Tottenham scrapes to another win in English Premier League

Tottenham defender Juan Foyth had an uncomfortable debut in the Premier League last weekend.

His second game in England's top flight went a whole lot better.

The 20-year-old Argentine centre back scored a second-half goal to earn Spurs a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace that moved them level on points with second-place Chelsea and Liverpool in the standings.

A week ago, Foyth made his first appearance in the Premier League and gave away two penalties in Tottenham's 3-2 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

"What a difference a week makes," read a tweet from Tottenham after the match.

Signed from Estudiantes in the 2017 off-season, Foyth is getting a run in the first team only because of an injury crisis that has robbed Tottenham this season of nine of its 12 players who featured in the World Cup in Russia.

The latest casualties were Colombia centre back Davinson Sanchez, who injured his hamstring in the Champions League in midweek, and England right back Kieran Trippier, who hobbled off injured midway through the first half against Palace.

Without even hitting its stride this season, Tottenham is firmly in contention in the title race.

Five of its last six wins in the league have been by a one-goal margin, with the only league defeat since mid-September coming at home to leader Manchester City.

"This type of game is crucial in the battle for the top four," Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said. "This is one of the toughest stadiums to play in. The three points are massive."

EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE

Action on the field seemed very much an afterthought at King Power Stadium as Leicester honoured its late owner who was killed with four others in a helicopter crash two weeks ago.

The 0-0 draw with Burnley was the first game at the stadium since the tragic accident that saw Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter crash shortly after the previous home game.

Some injured Leicester players, including England defender Harry Maguire, led a march of fans from the city centre to the stadium ahead of the match. Fans, players and staff remembered Vichai before, during and after the game.

WINS FOR STRUGGLERS

On a rather lacklustre day in the Premier League when only 11 goals were scored in six matches, there were crucial and confidence-boosting second wins of the season for struggling teams Newcastle and Cardiff.

Newcastle climbed out of the relegation zone after beating Bournemouth 2-1 at home, with on-loan Venezuela striker Salomon Rondon setting Rafa Benitez's team on the way with two early goals. After going 10 games without a victory at the start of the season, Newcastle has won two in a row.

Cardiff also won against Brighton 2-1, its winner coming in the 90th minute through Sol Bamba following an extraordinary goalmouth scramble in which the ball struck the goal frame on twice before the centre back eventually scored.

Brighton played from the 34th minute with 10 men after Dale Stephens' red card.

The other two games were 1-1 draws. Felipe Anderson's goal earned West Ham a point at Huddersfield, and Jose Holebas equalized with a deflected strike nine minutes from time to earn Watford a draw at Southampton.

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Steve Douglas is at www.twitter.com/sdouglas80

Steve Douglas, The Associated Press