Aaron Lennon made a strong impact when he came on as a late substitute for Spurs

Published: 7 December, 2014 
By DAN CARRIER at White Hart Lane 

Premier League 
SPURS 0, CRYSTAL PALACE 0 

MAURICIO Pochettino lamented a congested fixture list as he saw his side fail to take three points at home against Crystal Palace on Saturday. 

The Spurs head coach said: "It wasn't an easy game. We know Palace are physical and we did not show the freshness we needed." 

Spurs have had a non-stop run of games, playing Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League, and Everton, Chelsea and Palace with just two-day breaks between the Premier League games. 

Pochettino believes the run of games has taken its toll. He said: "We have played four times in nine days. It isn't an excuse – we needed to be more aggressive – but it is a problem. 

"Both Chelsea and Palace had an extra day to prepare, and the difference between two days and three between matches is massive. It makes a real difference to players' muscles and their recovery." 

Tottenham laboured against a well-organised Palace side, with Pochettino admitting in the end he was pleased that his side at least managed a draw. 

"Hugo Lloris made two excellent saves, so we are happy," the Argentine added. 

Palace started well, hustling the home side into forced errors, having seemingly targeted Eric Dier and Erik Lamela as weak links. On 26 minutes only an athletic Lloris leap stopped a Yannick Bolasie effort. 

The visitors were playing some physical stuff that made it hard for Spurs to get into their stride. Towards the end of the first half, however, there were a few promising moments. A Christian Eriksen free-kick tested Palace keeper Julian Speroni, while Roberto Soldado went close with a looping header. 

A half-time change saw Lamela, who had spent much of the first period running into cul-de-sacs, replaced by Nacer Chadli. It made no difference. 

Tottenham's pretty triangles were busted by hefty challenges, and when the space did open up, there was a lack of incisiveness. On 77 minutes Palace thought they had snatched it, but the referee ruled the chance offside. 

Five minutes later they should have won it. Winger Bolasie, who had been a handful all day, piled an effort goalward but Lloris performed his weekly Superman impression on cue and got his hand to a shot he had no right to be anywhere near. 

Aaron Lennon's introduction late on raised the spirits, and a series of throaty attacks, but after three games in six days it was too much to ask for Tottenham's tired limbs to provide another last-gasp winner. 

SPURS: Lloris, Vertonghen, Soldado (Lennon, 83), Lamela (Chadli, 45), Dier, Kane, Fazio, Eriksen, Davies, Mason (Paulinho, 65), Bentaleb. 
Subs not used: Vorm, Rose, Kaboul, Stambouli. 
Attendance: 35,860 

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

FIVE thoughts on the Palace stalemate. 

1. When Jackie Charlton managed the Republic of Ireland, he said he knew he had limited resources so he got his team doing the same game drills over and over, reasoning if you kept going, going and going, eventually it would work. Neil Warnock's Palace are cut from the same cloth. 

2. With Emmanuel Adebayor not in the squad, the bench looks bare if the forwards are misfiring. There's also the worry of burdening young Harry Kane's shoulders with too much responsibility. Where's the Gordon Durie/Paul Walsh/Nico Clausen-style impact option of yesteryear? 

3. Aaron Lennon offers something different to every other player in the squad. It's hardly surprising the home fans sang his name throughout the second half while he kicked his heels on the bench. He deserves to start ahead of Nacer Chadli and Erik Lamela. 

4. Which leads us on to the formation. Eric Dier is a prospect but, while solid at the back, offers too little going forward. This side needs full-backs to bomb on. It is a set-up crying out for the return of Kyle Walker and arrival of DeAndre Yedlin. 

5. Federico Fazio's game against Palace was a silver lining. He had a lot thrown at him, and he dealt with it. He finally looks settled.