Bet of the Day: Tottenham v Crystal Palace: Spurs' scoring run to continue

Spurs on the up after derby delight

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Saturday 31 October, 17:30
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While Tottenham have had a fair few games go against them this term that should really have gone in their favour, it's fair to say that last weekend's derby win at Chelsea was a match where fine margins went in the Lilywhites' direction. Although Tottenham competed strongly, especially in midfield, they got a big slice of fortune when Chelsea's rookie keeper Mike Penders punched a corner into his own net. Spurs then seized their chance to seal the win, and Mathys Tel scored a magnificent individual goal to secure a 2-0 victory.

The North London giants have now managed back-to-back league victories, and fears of a shock relegation are starting to dissipate. Manager Roberto de Zerbi admits he still has a group of talented individuals rather than a team, but he feels that is changing, and a recent team bonding trip to Spain is thought to have been a success.

There has however been a sizeable blow with news that key midfielder James Maddison is out with a groin injury. The former Leicester star has been plagued by injuries throughout his time at Spurs, but he has been an instrumental figure in the last two games. As De Zerbi says, Maddison is a player who has a feel for where to be, finding the pockets of space where he can do the most damage.

Savio and Destiny Udogie are also on the treatment table, although there could be a return for Swedish youngster Lucas Bergvall.

Sage defiant, but is he running out of chances?

There's a reasonable school of thought that replacing Oliver Glasner as the coach of Crystal Palace was something of a hospital pass. Glasner was by far the most successful coach in Palace's history, delivering the FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League in quick succession. One of the reasons the Austrian departed Selhurst Park was dissatisfaction about the club's transfer policy, and the failure to truly compensate for the loss of quality players.

Pierre Sage was hot property after leading Lens to a top-two finish in Ligue 1 and their first ever Coupe de France, and couldn't resist the lure of the Premier League. However, the squad he inherited is weaker than the one Glasner had (Palace sold Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Munoz, while Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta tried to leave), first-choice keeper Dean Henderson has been sidelined by injury (although he is now back) and key midfielder Adam Wharton has lost form.

Sage is under increasing pressure after winning just twice in the league so far, but he has insisted that he is the right man to turn the club around, and he says fans will be placated by a few more wins. However, Palace have the worst defensive record in the division (19 goals conceded in eight matches), and in all competitions they have conceded multiple goals in eight of their 13 games.

It's not all bad though. Palace did win 1-0 at Fulham in midweek to reach the quarter-finals of the League Cup, and a haul of four points from three Europa League games is adequate, if not spectacular.

Mateta will return to the starting XI after he was rested in midweek, but Sarr is still on the sidelines with injury. Henderson made his comeback in goal on Wednesday and will start again here.

Spurs v Palace Bet Builder - Goals and fouls the target

We'll start off a 19/102.90 Bet Builder by backing Tottenham to score two goals or more. That's what they have managed in the last two league games, and they are up against a defence which has been severely weakened by the sales of Marc Guehi, Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Munoz in the past year.

I'd rather go for Spurs to score a couple of goals rather than back them in the Match Odds market at a skinny 11/201.55. Spurs have made a habit of failing to turn excellent performances into victories, so I'll guard against that here.

I'll back the returning Mateta to commit a foul. Spurs like to bait the press and draw attackers towards them, and Mateta has committed at least one foul in all three of his starts this season.

Let's also go for Spurs defender Jan Paul van Hecke to commit a foul, something he has done in all eight of his Premier League starts this season. The former Brighton man is aggressive with and without the ball.

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