Watch: Crystal Palace star sees red for horror challenge in Tottenham clash

The Frenchman, making a rare start after an injury-hit beginning to the campaign, was given his marching orders by referee Michael Oliver after a late lunge on Spurs defender Micky van de Ven. The forward slid in recklessly, looking to win the ball with force, but his studs made contact with Van de Ven’s Achilles, putting the central defender in serious danger of injury. The Spurs captain avoided that worst-case scenario, but home fans were concerned as he rolled around on the ground after the tackle in pain. Mateta was initially yellow carded for the late challenge, but it was quickly upgraded to a straight red after Oliver had been advised to head to the screen by the video assistant referee. The visitors were not forced into an early first-half substitution, instead operating without a recognised striker in their 3-4-2-1 shape. It left Palace with an uphill battle to claim a much-needed victory for under-pressure manager Pierre Sage, with pressure mounting on the Frenchman after the Eagles arrived in north London in the relegation zone of the Premier League table. Sage’s men are without a win since their 3-1 victory over former boss Oliver Glasner and Nottingham Forest at the start of the month, but since then, they were thrashed 5-0 by fierce and high-flying rivals Brighton and Hove Albion and defeated 2-0 at home by fellow underperformers Newcastle United.