Archie Gray scored the goal to lift Tottenham spirits as they ended a year of conflicting emotions with the sort of performance to sum up their identity crisis.
There was none of the creative flair they are expected deliver and for long spells they were forced to weather pressure from Crystal Palace.
But there were plenty of guts and determination from Spurs and they carried threat from set pieces and were dangerous on the break.
They played Palace at their own game, won it, had two goals ruled out for marginal offsides and hit a post in the closing stages when the contest was stretched and the home team were pushing for an equaliser.
Thomas Frank’s team resisted and there are certainly days when the result is paramount and this was one of those.
Victory brings a respite for Thomas Frank. Three points ease his team into midtable and every win will grant him more time to impose more of his vision for Spurs. Time to forge the principles upon which he says he can impose a little more adventure.
Archie Gray eased the pressure on Thomas Frank as Tottenham beat Crystal Palace
The young Tottenham star scored his first professional goal to secure a 1-0 away win
The positives here came in the form of Gray’s first Spurs goal for the club, a clean sheet and a strong defensive display and a sensible tactical switch in the closing minutes by the boss.
There were times when they rode their luck and Palace will be kicking themselves over some of the chances they missed.
But Frank bolstered his team by sending on Joao Palhinha to regain midfield control when Lucas Brgvall went off injured and went to a back three to see it out.
They finished on top, with Wilson Odobert threatening in the space on the break.
And those are the points upon which they will look to build having finished 2025, the year in which they won the Europa League but lost 20 Premier League games.
Not the sort of display to convince those who doubt Frank is the right sort of fit for the job. Again, away from home in front of the hardcore it is easier to win in this fashion than at home in front of 60,000.
There are signs going into 2026 that Frank is settling on what he considers is his best team. The only changes from the previous line up were those called upon to replace Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero, who were suspended after red cards against Liverpool.
Kevin Danso came in at the back and was solid despite a scare in the fifth minute when he tripped Justin Devenny and the home crowd wanted him sent off, but there was enough cover around to support the decision of referee Jarred Gillett that it was not an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
Pressure has been mounting on Frank amid a turgid start to the season for Tottenham
Richarlison, recalled up front, was performing his pigeon dance in the 17th minute. The Brazil centre forward thought he had opened the scoring, only to find it ruled out for offside against Bergvall earlier in the move.
The momentum of the VAR reprieve lifted Palace and the home crowd and subdued Spurs.
A trip to Selhurst Park is always fraught with peril, even though Palace are better away from home of late and stumbled through four games in 10 days without a win before Christmas.
They are learning to cope with the impact of success on the fixture schedule and toil that takes on a slender squad, but they have talent and are so well organised and they dominated for 20 minutes as Spurs lost control in midfield.
Jean-Philippe Mateta flashed one chance wide and climbed above Danso but could not keep his header down after Maxence Lacroix had headed a cross by Adam Wharton back across goal.
Guglielmo Vicario took fewer risks with the ball at his feet and made saves when needed to foil Devenny and Wharton during this spell of pressure.
Will Hughes also went close before Frank’s team found a response, taking the lead from a corner won on the counterattack.
The goal would have delighted the Spurs boss. First the immaculate delivery by Pedro Porro and then the three headers won in the six-yard boss.
Randal Kolo Muani nodded it back across goal from deep and Richarlison was alive to help it on towards goal where Gray pounced to apply the final touch, a header from close range.
Not only was it his first goal for Spurs but his first in 112 games in senior football for the 19-year-old, signed from Leeds in the summer of 2024.
Palace missed more chances.
Nathaniel Clyne and Devenny contrived to waste a terrific chance at the back post. Clyne’s nodded a cross by Yeremy Pino back inside, but Devenny’s first touch turned him away from the open goal and his second, a shot on the spin, flew over.
Maxence Lacroix headed wide when he should have scored, and Marc Guehi headed a corner over.
Spurs could not get on the ball until Palhinha came on and gave them a foothold.
Richarlison had a second goal ruled out for offside, a fraction off before converting a cross by Kudus, after a fine pass by Gray.
Odobert hit post on run 20 yards out and Dean Henderson save denied Bentancur in stoppage time.
