Andros Townsend: Crystal Palace win at Huddersfield one of our best away performances this season

By Sam Smith

Andros Townsend felt Crystal Palace’s 2-0 victory against Huddersfield Town was ‘up there with the best’ away performances from the Eagles this season.

James Tomkins poked home a rebound from a corner midway through the first half after his initial effort had been kept out. A Luka Milivojevic penalty in the second period then clinched Palace’s first win in eight Premier League games and lifted them above the relegation zone.

Townsend told eagles.cpfc.co.uk: “We knew the key was making a fast start. We did that and could have scored in the first few minutes through Macca (James McArthur) at another corner. Tomkins got on the end of the second corner and we controlled [the game] from there. As away days go, it was up there with the best.

“[The conditions were] difficult but both teams were in the same boat. We weren’t able to play the style of football we want to play but neither were they and we adapted well. We went long when we needed to and kept the ball when we needed to. We thoroughly deserved the three points.

“We have played different personnel in the last few games against top teams but we knew this would be a difficult battle. Huddersfield are a very technical side, they like to play and they like to press. They are physical as well but everyone to a man dealt with that today and we thoroughly deserved the three points.”

Palace switched from the 4-4-2 formation used in the previous few games and started with a 4-3-3 with Townsend and Wilfried Zaha flanking Christian Benteke. But the former Tottenham Hotspur man is happy to play in either shape.

He added: “I think that (which formation suits him best) is up to people to have their own opinion. I enjoy playing in a 4-4-2 and I enjoy playing in a 4-3-3. I think it’s good to have the two formations going into the last seven games so we can chop and change when the manager needs to.”