Roberto Soldado opened his Premier League account at the first time of asking as Tottenham Hotspur won their season opener at Crystal Palace without the injured Gareth Bale.
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Goalmouth action was hard to come by in the opening 45 minutes, with Moussa Dembele almost opening the scoring in style when his 25-yard fizzing shot grazed the crossbar on its way over.
Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni was called into serious action for the first time in the 34th minute when Gylfi Sigurdsson curled for the top corner but saw his shot palmed away.
As the first half drew to a close, Nacer Chadli almost marked his Premier League debut with a goal but could not keep his back-post header down.
Palace's only attempt of the first half was a tame Aaron Wilbraham header that Hugo Lloris held comfortably.
Spurs took the lead five minutes into the second half when Soldado found the bottom corner from 12 yards after Aaron Lennon's cross struck Dean Moxey on the arm.
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Etienne Capoue came off the bench to make his debut soon after and tried to mark his bow with a goal but almost sent a long-range shot out of the stands.
In the 69th minute Spurs should have doubled their lead. Damien Delaney failed to cut out a through-ball and Soldado cut it back for Sigurdsson, who shot just wide the middle of the area.
Soldado was replaced by Jermain Defoe in the final 10 minutes and the latter spurned a chance to seal the win late on by dragging his shot wide after driving into space in front of goal.
Moments later Palace almost grabbed a leveller when Kevin Phillips nodded down for Kagisho Dikgacoi, who volleyed low through the legs of Michael Dawson but not past Lloris.
The Eagles lumped balls into the area in the final moments but could not break down the Spurs backline.
Pascal Lemesre
