Notebook - Spurs vs Crystal Palace

Our Premier League campaign nears its conclusion as we face Crystal Palace in our penultimate home game of the season on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Ahead of the fixture, here are the key points of note…

1 - Showing fight

As we enter the final month of Premier League action, we have four important games remaining with us looking to get back to winning ways. Acting Head Coach Ryan Mason demanded a positive reaction from the squad when he took charge in April and we have shown plenty of fight and spirit in his two games at the helm despite results not going our way. First recovering from two goals down at half-time to draw with Manchester United and from 3-0 behind in 15 minutes against Liverpool to get back on level terms in stoppage time before our agonising last-gasp defeat at Anfield.

2 - Strong record against Palace

We have an impressive record when up against Crystal Palace in the Premier League. We have lost just once in 15 league meetings (W12 D2) and, when playing at home, we have won seven consecutive league games with an aggregate score of 16-1, our longest winning streak in N17 against any current Premier League opponent.

3 - Reverse fixture

In January, Harry Kane scored two of our four second-half goals as we cruised to victory at Selhurst Park. Making his 300th Premier League appearance, our number 10 was at his brilliant best with a brace shortly after half-time before playing a key role in our next two goals as Matt Doherty and Heung-Min Son rounded off an impressive away win.

Highlights: Crystal Palace 0-4 Spurs | January, 2023

4 - Son flying high versus the Eagles

Heung-Min Son has rediscovered his goalscoring form in recent weeks with four goals in his last five league appearances. When it comes to facing Palace, our South Korean star loves this fixture having opened his Premier League account in lilywhite against the Eagles in 2015 and has amassed seven goals in 13 league appearances, including goals in the last two meetings. If he was to continue his fine form in front of goal on Saturday, it would be the third time he has scored in three consecutive games against the same opponent in the Premier League having also done so against Norwich City and Liverpool.

Watch: Sonny's first Premier League coming against Palace

5 - Battle of the ages

Ryan holds the record as the Premier League’s youngest manager which he set as a 29-year-old in his first spell in temporary charge in April, 2021. Two years later, he is back as Acting Head Coach and faces the league’s oldest manager in Roy Hodgson who is 43 years his senior. Ryan admitted in his pre-match interview with SPURSPLAY that he will always have a 'soft spot' for Hodgson after the former England manager gave Ryan his international debut in a friendly against Italy back in 2015.

6 - Roy’s return

Following our victory over the Eagles in January, the south London club went on a 12-game winless run which saw them fall to just three points above the relegation zone. That run of form culminated in manager Patrick Vieira being replaced by Hodgson in March. Having enjoyed a four-year spell at Selhurst Park between 2017-21, Palace turned to their tried and tested former manager, and he has gone on to win four of his six league games (D1 L1) since his return, a run of results which has seen Palace reach the hallowed 40-point mark.

7 - Hodgson’s struggles against Spurs

Despite English top-flight managerial experience with Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, Liverpool, West Bromwich Albion, Watford and Crystal Palace, Roy Hodgson has found it difficult to get the better of us throughout his career with just one win in 19 Premier League encounters – that being a 2-1 victory with Fulham in November, 2008.

8 - Eagles taking flight

Finding the back of the net was Hodgson’s main problem to solve when he arrived at Selhurst Park and he seems to have solved Palace’s profligacy with 13 goals scored in his six games thus far. That's more than they had managed in their previous 20.

9 - In-form Eze

Eberechi Eze is one player who has seemingly benefitted from the arrival of Hodgson with the midfielder the Eagles’ top scorer since the former England manager's return, having scored four goals in his last five games.