AliousTottenham Hotspur supporters thought they had already experienced every possible disappointment this season, but Thursday night’s 3–1 defeat to Crystal Palace in a London derby proved otherwise.
Spurs initially appeared fortunate when a goal from Ismaila Sarr was narrowly ruled out for offside. The hosts quickly made the most of that reprieve, moving ahead moments later when Dominic Solanke finished a move created by impressive work from Archie Gray down the right flank. However, Tottenham’s lead lasted only a few minutes.
The match changed dramatically when Micky van de Ven was sent off for bringing down Sarr and denying him a clear scoring opportunity, which also resulted in a penalty. Sarr calmly converted past Guglielmo Vicario to level the score. Palace then seized control, with two goals in first-half stoppage time from Jørgen Strand Larsen and Sarr giving the visitors a commanding advantage and leaving Tottenham boss Igor Tudor visibly concerned on the touchline.
Red card decision backed by Keith Hackett
The dismissal of Van de Ven proved to be the turning point of the game. While Tottenham had not been dominant, they were showing far more determination than in recent losses to Arsenal and Fulham. Solanke’s opener had also helped settle nerves around the stadium whenever Palace threatened going forward under manager Oliver Glasner.
The key incident came when a header from Strand Larsen released Sarr through on goal. As the Senegal international prepared to shoot, Van de Ven pulled him back. Referee Andy Madley immediately awarded a penalty and showed the Tottenham defender a red card. VAR reviewed the incident and upheld both decisions.
Former Professional Game Match Officials Limited chief Keith Hackett later supported the referee’s call.
“Micky van de Ven clearly fouled his opponent,” Hackett explained. “The VAR has to decide whether, without the foul, the attacker would have been able to get his shot away or if the goalkeeper might have gained possession. In this case, it’s a judgement call, and the referee made the correct decision.”
A costly moment for Van de Ven
Van de Ven has often been one of Tottenham’s most reliable performers during what has been a difficult domestic campaign. The Dutch defender has frequently helped the team with his defensive contributions and attacking presence from set pieces.
However, the 24-year-old endured a particularly difficult evening in this match. His decision to bring down Sarr not only conceded a penalty but also left Tottenham with ten men, dramatically shifting the momentum of the game.
Instead of allowing the goal and keeping his side at full strength, the defender’s challenge proved costly, as Palace took full advantage and extended Spurs’ winless run in 2026.
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