Tottenham fans depart at half-time as relegation fears grow after Palace loss

Thousands of Tottenham fans left the stadium at half-time after a poor first half display with the threat of relegation now very real.

Tottenham suffered a fifth straight Premier League loss and remained only one point above the relegation zone with nine matches left this season. The defeat also stretched Spurs' winless league run to 11 games, their longest in the Premier League era.

The hosts actually started well and took the lead in the 34th minute when Dominic Solanke tapped in from close range after a cross by Archie Gray.

However, the game changed dramatically four minutes later. Stand-in captain Micky van de Ven was sent off for a foul on Ismaila Sarr, allowing Palace to equalise from the penalty spot through Sarr in the 40th minute.

Palace then took control before half-time. Jorgen Strand Larsen finished calmly through the goalkeeper's legs in first-half stoppage time after a pass from Adam Wharton. Moments later Sarr struck again, poking home another Wharton through ball to make it 3-1 at the break.

Many Spurs supporters left the stadium at half-time as the home side struggled with ten men, although Tudor's team showed some fight after the interval.

Despite the defeat, Tudor remained defiant.
"I don't think in that direction," he said when asked about his future. "I have my job to do and that's all.

"Of course I understand the fans. It's normal in football. They are disappointed and they wanted more. We wanted to give more as well.

"One red card changed everything."

The Croatian even suggested he saw positives in the performance.
"I will tell you now, maybe it sounds strange, but I believe more after this game than before," Tudor added. "I saw something.

"I need to choose the right players. The boat is going in the direction that I want and who is in the boat can stay. When the injured players come back and we choose right, I'm sure the victories will come back."

Palace manager Oliver Glasner praised his side's response after falling behind.

"We played a very good first half," he said. "We thought we were 1–0 up earlier but the goal was disallowed and I told Ismaila his nose was too long!

"Then we conceded from a set-play but I loved the reaction. We stayed on the front foot, got the penalty and then scored two fantastic goals before half-time."

The win lifted Palace ten points clear of the bottom three, while Tottenham remained locked in a tense battle to avoid relegation.