Dowie lays down gauntlet to Johnson as Palace foil Spurs

Tottenham 1 Crystal Palace 1

Johnson’s 10th goal of the season - a low, 22-yard shot into Paul Robinson’s right corner - earned Palace a 1-1 draw in the Premiership at Tottenham yesterday and thwarted the home side’s attempt to claim a sixth successive league victory.

Dowie believes Johnson has the talent to match the consistency in front of goal that players like Arsenal frontman Henry and Manchester United’s Van Nistelrooy have managed for some seasons.

“Andrew has scored goals for two seasons in a row and I see no reason why he can’t continue to do so throughout his career,” said Dowie. “I see more to come in his game.

“People talk about Van Nistelrooy, (Wayne) Rooney and Henry but this season Johnson is up there with them all. But Andrew has a long way to go.

“I am not going to put him in the same bracket as Henry and Van Nistelrooy yet because they have scored goals season after season.

“But there is no reason why Andrew cannot carry on scoring goals,” said Dowie.

Johnson’s goal 11 minutes from full-time came against the run of play, but Palace deserved their point as they had dominated the first-half.

Johnson had a goal disallowed and should have put his side ahead from close range, while Aki Riihilahti nodded a Wayne Routledge corner straight at Paul Robinson from a perfect position eight yards from goal.

Palace were punished for failing to make the most of their opportunities when Jermain Defoe put Tottenham ahead with a fierce 53rd-minute drive and Dowie was disappointed his team had not been more ruthless when they were in control of the match.

“We had clear opportunities in the first-half, and it is not often that you come to a place like White Hart Lane and dominate possession.”

Tottenham head coach Martin Jol had similar grievances to Dowie.

Having survived numerous attempts on their own goal in the first 45 minutes, Spurs improved greatly in the second-half with Pedro Mendes replacing Rohan Ricketts to bring greater assurance to midfield.

But after Defoe had given them the lead, Spurs were thwarted by the linesman - who ruled out a Fredi Kanoute effort for offside - and Palace keeper Gabor Kiraly who made a number of saves from Defoe and kept out a shot from Michael Brown.

Jol said: “I thought we were terrific from the start of the second-half until the 75th minute - but you have to score two goals when you have those periods.

“But having said that, Palace could have been one or two goals up at half-time.”

TOTTENHAM: Robinson, Pamarot, King, Edman, Gardner, Ricketts (Pedro Mendes 45), Brown, Carrick, Ziegler, Defoe, Kanoute (Keane 83).

CRYSTAL PALACE: Kiraly, Butterfield, Hall, Sorondo, Granville, Routledge (Torghelle 68), Soares, Riihilahti, Hughes, Lakis, Johnson.

Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).