Palace drop into the bottom three as Mateta’s early red card sinks them at Spurs
Sunday 1 November 2026 · By Tom Bradley
Crystal Palace lost 2–0 at Tottenham on Saturday and are 18th, in the bottom three, with seven points from nine games and a goal difference of −12. It was their third league defeat in a row.
Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off after 13 minutes for a late, studs-up challenge on Micky van de Ven’s heel. Michael Oliver had shown a yellow card, but upgraded it after VAR sent him to the pitchside monitor. Sky Sports reported that Mateta is banned for three Premier League games, against Liverpool, Coventry and Hull.
Palace held on for a while, but Archie Gray headed in unmarked at the back post from a Mohammed Kudus corner in the 25th minute. Jan Paul van Hecke made it 2–0 in the 73rd minute after Dean Henderson saved his first header onto the bar. It was the second time in a few weeks that Palace played with 10 men, the Guardian said, after Axel Disasi was sent off against Ipswich last month.
Palace have conceded 21 league goals in nine games, the most in the division, and the BBC said they have won two league games in nine under Pierre Sage.
The Guardian reported that there was an expectation Sage could be sacked if Palace lost, and that only the chair, Steve Parish, will decide his fate. No change has been announced, and Sage remains in charge. “It’s not me to decide this thing, but if I have one hour, I will give my best during one hour, and if I have 10 years, I will give my best during 10 years,” Sage said. “I am responsible for the situation, and I am the guy who will find the solution.”
Palace beat Fulham 1–0 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, with Eddie Nketiah scoring, and were drawn at home to Sunderland in the quarter-finals.
Next up is a Europa League game against Hoffenheim on Thursday 5 November (17:45 GMT), then Liverpool on Sunday 8 November (14:00 GMT), when Mateta will be suspended.
Selhurst Park has been Crystal Palace’s home since 1924. It is a tight, four-sided ground in Selhurst, Croydon, not a modern bowl. Capacity is about 25,194 while the Main Stand rebuild continues. Visiting supporters sit in the Arthur Wait Stand, in the corner next to the Whitehorse Lane end, usually blocks R, S and T. Allocation is typically around 2,000 to 3,000. You are on the east touchline, looking across to the old Main Stand, with the smaller Whitehorse Lane end to your right and the Holmesdale Road home end to your left.
The view is close. Arthur Wait is the nearest stand to the pitch. The trade-off is age: wooden seats further back, tight legroom, and supporting pillars. Restricted-view tickets are sold honestly; if you can choose, sit forward of the pillars and avoid the back ten rows, where a low television gantry can hide high balls. The low roof throws noise back at you, which is part of why an away day here still feels like proper English football.
Holmesdale Road is the south stand behind one goal. It is two-tiered and holds the Holmesdale Fanatics. Expect flags, drums and a wall of sound when Palace attack that end. Whitehorse Lane is the opposite, smaller north end, with executive boxes and the big screen. The Main Stand on the west side dates from 1924 and still houses the dugouts and directors. Goals sit in front of those two ends — Whitehorse Lane to the north, Holmesdale to the south — not in front of the long sides.
Address: Whitehorse Lane, London SE25 6PU. Do not drive if you can avoid it. Streets around the ground are permit-controlled and enforced under a Healthy Neighbourhood scheme. Train is the sensible option. Selhurst, Norwood Junction and Thornton Heath are each a 12–15 minute walk. Southern trains from Victoria stop at Selhurst. Norwood Junction has more frequent services from London Bridge plus the Overground. After a late kick-off, leave extra time for crowded platforms.
Away turnstiles are on Park Road (entrances in the 4–7 range depending on the fixture). Ticket collection for visitors is usually at Entrance 4. Gates for away fans often open two hours before kick-off; check your club’s travel note. Bags must fit under a seat and will be searched. Larger luggage can be left free at the Information Centre by Entrance 9. The stadium is cashless. Food and drink on the concourse are standard Premier League fare; an away fan zone is often open before kick-off.
Local pubs closest to the ground are home territory. Away-friendly options that regularly appear in travel notes include the Prince George in Thornton Heath, about ten minutes from the away end, and the Railway Telegraph. Many groups drink in Victoria or London Bridge and take the train in together. Stewards will eject visiting fans found in home sections.
Selhurst is loud, compact and unapologetically old-school. Arrive early if you want a pint and a seat without a pillar in the way. Dress for weather: the Arthur Wait roof covers you, but the walk in from the stations does not. Treat the Holmesdale noise as part of the afternoon rather than a personal insult, and you will understand why Palace supporters are so attached to this ground.