Jan Vertonghen hailed a complete team performance after Tottenham came from behind to beat Everton 2-1 at White Hart Lane.
A stunning strike from Kevin Mirallas put Everton in front, but Christian Eriksen levelled before a rare goal from Roberto Soldado gave Tottenham a lead they kept to the final whistle.
"I think we can do better in possession, but I think we showed character,'' Vertonghen said. "We had a very good defensive line, the midfield and strikers as well were very good. It was team performance today.''
Harry Kane had a hand in both goals, winning the ball from Gareth Barry to set up Soldado's strike as Tottenham put pressure on Everton throughout.
"It helps that the strikers and midfielders press their direct opponents because it makes the distances smaller,'' Vertonghen added. "It makes our job easier.''
Kane missed out on a goal of his own but was named man of the match.
"It feels good to get the win because it was tough out there,'' he said. "Everton are a great side and it was a good battle between both teams. I'm absolutely buzzing to come away a winner.
"We've been working on pressing higher up the pitch and creating opportunities. Obviously I caught (Barry) on the ball. It's good to see what the manager has been working on working out on the pitch.''
Kane tangled with Muhamed Besic in the area and went over late on, but there was no penalty awarded.
"I think it was 50-50,'' he said. "Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't. It was a tangle of legs and it made me go down but sometimes late in the game the refs don't give them. But we got the win in the end so it doesn't matter.''
Manager Mauricio Pochettino was happy both with the result and the commitment shown by his players to his pressing style.
"Today was a very important victory,'' he said. "I think that always you need time to set out your philosophy but today we can be very pleased.
"(Coming from behind) is important. It shows we have character, personality, we are brave. It was very difficult because with their first shot they score and afterwards it's never easy but we were very aggressive in our game and we showed our style.
"We need to keep this mentality and try to show this in the next game.''
Spurs, who are now seventh in the table and two points off fourth, played with more urgency and attacking verve, which rallied the home support.
Emmanuel Adebayor said Tottenham had been afraid to get on the ball against Stoke due to the negative atmosphere at White Hart Lane but Pochettino believes the fans played an important part in his side's victory.
"I understand our supporters were angry because if you lose four games at home, it is impossible for the supporters to be happy,'' Pochettino said. "I understand that but today the team sent a different signal to our supporters and it is important to keep this feeling and mentality for the rest of the season.''
Soldado's goal came on the brink of half-time and was his first in 593 minutes of competitive action. The Spaniard latched onto Aaron Lennon's pass before coolly slotting the ball past Tim Howard and into the far corner.
"You need to give confidence to the player to keep working hard,'' Pochettino said of the former Valencia front-man. "It has not been easy for him but you need to motivate the player - it is always frustrating for a striker who does not score.
"Today he scored and he is happy, he is more free because he feels the pressure. It is important for the team that the striker scores goals.''
Soldado will be hoping he retains his place ahead of Adebayor when Tottenham visit league leaders Chelsea on Wednesday.