Tottenham Hotspur cruise past London rivals, Crystal Palace, on Sunday. Kane, Moura, and Son are on target to sink the visitors!

Tottenham Hotspur took the English Premier League (EPL) Boxing Day points with ease, brushing aside 10-man Crystal Palace 3-0, in a festive London derby.

Spurs netted twice before the half-time break. Meanwhile, Palace, who were missing manager, Patrick Vieira, after he returned a positive COVID-19 test, were reduced to 10 men when Wilfried Zaha was sent off.

Tottenham had the better of the opening exchanges, and Son Heung-min tested Jack Butland just after the first whistle. The South Korean’s effort from distance forced the Palace keeper into a smart save low to his right.

Spurs had to wait until after the half-hour mark to find the net. Lucas Moura powered forward from midfield, to square a pass to the unmarked Harry Kane, who made no mistake with his left-footed strike past Butland.

Moura got on the scoresheet just two minutes later, rising to nod home Emerson Royal’s pinpoint cross from the right.

Palace’s tough task became even more difficult in the 37th minute, when Zaha was shown a second yellow card, after lashing out at Davinson Sánchez.

Spurs took full control against 10-man Palace after the break and finally found a third goal, seventeen minutes from time, when Son guided home Moura’s cross from close range.

Tottenham now have 29 points, six behind fourth-placed, Arsenal, but having played three fewer matches.

Conte has changed the atmosphere at Tottenham, since taking over from Nuno Espírito Santo and this latest victory provided more evidence that his methods are paying off.

“We started a bit slow but created chances to score. We improved the quality and the intensity and scored twice and for sure when we played against 10 men it was easier,” Conte said.

Palace, who are now 12th in the EPL, failed to register a single shot on target in the entire game.