Saturday 20 August 2016 20:37, UK
Alan Pardew insisted Crystal Palace need goals from new signing Christian Benteke after his side failed to score for the second game in a row.
Benteke's £32.5m transfer from Liverpool was confirmed just hours before Palace went to White Hart Lane and lost 1-0 for second successive week thanks to Victor Wanyama's late winner.
Palace have in fact only scored 18 goals since the turn of the year and Pardew said he was happy the club's board have finally provided the funds to rectify the problem.
Pardew told Sky Sports: "I can't fault my players. They gave me everything. We had a thrust and belief about us and that came from the way we've played but also Christian's arrival. We just couldn't get that goal.
"The team has been having the same problem as last year. It's evident that in the two games that we haven't scored. That's an area we are trying to address, and hopefully with Christian's signing we have.
"The board have been tremendously supportive in knowing that we've got to address an issue. It's evident from this calendar year and that's what we are addressing.
"Christian is our first big step to that. I think we will do that when we get Christian in the team."
Pardew was forced to withdraw Damien Delaney with a knock just before Spurs' winner, a decision which infuriated the defender, replacing him with James Tomkins, who failed to pick up the scorer Wanyama.
And the Eagles boss said: "It is galling for a team that's strong on set plays. Tomkins has come on cold and got blocked in there, and we are so unfortunate with that.
"Damien is sore now. I feel for him. He took a heavy challenge and he was brave enough to put himself up for staying on. He just wanted to play but he couldn't defend that corner because he was off the pitch.
"They were a threat from corners and I made the decision to see that corner out. If we'd have conceded after that I think Damien would be even more angry than he is."
