Spurs keep up the pressure on the leaders with a scrappy win just days after thier historic win against Real Madrid, but Palace will be rue a host of missed chances to win at Wembley
HEUNG-MIN SON grabbed a second-half winner to keep up Tottenham’s title challenge.
But Mauricio Pochettino’s men had stand-in keeper Paulo Gazzaniga to thank as he kept Palace at bay with a string of fine saves.
The summer signing from Southampton was called up when Spurs, already without No1 Hugo Lloris due to a groin problem picked up against Real Madrid on Wednesday, suffered another goalkeeping blow when second-choice Michel Vorm got hurt in training yesterday.
It was his Gazzaniga’s first Premier League start for nearly two years and it was almost a brief one as he was lucky not to be sent off for clattering Palace defender Mamadou Sakho in the third minute.
But the Argie received a let-off from ref Kevin Friend and he made the Eagles pay with a superb save to keep out Scott Dann’s 36th minute header.
Gazzaniga then got down well to parry Andros Townsend’s shot three minutes into the second half.
But his best save came when he blocked Luka Milivojevic’s far-post header at point-blank range on the hour mark.
Tottenham, who looked a shadow of the side that beat Real Madrid 3-1 on Wednesday, then took the points thanks to Son’s 65th minute curling strike.
It means the Spurs man has overtaken former Manchester United ace Ji-Sung Park as the highest scoring Asian player in Premier League history.
And he went close to adding another with a late shot into the side-netting.
Spurs keeper Paulo Gazzanigga: "I knew last night that Michel (Vorm) was not too well so I started preparing then.
"I was nervous for about three seconds and then the players gave me lots of support.
"I'll take it step-by-step in trying to become Number 1 for Spurs."
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson: "Spurs' goal was a painful blow. We knew they'd dominate possession with the quality they have but we worked hard to restrict them and they didn't have many shots to worry us.
"We had quite a few moments of our own at the other end so it was a bitter blow to lose 1-0.
"We caused them a good deal of problems, Wilf's chance and others we could have scored. When you don't take your chances, you run the risk of them scoring at the other end and that's what happened.
"I'm pleased with how we went about our business. I can't ask much more of what the players are giving for us. They're not lacking belief but when you're playing Tottenham away, you need a bit of luck and we didn't get it."
TOTTENHAM: Gazzaniga 7, Aurier 7, Sanchez 7, Vertonghen 8, Rose 6 (Davies, 90,6) Dier 7, Winks 6(Dembele 45), Sissoko 6, Eriksen 6, Son 7, Kane 6 (Llorente 77,6).
Subs not used: Whiteman, Foyth, Tripper, Nkoudou.
PALACE: Speroni, Ward 6 (Sako 76, 5) Dann 7, Sakho 7, Fosu-Mensah 6, Milivojevic 6, Cabaye 6, Schlupp 6, Loftus-Cheek 6, Townsend 6, Zaha 6
Subs not used: Hennesey, Tomkins, Souare, Riedewald, McArthur, Puncheon.
