Vincent Janssen went closest, as his follow-up to Harry Kane’s deflected grass-trimmer was smartly smothered by Wayne Hennessey. The manager has brought a couple of new signings in. It is one important option we have to play with both of them. We’ve got a great core.
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“I’m disappointed as I don’t think we deserved to lose that but conceding from two set-pieces has cost us”, Palace winger Jason Puncheon said.
Tottenham fans arriving for their first game of the season would have been surprised to see their ground with a gaping hole in the north east corner, as the construction of the club’s new stadium has meant the removal of 4,000 seats at one end. Palace like to drop deep.
While Arsene Wenger has been criticised for his policy of largely sticking with what he has at the Emirates Stadium, Mauricio Pochettino’s equivalent approach seems sensible after last year’s unexpected title challenge. You saw one of them scoring and the other playing very well so we have got a great team bond together. “It feels like a long time ago now but I am happy to play that role and I think it worked well on Saturday”, he said.
With Spurs needing a spark, Alli provided it instantly when he was introduced into the game.
The Argentine manager wanted to use two strikers from the beginning but surely he could alter his lineup some more to work in his team’s advantage as the season wears on.
“It feels special to have won that game and when you get that first win, you also get that confidence”.
“But today was good to forget last season now, to look forward”.
“And when you come to places like Tottenham you have to score in that spell”.
We have got a great core here, a great squad so let the talk be on anyone else like it was similar to past year and we will just keep doing what we are doing and try and win games. A handful of good chances were spurned in the first half as the hosts struggled to take advantage of their territorial dominance, with Palace growing into the game in the second period as they sensed an opportunity to steal an unlikely victory. The gaffer will probably change it now and then throughout the season. “We spent almost two years together here and we had a good relationship”.
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Dan is ESPN FC’s Tottenham correspondent.
