Is former Tottenham Hotspur winger Andros Townsend pulling his weight in Crystal Palace’s relegation battle?
Crystal Palace have recovered from the worst start in top-flight history to put together a seven-match unbeaten run which has lifted them to 14th in the Premier League.
The catalyst behind this reversal in fortunes has been Wilfried Zaha, whose four goals and inspirational performances have dragged the Eagles away from the relegation zone.
But the responsibility cannot fall solely on Zaha’s shoulders and some of Palace’s other attackers must up their game and share the burden with the in-form Ivory Coast winger.
It all came together nicely for Roy Hodgson last Saturday when all of his front three contributed to the 3-0 defeat of Leicester City, with Zaha and Christian Benteke on the scoresheet and Andros Townsend providing an assist.
As Sky Sports reports, Hodgson has recently warned Benteke about his lack of output – his goal against the Foxes was the Belgian’s first of the season – and Townsend needs a kick up the backside too.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United wide-man has been a good outlet for Palace with his pace and dribbling skills, but he is not pulling his weight where it matters.
No goals and three assists in 18 league appearances – 17 of which have been starts – is a very poor return for a player who has always been a goal threat from long range.
This season, the 26-year-old is averaging a shot on target once every three games.
Townsend will always have problems with his consistency of quality, but he can be a match-winner and he needs to start producing leading-man displays to take the pressure off Zaha.
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