Glasner proud of ‘huge win’ at Burnley
Oliver Glasner hailed Crystal Palace’s ‘huge’ 1-0 win at Burnley on Wednesday evening, as the Eagles returned to winning ways thanks to Daniel Muñoz’s header late in the first-half – and a resilient, defensively strong display throughout the rest of the contest.
For the third game in a row, Palace were good value for a 1-0 lead at half-time, but unlike previously, were able to see the result through to three important points, thanks to some fine collective defending, a world-class save from Dean Henderson and a late goal-line clearance from Chris Richards.
“A very important win, a huge win, to be honest,” was Glasner’s summary, speaking to Palace TV.
“For me there were more or less two parts of the game: the first 60 minutes we did well, controlled the game, scoring a nice goal, having the big opportunity straight after half-time, and the last 30 minutes it was then to survive and get the win over the goal line, and we did it.
“The players showed great resilience, we had fantastic support from our fans, and then together we could get this win, a very important win here at Burnley.
“I trust this group of players 100 percent, that they are leaving their heart on the pitch and giving everything they have. Even today, they wanted to play better in the last 30 minutes, but it just didn't work, and then we have to accept it and we have to support it.
“I think, right at the moment we can't expect that we're always playing brilliantly in everything, one-touch football, and it's easy. Then, you have some games on Wednesday evening, an away game, third game in five days, third time we're leading 1-0 at half-time – the last two we lost with set-play goals, it's somewhere in the back of your mind – and then being that resilient really makes you proud and just shows how great this group is.”
Glasner noted that Muñoz’s goal – his second in successive Premier League away games for Palace, and his fourth of the season overall – stemmed from a rehearsed pattern of play.
“It was almost the same goal against Newcastle last season [Guéhi assisting Muñoz],” the Manager observed. “We scored a similar goal against [Dynamo] Kyiv in the Conference League – it's one of our attacking patterns. Last time we trained it, it was in pre-season, but still the players can deliver, and it helped us.
“I also think it was a great chance, how we prepared the second chance of JP [Mateta], in the second-half. It was a great ball. This was one touch, forward, back, forward, Dani taking a great position, good runs in the box, and just missing this chance.
“Of course we would like to see this five, six, seven times again, but today we showed it two or three times, and that was enough because we defended really well. In one important situation, we had Dean Henderson's fingers and the crossbar [to thank], and in one situation we Chris Richards with a goal-line clearance, and that's why we could get the win.
“An important win, and 23 points after 14 rounds. I’m really proud of the team.”
We know we can always rely on them, we can always count on them, and it helps
—Oliver Glasner
Glasner also sent a message thanking the loud away section on a Wednesday night in Lancashire: “Thank you for the support again.
"We know we can always rely on them, we can always count on them, and it helps.
“This togetherness, we're talking quite often about it in the team, in our group, and of course when we are in the stadium, in the games, we have our fans, we are one big group, one big Crystal Palace – and that's why we could win today.”