Congolese-rooted striker Jean-Philippe Mateta walks early, and Palace's 2-0 loss at Spurs turns up the heat on boss Pierre Sage.
Jean-Philippe Mateta, the French-born striker with Congolese roots, saw his afternoon end almost before it began. An early red card left Crystal Palace a man down at Tottenham, and they never recovered, going down 2-0.
For a diaspora talent who has carried so much of Palace's attacking load, it was a painful moment. Losing your focal point so early leaves any game plan in tatters, and Palace were left chasing shadows against a Spurs side full of momentum.
Tottenham took full advantage of the extra man. Their revival rolls on, and this was a controlled, professional win in front of their own fans, built on the numerical edge Mateta's dismissal handed them.
The result also piles pressure onto Palace manager Pierre Sage, who now has to rebuild belief quickly after a damaging defeat. Mateta's suspension will add another headache, and Sage will have to find answers fast.
