TOTTENHAM Hotspur moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League table and continued their superb start to the season with a win at Crystal Palace.
The visitors took control after the break and benefitted from a huge slice of fortune with the opener when Palace defender Joel Ward turned James Maddison’s cross into his own net.
Maddison was key to the second too as his interplay with Brennan Johnson ended with Son Heung-min firing home his eighth goal of the season.
Jordan Ayew thumped in a stunning strike after taking the ball down on his chest in stoppage time for Palace, but there was to be no equaliser as Tottenham secured yet another victory under new boss Ange Postecoglou.
The Australian has breathed new life into his side since joining from Celtic in the summer and this win extended Spurs’ run to eight wins and two draws from their opening 10 games.
The victory means Tottenham move on to 26 points, five ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal, who both have a game in hand and can close the gap over the weekend.
“Every week is a different challenge,” Postecoglou told BBC Sport.
“The key for us was to be disciplined, focused and persistent in our play and we did that. I think the spell between the first and second goal we were dominant and played some really good football and then still think the lads handled [the end of the match] well.
“We haven’t faced that situation this year and there was a really clear-headedness about the team. There was no rushing and panic which is a good sign.”
