would be given time, he said it was not his decision.

Why it matters

For Tottenham, the result builds real momentum under De Zerbi, with a clean sheet and a climb into the top half. For Palace, the red card and loss deepen a slump at a tricky time, with Liverpool next and their top scorer suspended. Sky Sports reported that every defeat now pushes Palace’s decision-makers closer to a change.

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