Spurs being grateful for win over Palace shines light on predicament under Frank

Crystal Palace and Spurs have endured quite a bruising Christmas period, and this game at Selhurst Park might come down to which team can best patch themselves up.

Palace produced their worst performance of the season at Elland Road last weekend where they lost 4-1, a scoreline Oliver Glasner described as “absolutely deserved.” They are missing their potent right flank, with Daniel Munoz troubled by a knee niggle and Ismaila Sarr away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Their second-half improvement and dogged defending against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup was admirable, but in truth they looked well off the pace for long stretches at the Emirates. That was especially true of striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is playing through pain.

Palace remain in touch with the European places, and they would be higher in the table were it not for profligate finishing this season. No has scored fewer goals relative to their expected goals generated than Palace.

Spurs remain mired in mediocrity, and are without Cristian Romero and Xavi Simons because of their red cards against Liverpool. Unlike Palace’s encouraging underlying performances, Spurs’ position in the table is an entirely accurate reflection of what they have produced.

They are short of quality in the final third, which can be partly explained by the absence of James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke. The pressure is building on Thomas Frank to show he can build a team which can control games and consistently create chances.

“At Brondby, I didn’t win the first eight games and then we were unbeaten in nine. At Brentford, we lost eight out ‍of 10 ‌games and then we were unbeaten in 10,” said Frank, who joined Spurs in June, referring to his two previous clubs.

“So I am convinced ‍we will see a similar pattern here. I’m not in doubt of that, because I know how to make a competitive team. We will make a very competitive team here, as well.”

Full team news on the way shortly.