Interim boss Igor Tudor insisted he believes more than ever that his side can stay up despite a 3-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace.

The loss piles further pressure on Tudor. It also leaves Tottenham just one point above the Premier League relegation zone with nine matches remaining.

A victory for West Ham United at Fulham on Wednesday had already increased the tension around the north London club.

Dominic Solanke gave Spurs the lead in the 34th minute. However, the game turned quickly. Stand-in captain Micky van de Ven received a red card four minutes later.

Micky van de Ven’s red card cost Tottenham (John Walton/PA)

Crystal Palace took full advantage. They scored three times before the break and seized control of the match.

Many Tottenham supporters left the stadium at half-time. Spurs showed more fight after the restart, but the result never looked likely to change.

The defeat extended Tottenham’s winless run to 11 matches. It also set a new unwanted club record in the Premier League.

Tudor only arrived last month to steady the team. Instead, he has become the first Tottenham manager in the Premier League era to lose his first three matches in charge.

Despite the setback, Tudor tried to remain positive after the match.

He said, “I don’t think in that direction. I have my job to do, and that’s all.

“Of course, I understand the fans. It’s a normal thing that happens in football. They are disappointed. They wanted more. We are aware of that.

“We also wanted to give more. Unfortunately, this is the moment that we pay for everything. One red card changed everything.

“I will tell you now, maybe it will sound strange, but I believe more after this game than I believed before. I saw something.

“I need to choose the right guys because the boat is going in the direction that I want to go and needs to go. Those who are in the boat can stay. Otherwise, they can bow down, or as you say, leave the boat.

“When the other players come back, and we choose the right ones, I’m sure we will have a good team again, and the victories will return.”

It was a very different story for Crystal Palace.

Goals from Ismaila Sarr, who scored twice, and Jørgen Strand Larsen secured an impressive win.

Sarr almost grabbed a hat-trick. His 29th-minute effort was ruled out for offside after a VAR review determined that the forward’s nose was beyond the last defender.

Palace boss Oliver Glasner joked about the moment afterwards.

He said:
“We played a very good first half in total. We started well, did well, and scored a goal. We all felt we were 1-0 up. Then it is disallowed, and I said to Ismaila your nose is too long!

“Two minutes later, we defended a set-play poorly, and suddenly we are 1-0 down.

“But I really loved the reaction of the group. The crowd became loud, and it looked like it gave them belief again.

“Then we were on the front foot. We got the penalty, the red card, and scored two fantastic goals before half-time, so really great.”

The victory moves Crystal Palace 10 points clear of the relegation zone.