Adam Sells’ takeaways from Crystal Palace’s loss to Tottenham – lack of options off bench impede Oliver Glasner

Crystal Palace suffered their first defeat under new boss Oliver Glasner as they lost 3-1 at Tottenham today.

Here are Adam Sells’ takeaways from the Premier League match.

SAME OLD PROBLEMS

Those that may have thought that the Oliver Glasner era was going to bring immediate change were brought back down to earth very quickly.

After a serene victory seven days ago against 10-man Burnley, this was a much sterner test and one that Palace were incapable of seeing through.

The weaknesses of the squad was again brought to the fore as Palace succumbed meekly after digging in for long periods.

Those expecting a huge change in style were never going to see it with the personnel at Glasner’s disposal.

His team were pinned back for long periods and defended doggedly for the most part but his team had no ‘out ball’ and once they conceded became ragged, conceding three goals in the final 13 minutes.

A CHANGE FOR THE WORSE

The new Austrian boss faces the same issues as his predecessor in respect of being able to change things in game.

Roy Hodgson was often criticised for not utilising his squad, but perhaps here was the evidence supporting his mindset first hand.

Glasner was proactive with his changes while his team were ahead but Palace became weaker as a result and the writing was on the wall before Timo Werner slotted home the equaliser and crumbled in the last 13 minutes.

In fairness Eberechi Eze was only ever going to last an hour and Jordan Ayew picked up a hip injury. Odsonne Edouard and Matheus Franca made no impact offensively and defensively Palace were further exposed.

Whether you regard the changes as brave or naive, Palace couldn’t get any sort of control once in front.

Glasner will work duing the break, but don’t expect to see his real stamp on the team until next season.

BLUNT IN ATTACK

The Eagles have now lost 10 of the 11 away fixtures with Tottenham since returning to the Premier League. Prior to this fixture they had scored just once in those 10 attempts. A solitary 0-0 draw under Neil Warnock is the best that Palace have mustered, aside from an FA Cup victory.

Eze’s free-kick meant that Palace were able to at least get on the scoresheet. In truth, the home side’s goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario will be disappointed to be beaten on the side that he was protecting, having guessed early and not being able to transfer his bodyweight to make the save.

Palace couldn’t make any real attacking headway in the game. Tottenham dominated with 78 per cent possession and the visitors only attempt on target was Eze’s free-kick. There was no single effort in open play.

Glasner was disappointed with his team’s ability to keep the ball and create chances and even having the likes of Franca and Edouard to call upon didn’t help.

The news that Michael Olise might be set to return in a month or so was a huge boost this week.

DESPERATE DEFENDING

The manner of the goals conceded would have also been hard to stomach for the new Palace boss having defended doggedly for 77 minutes.

They rode their luck at times and were indebted to the excellent Sam Johnstone on occasion.

Joachim Andersen and Jefferson Lerma lost out in challenges to Brennan Johnson before Werner’s equaliser.

For the second Edouard was caught off guard by a quick throw-in and James Maddison’s looped cross saw Joel Ward outmuscled by Cristian Romero as the game was turned on its head.

Palace must find a way to glean 12 points from the remaining 11 games to reach the traditional safety level of 40 points and it must be more resolute defensively in closing out games if they are to get over the line.

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD