Tottenham win three in a row for first time in almost 21 months

Tottenham Hotspur have won three Premier League matches in a row for the first time in almost 21 months, with Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace lifting Roberto De Zerbi’s side into the top half of the table.

Spurs had Archie Gray and Jan Paul van Hecke to thank for the goals, but their task was made easier when Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off after 13 minutes for a lunge at Micky van de Ven. Tottenham then dominated, recording 34 shots to Palace’s two and 79.4% possession.

The win followed league victories over Coventry City and Chelsea. The sequence is a striking change for a side that had managed only three wins in its previous 26 league matches, while consecutive home league wins had eluded them for two years.

De Zerbi said Tottenham had shown “passion” and concentration, but urged his players to be more clinical. He also warned against treating three wins as enough, saying the team needed to maintain the same spirit and approach from game to game.

The improvement comes as summer signings Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes begin to make an impact, while Dejan Kulusevski has returned from injury. But Palace’s early dismissal shaped Saturday’s contest, and the run is still only three games long.