Tottenham 3-1 Crystal Palace: Cristian Romero scores winner and Timo Werner gets his first goal as Spurs come from behind to boost top four hopes

Ange Postecoglou has been concerned Tottenham play so infrequently that rhythm has escaped them but there has been a strangely familiar routine to their last four home games.

Stutter, stumble and grow frustrated against opponents who sit deep and threaten on the break, concede the first goal and summon a late response.

Last time out, it was not enough to avoid defeat but against Crystal Palace, Postecoglou’s team fought back to claim another win with a blaze of three late goals after Eberechi Eze had struck first on his return from injury with a wonderful free kick.

Tottenham were inspired by the pace and precision of Brennan Johnson who made a terrific impact from the bench, creating goals for Timo Werner and Heung-min Son, either side of a header by Christian Romero.

‘You’re looking for a reaction and I thought the reaction was outstanding,’ said Postecoglou. ‘They just had a real belief in our processes and our football and I’m really pleased with the outcome.’

Cristian Romero celebrates after his goal put Tottenham in the lead against Crystal Palace

Romero scored in the 80th minute, with Tottenham coming from behind to secure victory

Timo Werner scored the equaliser for Tottenham against Palace with his first goal for the club

Victory keeps Spurs firmly in the pack at the top of the Premier League ahead of a crunch trip to Aston Villa next, and Werner’s first goal since his loan move from RB Leipzig provides another boost.

‘I understand with attacking players goals make them feel better and make them more confident and I guess it relieves the pressure on them a little bit,’ said Postecoglou. ‘But in general I thought Timo was really aggressive with his running.

‘He kept taking on the full-back and I thought apart from the missed chance his general play was really good.’

Werner had missed the clearest chance of a mundane first half. Released by Son, he forged clear but could not find a way past Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who made a fine save.

Tottenham’s Germany forward was rewarded for his refusal to lose heart, however, and in the 77th minute was in the right place to equalise, converting a low cross from Johnson, who won the ball from Joachim Andersen and skipped by Jefferson Lerma.

Once level, Spurs forged on and were ahead within three minutes. Emerson Royal threw the ball in to James Maddison and his lobbed cross into the penalty area was headed in by Romero, climbing high above Joel Ward at the back post.

Son added the third, breaking clear as Johnson won a tackle on halfway and applying a clinical finish to spark wild celebrations.

After resisting for so long, Palace were shattered. For long periods, they had been hard to break down, with wing-backs deep making five across the back and wide forwards Eze and Jordan Ayew forced back into the flanks of midfield.

Eberechi Eze had given Crystal Palace the lead against Tottenham in the 59th minute

Son Heung-min celebrates after his goal added to Tottenham’s lead against Palace

The victory represents a boost for Ange Postecolgou as Tottenham look to finish in the top four

It was a shape more akin to 5-4-1 shape than 3-4-3 and hardly a new bold and expansive new style under new boss Oliver Glasner.

Even so, it tested Tottenham’s patience, tempted them to over-commit and drew reward, early in the second half, soon after Son struck a post, gliding onto a low cross by Dejan Kulusevski.

Eze, back after four games out injured, carried the ball out of defence and won the free-kick from which he scored.

Guglielmo Vicario shuffled right in anticipation of one curled over his defensive wall but Eze went the other side, whipping a shot with terrific pace and shape inside the post to the goalkeeper’s left.

Glasner took Eze off to protect his fitness and the visitors caved in. They have now conceded 19 goals in the final 15 minutes of games this season.

‘I don’t believe in coincidences,’ said the Palace boss. ‘If you concede so many goals in the last 15 minutes you have to work on it and improve it. The players did a great job over 60-70 minutes, stuck to the plan and defended well.

‘I had a feeling before 1-1 we could win but it turned. To win at Tottenham you must be perfect over the whole game. We couldn’t do this and we’re disappointed.’

Werner was back in the team to replace Richarlison, injured in a defeat against Wolves, and was deployed on the left wing, with Son through the centre.

Oliver Glasner’s Palace were hard to break down with their wing backs deep making five across the back and wide men Eze, back after four games out, and Jordan Ayew working back on the flanks of midfield.

They fell into a shape more 5-4-1 shape than 3-4-3 and hardly a bold and expansive new style as they embark on life after Roy Hodgson but it was testing Tottenham’s patience, tempting them to over-commit.

Son struck a post, gliding onto a low cross by Dejan Kulusevski and sweeping the ball past Johnstone. 

It bounced off the woodwork and the incident brought the contest to life.

Palace took the lead from Eze’s beautiful free-kick, punishing a cynical foul by Bentancur as Palace broke dangerously.

Guglielmo Vicario shuffled right in anticipation of the ball coming over his defensive wall but Eze went the other side, whipping a shot with terrific pace and shape inside the post to the goalkeeper’s left.

Oliver Glasner suffered his first defeat as Crystal Palace manager as his side were beaten

It made for quite a return on his first appearance after four games out injured. Glasner replaced Eze soon afterwards, presumably with his fitness in mind, although it coincided with the game sliding away from them.

Postecoglou’s response had been to send on Johnson, and had the desired effect. The Wales winger almost levelled immediately, firing over from seven yards after a cross by Werner helped on by Son.

Then Son went close, wriggling past Joel Ward onto his left foot before dragging his shot low across goal and wide, before Johnson created the equaliser.

He won the ball from Joachim Andersen on the Spurs right, skipped by Jefferson Lerma in from the right and his low cross was converted by Werner, his first goal since signing on loan from RB Leipzig in January. 

Within three minutes, the home team were ahead. Emerson Royal threw the ball in to James Maddison and his lobbed cross into the penalty area was headed in by Romero, climbing high above Ward.

Son added the third, breaking clear as Johnson won a tackle on halfway. His finish was clinical, and he celebrated his 13th goal of the Premier League campaign.