Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou faces 'difficult' Crystal Palace test amid Oliver Glasner update

Tottenham News speaking to Alan Hutton

Alan Hutton joined Tottenham from Rangers in 2008, winning the 2008 League Cup final in just his third game for the club. The former Scotland right-back went on to make 66 appearances in all competitions for Spurs before he left for Aston Villa in 2011. Now a pundit for BBC Sport and TNT Sports, Hutton has also joined Tottenham News' team of experts to react to the latest news emerging from North London.

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Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou is facing a "difficult" challenge against Crystal Palace on Saturday (2 March) due to the Eagles' fine start under Oliver Glasner, according to Alan Hutton.

Glasner replaced Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park in February after the former England boss stood down from his post following a number of protests from supporters and a medical incident during a training session.

The 49-year-old has appeared to have an immediate impact with the Eagles, as they comfortably beat Burnley 3-0 in his first game in charge with a change of formation that got the best out of the injury-ridden Palace squad.

While Hutton admits that Glasner's Crystal Palace side will pose a very different threat to Hodgson's team, he expects Spurs to line up the same way they have done all season and claim all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

"He has instantly come in and changed things around," Hutton told Tottenham News.

"I know things have been a little bit difficult at Palace with injuries and a number of star players out but he's changed the formation and the style of play and it can be difficult to grasp because you don't know exactly what will be in front of you.

"When it was Roy Hodgson you'd know what was probably coming so it is one of those where you're probably not too sure.

"But I'm sure Ange and his backroom staff will be working hard to see exactly how they've been lining up and what they've been doing over the last few games and they'll have their own gameplan.

"From a Spurs point of view, their plan doesn't change. They'll play how they've played all season, they're not going to deviate from that. If they play to the best of their ability they should have enough to win."

Can Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou restore Champions League hopes against Crystal Palace?

Tottenham need to get back to winning ways in the Premier League after they had a week without a fixture to reflect on their disappointing defeat to Wolves last time out and anything less than a win over Palace will be disappointing.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou has been praised for his work since arriving at Tottenham.

Glasner got the Eagles soaring on his first outing as boss but Spurs' attacking talent should be too much for the 49-year-old's side, regardless of their change of system against Burnley last time out.

Hopefully, Hutton is right and Postecoglou will stick to his guns. If Spurs match the standards they have set at their best throughout the season, they will almost certainly get back to winning ways.

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