Timo Werner praised the support of his team-mates after his first Tottenham goal sparked his side’s comeback win over Crystal Palace.
Werner, who was making his sixth appearance since joining on loan from RB Leipzig in January, scored Spurs’ equaliser as the hosts scored three times in the final 13 minutes to win and boost their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
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.
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.
“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.”