Mateta leaves Palace exposed as third straight defeat piles pressure on Sage

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s early dismissal left Crystal Palace fighting to contain Tottenham as a third successive Premier League defeat increased the pressure on Pierre Sage.

The 2–0 loss leaves Palace with seven points from nine league matches. They have conceded nine goals without scoring across their past three league games, following defeats by Brighton and Newcastle.

Mateta’s challenge on Micky van de Ven changed Saturday’s contest before Palace had established themselves. Referee Michael Oliver initially booked the striker, then upgraded the punishment to a straight red after reviewing the incident.

For Sage, an opportunity to build on Wednesday’s Carabao Cup win at Fulham became an exercise in keeping the score within reach. Dean Henderson helped Palace do that for much of the evening, but goals from Archie Gray and Jan Paul van Hecke secured Tottenham’s victory.

Our Tottenham vs Crystal Palace match report covers the goals and key incidents.

Pierre Sage under pressure after another early setback

Palace’s recent defeats have developed in different ways, but each has included a damaging spell from which they could not recover.

At Brighton, they were three goals down inside 10 minutes. Jaydee Canvot’s own goal was followed by strikes from Diego Gómez and Yasin Ayari, leaving Palace chasing the game almost from the outset.

The club’s report from that 5–0 defeat records a start that gave their rivals control before Palace could settle.

Against Newcastle, Palace reached half-time level. William Osula and Harvey Barnes then scored early in the second half to turn a competitive match into another defeat.

At Tottenham, the decisive setback was self-inflicted. Mateta’s late challenge removed Palace’s centre-forward and left the remaining players facing more than three-quarters of the match with ten men.

The dismissal provides a clear explanation for the balance of Saturday’s game. It does not erase the two defeats that preceded it.

Henderson keeps Palace alive, but help is scarce

Henderson’s saves gave Palace a chance to stay in the contest after Gray’s opener. His stop from Dominic Solanke early in the second half was particularly important, preventing Tottenham from quickly establishing a two-goal lead.

Palace nevertheless struggled to relieve the pressure. Without Mateta, they had lost the striker around whom their starting attack had been built.

Sage eventually introduced Eddie Nketiah for Yéremy Pino, giving Palace a recognised centre-forward again. Dwight McNeil also had an effort blocked, but the visitors could not create enough sustained danger to make Tottenham retreat.

Van Hecke’s close-range follow-up settled the match in the 73rd minute. Henderson had helped delay the second goal; Palace had been unable to turn that reprieve into an equaliser.

Sky Sports’ report confirmed that Palace finished the game in the relegation zone.

Three league games without a goal

The attacking return is becoming as pressing a concern as the defending.

Palace have now failed to score against Brighton, Newcastle and Tottenham. Nine points were available across those matches; they have taken none.

There were opportunities against Newcastle and a brief opening for McNeil at Spurs, but neither produced a goal. Palace are leaving themselves little room for defensive mistakes when they cannot score at the other end.

The midweek cup victory at Fulham offered relief and a place in the quarter-finals. Saturday’s defeat means that result has not yet translated into an improvement in their league position.

What must change for Palace?

Sage first needs a side capable of staying in games without requiring its goalkeeper to repeatedly rescue it.

That means avoiding the early collapse seen at Brighton, the costly restart against Newcastle and the needless numerical disadvantage at Tottenham. They are different problems, but all have left Palace trying to repair damage rather than impose themselves.

Mateta’s dismissal made Saturday considerably harder. Palace’s wider difficulties were already clear before he left the pitch.

For Sage, the immediate task is to stop this sequence becoming an accepted pattern: a damaging spell, a difficult recovery and another league match without points.