Tottenham Hotspur’s downward spiral continued in dramatic fashion on March 6, 2026, as they suffered a 1-3 defeat at home to Crystal Palace in the 29th round of the 2025-2026 English Premier League season. The loss, witnessed by a restless crowd at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, marked the club’s fifth consecutive defeat and extended their winless streak to an agonizing 11 league matches—a record not seen since 1975. With just 29 points after 29 matches, Spurs now find themselves perched precariously in 16th place, just one point above the relegation zone and facing the very real threat of dropping to the second division for the first time since the 1977-1978 campaign.
The match itself was a rollercoaster of emotions for Tottenham fans, who surely did not expect their club to be fighting for survival at this stage of the season. Things started brightly enough in the 34th minute when Dominic Solanke, benefiting from Archie Gray’s determined run and precise cross, slotted home to give Spurs a 1-0 lead. The stadium erupted with hope—could this finally be the match to snap their miserable streak?
But that optimism evaporated almost instantly. Just three minutes later, disaster struck. Micky van de Ven, Tottenham’s beleaguered defender, was shown a straight red card for hauling down Ismaïla Sarr as the Crystal Palace forward raced through on goal. The foul not only reduced Spurs to ten men, but also handed Palace a penalty. Sarr stepped up and coolly converted, leveling the score at 1-1 and turning the match on its head.
The psychological blow of the equalizer and the numerical disadvantage proved too much for Tottenham to handle. In first-half stoppage time, their defense collapsed under relentless Palace pressure. Jørgen Strand Larsen pounced on a loose ball to put the visitors ahead, and moments later, Sarr exploited a gaping hole in the back line to notch his second goal of the night. Suddenly, Spurs found themselves trailing 1-3 at the break, their hopes of a comeback looking increasingly distant.
Despite playing the entire second half with ten men, Tottenham managed to avoid further embarrassment by not conceding additional goals. However, their attacking efforts were stifled, and they failed to mount any meaningful response. The final whistle confirmed another painful defeat, leaving the home crowd in stunned silence.
For Tottenham, the numbers paint a grim picture. The club has now lost five straight league matches and has failed to register a victory in 11 consecutive Premier League outings—a run that stretches back to December 29 of the previous year. According to football statistics provider Opta, this is their longest winless streak in over five decades. The last time Spurs endured such a barren spell was all the way back in 1975. Their five-game losing run is also their worst since 2004, when they suffered six losses in a row.
Manager Igor Tudor, who took the reins following the sacking of Thomas Frank in February, has yet to inspire a turnaround. Under his stewardship, Tottenham have yet to collect a single point from three matches. Critics have questioned the decision to appoint Tudor, especially given the team’s fragile state and the high stakes of the relegation battle. As one commentator put it, "Many people think it was a very risky gamble to entrust the team to a manager who was dismissed by Juventus earlier in the season, especially when the club was already in crisis."
The club’s struggles have been compounded by a lengthy injury list, with key players such as Destiny Udogie, Lucas Bergvall, Ben Davies, and James Maddison all sidelined. The depleted squad has struggled to find cohesion or consistency, and the absence of a talismanic figure like Son Heung-min—who departed for LAFC before the season—has left a glaring void in both leadership and attacking threat.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace, under the guidance of Oliver Glasner, have managed to steady their own ship. The Eagles now sit in 14th place with 35 points, having collected two wins, one draw, and two losses in their last five matches. While not out of danger, Palace have built a cushion over the relegation zone and look likely to survive, despite ongoing uncertainty about Glasner’s future. Reports suggest that Glasner will leave at the end of the season due to disagreements with the club’s board, with former Tottenham boss Thomas Frank among the leading candidates to succeed him.
The contrast in fortunes between the two clubs could not be starker. While Palace’s managerial succession plan appears to be in motion, Tottenham’s leadership remains under intense scrutiny. Frank’s brief tenure at Spurs was marred by poor results—a Premier League win rate of just 26% and a total of 13 victories in 38 matches across all competitions. His departure did little to stem the tide, and now Tudor faces the daunting task of rescuing a team in freefall.
Financial implications loom large for Tottenham should the unthinkable happen. According to the BBC, relegation could cost the club up to £261 million (about 513.6 billion KRW) in lost revenue and sponsorships. The Premier League’s bottom three teams are relegated each season, and with West Ham United, Nottingham Forest, and Leeds all within striking distance, the battle for survival promises to go down to the wire. As of now, Spurs are just one point clear of the drop, with their destiny very much in their own hands—but the margin for error is razor-thin.
Adding to the intrigue, the possibility exists that Thomas Frank could soon be facing his former club as manager of Crystal Palace. British media outlets The Sun and GiveMeSport both report that Frank is a top candidate to replace Glasner after the season. The prospect of Frank returning to the Premier League and potentially playing a role in Tottenham’s relegation fight is a story line that will keep fans and pundits alike on the edge of their seats.
For now, Tottenham’s supporters are left with anxious glances at the league table and a growing sense of dread. The club’s proud history and Premier League status hang in the balance, and the coming weeks will determine whether Spurs can claw their way to safety or suffer an ignominious drop into the Championship. One thing is certain: the drama is far from over, and every match from here on out is a must-win for a team desperate to avoid a historic collapse.