Andy Johnson secured a precious point for Palace and put an end to Spurs' winning sequence with a late equaliser at White Hart Lane. Jermain Defoe had put Spurs ahead on 54 minutes, lashing in his 15th goal of the season from 25 yards out.

But on 79 minutes, Johnson notched his 10th league goal of the season with a smart shot from outside the area.

It was a fair result, with Palace taking the first-half honours and Spurs coming on strong after the break.

Palace started brightly and had the first chance of the game when Danny Butterfield hooked in a cross from the right and Paul Robinson just touched it beyond debutant Tom Soares.

Johnson had a goal disallowed on 11 minutes after Vassilis Lakis' shot was parried by Robinson and the Palace striker was deemed offside with the rebound.

Soon afterwards, Johnson was denied by Ledley King when through on goal as Spurs' stuttering start continued.

Fredi Kanoute had the home side's first chance of the game, glancing a free header across the face of the goal when perhaps he should have done better.

But it was Palace who continued to carve out the more clear-cut chances, Robinson just getting a touch to Lakis' cross with Johnson looming.

Kanoute was Spurs' most threatening player in the opening period, shaving a post with a raking shot on 30 minutes and testing Palace keeper Gabor Kiraly with a turn and shot shortly after.

But the visitors finished the first half strongest, Lakis denied by the flying boot of Anthony Gardner and Riihilahti flashing over from the edge of the area.

And Robinson pulled off a miraculous save from Johnson, picking himself up from the floor to parry a shot from point-blank range.

Spurs, looking for a club record sixth straight Premiership win, started the second half with more intent.

Midfielder Michael Brown forced Kiraly into a save and Kanoute headed over from a corner.

But it was Defoe, the recipient of Spurs' player of the year award before kick off, who broke the deadlock.

The striker, who had hit the left-hand upright a minute before, lashed a shot from 25 yards and the ball went in off the opposite post.

Not long after, Defoe fed Kanoute for the Frenchman to convert but his effort was ruled out for offside.

On 70 minutes, Palace had a penalty shout turned down by referee Uriah Rennie when Gardner appeared to bring down Johnson on the edge of the box.

But 11 minutes from time, the always dangerous Johnson equalised for Palace with a swivel and shot from 25 yards.

Spurs laid siege to the Palace goal in the final minutes, Defoe just shooting wide and Erik Edman blazing over, but Iain Dowie's men clung on for their first point in three games.