Crystal Palace analysis: Eagles are not doomed yet but face crucial run of games after the international break

Crystal Palace succumbed to their ninth Premier League defeat of the season as Heung-min Son’s goal proved enough to seal the points for Tottenham.

Palace squandered three glorious chances in the second half before Spurs took the lead, and Palace remain rock-bottom of the table and five points adrift of safety heading into the international break.

Standard Sport’s Giuseppe Muro offers his analysis of the game at Wembley…

The Eagles are still five points from safety but they have lost ground on teams above them like Bournemouth, Stoke and Leicester, as well as Huddersfield and Brighton. Palace, who are four points adrift at the bottom, played well against Tottenham and should have got something from the game. But another defeat means their task is getting harder.

The Eagles have been much more organised in defence in recent matches and they could have won this game if they had been more clinical at the other end of the pitch.

The defensive work Hodgson is doing on the training ground is clearly working and Palace frustrated Tottenham for long periods and look like a side who can pick up points.

Palace now face a run of games after the international break that could determine whether they can get out of trouble. They have eight games before Christmas that will be crucial to their chances of staying up. Palace play Everton and Stoke at home, before an away game against Brighton. They then play West Brom, Bournemouth, Watford, Leicester City and Swansea City in December.

Zaha missed an open goal in the second half when the score was 0-0 but he was otherwise superb. He shows so much commitment to the cause and Palace fans will hope his quality and determination might give Palace an edge in the relegation battle.

Elswhere, Mamadou Sakho again showed he could be another key factor for Palace.

The £26million signing from Liverpool was back in the side after a calf injury and make a serious of crucial clearances and blocks as Palace threatened to frustrate Tottenham. He helps organise Palace at the back and they will keep clean sheets this season with him in the team.