Crystal Palace 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur: Heung-min Son scores again as Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs stay top of the league

Heung-Min Son and James Maddison starred as Tottenham moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 victory that condemned Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson to defeat on his 500th match in charge of English clubs in all competitions.

Ange Postecoglou’s table-toppers took their time to hit their stride and it was The Eagles who posed the greater threat on the counter attack with Jordan Ayew and Odsonne Edouard both going close.

Spurs had 73% of the possession but struggled to carve out any clear-cut openings as they failed to register a shot on target in the first half for the first time this season.

Patience was the key and The Lilywhites eventually broke the deadlock in fortuitous fashion when Maddison’s cross-shot was diverted into his own net by Joel Ward on 53 minutes.

Palace lacked the cutting edge to make life uncomfortable for the away side and Spurs doubled their advantage past the hour when Son tucked in following lovely build-up from Maddison and substitute Brennan Johnson down the left.

Ayew struck a brilliant volley into the far corner deep into stoppage time to give The Eagles brief hope, but it wasn’t enough to deny The Lilywhites the three points.

The result means Spurs now have eight wins and 26 points from 10 games played with a five-point cushion over second-placed Manchester City ahead of the rest of the weekend’s action.

Palace are 11th on 12 points and have won just once in their last seven matches in all competitions.

Tottenham will aim to maintain their unbeaten start to the league season at home to Chelsea next Monday. Palace visit Burnley next Saturday.

This was far from Tottenham’s best display of the season, but once again they found a way to secure a win that moves them five points clear in the top-flight for the first time since the 1960-61 campaign, when they went on to win the Double.

The feel-good factor under Ange looks like it’s here to stay and there were plenty of positive to take from this victory at Selhurst Park.

Son took his tally to eight for the season as he thrives in a centre-forward role while new boys Maddison and Micky van de Ven continue to shine.

There was even the good news of a late appearance off the bench from Rodrigo Bentancur, who put the seal on the night with his first outing since returning from a serious, long-term ACL injury.

Once again the midfielder was the chief creative force and it was no surprise his cross-shot led to the opener. The former Leicester man also had a hand in the second goal and continues to look like one of the signings of the summer.

PALACE: Johnstone 7, Ward 6, Guehi 7, Andersen 7, Mitchell 6, Ayew 7, Lerma 7, Doucoure 7, Hughes 6, Schlupp 6, Edouard 6. Subs: Rak-Sakyi 6, Clyne 6, Ahamada 6, Mateta 6, Franca 6.

SPURS: Vicario 8, Porro 6, Romero 7, Van de Ven 8, Davies 6, Bissouma 7, Sarr 7, Kulusevski 6, Maddison 8*, Son 7, Richarlison 6. Subs: Emerson 6, Hojbjerg 6, Johnson 7, Gil n/a, Bentancur n/a.

07’ – CRYSTAL PALACE CHANCE! Hughes leads a break down the middle. He can’t outpace Van de Ven but does feed Ayew to his right. The forward gets the ball out of his feet and lashes in a 20-yard shot that Vicario beats to safety.

08’ – CRYSTAL PALACE CHANCE! Vicario is again called into action, producing an even better save to push away Édouard’s low strike from just inside the box.

53’ – GOAL! – Crystal Palace 0-1 Tottenham. Sarr overlaps down the right and cuts it back for Maddison, who lashes a volleyed cross-shot into the danger zone for Joel Ward to inadvertently crash the ball into his own net!

56’ – CRYSTAL PALACE CHANCE! Guehi is left free to meet a right-wing corner but glances it wide of target.

66’ – GOAL! – Crystal Palace 0-2 Tottenham. Son tucks into the corner from close range after lovely combination from Maddison and Johnson down the left.

90+5’ – GOAL! – Crystal Palace 1-2 Tottenham. Ayew chests down a ball from the left and volleys a brilliant strike into the far corner from the left side of the box.

Spurs are five points clear at the top of the Premier League – their biggest lead on second place in the top-flight since the final day of the 1960-61 campaign (eight points), when they last won the title.