Mon 08 May 2023, 12:00
Tottenham HotspurFraser Forster and Harry Kane both underlined the importance of keeping a clean sheet on our way to a 1-0 win against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.
After a tough few games defensively, Acting Head Coach Ryan Mason made a tweak, bringing back fit-again Emerson Royal into a dual role where he played on the right of a central three in a five-man defence out of possession but then switched to right-back in a four in possession, allowing Pedro Porro to raid forward.
The plan worked to perfection as we kept out Palace’s attacking threat of the likes of Wilfried Zaha, Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze and, at the other end, Pedro delivered the cross for Harry’s headed winner in first half injury time. It was our first clean sheet in 10 in the Premier League as we continue to fight for European qualification.
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Here’s what Fraser and Harry had to say afterwards...
Fraser Forster
“Obviously, we’ve had a couple of tough games, but we worked hard defensively as a team and defended the box well. Then, with the ball, we were good, controlled the game and of course Harry Kane takes his chances when they come along. In the last couple of games where we’ve conceded so early, it’s been hard for the team. The frustrating thing in those games is that after conceding those early goals, we’ve actually played okay, United, Liverpool, and we’ve showed how good we are with the ball. This time we’ve got the clean sheet, got the win and it’s nice for Ryan as well, all the lads want to do well for him. He’s not had too much time to train with the lads, so it was good to have full week leading into the game, the chance to implement some ideas and to get the result is the icing on the cake.”
Harry Kane
“Coming off the back of a difficult week, it was important to bounce back and show desire, determination and we did that. It was a good, hard battle and a 1-0 win always feels good, always builds momentum. It was really important to keep the clean sheet and I thought everyone dug deep, front to back. The detail… full credit to Ryan and the staff. It was his first full week to train and work with us and we changed the system a little without the ball, and with the ball to keep more possession. We got pressure higher up the pitch and with the ball, we kept possession as well, we were a bit more patient. We were playing against a good side, so there weren’t too many chances, but, if you look at the whole game, we had the better ones, and I can’t remember Fraser making too many saves. Pedro Porro is fantastic, has great delivery and when he looked up, he saw me there at the back post with a bit of space, it was a perfect ball and I timed my header well, with the zip off the surface. We know what Pedro can do with the ball, but without it he showed great desire against a tough winger. Front to back, we were all determined to keep a clean sheet and that’s important going forward.”
