Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Crystal Palace

Victor Wanyama's first goal for Tottenham gave them all three points against Crystal Palace.

The Kenyan midfielder headed home from a corner with eight minutes to go.

Spurs had the better of the chances in a tight game with Vincent Janssen shooting wide after being played through by sub Dele Alli.

Palace's best chance fell to Yohan Cabaye but the Frenchman blasted over from 12 yards. Alan Pardew's side have now lost their opening two games.

The Eagles announced the £27m signing of Liverpool striker Christian Benteke before the match but he signed too late to feature at White Hart Lane.

Janssen's impressive home debut

Spurs fully deserved win - Pochettino

Although he should have capped it with a goal, Spurs striker Vincent Janssen can be pleased with his contribution in his first start for the club.

The 22-year-old Dutchman earned his start after an impressive substitute appearance in the draw at Everton last week and continued where he had left off at Goodison Park with an industrious performance.

The £17m striker came close to opening his account for his new side but Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey did well to stop his shot on the rebound after Janssen had parried Harry Kane's initial attempt.

Janssen was playing at the head of the Tottenham attack with Kane playing behind, and the two showed a few glimpses that the partnership could work.

The mobile Janssen gave experienced Palace skipper Scott Dann a very difficult afternoon and twice drew applause from the crowd for strong challenges when tracking back.

However, he will be disappointed not to have scored his first goal for the club after miscuing badly when Alli had played him in on goal.

He took seven games to score his first goal for AZ Alkmaar last season - on this showing he will not have to wait that long this campaign.

Benteke's tough task

Vincent Janssen and Connor Wickham — Vincent Janssen's touch map on the left shows how much the Dutchman had the ball in attacking areas for Spurs while his Crystal Palace counterpart Connor Wickham had just one touch in the Spurs area, compared to four in his own

Palace have now scored just three times in their last eight Premier League games making it clear to see why they have smashed their club record transfer to sign Benteke.

The 25-year-old Belgian might have endured a difficult season at Liverpool but has proven Premier League credentials, with 51 goals in 118 appearances.

As his touchmap shows Connor Wickham was certainly willing for the Eagles but just one touch in the opposition's area proves how tough he found it to affect the game.

Palace boss Alan Pardew told BBC Sport: "He's going to give us more dynamic play going forward, free up Connor and give us a different look.

"We knew we needed to make changes and our fans will see we are headed in the right direction."

For Benteke, and indeed Wickham, to shine they will need wingers Andros Townsend and Wilfried Zaha to have a greater impact than they had for much of Saturday's game.

Man of the match - Vincent Janssen (Tottenham)

Reaction

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino, speaking to BBC Sport: "It's important to win the three points in the first game at home. I think we fully deserved it.

"I am happy for Victor [Wanyama]. It's important to score and feel the love of the supporters, and I am happy with Vincent [Janssen] - he was fantastic and created a lot of chances. The supporters see he is a fighter.

"Dele Alli had some problems - he was ill for three days this week and not 100%. We have a lot of games with the Champions League this season and we have to manage them to be in a better condition for the season."

I feel sorry for team - Pardew

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew, speaking to BBC Sport: "We had to make a substitution at a corner, and Sod's Law, it's the one that goes in. Our effort and endeavour was there to see - we matched Spurs all the way.

"We have not scored a goal yet, but I cannot fault my players. We have lost on two set plays - we are a strong set play side and we will work on it and make sure it does not happen again.

"Benteke's going to give our fans and us belief. Our players are coming back slowly but surely, but it was galling today. We need one or two more players, but we are not far away."

The stats you need to know

Spurs ended a winless run of five Premier League games (D3 L2) with victory today.

Victor Wanyama scored just his second Premier League goal in his last 55 appearances.

Harry Kane provided his first Premier League assist at White Hart Lane since January 2015 (v Chelsea).

Crystal Palace have lost five of their last seven league games against Tottenham.

The Eagles have won just two of their 21 Premier League games in 2016 (W2 D5 L14).

Spurs have lost just three of their last 21 home matches in the Premier League (W12 D6).

Crystal Palace have scored just one first-half goal in their last 14 Premier League games.

What's next?

Tottenham are back in action at White Hart Lane on Saturday, with Liverpool the visiting team. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace play League Two's Blackpool in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Tottenham

Formation 4-2-3-1

13Vorm
2WalkerBooked at 60mins
4Alderweireld
5VertonghenBooked at 68mins
3Rose
15DierBooked at 77mins
12Wanyama
23EriksenSubstituted forAlliat 68'minutes
10KaneSubstituted forOnomahat 90'minutes
11LamelaSubstituted forCarrollat 90+5'minutes
9Janssen

Substitutes

8Mason
20Alli
25Onomah
28Carroll
31McGee
33Davies
38Carter-Vickers

Crystal Palace

Formation 4-2-3-1

13Hennessey
2Ward
6DannBooked at 66mins
27DelaneySubstituted forTomkinsat 82'minutes
23Souaré
16LedleySubstituted forCabayeat 45'minutes
42Puncheon
10TownsendBooked at 88mins
14LeeSubstituted forMutchat 82'minutes
11ZahaBooked at 26mins
21Wickham

Substitutes

1Speroni
5Tomkins
7Cabaye
22Mutch
24Anderson
34Kelly
36Ladapo

Referee:: Michael Oliver
Attendance:: 31,447

Match Stats

Home TeamTottenhamAway TeamCrystal Palace

Possession: Home57%; Away43%

Shots: Home20; Away10

Shots on Target: Home5; Away2

Corners: Home10; Away4

Fouls: Home19; Away9

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 1, Crystal Palace 0.
90'+6'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 1, Crystal Palace 0.

90'+6'
Post update
Attempt missed. James Tomkins (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
90'+5'
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Tom Carroll replaces Erik Lamela.
90'+4'
Post update
Foul by Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur).
90'+4'
Post update
Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+3'
Post update
Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+3'
Post update
Foul by Scott Dann (Crystal Palace).
90'+2'
Post update
Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by Jason Puncheon (Crystal Palace).
90'+1'
Post update
Attempt saved. Connor Wickham (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jordon Mutch.
90'
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Josh Onomah replaces Harry Kane.
90'
Post update
Foul by Vincent Janssen (Tottenham Hotspur).
90'
Post update
James Tomkins (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jason Puncheon (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Wilfried Zaha.
88'
Booking
Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card.
86'
Post update
Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Erik Lamela tries a through ball, but Vincent Janssen is caught offside.
85'
Post update
Vincent Janssen (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.
85'
Post update
Foul by Scott Dann (Crystal Palace).
85'
Post update
Attempt missed. Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Andros Townsend with a cross following a corner.

Accessibility links