Everything on... Crystal Palace

We're set for our third away trip in the capital in the space of a week as we head to Crystal Palace for Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round tie.

After agonisingly missing out on the Carabao Cup final via a penalty shoot-out defeat to Chelsea on Thursday night, it is full steam ahead in the world’s oldest cup competition, continuing at Selhurst Park this weekend. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the Eagles...

Team news         

Palace boss Roy Hodgson has confirmed that Vicente Guaita and Wayne Hennessey will again be unavailable for selection this weekend after they missed the Eagles' defeat to Liverpool. Long-term absentees Connor Wickham and Christian Benteke are back in contention after being involved in training this week.

One to watch

Jordan Ayew has been starting to find his form in front of goal this month and it has come at an important time for a Palace side that have failed to score in seven out of their 11 Premier League home games.

In his four appearances so far in 2019, Ayew has managed an average of a goal every other game – a marked return to form considering he had not found the target since he scored the equaliser for former club Swansea City in their 1-1 draw with Everton in April, 2018.

The Ghana striker started his career at Marseille before spells at Lorient and Aston Villa. He moved to Swansea City in 2017 but following their relegation to the Championship at the end of the 2017/18 season, Ayew joined Crystal Palace on loan for the following season.

Last five meetings

10 November, 2018 – Crystal Palace 0-1 Spurs – Premier League
25 February, 2018 – Crystal Palace 0-1 Spurs – Premier League
5 November, 2017 – Spurs 1-0 Crystal Palace – Premier League
26 April, 2017 – Crystal Palace 0-1 Spurs – Premier League
20 August, 2016 – Spurs 1-0 Crystal Palace – Premier League

Previous clash

Juan Foyth nodded home his first-ever professional goal as we recorded our fifth straight 1-0 win over the Eagles. 

While we had created plenty of chances in a rain-soaked first half at Selhurst Park, we just couldn’t find a way through a stubborn Palace defence. Moussa Sissoko, Dele Alli and Harry Kane all had opportunities to break the deadlock, but it would take a brave header from Foyth to put us in front. 

The Argentine international was making only his second-ever appearance in the Premier League but when the ball looped up in front of goal, the defender flung his head in as Jordan Ayew looked to clear and connected first to give us the lead.

Roy Hodgson’s side had a great chance to level late on but, when Alexander Sorloth was put through on goal, Hugo Lloris produced a point blank save to deny the Norwegian forward and ensure we left south London with all three points.

Crystal Palace in the FA Cup

The Eagles progressed to the fourth round of the competition with a 1-0 win over League Two outfit Grimsby Town.

The game was billed as a potential giant-killing but when Grimsby defender Andrew Fox was dismissed within three minutes for a rash challenge on former Spur Andros Townsend, the tie looked to be heading in one direction.

The Mariners battled on with 10 men but all hopes of taking the tie back to Blundell Park were ultimately dashed with just four minutes left to play as Jordan Ayew‘s powerful header sent Palace through to the next round. 

Magic moment

Heung-Min Son scored his first-ever Premier League goal in our 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in September, 2015.

Having only signed for the Club the month prior, Sonny fired home his third goal in as many days to give us our first Premier League home win of the season.

We had Hugo Lloris and the woodwork to thank at the other end as the score was kept level but when the South Korean sprinted away on the break there was no stopping him as he smashed home under Alex McCarthy to seal the win.

Played for both

The ‘Pitbull’, as he was famously nicknamed by Louis van Gaal, Edgar Davids became a fan favourite in his 18 months at the Lane. Coming through the system at Ajax, the midfielder won the Champions League with the Amsterdam outfit before moving to Juventus, via Milan, where he lifted three league titles.

Spells at Barcelona and Inter followed before the Dutch international joined us in north London. He would score only one goal in his time with us, but he made up for that with his fight, craft and ability on the ball.

In January, 2007, Davids returned to Ajax but was back in London just three years later at Palace where he spent just three months. Davids ended his playing career in London at Barnet, where he also took a player/manager role in 2012.

What they're saying

Palace boss Roy Hodgson spoke to the media on Friday afternoon ahead of Sunday afternoon's FA Cup fourth round encounter and he admitted that he feels the trophy may have lost its shine in recent years.

"It's nothing like the glittering prize it was in my youth because we have the Champions League and Europa League now. Not many have the ambition to win the FA Cup," he said.

"The FA Cup is still being won by the top teams, and our position in the table (14th) isn't as good as we'd like it to be.

"What is my ambition? To advance in the FA Cup and get to the semis or the final, or stay in the Premier League? My ambition is to stay in the Premier League."