Why Son Heung-min got emotional in Tottenham win as Micky van de Ven stands up for Bryan Gil
A hard-fought win
Ange Postecoglou can take an awful lot of satisfaction from Tottenham's eighth Premier League win of the 2023/24 season. Facing a tricky trip to Crystal Palace, Spurs dug in deep and came away with a 2-1 victory courtesy of a Joel Ward own goal and Son Heung-min's strike in the second half.
Wowing this campaign with their free-flowing, attacking football, Tottenham just couldn't get going in the first 45 minutes at Selhurst Park with the Eagles restricting them in their play and ensuring they got very little joy in the final third. It was in fact Palace who looked most likely to score the opener, with Guglielmo Vicario needing to be on his game in the opening few minutes to deny Jordan Ayew and Odsonne Edouard.
Following a half-time talk from Postecoglou and with the players having their own discussion next to the tunnel before returning for the second half, the Lilywhites were much better after the break and got a huge slice of good fortune when Ward turned James Maddison's cross into his own net. A crucial second goal then arrived 13 minutes later as Son finished off a flowing Tottenham move involving Pape Matar Sarr, substitute Brennan Johnson and Maddison.
That was Spurs at their very best and Son was certainly appreciative of Johnson's role in his eighth Premier League goal of the season as he put the ball on a plate for him. With Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero remaining strong at the back to stop the hosts from finding a way back into the game, Spurs were given a late scare following Ayew's superb strike but they managed to hold on for all three points despite a very late Palace onslaught.
Asked by football.london about what pleased him most about Tottenham's win in south London, Postecoglou
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