Werner sparks Spurs revival as they do it hard way against Palace
PREMIER LEAGUE
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3 (Werner 78, Romero 80, Son 88)
CRYSTAL PALACE 1 (Eze 59)
Timo Werner scored his first goal in English football for nearly two years to spark a Spurs revival and get Ange Postecoglou's side back to winning ways.
Tottenham had to do it the hard way again, coming back against a Palace side revitalised by new manager Oliver Glasner. Eberechi Eze had given them a 59th minute lead on his return from injury, but after Werner atoned for an earlier miss with the equaliser in the 78th minute, Cristian Romero ahd Heung Min Son wrapped up a precious three points for Spurs, who are still in the race for a Champions League place.
But again they made hard work of it against modest opponents, even though Palace had won Glasner's first game 3-0 last week.
Before that, the Austrian had watched Wolves beat Tottenham here a fortnight ago and took the same approach, packing his back line with five defenders and four midfielders ahead of them.
It made Palace hard to break down, but Spurs should have taken the lead in the 18th minute when Son sent Werner scampering away through the middle. The German has pace to spare, and left Adam Wharton in his wake, but as he approached Sam Johnstone, indecision kicked in and instead of shooting past the keeper, tried to take the ball past him and was foiled.
It was typical of Werner's form when at Chelsea and summed up his enigmatic nature – lightning fast but a poor finisher.
He looked a frustrated figure for most of the first 75 minutes, being caught offside or failing to find a team-mate with his crosses. He smacked the turf in anger when he was denied a penalty in the 53rd minute, after Joel Ward appeared to trip him, but referee John Brookes was not
Read on irishexaminer.com
