Soccer English FA Premiership/Crystal Palace 3 Tottenham 0: Never mind the league table, though Palace must. On this evidence Wayne Routledge would be barmy to cross London. Spurs, never better than disjointed, value him at £1.5 million, or so their rejected bid says. Palace, strong and vibrant in victory, cherish him as a son.

As the players left the field, after three goals in 12 second-half minutes had put the ebullience back in Palace, Andy Johnson, all of 23, put an avuncular arm round the 20-year-old shoulders.

Early on Routledge, whose contract runs out in the summer, had been booed by home fans. They were more forgiving after the putative prodigal had beaten the division's most effective offside trap to lay on the second goal.

No one at Palace would want him to go. After Johnson he is their greatest jewel. As Iain Dowie said: "He is going to be a good player. I'm not interested in the economics. I make football decisions. Others make business decisions. My prime concern is to keep us in the Premiership."

Routledge is crucial to that end. He has eight assists in 21 non-penalty goals; and it is his final pass that needs improving.

"He can do things other people can't," said Dowie and he will not have lessened interest when, asked whom the player reminded him of, said "Me?" winkingly first but then "Maradona" in the way he throws off markers.

Martin Jol, subdued by his side's collapse, said guardedly: "We are aware of his qualities." Before the match he had been more bullish: "Everybody wants to come to Spurs."

On this showing the only possible reason would be guarantee of a first-team place. Clearly they can do better, as their run of five wins from late November testifies, but here they had none of the spirit that carried Palace forward from a ragged first half. Only one starter from a year ago tells an uneasy tale.

It was Palace who ended that run with a 1-1 draw after Christmas following a tiff of words which suggested the managers were preparing for higher Premiership wars. Like grown-ups they sorted it out with due respect but not before Jol told Dowie "he should concentrate on the problems he has with his own team". Dowie has done just that. Jol has not.

Palace took advantage in a new 4-4-2 system, with support for Johnson from Dougie Freedman and keen midfield organisation from Michael Hughes. They exposed the soft midriff of the Premiership when concentration goes to pot.

No one picked Mikele Leigertwood's run to meet Tom Soares' cross nor Danny Granville's to slip in the second. Johnson made the third with his acceleration and converted it from the spot. - Guardian Service