Troubled Tottenham plunged deeper into relegation danger as Micky van de Ven's moment of madness triggered a damaging 3-1 defeat against Crystal Palace on Thursday.

Igor Tudor's side squandered the first half lead given to them by Dominic Solanke as Palace struck three times in 12 minutes before the interval in north London.

Tottenham defender Van de Ven was sent off for a foolish professional foul on Ismaila Sarr, who converted the resulting penalty.

Jorgen Strand Larsen scored Palace's second and Sarr struck again as the atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium turned toxic.

Furious fans in the half-empty arena jeered interim boss Tudor and his team at the final whistle after thousands headed home long before Tottenham were put out of their misery.

Languishing in 16th place, Tottenham are just one point above the relegation zone after third-bottom West Ham's win at Fulham on Wednesday.

They have lost five successive league games and are without a win in 11 consecutive top-flight matches for the first time since 1975.

With just one win in their last 13 home league games, Tottenham are in grave danger of playing in the second tier for the first time since 1977-78.

That remains the only season they have spent outside the top-flight since 1950.

They have nine games left to save themselves from an astonishing relegation, starting with their trip to Liverpool on March 15.

Before that, Tottenham have a Champions League last 16 first leg at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, but Europe is now the least of their concerns.

Beaten by London rivals Arsenal and Fulham in Tudor's first two matches after replacing the sacked Thomas Frank, Palace inflicted more capital punishment on Tottenham, whose derbies next season could be against Championship sides Millwall, Charlton and QPR. (AFP)



Edited by Cecil Wong