Tottenham 1 Crystal Palace 0: Victor Wanyama nicks late victory with only goal on home debut

VICTOR WANYAMA was Tottenham's unlikely hero on his home debut.

The Kenyan only scored one Premier League goal last season for Southampton, but he has opened his Spurs account early.

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Alan Pardew had organise his Crystal Palace side well — and they kept the home side at bay.

But he would have been disappointed to see Wanyama catch them from a corner eight minutes from time.

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FACTS, STATS AND LOLS

• A huge chunk of White Hart Lane has gone missing. There is now a wide open space between the corner of the Park Lane end and the old Shelf side while building work continues ahead of Spurs’ move into their new stadium.
• Victor Wanyama scored just once for Southampton last season — but has opened his Tottenham account in his first home match.

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• Harry Kane played just off Tottenham's new striker Vincent Janssen — and there was an early sign of an understanding when the England man threaded through a neat ball which was curled just wide by the Dutch striker in the 15th minute.
• The arrival of Christian Benteke may end Palace's goal drought, but he will require service — and they couldn't put anything on offer for Conor Wickham in the first-half.
• Wayne Hennessey's place in the Palace goal may eventually be under threat from new signing Steve Mandanda — although he didn't make the bench here — but the Welsh international pulled off a superb double block save from Janssen in the 26th minute.
• Andros Townsend switched from Palace's right flank to the left — with Wilfried Zaha going the opposite way — midway through the first-half. But still openings were scarce.

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• Alan Pardew sent on Yohan Cabaye for the second-half to get a bit more  craft into midfield. A neat inter-change with Andros Townsend produced a 20-yard shot which went just wide for the French international in the 53rd minute.
• England's Delle Ali faced chants of "You Let your Country Down", as soon as he came on for Tottenham as a 67th minute replacement for Christian Eriksen — with Palace fans rubbing in the misery of Euro 2016.
• Alli made an instant impact, however. He sent Janssen scurrying away for a superb chance in the 68th minute. But the Dutchman is still finding his feet here and somehow scooped wide on the run.
• Spurs thrive on intensity and it will surely have been a concern for boss Maurico Pochettino that Palace became stronger after half-time.

  

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SOCIAL SAYS

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

TOTTENHAM: Vorm 6.8, Walker 7.7, Alderweireld 7.1, Vertonghen 7.7, Rose 7.8, Dier 6.9, Wanyama 8.5, Lamela 7.5, Eriksen 6.5, Kane 7.4, Janssen 7.

Subs: Alli 6.3, Carroll 6, Onomah 6.4.

Booked: Walker, Vertonghen, Dier.

CRYSTAL PALACE: Hennessey 6.8, Ward 7.5, Dann 6.9, Delaney 7.3, Souare 6.2, Puncheon 6.6, Ledley 6.5, Townsend 7.1, Chung-Yong 6.6, Zaha 7.5, Wickham 6.7.

Subs: Cabaye 6.5, Mutch 6.2, Tomkins 6.1.

Booked: Zaha, Dann, Townsend.

STAR MAN: Victor Wanyama