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Archie Gray’s first goal for Tottenham Hotspur ensured they ended their rollercoaster ride of 2025 with a 1-0 win. crystal palace to relieve stress Thomas Frank.
Spurs suffered five consecutive defeats in eight games and are 14th in the table before fans turned on Frank. Premier League On Christmas Day.
While there was nothing internally to suggest Frank’s job was under immediate threat, Tottenham needed to get back to winning ways and Gray’s 42nd-minute header settled the tie between the reigning FA Cup and Europa League champions.
That moves Spurs up to 11th but, crucially, just four points behind fifth-placed Chelsea ahead of Frank’s return to his old club Brentford on Wednesday.
Oliver Glasner Watching a depleted Crystal Palace lose their third consecutive league game further highlighted the need for reinforcements in January.
Both clubs celebrated eagerly anticipated cup wins in May, but Spurs were without one of their Bilbao heroes, with Christian Romero also suspended.
Kevin Danso replaced Romero and received a yellow card as a Christmas present from referee Jarred Gillett five minutes after Palace took the lead.
Chances remained limited, though, and Tottenham thought they had taken the lead in the 17th minute through Richarlison, but their celebrations were cut short after Lucas Bergvall was ruled offside.
Soon after, Jean-Philippe Mata’s 20-yard shot was dragged out of the goal and a short free-kick created another chance for the Palace No.9, but he nodded in Maxson Lacroix’s header.
Justin Devine and Adam Walton tested Guglielmo Vicario with modest efforts before Will Hughes tipped the ball wide after some clever work from the home side.
It seemed only a matter of time before Palace broke the deadlock, but Spurs broke the flow of the game in the 42nd minute.
After Randall Kolo Muani’s shot was blocked for a corner, Pedro Polo passed to the back post and was saved by Kolo Muani before Richarlison passed the ball to Gray who headed home from close range for Tottenham.
Spurs’ slim half-time lead was immediately threatened when substitute away captain Mickey van de Veen blocked Jeremiah Pinault’s volley before creating a better chance.
Pino hit a gorgeous boot cross that was knocked over by Nathaniel Clyne, but Devenn fired over on the turn.
Glassner turned to the bench after Eddie Nketiah came on and Palace wasted another chance when Jefferson Lerma fed Lacroix with 20 minutes left but his header went wide.
Five minutes later, Tottenham Hotspur again had the ball in the net after Richarlison fired a brilliant cross from Mohammed Kudus, but VAR once again denied the visitors a goal as the Brazilian forward was slightly offside.
palace captain Mark Geshe He followed with a header but it didn’t happen as Spurs defended resolutely and substitute Wilson Odobert was unlucky to hit the inside of the post from distance before Dean Henderson denied Rodrigo Bentancur to make it 1-0.