Tottenham Hotspur have edged back to within four points of Premier League leaders Chelsea thanks to a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.
Christian Eriksen's 78th-minute strike from 25 yards out proved the difference at Selhurst Park in a game which saw Spurs dominate but struggle to break their opponents down.
The win means that Mauricio Pochettino's team moves on to 74 points, surpassing their previous best ever Premier League total of 72 set in 2012-13.
Here is how Sports Mole covered the action at Selhurst Park.
7.00pmHello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of the Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur.
7.02pmTonight, Selhurst Park plays host to what could prove a significant occasion for this season's title race. Spurs must win tonight to keep up the pressure on table-topping Chelsea, but they will come up against a side which is not only in great form, but has also claimed several big scalps this month.
7.04pmEagles fans would have been forgiven for being anxious at the start of April when, considering they were still only four points above the drop zone, their run-in for the month included games against Chelsea, Arsenal, an in-form-again Leicester City, Liverpool and Spurs.
7.07pmHowever, Sam Allardyce has masterminded wins over three of those four, while the Leicester game ended in a draw. Going into tonight's game, Palace sit seven points clear of the bottom three, and given their recent knack for claiming big scalps, they could very well end up dealing Spurs a death blow with regards to their hopes of snatching the title late on.
7.10pmWithout further ado, let's bring you the team news from Selhurst Park.
7.12pmPALACE STARTING XI: Hennessey, Ward, Kelly, Sakho, Schlupp, Milivojevic, Puncheon, McArthur, Zaha, Townsend, Benteke
7.13pmSPURS STARTING XI: Lloris, Walker, Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Wanyama, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Kane
7.14pmPALACE SUBS: Speroni, Van Aanholt, Delaney, Cabaye, Sako, Flamini, Campbell
7.15pmSPURS SUBS: Lopez, Trippier, Wimmer, Sissoko, Nkoudou, Son, Janssen
7.18pmFrom their 2-1 win at Liverpool three days ago, Sam Allardyce has made two changes to his starting XI. Mamadou Sakho, who was unable to play at Anfield due to clause in his loan contract, is in for the injured James Tomkins, while James McArthur is drafted in for the benched Yohan Cabaye.
7.20pmTwo changes for Mauricio Pochettino as well, as Kyle Walker and Ben Davies return into the side in place of Son Heung-min and Kieran Trippier, both of whom are among the substitutes.
7.24pmIn term of the form of the two sides playing tonight, this is as big as it gets - Spurs sit first in the Premier League form table, with seven wins on the bounce, while Palace are second, having won six of their last eight (bafflingly, they had won just five of their previous 26).
7.26pmWhile Palace are brimming with confidence following their last result, the win at Anfield, Spurs will need to bounce back quickly from a painful FA Cup exit at the hands of Chelsea on Saturday, so Pochettino must pull out all the stops to motivate his team and ensure that they're not in any way anxious or fearful going into tonight's game (easier said than done when the stakes are so high).
7.29pmHere is what the managers had to say ahead of tonight's game, starting with Allardyce fawning over Palace's run: "We needed that to get ourselves out of trouble, but we're still not mathematically out of trouble. It shows great fight and desire from the players to get ourselves out of that predicament. They've grasped it in the end superbly well and done an outstanding job. It has to be one of the best run of results in the long career I've had as a manager in the Premier League."
7.33pmAnd here's Pochettino's take on his Spurs side, aiming to take the pressure off the players: "We start to compete in the last two seasons. Last season we finished third, the best place in the Premier League for Tottenham, now we are second and fighting with the big sides with a completely different project. The mentality is fantastic - to win always. But when you compete with Chelsea, Man United, Man City, Liverpool - come on. The players deserve full credit and (you should) remove that idea because it's not true. They are winners. Another thing is to win titles, but they are winners."
7.35pmA hint of nervousness on the faces of the Spurs players as they arrived at Selhurst Park?
🗣️@JanVertonghen: "It's a tough place to come and play. They are in great form and we'll have to be at the top of our game to beat them." pic.twitter.com/H7RXnCIlVt
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) 26 April 2017
7.38pmSo as things stand, Spurs sit second in the table with 71 points from 32 games, while Chelsea are top with 78 from 33. Put simply, this is a must-win game for the North Londoners. Meanwhile, Palace are 12th in the table with 38 points from 33 games, seven points clear of 18th-placed Swansea, who have played one game more than the Eagles. Defeat for the hosts tonight won't necessarily be too big a blow, but they know it's not over in the battle for the drop until the maths says so.
7.41pmHEAD TO HEAD: Palace have just three wins in 15 Premier League meetings with Tottenham, while Spurs are looking for a fourth straight victory over the Eagles for the first time since a five-game winning streak in 1971.
7.43pmPalace, who are aiming to win three successive London derbies for the first time in the Premier League, have lost only one of their last eight league matches, and are unbeaten in four at Selhurst Park.
7.45pmSam Allardyce has a single victory in six Premier League clashes against Mauricio Pochettino, losing two and drawing three.
7.47pmTottenham haven't won an away top-flight London derby since their last visit to Selhurst Park in January 2016, failing to win each of the last four trips within the capital.
7.48pmTottenham have been defeated only once in 17 top-flight matches, winning 14 and drawing twice.
7.51pmSCORE PREDICTION: Less than 10 minutes to go until kickoff, so it's time for me to predict the score. And sorry to say this, Spurs fans, but I have a sneaking suspicion that tonight is when your club's title challenge receives a mortal blow, as I think Palace - having shown they know what it takes to beat big sides - will know exactly what they have to do to deny their opponents tonight. I reckon 2-1 to the hosts.
7.55pmBoth sets of players are in the tunnel, just waiting for the go-ahead to get onto the pitch...
7.58pmHere they come! Palace in red and blue, Spurs in their white shirts and navy shorts. Not long until tonight's referee, Jonathan Moss, gets this game underway.
0 minKICKOFF! Tottenham, playing left to right, get the game underway.
3 minSpurs are first to threaten in this game as Dembele is upended in midfield by Puncheon, but play goes on and Alli earns a corner down the right, which Eriksen takes and Kane tries to get a shot in but Ward and Benteke manage to clear.
5 minNow Palace respond through Townsend, who charges down the left wing and is brought down by Walker for a free kick, which the fouled player whips into the box and, after some panic, is eventually cleared as Walker puts in a great tackle on McArthur.
6 minWard goes on another run down the right and nearly breaks into space, but Davies does well to step across his man and shepherd the ball out of play for a goal kick.
8 minCHANCE! A half-chance for Spurs as Kane controls the ball as it drops over his shoulder on the edge of the Palace penalty area, but he miscues it and slices it high and wide of Hennessey's goal.
10 minZaha slaloms his way past Davies and Alli down the right and whips a cross to the back post which finds McArthur, but his first touch lets him down and the visitors clear.
13 minWanyama goes on a run down the inside-right channel and reaches the byline before attempting a shot from a tight angle which ripples into the side netting.
15 minBut here come Palace up the other end as they make the most of plenty of space, Townsend dribbling across the face of the Spurs box before cutting back to Benteke, who lets rip but the shot is low and easily covered by Lloris.
17 minAlderweireld plays a strange pass to nobody in particular under no pressure, but Palace fail to pounce on it as Walker clears it up without much trouble.
19 minWalker now goes on a promising run down the right and aims to pick out a cross towards Kane, but like Wanyama before him, it goes into the side netting - should have done better with all that space and time.
21 minAnother uncharacteristically poor move from Alderweireld, who has a go from a long way away and it sails well wide for a Palace goal kick.
23 minCHANCE! Eriksen chases the ball deep into the corner before laying it off for Davies to cross from the left-hand side, Sakho gets a head on it but the ball falls to Walker - but he blasts high over the bar from 15 yards out.
27 minBOOKING: Palace attempt to break upfield and Wanyama lunges on Milivojevic, bringing him to ground - no hesitation from Mr Moss to show him a yellow.
29 minZaha tries to set up Benteke on the edge of the box, but Dier gets across to snuff out the danger before Puncheon reclaims and plays a ball which is just a tad too heavy for Townsend.
30 minCHANCE! But here come Spurs as Walker gets the better of Townsend and plays the ball to Eriksen in the box, who tries a shot from a tight angle but doesn't make it difficult for Hennessey.
33 minZaha picks the ball up close to the left-hand touchline and drills a low cross across the top of the Spurs penalty box and into the path of McArthur, but the midfielder fluffs his lines and fails to get control of the ball.
34 minWanyama's already on a yellow and he clumsily slides into Townsend - the home fans are bellowing for a second booking but the referee spares him.
35 minThe resulting free kick, out on the right, sees the ball pinball around the box but Alli ends up winning a set piece for his side that snuffs out the danger.
38 minZaha embarks on a run down the left before a Dembele foul sees Palace win a free kick, which Townsend curls into the box and causes a bit of panic, with Sakho nearly connecting, but Dembele manages to scramble clear.
39 minNot very far, however... Palace reclaim and charge forward again, with Townsend having a go from 25 yards and firing narrowly over the bar.
41 minSpurs pass the ball around nicely for an extended spell but as they probe forward, Eriksen allows the ball to run under his foot and possession is lost.
43 minDembele goes in for a tackle down the right and immediately holds his hamstring before gesticulating to the bench.
45 minOne minute of added time is announced at the end of this half.
45+2 minHALF TIME: PALACE 0-0 SPURS
8.48pmSo it's all square at the break, with both sides cancelling each other out. Palace will be the happier of the two, with a point likely to be deemed satisfactory in their fight against the drop, while Spurs need to regroup in a bid to keep their title challenge alive.
8.51pmPalace haven't really mustered any clear-cut chances, and likewise, Spurs have failed to give Hennessey any problems in the hosts' goal. Neither team has really got going, to be fair.
8.54pmHALF-TIME STATS: Palace have had five shots, one of which was on target, completed 92 passes with an accuracy of 63 percent, boasted just 33 percent possession and won one corner. Meanwhile, Spurs have had eight shots, with one on target, completed 260 passes with an accuracy of 86 percent, enjoyed 67 percent possession and won two corners.
8.58pmIn the other two Premier League games on tonight, it's goalless between Arsenal and Leicester City, while Middlesbrough are 1-0 up against Sunderland.
46 minKICKOFF: Two changes at half time for Spurs as Son and Sissoko replace Wanyama and Dembele, who looked to have suffered a hamstring injury towards the end of the half - Palace get the action underway.
47 minBOOKING: Zaha drops a shoulder with a view to making headway down the left wing, but he is clattered by Walker, who is shown a yellow for his troubles. Townsend sends the free kick into the box but Milivojevic tugs at Kane's shirt and Spurs are let off.
50 minDavies gets in on the overlap and sends a low cross towards Kane which McArthur puts behind, and from the following corner, Milivojevic shoves Alli to the ground inside the six yard box but no penalty is given.
52 minZaha latches onto another poor Alderweireld pass and embarks on a run down the left before Sissoko stops him in his tracks, which yields just a free kick, no card.
56 minSUBSTITUTION: Huge concern for Palace now as Sakho appears to have jarred his knee following a tussle for the ball with Kane, the on-loan Liverpool man is down receiving treatment and he looks in some discomfort as the stretcher is called for. He comes off, Delaney comes on.
58 minCHANCE! How did Alli miss that?! He peels away from his marker and gets on the end of a Walker cross, volleying towards goal from what, about five yards out, but he steers the ball wide!
60 minBOOKING: Puncheon lofts the ball forward and is clattered into by Kane, who picks up a caution for his troubles.
62 minEriksen cuts in from the right and finds Alli on the edge of the area, who turns and sends a shot towards the right-hand side of the net, but Hennessey is right behind it.
63 minSUBSTITUTION: Palace make the change and Cabaye is on for McArthur, who gets a huge round of applause as he makes way.
65 minCHANCE! Sakho's absence has left Palace jittery and leaving gaps, as Walker probes forward, cuts inside and looks to curl an effort into the far corner - but it's just wide.
67 minBOOKING: Son charges down the left flank past Ward, who tugs him back, and the referee stops play to show the Palace man a yellow card. A decision that hasn't gone down well at Selhurst.
68 minKane attempts a dribble into the Palace box from the right and almost manages to go clear through, but Puncheon steps in to claim the ball.
70 minTwenty minutes to go and it's still goalless as Spurs continue to bomb forward, but Palace are withstanding the pressure. Time running out for Tottenham if they are to stay in the title race.
72 minEriksen attempts to get past of Schlupp down the right and is dragged back for a free kick which is taken quickly, Eriksen feeds Son down the left, but the latter runs the ball out of play.
74 minCHANCE! Spurs win a corner which Eriksen whips to the near post, Dier is there to meet it but his header is well off target.
76 minSpurs have had 68 percent possession, completed 405 passes, won four corners and had a massive 15 shots, but they continue to labour in this game.
78 minGOAL! PALACE 0-1 SPURS (CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN)
79 minSpoke too soon didn't I! Spurs take the lead late on and in outstanding fashion through an Eriksen screamer! The Dane edges into space around 30 yards out and decides to have a pop - and it's wonderfully struck, sailing into the bottom corner of the net where a full-stretch Hennessey can't get to it!
79 minBOOKING: Milivojevic goes into the book for blocking Alli after the England man had knocked the ball past him.
81 minSUBSTITUTION: Benteke, who's been rather ineffective tonight, is replaced by Campbell.
82 minCHANCE! Kane holds off Ward on the left and charges into the Palace box where he tries to pull the trigger, only for Delaney to weight in with a crucial tackle to get the ball behind for a corner.
83 minThe corner's delayed as there's a lot of pushing and shoving, but once it's taken it comes to nothing as Puncheon heads clear.
86 minCHANCE! A corner is half-cleared into the path of Alderweireld, who connects well from 20 yards out and sends the ball goalwards, but it's just wide.
88 minPalace withstand a spell of Spurs pressure before going up the pitch and winning a corner which Puncheon takes and Dier clears.
90 minSpurs had looked tired but over the last 10-15 minutes they've dominated proceedings and can now sit back and try to see the game out, as seven minutes of stoppage time are announced.
90+2 minPuncheon finds space down the left and whips a cross into the middle which is hooked clear by Vertonghen.
90+5 minSUBSTITUTION: Spurs win a succession of corners, the perfect opportunity to run the clock down, and once the ball goes out for a goal kick, Trippier comes on for Alli.
90+7 minFULL TIME: CRYSTAL PALACE 0-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
9.54pmAnd that's full time here at Selhurst Park, and Tottenham Hotspur are back to only four points behind Chelsea in the Premier League table thanks to their 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, courtesy of Christian Eriksen's long-range rocket!
9.55pmThat's all we have time for but don't go anywhere - Sports Mole is on hand to bring you match reports and reaction from tonight's games as the race for the title remains very much alive! Thanks for following and, until next time, goodbye!
