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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Dan Kilpatrick

Tottenham player ratings: Cristian Romero rises high as Rodrigo Bentancur looks off the pace

Tottenham avoided another home scare as they came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 3-1, with goals from Timo Werner, Cristian Romero and Heung-min Son.

The returning Eberechi Eze's excellent direct free-kick put Palace in front on the hour but Werner and Romero both scored in a three-minute spell to turn the game on its head.

Son raced clear to complete the Spurs comeback, as Ange Postecoglou's side piled the pressure on Aston Villa in the battle for a top-four finish.

Here's how we rated the Tottenham players...

Guglielmo Vicario 7

Came out bravely to deny Daniel Munoz and made a smart save from Jordan Ayew, albeit from an offside position. Well beaten by Eze's free-kick.

Emerson Royal 7

Got back to make a important challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta after Romero had lost possession and was involved in the winning goal, taking a quick throw-in for Maddison.

Cristian Romero 8

Got up above Joel Ward to score the winner in what could be a big moment in Spurs' season. Once caught playing out by Mateta but otherwise composed on the ball.

Big goal: Romero netted the winner for Spurs (Action Images via Reuters)

Micky van de Ven 8

Won an engaging individual duel with Mateta, racing back to dispossess the Palace forward a number of times, and positive in possession.

Yves Bissouma 6

Looked sharper than against Wolves, although still not at his early-season level.

Rodrigo Bentancur 4

Gave away the free-kick leading to Eze's goal with a clumsy challenge. Still looks short of rhythm and struggled to make an impression.

Off the pace: Bentancur did not impress against Crystal Palace (AP)

Dejan Kulusevski 6

Anonymous in the first half but more involved after the break, and his cross was turned onto the post by Son.

James Maddison 7

Produced a brilliant first-time ball for the winning goal and looked by far the likeliest player to unlock Palace's stubborn five-man defence.

Timo Werner 7

Missed a big 1v1 with Sam Johnstone in the first half but livened up after the interval and got the equaliser with a cool finish. Felt he should have had a penalty.

Heung-min Son 8

Raced clear and finished well to complete Spurs comeback, having earlier struck the base of the post with a first-time effort early in the second half.

Subs

Brennan Johnson (Bentancur 63') 8

Increasingly becoming a super-sub for Spurs. Made Werner's equaliser with a brilliant assist and also set up Son's goal, albeit inadvertently. Spooned a great opportunity over the bar minutes after his introduction.

Pape Matar Sarr (Wener 82') 7

Added zip to Spurs for the final eight minutes plus stoppages.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Maddison 83') 6

Postecoglou likes bringing him on to help see out games and he did fine.

Giovani Lo Celso (Bissouma 90') N/A

Dane Scarlett (Son 90') N/A

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