Tottenham 1-3 Crystal Palace: ‘Disbelief’ – Thousands leave early as Tottenham in free fall

As thousands Tottenham Fans flocked outside their stadium at half-time on Thursday, and there was never any doubt about the threat of relegation.

After taking an early lead against Crystal Palace, three goals for the visitors in 12 first-half minutes – due to a penalty awarded and a red card for Micky van de Ven – doomed Igor Tudor’s side to another miserable defeat.

Tottenham remain the only team in the Premier League without a win in 2026. Their 11-game winless run in the league is the club’s longest since 1935, when they went 15 games without a win.

With nine games remaining, the team remains one point above the relegation zone and is in real danger of losing their Premier League place for the first time.

The thousands of empty seats were telling. Fans who stayed until the end met the final whistle with loud boos as their faith in staying seemed to be draining.

“There was anxiety all over the pitch,” former Chelsea and England winger Joe Cole told TNT Sports. “The whole performance was tepid.

“There was no anger or biting and the fans could feel it. It looked like they had given up,” he added.

“The fans seem disappointed and disillusioned and can’t believe it.”

When Tudor was appointed interim coach last month, he said Tottenham would not collapse “100%”. It would take a brave person to say it now.

“Of course I understand the fans [leaving]. The Croatian coach, who lost all three matches with the team, said: “This is normal. They wanted more.”

“I need to choose the right people: who is in the boat and who is leaving the boat.”

Tudor has refused to engage in talks about his future after the season ends, despite questions already being raised about whether or not he will complete the season.

“I’m at a loss for words for what I saw tonight. You want fight, desire and most importantly points,” Tottenham fan Chris Cullen told BBC Radio 5 Live.

He added: “It is exaggerated for a lot of people, and that is the reality that could relegate Tottenham.

“When we moved to this stadium in 2019, it was supposed to be a game-changer for us, a springboard to succeed and always compete for the highest honors. I have never known a time like this before.

“We’ve gone through a number of managers since we moved to this stadium; six permanent managers and four interim ones. Tottenham have gone in circles.”