CRYSTAL Palace were on the end of a harsh 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon.
After dominating the first half, the Eagles kept the home side quiet and even missed an early penalty through Jason Puncheon.
Palace are now bottom of the Premier League after results elsewhere went against them, but they can take heart from an encouraging first period.
Credit to Spurs, who came out fighting in the second period and it took two international players to give them the three points in the end.
It was very impressive start for the Eagles at White Hart Lane, as Tony Pulis' men pinned the hosts back.
Cameron Jerome found himself through on goal only to be denied by an offside flag, before good work involving himself, Yannick Bolasie and Marouane Chamakh saw the ball fall to Jason Puncheon, who curled just wide.
Nabil Bentaleb tested Julian Speroni with a low drive from outside the box, and the custodian needed a second bite of the cherry to gather.
However, moments later Palace were given a fantastic chance to draw first blood when they were awarded a penalty after Chamakh had clearly been taken out.
Up stepped Puncheon, who scored from the spot against Norwich City on New Year's Day, but the winger sent the ball into orbit woefully.
If you were looking to compare it to any other penalty you had ever seen, the only one that came to mind was possibly Chris Waddle's for England at World Cup Italia '90. However, this was worse.
Chamakh then headed over from a corner as the Eagles continued to crank up the pressure, which also saw Jerome send an awkward volley towards goal for Lloris to deal with.
Jonny Parr saw an effort inside the box deflected for a corner, while Puncheon continued to cause problems, sending a deep cross just over the head of Bolasie after bursting into the danger zone.
Spurs were sluggish and failed to test Palace at the back, while Chamakh had a goal-bound effort blocked by his own player in Bolasie from a corner.
Emmanuel Adebayor went close to connecting with an Aaron Lennon cross but it was rare sight of goal for the hosts.
Into the second half and Spurs came out fighting as you would expect after a poor first half at home.
Kyle Walker gave Tim Sherwood a scare when he pulled up with injury and was replaced by Kyle Naughton.
Damien Delaney did well to block Christian Eriksen inside the box after a mazy dribble, but then came the opening goal on 50 minutes thanks to the Danish international.
A long ball over the top from Naughton was flicked on by Adebayor, and the attacking midfielder placed a half-volley past Speroni into the roof of the net.
The goal lifted Spurs and they went looking for the second with most of the possession and Aaron Lennon in particular looking to get beyond Jonathan Parr.
Jerome had a glimpse of goal when he shot low against the side netting from a tight angle, while Jermain Defoe came on for the ineffective Soldado.
And the striker, who has completed a move to MLS side Toronto FC, nearly bagged a goal, shooting just wide of the far post.
Adebayor then fouled Speroni inside the six-yard box after claiming a cross with two hands.
Tony Pulis sent on Jonny Williams and Dwight Gayle for Jerome and Bolasie midway through the half in a bid to freshen things up.
However, Spurs doubled their advantage minutes later thanks to Defoe.
Lennon was the architect, sending a ball in behind Parr, and the ball fell to Defoe to lift over the onrushing Speroni.
It was indeed a game of two halves; Palace were dominant in the first but Spurs came out a completely different side.
Adlene Guedioura came on for Palace with ten minutes to go; his first game back after suffering fractured ribs picked up in November.
But Pulis and side were running out of ideas as the home side looked to play the game out comfortably.
Guedioura nearly clawed a goal back with a screamer from 30-yards out, but the ball literally went the wrong side of the post by an inch with Lloris rooted.
What could have been if Puncheon had put the penalty away early on and Palace had taken their further chances.
Next up is Stoke City next Saturday in what will see Pulis face his former club in SE25.
However, we may see the odd new signing taking the field for the Eagles by then.
Palace: Speroni, Mariappa, Gabbidon, Delaney, Parr, Bolasie (Williams 69), Ward, Jedinak, Puncheon (Guedioura 80), Jerome, (Gayle 69), Chamakh.
Subs Not Used: Price, Moxey, O'Keefe, Bannan.
Referee: Michael Oliver
By Croydon Advertiser Sports Reporter Mark Ritson
