Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga performed “fantastically well” on his debut as Spurs laboured to victory against the Premier League’s bottom club Crystal Palace.
The north London side looked weary after their Champions League victory over Real Madrid in midweek, but Son Heung-min’s superb curled shot from the edge of the area on the hour mark secured three points.
Roy Hodgson’s side remain at the foot of the table but they were disciplined and sufficiently industrious going forward to create several chances at Wembley.
Deputising for the injured Hugo Lloris and ill Michel Vorm, Gazzaniga thwarted Palace with a sequence of fine saves – and on the occasion he was beaten, Wilfried Zaha screwed his shot wide of an open goal after rounding the 25-year-old.
Pochettino said: “I am so happy for the different players who came in, people like Paulo, who played fantastically well.
“He is an unbelievable option to have as a keeper and I am really happy for him and his family that he performed like that.
“It was a tough game for us after Wednesday. Palace were compact, narrow and played on the counter attack. We had possession, but not many chances.
“They were fresh after one week to prepare for the game. We had a few problems after the Madrid game and that is why I am so happy with the victory. I am very pleased with an important three points.”
Argentine Gazzaniga palmed away Scott Dann’s header with a full-stretch save and also made fine stops to deny Andros Townsend’s low strike and Luka Milivojevic’s point-blank header.