It hurt to be dropped but I’m ready to kick on, vows Townsend
ANdROs tOWNseNd hopes his goal against Norwich City can kick-start his season, after a frustrating start which has seen him primarily used as a substitute. the 28-year-old came off the bench on saturday to score in the 92nd minute to clinch Crystal Palace’s 2-0 win, following captain Luka Milivojevic’s first-half penalty. townsend was dropped by manager Roy Hodgson from the starting line-up after the first two games of the season. He came back into the fold for the 4-0 hammering at tottenham but has been forced to watch from the sidelines since then, with Jeffrey schlupp and talisman Wilfried Zaha preferred. ‘i’ve not made a great start to the season on a personal level, but we have a good squad, the manager has rotated and the players who came into the team have done well,’ townsend said. ‘i’ve had to bide my time, make sure i do the right things in training and that when my chance came again, i was ready to grasp it. ‘in the first two games of the season we didn’t score any goals, and when that happens, forwards are vulnerable to being left out, so i can’t have any complaints. ‘Hopefully this goal will give me confidence, i can kick on.’ Palace are unbeaten in their last six home league games, dating back to last season. it is their longest such run at selhurst Park since April 1993, helping them to ninth in the table. After a game of few clear-cut chances, Hodgson was pleased for townsend. ‘it’s never easy to leave a player out,’ the manager said. ‘i’ve been here just over two years and Andros has been an integral part of the team and of the group. But to keep your place in the team, you have got to keep your standards up.’ CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3): Guaita 6.5; Ward 6, Kelly 6.5, Cahill 6, Van Aanholt 6.5; McArthur 7 (McCarthy 79min), Milivojevic 7, Kouyate 6 (Townsend 70, 7); ZAHA 7.5, Ayew 6.5 (Meyer 90), Schlupp 6.5. Subs not used: Hennessey, Dann, Tomkins, Benteke. Booked: Ayew, Schlupp, Milivojevic. Scorers: Milivojevic (21, pen), Townsend (90). Manager: Roy Hodgson 7. NORWICH (4-2-3-1): Fahrmann 5 (McGovern 22, 5.5); Aarons 5.5, Amadou 4, Godfrey 6, Lewis 5.5; McLean 5.5, Leitner 5.5; Buendia 6, Stiepermann 6 (Drmic 66, 5), Cantwell 6 (Roberts 81); Pukki 6. Subs not used: Byram, Hanley, Srbeny, Idah. Booked: Stiepermann. Manager: Daniel Farke 5. Referee: Jon Moss 7. Attendance: 25,000.