How Spurs undid Crystal Palace
Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Crystal Palace (Werner 77’, Romero 80’, Son 88’ | Eze 59’)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM – It would have been an assist reminiscent of Harry Kane’s deep, searching passes from his own half. Son Heung-min picked out left Timo Werner to leave him 1v1 with Sam Johnstone. It came to nothing.
Werner’s bloopers have often been longer than the highlights reels. Yet as he tore away in front of the South Stand after an equaliser that turned this tepid encounter with Crystal Palace on its head, there was a feeling a watershed moment had finally arrived – and not only because Spurs would go on to score another two goals inside the next 11 minutes.
The Germany international raced into position to find Brennan Johnson’s cross at the far post. Here was his moment, even if he was not necessarily signed simply to provide goals – though the scrutiny on him will be greater than ever during Richarlison’s absence.
His last strike came on 28 October in a 6-0 rout of FC Koln while still with parent club RB Leipzig. Werner has to offer more than that and he did, working hard on the left and combining well with Son. His howler of a miss will be quickly forgiven.
“I understand with attacking players, goals do make them feel better and feel a little bit more confident and it relieves the pressure on them,” Ange Postecoglou said afterwards.
“But just in general, he was really aggressive with his running, he kept taking on the full-back. Apart from the missed chance his general play was really good, but a goal always helps these things.”
Postecoglou insisted he was “pleased with the whole game” in spite of another slow start.
“The first half was a difficult half for us because when a team sits so deep and we had to initiate the play, we had to stay really patient and make sure you work the opposition – and I felt we did that.”
Those struggles in the opening 45 sound a familiar tune. In Spurs’ last five games, Richarlison’s brace against Everton was the only time they have scored in the first half.
That is no call for panic stations, albeit Eberechi Eze gave them a scare with a superb free-kick. It is hard to conclude Palace deserved more, with just one attempt on target and 21 per cent of the ball. Oliver Glasner conceded it is no coincidence they have now conceded 19 goals in the last 15 minutes of games this season.
Defeat to Wolves had inevitably made Spurs more tentative until the late rush. A high line versus a low block had been articulately picked apart by Gary O’Neil a fortnight ago. Clearly, something is not clicking.
Still, a little context – and patience – is required. Of the Spurs XI that started on Saturday, eight have been reintroduced to the fold at various points since Christmas after spells out with injury, illness, suspension or international duty.
Their returns were never likely to be prompt a miraculous fix and the hangover of the pre-Christmas personnel crisis lingers. Pape Matar Sarr dropped to the bench as he nurses a back injury.
Many are still edging towards full fitness. There is reason for optimism; there are now options from the bench, Brennan Johnson producing two assists after coming on for Rodrigo Bentancur.
When the play is a little turgid, it is easy to forget the splendour on the toes of James Maddison’s outside boot and the pace of Micky van de Ven that silenced Jean-Philippe Mateta. It was a first-time touch from Maddison over the Palace defence that teed up Cristian Romero’s header, before Son made light work of Chris Richards for the third.
Spurs could not afford another slip-up, with top-four rivals Aston Villa lying in wait. When they turn on the style, match-ups like that should hold no fear – it is just a question of how quickly they arrive at the races.
