Premier League

TOTTENHAM 3 (Werner 77, Romero 80, Son 88)
CRYSTAL PALACE 1 (Eze 59)

FOR 77 minutes, Tottenham served up a stodgy performance that reeked of mid-table mediocrity this afternoon (Saturday).

As Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City put title-winning runs together and wait to see who blinks first, Spurs, who in the autumn looked like they too could be challengers, have stumbled from one fixture to another, see-sawing between the mundane and fleetingly brilliant.

Today at home Ange Postecoglou’s charges got themselves together for a late, match-winning 15 minute spell – coming from behind to walk away 3-1 victors.

Crystal Palace had taken the lead through a peach of a free-kick by Eberechi Eze just before the hour mark, and Spurs struggled to find an answer.

Swapping the ineffective Rodrigo Bentancur for the speed of Brennan Johnson kickstarted the fightback: Timo Werner equalised, Cristian Romero gave Tottenham the lead with a header, and Heung-Min Son provided the cherry on the cake with a late third.

Speaking after the game, Postecoglou said: “The first-half was difficult for us. Palace sat so deep. We had to stay patient and make sure you are working the opposition. I felt we would break them eventually.

“We conceded a free-kick in a position that did not threaten us at all. You are looking for a reaction – and I am really pleased with the outcome.”

Goalscorer Werner had missed a golden opportunity in the first-half before he struck his first goal in Spurs colours. Postecoglou added: “Werner was a constant threat. He was really aggressive with his running. He was in the right areas – and the goal might relieve the pressure on him. Apart from his missed chance, he was really good and a goal is always good for confidence.”

Postecoglou had shuffled his pack. Richarlison’s knee injury and Destiny Udogie’s recovery meant that the Tottenham boss had changes to make from the disappointing 2-1 defeat against Wolves last time out.

Pape Matar Sarr dropped to the bench along with Ben Davies, creating room for Bentancur to come in, while Werner also found himself back in the starting line-up.

Palace were able to bring Eze back from injury. The winger has been linked with a move to Spurs and today he showed his quality with a top drawer free-kick.

Both sides started sluggishly and it took Tottenham time to get themselves on the front foot. On 18 minutes, Son spun a first-time ball that split Palace to pieces. Werner’s first touch was glorious and took him into space. He used his turbochargers to get clear and drew Sam Johnstone in the Palace goal – but a minuscule moment of delay allowed Johnstone to get down and make the save.

At the other end, Jordan Ayew had time at the edge of the box and the ball sat up nicely. Instead of catching his shot cleanly, however, Ayew thumped a loose instep at it – and nearly cleared the stadium roof.

Bentancur was equally guilty when he shaped to shoot from a similar distance. Fans in row Z were forced to duck as he missed his target by an embarrassing margin.

The match had mid-table end-of-season mediocrity all over it, not a barnstorming push for a Champions League place.

On 54, Emerson Royal intercepted and the ball fell nicely for Dejan Kulusevski. The winger broke and found Son, who hit a first-time effort that beat the Palace goalkeeper but thumped against the post.

Then Eze went off on a mazy run that tied Romero up and as he ghosted inside, Bentancur sought to block him. Eze picked himself up, set his sights and spanked a delightful curler into the far corner. It was brilliantly earned and executed.

Spurs looked shell shocked but the introduction of Johnson sparked a revival. On 77, the substitute lost the ball and then had the gumption to tangle for it again. Johnson bundled past Chris Richards and then did the same as Tyrick Mitchell came across. He then put a low ball into the box, which was met by Werner, who swept home from close range.

The home side took the lead three minutes later. A clever throw on by Royal gave James Maddison time to loft a lob into the box. Romero had stayed up and glanced a header past Johnstone.

The result was given a polish late on when Son spurted clear from the halfway line and made no mistake to seal the 3-1 victory.

Postecoglou’s good mood was obvious as he fielded questions at the post-match press conference. When asked by a South Korean reporter about the bandage Son is sporting on his finger following an altercation while on international duty, he shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s a finger,” he said. “If it falls off, he can still play.”

It may have not been 90 minutes of prettiness, but Ange’s team are still in the hunt.

Tottenham: Vicario, Royal, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie, Bissouma (Lo Celso, 89), Bentancur (Johnson, 62), Kulusevski, Maddison (Hojbjerg, 82), Werner (Sarr, 82), Son (Scarlett 89)
Substitutes not used: Austin, Skipp, Dragusin, Davies

Crystal Palace: Johnstone, Ward, Andersen, Richards, Munoz, Wharton (Hughes, 71), Lerma, Mitchell, Ayew (Edouard, 71), Eze (Franca, 65), Mateta
Substitutes not used: Henderson, Tomkins, Clyne, Ahamada, Plange, Ozoh