Toronto-bound Jermain Defoe hit Spurs' second from close range in today's win over Crystal Palace

Published: 11 January, 2014 
by DAN CARRIER at White Hart Lane

Premier League
SPURS 2, CRYSTAL PALACE 0

SPURS manager Tim Sherwood gave his team a severe half-time dressing down after being steamrollered for 45 minutes by a determined Crystal Palace side. Sherwood's team eventually won 2-0, but only after he had given his players the hair-dryer treatment.

After the game, he said: “What I said at half-time was not pretty. I told them it was simply not up to the standard that was required. The only positive thing was it was still 0-0. In the second half we showed desire and effort. Our quality showed.”

He added that he was pleased with the reaction to his fury.

He said: “I tell footballers at the development phase that I take desire over ability all day long – and credit to them. It is easy when you play well from the start, but the question is, can you roll up your sleeves when things are not going well? They did that.”

Spurs were on the back foot early on. On seven a clumsy challenge in the Spurs box by Kyle Walker on Marouane Chamakh saw Palace win a penalty. However, Jason Puncheon found row Z with a poor effort. A goal would have been all Tony Pulis's strugglers deserved from a first-half performance where they out-fought – and out-thought – a disjointed Spurs side.

Rare bright moments were provided when Aaron Lennon drove a shot close and Nabil Bentaleb hit the bar from distance with a left-foot curler, but a lead would have seriously flattered the home team.

Spurs were a different proposition in the second period. Christian Eriksen and Roberto Soldado carved openings and on 50 a knock-down header by Emmanuel Adebayor found Eriksen striding into the box. He made no mistake with a thumping finish.

The second came on 72. Lennon got the ball in a central position, went one way and then the other and tee'd it up substitute Jermain Defoe to clip it home from close range. It was deserved and no one could begrudge the Toronto-bound Spurs legend the joy of hitting the back of the net one more time.

The victory means Sherwood remains unbeaten in the league, and until he gets a stronger squad to choose from – he is still missing key personnel through injury – he'll take the points on the board over the performance.

Spurs: Lloris, Walker (Naughton, 47), Rose, Chiriches, Lennon, Soldado (Defoe, 57), Adebayor, Dembele, Dawson, Eriksen (Chadli, 75), Bentaleb.
Attendance: 36,102

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

JERMAIN Defoe's Spurs career is nearing its end, and it was nice to have the chance to say goodbye today and watch him celebrate another goal.

But there is no doubt that Defoe has divided opinion for years.

There is the camp who say he is too selfish, gets caught offside too often, misses chances a true goalscorer like Allen or Greaves would never ever squander, and doesn't offer enough of a physical presence.

Then there are those who point to his record of 134 goals in the lilywhite shirt, remind us of his spectacular ones that make the ticket worth paying for (over the years, strikes against West Ham, Manchester City, Arsenal, and that five against Wigan stand out), and state that it is hard for any striker who isn't given time on the pitch to stay razor sharp. The fact he loves the club and the fans also means a lot of things can be forgiven.

Jermain has been here for nearly a decade. He has been a loyal and respected servant.

I am sure the vast majority of fans will join me in saying: thank-you for the memories and good luck at Toronto.