Crystal Palace fell to another loss at Selhurst Park this afternoon after second half goals from Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Nacer Chadli cancelled out a first half Jan Vertonghen own goal. 

Palace were the better side in the first half with Wilfried Zaha, who was in sublime form, at the centre of every Palace attack. The winger made the game uncomfortable for the Tottenham defenders, particularly Danny Rose.

It was Zaha who created Palace's best chance in the early exchanges as he charged inside from the right with the ball seemingly glued to his feet but was eventually hauled down by Rose just outside the box. Jason Puncheon stepped up to take the free-kick but he sent his curling effort over the crossbar.

Zaha found himself running at Rose again soon after and managed to carve open an opportunity of his own; a slalom-like run that humiliated the unbalanced Rose before he sent his shot over the bar when he possibly should have hit the target.

Tottenham grew into the game after Palace's early and almost went ahead on a number of occasions. Firstly, Yohan Cabaye had to make a last-ditched challenge to thwart Heung-min Son, then Harry Kane was inches away from connecting to a wayward Toby Alderweireld effort. 

Spurs' best chance of the first half came through Rose who saw his close-range volley expertly held onto by Wayne Hennessey, who appeared to show glimpses of the form that saw him awarded Palace's December player of the month. 

Palace were finally rewarded for their excellent start to the game with half an hour played when Zaha picked up a loose ball in the box before flashing a cross across goal, which was ultimately turned into his own net by the unfortunate Jan Vertonghen. It was Palace's first league goal since Chung-Yong Lee's last-minute winner against Stoke on December 19. 

Tottenham were much improved in the second half and deservedly equalised through Harry Kane, who rose above the Palace defence to head a Nacer Chadli cross into Wayne Hennessey's top corner from close-range. 

Harry Kane's equaliser turned the game around
Harry Kane's equaliser turned the game around

Palace could have retaken the lead soon after Kane's equaliser but Hugo Lloris pulled off an excellent save to deny a goal-bound Zaha shot. 

Scott Dann and Mile Jedinak hit the underside of the bar for Palace in quick succession and the missed chances ultimately proved costly as Spurs ended up taking three points back to White Hart Lane with the help of two fabulous solo goals.

Alli stunner silences Selhurst

Spurs took the lead for the first time in the game in the 84th minute when Dele Alli controlled a pass before flicking the ball over the head of Jedinak, before volleying the ball past Wayne Hennessey from 25 yards. Alli, still only 19, has remarkably settled into the Premier League with ease this season and is a certainty to travel to the Euros with England in the summer. Head coach Roy Hodgson watched on once again as the former MK Dons man put in a man-of-the-match performance. 

Alli almost scored again straight after the restart when he danced through the Palace defence and lofted the ball over the onrushing Hennessey, but his shot crashed off the bar and was squirmed away by the Palace defence.

Nacer Chadli sealed the victory for Spurs soon after. The Belgian winger cut inside from the left and unleashed a strike that curled beyond the helpless outstretched arm of Hennessey and found the corner of the net, prompting many in red and blue to head for the exits. 

Alan Pardew praised the display of Hugo Lloris after the game in his press conference, saying, "Lloris made two fabulous saves and if it wasn't for him, I think we could have got something out of today."

Pardew believes positives can still be taken from defeat

Pardew also believes there were positives to be taken from the game, including a performance that he claimed Palace "could take into the next few games."

Palace will be able to turn their attention away from league action next week as they welcome Stoke City to Selhurst in the F.A. Cup fourth round, but the defeat to Spurs sees them tumble down to 11th place in the Premier League. 

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About the author
Sam Smith
VAVEL UK sub-editor. Premier League and Football League accredited journalist.