Crystal Palace assistant manager Roberts: Zaha red card helped make it a tough afternoon for us

Crystal Palace assistant manager Osian Roberts offered no verdict on Wilfried Zaha’s red card after today’s 3-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Eagles were already trailing to goals from Harry Kane and Lucas Moura before Zaha, due to depart soon for Africa Cup of Nations duty with Ivory Coast, was dismissed for two bookable offences – both on Davinson Sanchez.

Heung-min Son added a third in the 74th minute with Palace unable to muster an effort on target.

Asked if the Palace attacker deserved both cautions, Roberts told BT Sport: “I honestly don’t know. I haven’t seen them back. I was on the opposite side of the pitch. I haven’t seen it in detail to give you an honest assessment.

“We’re disappointed and it made it really difficult for us. Even though we tried to have a good block, be compact and hopefully get something on the break.

“We started very well, the first 30 minutes, and had a good foothold in the game. But those five minutes from 32 to 37 – the two goals and the red card – changes the game. It’s always a difficult place to come, especially the home form they have been in in recent weeks. It made it even more difficult after the red card.”

Roberts was on media duty with manager Patrick Vieira isolating after a positive Covid-19 test.

Palace had attempted to get the Tottenham match postponed due to illness and injuries. They are back in action on Tuesday at home to Norwich City.

Asked if he felt the South Londoners were thin in terms of changes on the bench, Roberts replied: “Well, it doesn’t help because it limits the options you have. We have good players in the squad and good players on the bench – we trust them. We made the three changes we’re allowed currently, so it was as much as we could do.

“We do what we always do – recover properly. We’ll be in tomorrow morning and we’ll get our preparation right. It’s a big game and we always enjoy playing in front of our own crowd. We’re looking forward to playing in front of our home supporters.”