Tottenham Hotspur, a side wearing the scars of a World Cup as well as a draining domestic campaign, have staggered and fallen out of their second major cup competition inside four days. This was a meek surrender, their challenge fizzling out with none of the aggression or defiance demonstrated before the shootout loss at Chelsea. Crystal Palace, bound for the fifth round, are not used to such comfortable occasions on home territory.
Mauricio Pochettino had offered up a resigned puff of the cheeks at the final whistle before shuffling back down the touchline, hands buried in his pockets and another route to the first silverware of his coaching career blocked off. He may even have spent that trudge concocting the “trophies only build egos” line he would offer up in his post-match media duties though, in truth, he had plenty to ponder. Without the injured Harry Kane and Dele Alli, and with Son Heung-min weary on his return from the Asia Cup, his team had monopolised the ball but, one spurned penalty aside, proved horribly blunt in attack.
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