Tottenham 3 Crystal Palace 1
Tottenham welcomed Crystal Palace to North London for a capital derby which Postecoglou’s side needed to win if they are to have any hopes of Champions League football next season. Oliver Glasner had enjoyed a winning start to life at Selhurst Park, but this would be his first stern challenge.
The hosts came forward on the counter-attack when Son picked out the run of Werner. The pacey German got past the last defender but as he looked to take it around the keeper, Johnstone recovered to make a good save to deny him.
Crystal Palace were looking dangerous themselves, with the tricky Eze back from injury. He laid the ball back to Lerma, whose pass deflected into the six yard box. Vicario reacted quickest as he came out to block with the visitors threatening.
Spurs looked good coming forward, they were shifting the ball quickly and utilising the big pitch at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They were just lacking that final pass to create more clear-cut chances, frustrating the home fans.
Credit: @CPFC
Inconsistency has been a big issue for Postecoglou’s side this season, especially when you consider they spent a lot of time at the top of the table earlier in the campaign. Now, they were looking to chase down Aston Villa in fourth spot.
Tottenham almost got their breakthrough in the second half when Kulusevski managed to pick out Son just inside the penalty area. He hit it first time only to see his effort come thundering back off the post and back into play.
In a rare counter-attack, Palace got the ball to Eze who needed no invite to run at the Spurs’ defence. He was bundled over by Bentancur on the edge of the box. The midfielder was shown a yellow card for a blatant ‘taking one for the team’ foul.
Eze stepped up and bent the ball into the far corner to send the travelling fans wild. In an injury-plagued season, Palace look so much more of a threat when the winger is in the starting line-up and he showed his quality with the free-kick.
Werner then cut the ball back from the byline, flicked on at the near post by Son. Johnson then sent his shot into orbit on the edge of the six yard box. It was a big chance for Postecoglou’s side and one they may come to regret.
Son continued to prove a thorn in the side of the visitors. As he got another shot away but dragged it wide of the goal with Johnstone scrambling across his goal. It was starting to look like an afternoon of missed chances for the hosts.
Credit: @SpursOfficial
Some poor defending by The Eagles allowed Johnson to get into the box. He laid it on a plate at the back post for Werner who really could not miss. It was the first goal for the German forward since October when he notched for RB Leipzig in a six-nil victory.
Tottenham sensed they could win this game now and as Maddison lifted the ball to the back post, Romero met with a header into the bottom corner of the goal. The stadium erupted as the hosts had turned this game on its head.
Palace looked to press for an equaliser and the ball broke for Son to run clear. He got away from Richards and tucked the ball into the far corner to seal the win for the North London outfit. It was a big win for Postecoglou’s side in their push for a top four finish.
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