Tottenham Hotspur vs Crystal Palace: Spurs player ratings with 6s and 4s in flattering 3-1 win

Tottenham Hotspur rescued what could have been a very disappointing day on Saturday, coming from behind to defeat Crystal Palace 3-1.

Spurs went into the game fifth in the table, with Palace at 13th, hoping to end the season strong under new manager Oliver Glasner.

With Richarlison out through injury, it was down to Heung-Min Son to lead the attack for Spurs, flanked by Timo Werner and Dejan Kulusevski.

The home side really should have taken the lead in the 18th minute when Timo Werner had a free run at keeper Sam Johnstone. He opted to round the keeper who dived and blocked.

After Guglielmo Vicario kept Jordan Ayew out half an hour in, a break saw James Maddison spread the ball wide for Dejan Kulusevski. The Swede had to play in Emerson Royal but the Brazilian was unable to find the cross for Son, and Werner was too far behind the play.

As the second half began there was a moment of promise when Werner put a ball right across the box, but minutes later a Cristian Romero error gifted Mateta the ball and only an alert Emerson Royal prevented a goalscoring opportunity.

Timo Werner had a strong shout for a penalty and then Son hit the post, leading to the crowd raising the volume in the stadium.

Just before the hour mark, Palace broke through despite Tottenham's possession. A clumsy Bentancur foul on the edge of the box gifted the visitors a free kick which Eze put away convincingly.

Spurs had a chance to draw level soon after but a weak Werner shot was comfortably kept out by the keeper. Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou brought on Brennan Johnson for Bentancur to add more attacking threat, and the young winger could have made a difference almost immediately, but instead lifted a shot in the box over the bar.

Plenty of bluster followed from Spurs, with Maddison leading the charge and whipping up support, but chances were hard to come by. Son could only scuff his when it came.

It was the persistence of Brennan Johnson on the right that eventually created the equaliser, and then when the ball came to Werner, this time he got his touch right and stroked it into the net.

Spurs took the lead through a Romero header when Maddison touched the ball over defenders and into the danger area.

Son gave Spurs the comfort of a third goal late on, busting through and finishing with precision and calmness.

Had Werner had that poise in the first half, the game could have been far less nervy.

Used substitutes: Brennan Johnson, Pape Matar Sarr, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Giovani Lo Celso, Dane Scarlett.