Jordan Ayew: I felt no pressure to notch first Crystal Palace goal

BY MATT WOOSNAM

Jordan Ayew claimed he did not feel any burden from not having scored for Crystal Palace after his goal set them on the way to a 2-0 victory at Wolves last night.

The Ghanaian striker has toiled in front of goal since his arrival on loan from Swansea in the summer, but at Molineux he produced a moment of sublime quality.

Trapping the ball dead with his first touch from a powerful Patrick van Aanholt drive, he then swept the ball past Rui Patricio to open his Palace account.

But he said the lack of goals had not weighed on his mind.

“I’m pleased for the fans.

“I have to thank the coach for giving me the opportunity. Thankfully that chance has come. It’s a new year and it’s three points so it’s good.

“No, not at all [any pressure to score for the club]. I knew it would come because I have the support of everyone in the club. The most important thing is to have the three points.

“I’m just happy for the opportunity to be scoring goals, creating things and try to make things happen. They are the things I try to do so I’m going to keep working hard.

“We need to just focus on ourselves and keep getting points.”

Palace face League Two side Grimsby Town in the FA Cup third round on Saturday as they take a break from Premier League action.

The Mariners have sold over 5,000 tickets for the clash and Ayew is aware that Palace will have to be fully focused in order to progress

“It is an important game, to get qualification, we will have to do our job.”