Werner praises support as first goal sparks Spurs win

Timo Werner praised the support of his team-mates after his first Tottenham goal sparked his side's comeback win over Crystal Palace.

Werner had failed to convert a when played clean through in a forgettable first half and Spurs' woes deepened when Eberechi Eze opened the scoring with a 59th minute free-kick.

"They [his team-mates] stood behind me at half-time and said I should keep going," Werner said.

"It always feels good that you have a group that says nothing about it. They were supportive. It helps me and the whole team."

Werner tapped in Brennan Johnson's cross in the 77th minute, after which Cristian Romero headed in James Maddison's cross and captain Son Heung-min swept home to steal three points to inflict a first loss on Palace manager Oliver Glasner.

"To miss two of these chances in one game would be terrible so at the end I am very happy I could score the goal," said Werner, whose goal was his 11th in 62 Premier League games after an underwhelming spell at Chelsea between 2020 and 2022.

The victory moved Tottenham within two points of fourth-placed Aston Villa, although Unai Emery's side regained their five-point cushion with a dramatic 3-2 win at Luton later on Saturday.

Spurs leave it late

Had Spurs been beaten here, their season under manager Ange Postecoglou would have been in danger of petering out, given they are already out of all cup competitions.

Instead, they remain within touching distance of Aston Villa with a game in hand as they hunt a top-four finish which will guarantee Champions League football next season, even if fifth could yet secure the deal.

Werner was handed a fifth league start since joining Spurs with Brazilian forward Richarlison out injured but his lack of confidence showed when opted to round goalkeeper Sam Johnstone when one-on-one in a frustrating first half for the hosts.

The German, though, could not miss when substitute Johnson, who proved the catalyst for the hosts, beat Joachim Andersen and Jefferson Lerma on the right and squared to the back post to leave the goal gaping.

It was Werner's first goal since scoring for Leipzig on 28 October.

"He missed the chance in the first half but he was a constant threat to them and was in the right area for the goal," Postecoglou said.

"I understand that with attacking players, goals make them feel better and make them more confident.

"I guess it relieves the pressure on them a little bit but just in general I thought he was really aggressive with his running.

"He kept taking on the full-back and I thought apart from the missed chance his general play was really good."

Glasner takes the positives

Palace, 3-0 victors against Burnley last week in Glasner's first game in charge, had defended solidly to that point but switched off at a throw-in soon after. They left Maddison free to lift a cross to the back post, where Romero climbed highest to nod in.

As the visitors pushed for a late equaliser, the ball broke for Son, who had hit the post shortly before Eze's opener, and he converted supremely where his team-mate Werner had earlier failed.

Spurs have now scored in 38 league games in succession - run stretching back to the times of former manager Antonio Conte. It is this which will give them hope in their Champions League pursuit.

Palace can take heart from their start under Glasner and the goalscoring return of Eze, who on his first appearance since January because of a hamstring injury, curled in superbly from the edge of the box, having been hauled down on a dangerous drive towards goal.

"It's a disappointing result but a performance that gives us confidence and hope for the next weeks," Glasner said.

"We gave the goals too easy to Tottenham. You must play perfect to win here. We did well for a long time but should have done it over 95 or 100 minutes."