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00:00Welcome to Match of the Dead.
00:30Evening, it may be Christmas week, but the Premier League doesn't stop.
00:46Two games for you on tonight's Match of the Day,
00:49as well as all the goals from the festive period.
00:52Just like myself, Joe Hart and Danny Murphy,
00:54I have no idea what day it is.
00:56We begin with Sunderland against Leeds,
00:58the first time these two have met in the Premier League since Boxing Day 2002.
01:04Steve Bowers at the Stadium of Light.
01:09The managers that day, 23 years ago, were Howard Wilkinson and Terry Venables.
01:14Both clubs now are more than on course to ensure this fixture happens again next season.
01:20Sunderland have only one of two unbeaten home records left intact.
01:24They play their second match without their six players away at AFCON,
01:28and they've suffered a further blow today with an injury to Dan Ballard.
01:32So there's a Premier League debut for Dennis Serkin in a reshuffled back four.
01:37Brian Broby has two goals in his last three games here.
01:41Leeds have just four points away from Mellon Road so far,
01:45but their switch to a back three has changed their fortunes dramatically.
01:49They're unchanged from the side that beat Crystal Palace 4-1.
01:53Dominic Calvert-Lewin aims to score for the sixth successive Premier League match.
01:58Prior to kick-off, Captain Granit Xhaka carries a Sunderland shirt in honour of club director Patrick Truer,
02:08who passed away on Christmas Day.
02:11And there will be a moment of remembrance prior to kick-off.
02:14want to be a moment of remembrance prior to kick-off.
02:16want to be a moment of remembrance prior to kick-off.
02:21And there he goes to Prashan.
02:50So too did Brian Brobick.
02:59And Roden has stayed down after that challenge from the Dutchman.
03:06More the way his right ankle went over.
03:10And he felt it straight away.
03:13Which is right for after he's played the ball there.
03:20Good missing.
03:28And Padoue initially with the poor touch.
03:35Still recovered, the foul by Le Fay.
03:40Sutherland's turn to have everybody back.
03:44Floated in by Stack, Olorate beaten in the air.
03:47Still haven't got this clear, that was Ampadu in towards Calvert-Lewin.
03:52Okafor!
03:54Reflected on the way through.
03:59That was an uncomfortable one for Sutherland.
04:02This ball was bouncing and bobbling around.
04:06Eventually Okafor's effort hit Mukweeli.
04:09Nkhweeli.
04:19Odingra with the closing down and Roden's in more pain.
04:24And I think it's the same right ankle from the previous challenge earlier on.
04:31And the look of concern on Daniel Farker's face says it all.
04:36It is.
04:40He's rolled it again.
04:42I think that.
04:52So, okay.
05:04Well done in the way.
05:08As he pushed off then, he winced with pain.
05:17Mukieli's throw.
05:19Can't look new in jumping.
05:22Xhaka, lovely ball, Odingra!
05:29Lift-off for the Stadium of Light.
05:33Simon Odingra's first Sunderland goal.
05:38And the team with the unbeaten home league record are in front.
05:47And no surprise that this was all created by Granit Xhaka.
05:53Awareness, pace of pass.
05:55And then Odingra opened his body and did the rest.
06:00First touch controlled it.
06:03And a beautiful second one finished it.
06:07And the man overlooked by the Ivory Coast, which is why he's still here in the Premier League.
06:12Has his moment.
06:14And his team have the lead 29 minutes in.
06:19And Joe Roden's day, understandably, is done.
06:24To lead six defeats in their eight away games.
06:37One down in this one.
06:39Beyond.
06:40Calvert-Lewins touches an excellent one.
06:42Aronson!
06:43What a save!
06:44I think it was the defender behind the goalkeeper that cleared that.
06:46And it stopped a certain goal.
06:48But let's have a look at this because the American must have thought he'd equalized.
06:52Trey Hume it is who gets back.
06:53Brilliant defender.
06:54To prevent it being 1-1.
06:55And he couldn't believe it.
06:56Fett's back.
06:57And come back.
06:58Oh, Deil.
06:59Crouch!
07:00Crouch!
07:01I think it's better.
07:02In the middle of the line.
07:03But he couldn't think it's better, but there's no luck of that game.
07:04There's no luck of that game.
07:05There's noá people that cleared that.
07:06And it stopped a certain goal.
07:07But let's have a look at this because...
07:08The American must have thought he'd equalized.
07:09Trey Hume it is who gets back.
07:10Brilliant defender.
07:11To prevent it being 1-1.
07:12He couldn't believe it.
07:13Haldoretti.
07:14and he couldn't believe it.
07:18Alderete.
07:22Comfortable for Biol.
07:26He's got a touch on the fan.
07:28And the ring trying to set Broby away.
07:30Goalkeeper hesitated.
07:33Broby's effort cleared in the end by Biol.
07:37The big question is whether there was any connection
07:40between Pires the goalkeeper and Broby the striker.
07:44It looked minimal on first viewing.
07:48Certainly the interpretation of Tony Harrington, the referee.
07:57And here goes Odingran, look at the room he's got to run into.
08:02Broby's pulling away.
08:07And he knows he should have done better.
08:11Leeds were wide open here.
08:14Oh!
08:16That's a let-off for Leeds.
08:18Brian Broby with two goals in his last three games at the Stadium of Light.
08:22Off the crossbar when it should have been under it.
08:26And this has been checked and cleared.
08:27And you would say correctly so.
08:30And you would say correctly so.
08:37And to do for Leeds.
08:38Go!
08:39Go, Dewey! Go!
08:40Go, Dewey! Go!
08:44Go, Dewey! Go!
08:45So compressing.
08:46So compressing.
08:49.
08:53Leeds did that well, though.
08:56Stack, Superball from him, and to Ahrensen.
08:57Super ball from him, and to Aronson.
09:02And there's forward here, Leeds, Aronson, Calvert-Lewin!
09:08It's taken them less than two minutes of the second half,
09:12and who else but Dominic Calvert-Lewin for Leeds.
09:17He scores for the sixth league game in a row,
09:21and the first player for Leeds United to do that in the top flight
09:26for 65 years.
09:29And it all came from that move from the back.
09:33Watch the movement of Calvert-Lewin here in between the two defenders,
09:37beautifully found by Aronson.
09:40It's a fabulous team goal,
09:42and Calvert-Lewin's incredible streak in front of goal continues.
09:47Six in a row, seven goals in that time,
09:52and he's got Leeds back to 1-1.
09:56Just the second touch of Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the Sunderland penalty area.
10:01Don't worry about that.
10:03That's where it's ended up.
10:05Okafor.
10:07Flicked on by Aronson over Calvert-Lewin, in came Bogle!
10:12It wouldn't quite fall for him.
10:17He almost chested that goal with Jadon Bogle,
10:21who's never ever scored a Premier League goal.
10:24Look at this, it wouldn't quite sit down.
10:27He couldn't believe that that wasn't on target.
10:33Can Leeds make their domination count here with another goal?
10:38Here goes Goodman, Cern.
10:41And Perdue!
10:42His effort blocked by Serkin.
10:47And it is a point apiece.
10:52Sunderland's unbeaten home record is still intact.
10:55Leeds extend their unbeaten run to five games.
10:59Sunderland won, Leeds won.
11:01Leeds won.
11:04I'm a bit in between, if I'm honest,
11:06because we were by far the better team,
11:09have dominated each of these statistics
11:11and should have probably won this with the game,
11:14missing a bit the clinical edge in their box.
11:17And for that, yes, definitely a good point.
11:20Can't complain too much.
11:21Again, great mentality to come back,
11:23but it could have been three.
11:26And for that, I'm not dancing on the table tonight.
11:28Yeah, tough game, as expected,
11:31because we knew before that Leeds were a good side
11:34in good form, and they are still in good form.
11:37So they showed great quality on the pitch today.
11:39We started well, I think.
11:40We scored.
11:41Even at the end of the first half,
11:43we had the opportunity to score the second goal.
11:45I think it was a key moment,
11:47because after that, I think,
11:48when they changed their structure,
11:50we struggled a bit to find our references
11:52for the build-up, for the high press,
11:53so they were dominant at that time.
11:55We found the energy to switch the momentum sometimes,
11:57even at the end of the game.
11:58We had the opportunity to be a bit more dangerous,
12:02but I think it's a fair result at the end.
12:04What about the goal?
12:05What a team goal.
12:06Every single outfield player touched the ball.
12:07In fact, no.
12:08Every single player touched the ball,
12:09because it started with a goalkeeper.
12:10Yeah, I think we've shown that we can mix our game up
12:13over the past few weeks.
12:15We can be direct, we can play football,
12:17which is good versatility within the team.
12:20So, a good goal scored.
12:22Six in a row you've scored in now.
12:24The last Leeds player to do that in a top flight 65 years ago.
12:27I mean, how good a feeling is that?
12:29Yeah, it's always a good feeling to just be scoring regularly,
12:32you know.
12:33I'm in a good moment at the minute, you know.
12:35My timing's good, and I think, as a team,
12:38we're gelling a bit more, and things are going well for us.
12:41Both teams scored good goals.
12:44Let's start with the Sunderland one,
12:45which had an element of Joe Rodon's injury playing into it, though.
12:50Yeah, he certainly took a few good hits
12:52in the first, kind of, 20 or so minutes.
12:54But Joe Rodon, he's such a warrior, you know.
12:57He's not missed a game for two years.
12:59He's got a great mentality.
13:00Exactly what you want from your centre-half.
13:02You want him playing no matter what goes on in the game,
13:05and that was really tested for him in the first half.
13:08You see, on the front foot,
13:10Sundern looking to set the tone,
13:12making the stadium a light, an awful place to play.
13:14Unfortunate, but he really gets hit hard there.
13:16Broby doing his job.
13:18A dinger again, closing down, wins the ball.
13:20But, look, Joe Rodon takes a really good hit there,
13:23and you can see he's in a real lot of pain.
13:25On the same ankle.
13:26To get that hit twice in a row,
13:27that's when you think to yourself,
13:29you come off and you're chatting with your physios,
13:31can you play on?
13:32Yes, I can. Just give me a minute.
13:33This is two minutes after coming back on.
13:35Doesn't really challenge for the first one.
13:37But this from Granit Xhaka.
13:39Beautiful pass into a dinger.
13:41And look, of course,
13:43Joe Rodon doesn't quite get up with his team.
13:45He's the one playing him onside.
13:47Beautiful touch and he can't quite get out to him.
13:49If he's fully fit, does he get to that?
13:51I don't know, but look, I've got to celebrate this goal.
13:53This is an absolute bit of genius.
13:55Xhaka.
13:56Beautiful reverse pass.
13:57Disguise on it.
13:58This touch.
13:59A dinger.
14:00Sets it.
14:01Makes it unsavable.
14:02Outside the post.
14:03Curling back in.
14:04Brilliant goal.
14:05And that was the tempo that Sunderland set in the first half.
14:08I think it's worth saying as well with Rodon.
14:11As a manager, and as a teammate of his, you want that attitude.
14:16Somebody's desperate to stay on the pitch.
14:18Just like you said.
14:19To try and play through.
14:20Because hindsight is a wonderful thing, isn't it?
14:22Yeah.
14:23But you are right.
14:25I suppose everybody wants somebody to try and play through it.
14:28They'll get more benefits from that throughout a season
14:31than they will get hurt.
14:32Yeah.
14:33If you've got a group of players with that same mindset,
14:35you've got a good group.
14:36The other thing that that injury did was it deprived Leeds
14:40of one third of their back three,
14:42which has been really successful for them over recent weeks.
14:46Daniel Farker deserves great credit for the decision he made.
14:49He changed the system when the substitute happened
14:51from a 3-5-2 to a 4-3-3.
14:54And it completely changed the momentum of the game
14:56in Leeds' favour.
14:57It's a system that didn't work initially
15:00at some stages early in the season,
15:01and he's had a lot of credit for getting a strike partner,
15:03like the Calvert-Lewin.
15:04But this was exactly the right time to do it
15:06against the way Sunderland set up.
15:08They kind of matched up.
15:09Here you can see the run from Harrison.
15:11He joins Calvert-Lewin.
15:12He's playing to the right of him.
15:13Okafor to the left.
15:15And Sunderland back four were now occupied.
15:17Completely occupied.
15:19And they should have equalised with this chance.
15:21And then the attacks just came time and time again.
15:24Okafor actually seemed to enjoy it more on the left.
15:27He got more of the ball.
15:28He could see the pictures ahead of him.
15:29He's running at people, which he's good at.
15:31He had runners off him.
15:33And all of a sudden, Leeds were in control.
15:35They looked like their home team.
15:36I know Sunderland have got players missing, etc.
15:38It's unfair enough.
15:39But there's the system change.
15:40There's the 4-3-3.
15:41And as you can see, the front three there,
15:43occupying that back four.
15:45Stopping Sunderland's full-backs having plenty of the ball,
15:47which they did before this.
15:48I think Aronson there.
15:50If he goes a bit ahead of the full-back,
15:52he gets himself in.
15:53Aronson again in that inside-right position
15:55in between the centre-half and full-back.
15:57Chance at the back post for Okafor if he anticipates the cross.
16:02Second half, more of the same.
16:04Wonderful goal.
16:05Brilliant move.
16:06Good passing, crisp.
16:08Stack as well.
16:09What performance he had as well playing in the middle of the pitch.
16:12And we talked about final product, or end product final pass, I should say.
16:17That was a brilliant ball and a great finish from Calvert-Loon.
16:20Calvert-Loon is on fire at the moment.
16:22And then just after that, they had the best chance to go and win it.
16:27When the ball comes in, you can see the full-backs are occupied by the wide men,
16:31the two forwards either side.
16:32So Bogle gets in, tries to stomach it into the back of the net.
16:35But credit to that man, because he's had his doubters in the past
16:39and even been talked about lack of tactical awareness.
16:42Today, bang on, and these numbers represent the change.
16:46It really is good.
16:47That's a real dominance against a team who are good at home.
16:50Just the thing on that front three, is the key to it then,
16:52that even if one of them is wide, the other one is close to Calvert-Lewis.
16:55Yeah, they both played close to him.
16:57Sometimes I think when you play a 4-3-3, if they stay really wide,
17:00the forward gets isolated.
17:02But what it did with the full-backs of Sunderland coming in with the danger,
17:06it also allowed the full-backs to bomb on.
17:08It was perfect timing to do it and a brave decision from him.
17:12Daniel Farker says he isn't going to be dancing on the tables.
17:15Although I think if my team had scored a goal like this,
17:17I'd be on that table and dancing.
17:19You've never danced on a table.
17:21It was a long time ago, Daniel, a long time ago.
17:24Joe?
17:25All serious, no, this is a brilliant goal.
17:27And this is a team that's absolutely brimming with confidence.
17:31Good turnover, 1-0 down, no panic, looking to build into the second half.
17:36Obviously had that tactical rejig that Danny's touched on.
17:39But at no point are they forcing anything.
17:41Making angles for the goalkeeper.
17:43They all look comfortable in possession.
17:45Pass here into Okafort.
17:47A little bit of spice on it and then stack this ball here.
17:50Brilliant.
17:51That's every player apart from Calvert-Lewis touched it now.
17:53Aronson attacking.
17:55Calvert-Lewis getting into the area where he's been so good this season.
17:58Finishes it with a plum.
18:00Absolutely brilliant team goal.
18:02And that's a team brimming with confidence.
18:04And we will all have seen, I am sure, the graphic that has done the rounds this week
18:10of Dominic Calvert-Lewis this season only being able to score in a straight line.
18:14That's where all his goals have come from.
18:16The one today is that one that's just on the right of that straight line.
18:21But we also had a look at where he scored his goals in his most successful season at Everton.
18:25And whilst it isn't a straight line, Danny,
18:28it is still, with the exception of two, two and a half,
18:32all within the frame of the goal.
18:34Yeah, it's intelligent runs, knowing where to be, anticipating the crosses.
18:38But simple messaging, isn't it, for any young forwards out there?
18:43Stay central.
18:44Don't go wandering when you're not in the game.
18:46Stay in that position.
18:47And also, the other thing I think is important as well is
18:50that the team you're playing in knows your strengths, where you want the ball.
18:54The ball goes in early from Leeds, doesn't it?
18:55Yeah, exactly.
18:56And I think it's a dream for a wide man.
18:58You know you can just beat your man and get it in.
19:00You've got someone who's looking dominant, looking dangerous in the middle.
19:03And that threat's always there.
19:04Just one, because we've done a lot of praising of Leeds here,
19:07maybe understandably so.
19:08Just one on Sunderland.
19:09Because they are depleted by AFCON.
19:11They've got six players away.
19:13They didn't have Ballard today either,
19:15who's been integral this season for them.
19:17And they've still come away with a point.
19:19They are going to have to dig in at times through this period, aren't they?
19:22They're still unbeaten at home.
19:23They can be very proud of that performance.
19:25They had players today who haven't played many minutes.
19:27Odinger was a threat the whole way through.
19:30They've got a really good squad.
19:32They've got players who are match winners.
19:34Xhaka's still leading the team.
19:36They had moments in the game.
19:38But what they've done this season, and what they continue to do,
19:41is a breath of fresh air, really.
19:43Yeah.
19:44Right.
19:45Spurs have only won once in the league in the last two months.
19:47They travelled to a Crystal Palace side who did the double over them last season.
19:50Jonathan Pearce was there.
19:52Those two Palace wins last season were as many as they'd achieved in the previous 22 meetings.
19:59Both of these needing to end their end-of-year slumps.
20:02Palace thumped at Leeds and then dumped out of the League Cup on penalties at Arsenal.
20:06Spurs with two league defeats in a row and just 36 points in 2025.
20:11Oliver Glasner makes four changes to the side, beaten at Arsenal.
20:15Dean Henderson, of course, returns in goal, maintaining his league ever-present record.
20:19Kline replaces Kambo at right wing-back.
20:21Liveny is preferred to Nketiah.
20:23And with Richards injured, Hughes comes into midfield and Lerma slots back into defence.
20:28Tottenham are forced into their two changes with Romero and Simmonds both sent up against Liverpool.
20:34Danso and Richarlison start for them.
20:41Porro.
20:45Can get it over the top for the run of Bergvau.
20:47This brings back to Kudus.
20:49Bergvau.
20:51Kudus with the run.
20:56Porro.
20:57Good work by Tottenham.
20:58Richarlison against her on a play.
21:00Tottenham lead with a very good goal.
21:03They've hardly had a kick of the ball.
21:06And with 16 minutes gone, Richarlison puts them ahead.
21:10Just see if Bergvau's on or offside there.
21:15I think he looks offside in the build-up.
21:17It's gonna be checked.
21:18Comes out to him from Kudus.
21:20Gives him the return.
21:22Porro comes into the line.
21:25It's a lovely cross in.
21:26Richarlison might be offside.
21:28Well taken goal.
21:29Naked eye shows to me that Bergvau's offside.
21:31It is being checked now.
21:35Goal is ruled out.
21:37Lovely move by Tottenham.
21:38But it won't count.
21:39And it would have been harsh on Crystal Palace.
21:50Mateta.
21:51Real handful for Dancer.
21:52And he's got away from him.
21:53And into Devaney.
21:54There's a little spin.
21:55He was hoping for contact from a Spurs player.
21:56Lerma to Wharton.
21:57Cool under pressure.
21:58Mateta.
21:59Goes for goal!
22:00Through the legs of the defender.
22:01And why?
22:02What a clever effort, this.
22:03Really is up for it today.
22:04Jean-Philippe Mateta.
22:05Thomas-Frank
22:06Already under pressure.
22:07Three wins in 12 in all.
22:23Crystal Palace drummers behind the goal to your left-hand side are beating out a frantic
22:272-2 at the moment.
22:33Now Colin Mouane is holding his face, Spencer's got involved, Hughes wanted to get on with the game, I think there was an accidental bash in the face there for Colin Mouane, as he falls he just gets knocked in the face with the side of Will Hughes' knee as he comes in to try and get the ball back off him, a bit of something and nothing, Jeremy Pinot, now it goes to Wharton.
23:03What's dangerous, he's headed back across, GOAL, and it's a chance for Mateta really, that he should have buried, a lovely header back across goal by Maxence Lacroix, looks for Mateta, couldn't get over the ball, and this is what Crystal Palace fans will tell you, they've been creating chances for weeks and weeks but they haven't been taking them, Bergvau, Colin Mouane getting away from Lerma,
23:32Gay's there with him, good intervention, Gay, Tottenham appealing that he hit his hand, big claim, VAR having a look.
23:40The ball did strike an arm but it's a supporting arm, supporting his body as it fell according to the VAR James Bell, correct decision, I think most people would agree.
23:52Now Porra with the corner kick, I think it's Tottenham's first of the game. Swing into the far post, it's dangerous, needs to be clear, but Charlatan, and nodded in by Gray.
24:02And this time surely the goal will count, and Tottenham will lead. Crystal Palace undone at a set piece, where their defending was scruffy at best, and for Archie Gray it's a first Tottenham goal.
24:17Tottenham goal. Lots of defenders back in there but they can't deal with it, the header down wasn't dealt with, Richarlison nodded it on, and Gray with a simple glance.
24:28The three Palace defenders there that could have dealt with that far better than they did. And Gray flicked it on, and Tottenham Hotspur lead.
24:37But Crystal Palace will feel hard done by, they've bossed the game. If Tottenham hold on and get the win here it will buck a trend really, because when they faced opponents at the start of the day above them in the table, they've only won one of their last 19 London derbies away from home.
24:53Crystal Palace were above them in the table this morning. Pino takes it back from Mitchell, spins across it, it's a good set-up, Deveni over the bar, big chance.
25:06Really big chance for the youngster.
25:12Lovely work down the left-hand side, Pino and Mitchell, the cross was a beaut spun in, clever headed down by Klein, Deveni.
25:19First touch took it away from Garl, so he had to spin, and then over it went.
25:28One or two Tottenham players are looking tired. Pino couldn't get there.
25:34Lama will take it long.
25:50Up in the air by Spence, Mateta. Ooh, she pushed there by Richarlison. Is there enough contact to worry the referee or the VAR?
25:57Bit of pushing and shoving going in there, Mateta and Spence.
26:04In comes the resulting corner. Lerma's headed back across.
26:11Good touch from Pino. Sensible ball wide. Wharton.
26:15Head across in, second time of asking. It's come up to Lerma. Clever header, just one.
26:20Big chance, Phil, to Maxence Lacroix.
26:27It's been another game in which Crystal Palace have created opportunities and haven't taken them.
26:39There he's downward header. Only carries to Gray on the run.
26:42Now Takuda spins the cross in far post. Richarlison is there, and Tottenham lead 2-0.
26:51In terms of possession, they've been second best. In terms of chances created, they've been second best.
26:58But they lead 2-0, and it's all about goals.
27:05Richarlison, ooh, is he on? Or is he off?
27:08This one is being checked for offside. From there, he looks offside to me.
27:15And is Richarlison going to have a second one ruled out?
27:19Will it be a lifeline for Crystal Palace?
27:29Richarlison offside when he's scored. Again, it will not count.
27:33I can't believe his fortune. No, they didn't time it with perfection as they should have done.
27:44Go, go, go!
27:46Wharton picks it up again. Ucce,
27:50coming up to force the corner.
27:52Tottenham this season have been cursed by conceding goals at set pieces,
27:56and by conceding late goals.
28:02Wharton in it comes, over by Gahing, and it would have counted.
28:06That's a massive chance.
28:09Goodness me, they've had some.
28:11Amounts to be a free header, really, from there.
28:14Just checked his watch, it's a victory that would take Spurs up to 11th.
28:21Going to be on 25 points.
28:24Which will be a couple of points above the number they had after 18 games last season.
28:31Here comes Tottenham.
28:32Odeber, Michalison back to him, can he wrap it up here?
28:36Odeber with a shot, off the post, and that would have done it.
28:40Good crisp drive, cos it was at an awkward height for him, and off the woodwork.
28:45Tottenham close to a second.
28:48Hang on!
28:56Odeber.
28:58Gets beyond Essay, takes the return.
29:01Low crossing, fizzes all the way through, Poro in space.
29:05Back it comes, Bentancur, good save!
29:08And away by Lerma.
29:12Too much space here for Poro, really, from a Palace point of view.
29:15And Henderson, that's a fine save, cos I think he saw it late from behind players.
29:20And Tottenham win it.
29:23A welcome victory for Thomas Frank.
29:26But for Crystal Palace now, it's their worst run of league defeats in a row under Oliver Glasner.
29:33And their season is beginning to look in danger of being undermined.
29:39As Tottenham win this by a goal to nil.
29:42Goal to nil.
29:44First ever senior goal, how does that feel?
29:46Yeah, it's incredible.
29:48After, I can't even remember how many appearances I'm on now, but after what?
29:52112, I think.
29:54112.
29:55I've given myself a little bit of leeway, cos I've been playing centre-back and left-back.
29:58But to be fair, I should have got a goal before this.
30:00So, yeah, it's just an incredible feeling to get it.
30:03You have been under pressure, the team's been under pressure, but they did fight and they did battle for you.
30:08They fight for each other, they fight for the club, they fight for staff, they fight for me, they fight for everyone.
30:12The fans, most importantly.
30:13I like the character and the mentality in the team today, that so much we need to improve, but I like that discipline we had, because you need to have that in the Premier League.
30:23There will be difficult games, especially away from home.
30:25Very disappointing result, but it's a little bit, like many games this year, that if you don't score, you can't win.
30:34It's not that we don't create the chances, we just miss them right now, and then we get punished with a set play, and that's a little bit the story that happens more or less every game.
30:44I see the effort, but to be honest, the finishing quality wasn't there today.
30:49Well, it was a good afternoon for Archie Gray, as he gets his first senior goal for Spurs there.
30:59Great feeling.
31:00Great feeling for him.
31:01Best feeling.
31:02I would never know.
31:04Me either.
31:05It wasn't a go, or you actually, for that matter.
31:08It wasn't a great game, was it?
31:10But, as Thomas Frank said, maybe the quality can improve, but they had a bit of something today.
31:15No, it really wasn't a great game, and it wasn't necessarily a top performance.
31:19You know, they were lacking a little bit of identity, you find with Spurs, but when you're lacking identity and you want people to just roll their sleeves up and play for you, that's where people like Richarlison come to the fore.
31:28Now, look, there's no doubt about it.
31:30If Zylanki's fit, he's leading the line, but this season, he's just been a pest, hasn't he?
31:35And he's got good numbers.
31:36He's a real threat when he gets in.
31:38He makes it difficult.
31:39Lerma filling in this afternoon for Richards.
31:41He's just pulling onto him, and if it's not for Bergveld, just being slightly offside, they can get themselves off to a really good start here.
31:48His movement's good.
31:49He's alive.
31:50He's just ready.
31:51Off the back.
31:52Caught them sleeping.
31:53Ideally, they go on the lot there, but...
31:56Here, I know what he's trying to do as a goalkeeper.
31:58He wants Henderson to slide at him.
32:00That's how he is.
32:01That's his sort of mentality.
32:02He wants to win those sort of free kicks.
32:04But, look, tough game.
32:05Scrappy.
32:06He's really strong there.
32:07Flicks it on for Archie Gray, and he gets his big moment.
32:10Now, look, Palace absolutely battered them.
32:12Possession-wise, they had lots of chances, but if Tottenham were going to wrap this game up, he was going to be involved in it.
32:17Just can't quite hold his run here.
32:19An excellent ball from Poulos.
32:21But, like I say, towards the end of the game, Tottenham are just hanging on.
32:24Look at that kick from Vicario.
32:25But his awareness, as Lacroix comes into him here, this is really, really good play.
32:30Sharp.
32:31Odebert.
32:32Little one-two.
32:33It's not conventional, but at the end of the day, you've got to try and win yourself the game.
32:37It's a lovely pull into his stride.
32:40And an unlucky effort.
32:41But here we just see a beautiful flick round the corner of Brennan Johnson.
32:44Like I say, if Tottenham were going to wrap this game up and make it a little bit more comfortable, he was going to be involved in it.
32:49And that's Archie Gray saying thanks for the assist.
32:52And that's the difference for him this season and how much Thomas Frank has used him compared to last.
32:59Is it a case of digging in for them this season?
33:03Is that what Thomas Frank was saying?
33:05Well, I think for now, the next few weeks, they've had such extremities of performances, some really good ones, some awful ones.
33:11When you're not playing well, as Joe said, the fans, all they want to see is you fight for everything.
33:18Even the defeat against Liverpool, with a man down, they showed character, they showed some guts.
33:23And the fans walk away going, OK, something to work on.
33:26Which was actually the big criticism of the Arsenal game.
33:28And Chelsea.
33:30They just kind of sat there and waited to be beaten, was the criticism.
33:33Yeah, but Tottenham, with the quality they've got, they need to be more composed, more creative, more on the front foot.
33:41You can't play like that every week.
33:43Palace had 62% possession and dominated them for large parts of the game
33:47and deserve some credit too, even though they lost.
33:49Yeah, and you're going to look at that because, as Joe says, they sort of battered them in every way bar actually scoring.
33:56Yeah, they were completely in control for long periods because they played really good football.
34:02They controlled the midfield areas.
34:04It was just lacking in the final third, which, when they look at these highlights post-video tomorrow, whenever it is,
34:12they'll feel a bit better about themselves.
34:14Because if you keep getting in these good positions, you're going to score goals.
34:17Mateta, we know, is more reliable than that normally.
34:20He's just having a little spell.
34:21This from Deveni is a chance really should be ready and should be taken.
34:26I know they're missing Saar, who's at AFCON, who's a big player for them.
34:29And they kept probing.
34:30They kept getting in the right areas.
34:32And, you know, we've seen Palace this season have really good spells.
34:36They're just going through a little bit of a bad one at the minute.
34:39And it's only because, when they're getting in the final third, they're not playing with this.
34:44They're not got the same killer instinct, the same conviction.
34:47This is a wonderful chance from Lacroix.
34:49He's got to be scoring that, really.
34:51And they did deserve something out of the game, you've got to be honest about it.
34:53And Gaye, who scored the winner at Fulham from a very similar position there, gets a chance late in the game.
34:57I know he's frustrated. I know he's angry.
34:59And their squad at the moment is thin.
35:02You know, he hasn't got...
35:04The bench was inexperienced.
35:05He hasn't got an abundance of options.
35:07So they'll get through this stuff.
35:09They're in a slightly...
35:10It's just a slightly strange state, I suppose, for them at the moment.
35:13They're ninth in the Premier League, which maybe ordinarily they would have taken.
35:18But they're coming off the back of a great season last season.
35:21They've lost three on the spin now, having had a good start to the season.
35:26Do you sense there's a bit of frustration?
35:29Oh, 100%.
35:31Absolutely undoubtedly.
35:32Because they had such a good finish to the end of last season.
35:35They actually started well.
35:36They've got silverware.
35:37And you felt like they were ready to kick on going into Europe.
35:40And it just felt like the conversation was always going to be when those European games kicked in.
35:44Would they be able to...
35:45Would they have the squad capable to manage the Premier League and Europe?
35:49Oliver Glasder's made noises saying that he's not necessarily happy with the squad.
35:52He doesn't feel like they've backed it up.
35:54And look, when you put that out into the universe and then you start losing games,
35:57ultimately you're going to have a negative spin around it.
35:59I heard a fan on Five Live earlier saying that they were worried that they missed the opportunity in the summer
36:05to really go for it when it came to strengthening.
36:08And now they're going into a six-month period where they didn't really strengthen.
36:13Gabe more than likely will go and their manager's only got six months left as well.
36:18They've got a chance of still being cute and clever in January.
36:21Maybe a couple of loans and some players who are out of favour elsewhere, they can get in.
36:25Because everyone wants to play in the Premier League.
36:27The problem we were talking about earlier is that a manager who's got an uncertain future,
36:32how's he going to persuade someone to come and join the journey that Palace are on?
36:37But Joe made a good point when we talked about it.
36:39Some players who are just desperate to play first-team football at a club like Palace,
36:42you'll get some through the door.
36:44If they don't get any plays through the door, and I think they probably need at least three,
36:48then it's going to be difficult to see how the season can be a success.
36:53Would you worry about signing for a club where the manager had six months left
36:57and it was a bit unclear what was happening?
36:59Depends on the wages.
37:00Depends on what your career...
37:02Never, never that enough.
37:04I find a lot of you say that, to be honest.
37:06I was joking.
37:08Plenty of positive points, you know.
37:10They're a club that obviously they're on the back of a bad run,
37:12but they're in Europe.
37:14They know that when they play well and they get their team back,
37:16they can be a real threat in the Premier League,
37:17so you definitely want to join that party.
37:20He is that guy.
37:22There's another match of the day on Tuesday night,
37:25so you can join Kelly for that.
37:27The most silent documentary, Never Give Up, is available now on iPlayer.
37:31If you've lost track, you can catch up with every match of the day
37:33and individual match highlights on iPlayer.
37:42Clever ball around the corner, Reinders is in, and Reinders scores.
37:47It hasn't taken Manchester City long.
37:51Clever ball, Igor Jesus, Hutchinson unmarked back post.
37:58Here he is, 1-1.
38:00That was a brilliant goal.
38:04Foden to try again.
38:07The game goes deep, but this time it does find the head of Gavariol.
38:12Driven in.
38:13Scherchi scored.
38:15City in front.
38:17This Frenchman is having quite an impact on Manchester City this season.
38:22Tricky one to defend, and Villa haven't defended it, and Chelsea have the lead.
38:32Chelsea have just looked a bit ropey in the last few minutes.
38:36Rodgers, great ball.
38:37Watkins, 1-1.
38:39It's Oli Watkins again, and Stamford Bridge.
38:43Goes Watkins!
38:48Villa have done it again!
38:54Oli Watkins sends the away end at the bridge into Delirium.
39:01Primpong fits away from João Gomes and takes on Hugo Bueno,
39:08and pulls it back for Gravenberg.
39:10Liverpool lead.
39:12Double Dutch.
39:14Frimpong's assist for Gravenberg's finish.
39:20Neketique.
39:22Neketique threw to Florian Veertz.
39:28There's the moment he's been waiting for.
39:34Alisson cannot get through, makes the first save,
39:38the first save but the follow-up is put in by Santiago Bueno. Wolves have a
39:45glimmer of light.
39:53That's a really good finish by Martin Odegaard and the skipper scores his first
39:59goal of the season.
40:02Rice, another pace on that, I think it's an earned goal, Jorginho Rute has got the final
40:08touch on that.
40:09Rute on the half turn, Mayari through the crowd and off the post and the follow-up is smashed
40:19in.
40:20Gomez makes it 2-1.
40:23Lovely little flick, that's Minty, what a save that is, that looked like a goal all day
40:31long.
40:32So on last night's match of the day, Gabby said that if they'd had a goalkeeper in the
40:38studio they'd have done four minutes on that save and we have four minutes of chat left.
40:45We just need a goalkeeper.
40:47Danny!
40:48You can resist, could you?
40:51Fill your boots, go on.
40:52Right, let's do this, let's do this, right okay, so I want to point out that Davorea doesn't
40:59just make that save out the blue.
41:02All game he's making these movements, especially in the second half when they're pushing, readjusting
41:07from cross to shot, that's very simple but the movements are the same.
41:11Here he is, we see him highlighted, he's set for the cross and there's Minter, puts it into
41:16the middle, readjust, resets, little micro movements, you'll see him highlighted, alright,
41:21it's not a good shot but he's set for it.
41:23That's the point I'm making.
41:24Here we see his positioning, nice and high, ready to help his defence.
41:28Is the cross coming in?
41:29This actually is the goal but you can't judge him for that.
41:32Look at the movement all the time, he's always getting as sharp as he can, making it as difficult
41:36as he can.
41:37This is the moment, make it difficult, great spring, I'm telling you if that's on target,
41:41he makes a brilliant save and that is the reason why when it comes to the big moments,
41:45he's ready.
41:47Here we see, this is the option, this is why he's in the position because the potential is
41:50to come into the box, doesn't happen with it, it goes into Ruta.
41:56Beautiful touch round the corner, now you've got to readjust, okay, it's now going to be
41:59a shot, I've got to make it as difficult as I can.
42:02Little check of the post, gets himself in line as quickly as he possibly can, you're not
42:06beating me near post, you've got to go across me.
42:09Jeez, what a brilliant save.
42:11Now look, you can have all the technical movements you want in the world, get yourself in the
42:15right position but have you got that world class power?
42:18Have you got that spring, have you got the elasticity through your body to make every
42:22single part of your body count?
42:24David Rea has.
42:25Look at this, sets, readjusts, every single fibre in his body is making that save.
42:31Absolutely brilliant save, a massive moment and that is why Arsenal still stop at the
42:35Premier League because of that man right there.
42:37But isn't it like, to the layman, to the non goalkeeper, when that last one from behind
42:44the goal, as you see the shot about to come in you know, you sort of know which way it's
42:49going to go.
42:50Yep.
42:51And yet Rea has to take a step the other way, first, before he then goes that way.
42:57Right.
42:58So often you'll see Rea's movement here, he's not quite sure, as it goes, that's that movement.
43:02Can he get set?
43:03Where is he going to go?
43:04Right, it's going to my right hand side.
43:06He'll quickly assess that through his body.
43:08You'll see him splay his legs because he has to get set as we run it on here.
43:12And you've got to create that momentum.
43:14That left foot into the right foot, which allows him to get the momentum to fly into
43:18that save, make an unbelievable stop.
43:21Because it feels, doesn't it, to you as well, that that slightly goes against...
43:26The opposite way, yeah.
43:27It slightly goes against instinct to take one step that way.
43:30It's taking everything for me not to get up right now and fly across this room.
43:34But you've got...
43:35Let's give it a go.
43:37Oh my God, I would love that.
43:39You've got to create that momentum.
43:41I'm set, I'm moving.
43:42OK, I'm going to my right.
43:43So I've got to load up my left leg to then fly into my right hand side.
43:47Because you can't just...
43:48It makes sense.
43:49You can't just drop into your right.
43:50Do it at home.
43:51You'll see it.
43:52OK.
43:53Maybe tomorrow.
43:54The other thing as well, and this is a lot from work with you and Rob and Shay as well.
43:59You do spend a lot more time, don't you, looking at the really small steps that goalkeepers
44:03make all the time on all of those clips that Joe showed.
44:07Ryan's making two, three, four, five little steps before doing anything.
44:10And it's actually all the stuff from years of training, seeing the keepers over, doing
44:14that footwork.
44:15That doesn't come by accident.
44:16No.
44:17It's just years and years of practising.
44:18But having a goalkeeper like him, with the presence and just the trust they have in
44:23him, it just spreads throughout, doesn't it?
44:25Yeah.
44:26Yeah.
44:27They do realise Arsenal are so difficult to get through.
44:29And then as a defender, I'm sure it's a great feeling to know that if someone does get
44:32that chance, you've got someone that power, that elasticity to make those big saves.
44:37Massive.
44:38OK.
44:39When you're on, I will get you flying across the show.
44:40I'm ready.
44:41I'm so ready.
44:42I know you are.
44:43Quickly move on.
44:44Here are the rest of the goals from Christmas week.
44:46Well done.
44:47That's good.
44:48It's a great two-inch time.
44:49I'm HAZI.
44:50I'm so ready to go.
44:51Dalla with the long throw.
44:52Vltamata's head.
44:53Dorgu!
44:55What a memorable way to score your first Manchester United goal!
45:06Thiago.
45:08Plays in Schada.
45:11Too strong for Diakite.
45:13Schada!
45:15A brilliant Brentford goal.
45:20Fired upfield.
45:22And that's turned into a really good pass for Igor Thiago.
45:25Thiago!
45:28Oh, it's in!
45:31Well, not sure if that will go down as his goal.
45:35But the scoreline now reflects Brentford's dominance.
45:41And they have a three on two.
45:43Sharder making good ground.
45:46Thiago picks it up.
45:48Sharder!
45:51Devastating.
45:52From one end to the other.
45:54Bournemouth are punished with ruthless efficiency.
46:01Jimenez.
46:04Are we still going?
46:06Semenyo!
46:10Bournemouth have one back.
46:13Damscott.
46:16Heath Henderson.
46:18Back in for Damscott.
46:19Sharder!
46:21Game, set, match.
46:25And a hat-trick for Kevin Sharder.
46:27Nicely done.
46:31Wilson sending it across.
46:35They get a second chance to do so.
46:37And it's Raul Jimenez again.
46:40With five minutes to go.
46:42Right place, right time.
46:441-0 Fulham.
46:45Irrubunum for Dwight McNeil.
46:50Irrubunum.
46:51Oh, so clever from Beto.
46:54And it's taken exceptional reactions from Dubravka to turn the ball aside.
46:59Jadon Antony.
47:05There's a chance here for Burnley.
47:07Zian Fleming is in!
47:08And has come as close to scoring as it is possible to come.
47:18And before we go, let's just take a look at the Premier League table.
47:21Sunderland stays seventh after missing the chance to climb into the top five.
47:25But they do have their highest points total at this stage of a Premier League season for 15 years.
47:30Palace remain ninth.
47:32Leeds are seven points clear of the relegation zone now.
47:35And Tottenham have risen to 11.
47:39That's it from us.
47:40Thanks to Danny and Joe.
47:41Match of the Day is back on what we think is Tuesday as the season reaches the halfway point.
47:47Good night.
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