ARCHIE GRAY’S simple finish could not have been more different to Dele Alli’s goal for the ages on this ground a decade ago.
But right now for Thomas Frank it does not matter how they go in, so long as they do, as his boy wonder served up a much-needed three points for the under-pressure Dane.
At 19 years and 291 years, Gray became the youngest Englishman to score for Tottenham in the Premier League since Dele’s wonderstrike in January 2016.
You remember that one, don’t you? The one where Dele, also at Selhurst Park, controlled a high ball with one touch, clipped it over an opponent with his second and then crashed home an exquisite volley with his third?
It was Spurs’ decisive and utterly-inspired second in a comeback 3-1 win over Palace.
Dele was only 19 years and 287 days old back then but, sadly, as we now know, in the prime of his short-lived career at the top.
Gray’s flicked header here from short range – inflicting Palace’s sixth Prem goal in a row to be conceded from a set-piece – was far less memorable.
Yet for Frank it could prove invaluable in kickstarting his stuttering Spurs career amid considerable fan pressure, if not from within the club.
Many supporters seemed prepared to call time on the former Brentford’s tenure already after seven defeats and just six wins in a poor opening 17 games, with many vocalising as much on social media.
SunSport understands that despite that sentiment, the faith in Frank from within the club has been steadfast.
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Nonetheless the need for results, and fast, has been apparent to all, so there will have been relief all round when the final whistle blew down in Croydon on Sunday evening.
This was the FA Cup and the Europa League holders facing off against each other.
But neither were in world-beating form – Palace winless in four and back-to-back defeats sinking Spurs to 14th – so those hoping for a classic were always likely to be disappointed.
So it proved with a turgid first half littered with heavy touches from the likes of Jean-Philippe Mateta, Randal Kolo Muani, Djed Spence and Lucas Bergvall.
Gray’s own particularly poor control saw him earn a booking, as he lost it to Adam Wharton and then illegally pulled back the short-socked midfielder in his attempt to retrieve it.
One rare free-floating move – as Frank would call it – had initially looked to have put Spurs in front when Pedro Porro’s clever cross in behind the Palace defence was tucked away by a gleeful Richarlison.
But that Christmas grinch VAR – announced at Selhurst Park in an unexpected action-movie trailer style over the loudspeaker – noticed Bergvall had strayed offside in the build-up and intervened.
Bergvall had been compared by Frank to Liverpool’s Magyar magician Dominik Szoboszlai in the build-up for his versatility, having featured in every central midfield position this term and out wide.
Here the 19-year-old was given a big chance to impress at No10 due to Xavi Simons’ suspension,
Yet the young midfielder who really exerted his influence on the game was not Bergvall, nor Gray, but Wharton.
The England starlet began to pull the strings from the middle of the park, showing unambitious Spurs how to pass the ball forward with a number of through-balls.
One led to Mateta firing just wide of the far post.
While another Wharton delivery, this time a cross to the back post as part of a training-ground routine of a free-kick, was nodded back across goal by Maxence Lacroix only for Mateta to head over.
But for Palace’s dominance and Wharton’s influence, Spurs’ goal remained unbreached.
And with the Eagles’ defence at set pieces having recently gone to pieces, you knew Frank’s visitors always had a chance from a dead-ball delivery.
So it proved in the 42nd minute as Pedro Porro – whom Frank regards as his best player – fired in a dangerous, inswinging corner to the back post.
Up leapt Muani, rising above Tyrick Mitchell to head it back into the mixer where Richarlison smartly flicked it on for Gray to do the simple thing and nod the ball into the net.
Not only did the goal – or at least that statistic behind it, rather than the technical quality – recall that of a peak Dele from almost a decade ago.
But it was also Gray’s first senior strike in what was his 112th appearance – 60 for Spurs and 52 for Leeds – which is impressive haul for one so young.
It left Glasner to chew over a dirty half a dozen of set-piece Premier League goals conceded on the spin at half-time.
His side had shipped all four from those scenarios in the 4-1 loss at Leeds before Christmas plus a late penalty against Manchester City in the game before.
Glasner’s team were almost on level terms ten minutes after the break, though.
Twinkle-toed Yeremy Pino used the outside of his boot to send a ball across the box which Nathaniel Clyne nodded back to Justin Devenny.
The young Scot got the ball under control but could not do the same with his rising shot.
Glasner tried to inject some energy into his toothless side, bringing on ex-Arsenal man Eddie Nketiah for 34-year-old Clyne, switching Devenny to wing-back.
While Frank also rang the changes when Bergvall was forced off with a muscle injury and centre-forward Muani, looking a fish out of water out on the left, was also replaced.
Once again Palace threatened a leveller when Lacroix rose to meet Jefferson Lerma’s flick but the Frenchman flashed his effort wide.
The big criticism of Frank from Spurs fans, apart from the poor results, has been how dull the football has been under him after the helter-skelter, boom and bust of Ange Postecoglou.
This performance was hardly one to shift the dial on that point, with yet another expected goals tally of less than 1.
But after the atrocious offering on their last outing at Nottingham Forest, the travelling away supporters certainly would have taken a dull performance if it meant a win.
Three points looked assured when Richarlison converted Kudus’ outside-the-boot cross with 13 minutes to go.
But once again VAR spotted an offside, with this time the Brazilian himself being the offender.
Spurs negotiated their way through the finale to secure a vital three points which Frank will hope can breathe new life into his reign.
