Archie Gray put Tottenham on course for a third successive Premier League win as he headed them in front against Crystal Palace after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s red card.

Mateta was sent off for the first time as a Palace player in the 13th minute after referee Michael Oliver was instructed to consult the pitchside monitor by VAR.

The Frenchman caught Micky van de Ven on the Achilles with a sliding challenge and, after checking the replays, Oliver brandished the striker with a straight red card.

Palace held out for 12 minutes before Gray broke the deadlock, heading a corner back across goal and beyond Dean Henderson to leave the 10-man visitors with a mountain to climb.

Succesive Premier League defeats to Brighton and Hove Albion, to whom they lost 5-0, and Newcastle United had piled the pressure on Palace boss Pierre Sage heading into this London derby.

And, after a difficult first half in North London, there is likely to be more scrutiny on Sage, with Palace left staring a third straight league loss.