Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend expects frosty reception on Newcastle return
Thursday 19 October 2017 23:19, UK
Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend admits he is unlikely to receive a warm welcome when he faces former club Newcastle at St James’ Park on Saturday.
Townsend flourished under Rafael Benitez during his brief time on Tyneside when they narrowly failed to keep the Magpies in the Premier League.
He then left for Palace when then-manager Alan Pardew triggered a £13m release clause in his contract after just six months on Tyneside, but for the third season in succession Townsend is involved in a battle to beat the drop.
Palace impressed in last week's 2-1 defeat of Chelsea when Townsend - working once again with Roy Hodgson, who oversaw some of his finest performances with England - played a key role as the Eagles picked up their first points of the season, having lost their previous seven without scoring a goal.
"I'm not sure I'll get a good reception but I had a fantastic time there," he said.
"Unfortunately it didn't end well but I thoroughly enjoyed my time there with the fans and I'm looking forward to going there and see a few familiar faces. I'll enjoy it.
"Ultimately we are going there for business, to win a football match and that's all I'm focused on.
"It's similar in the way [Hodgson and Allardyce] work. They like to do a lot on the training field; very hands on, the pair of them.
"They like to go through every scenario that will occur on the pitch so that when it occurs you are ready for it.
"Like Sam, it wasn't a quick fix: we didn't initially pick up results but eventually you saw how well we were playing towards the end of last season and I've no doubt in my mind that we'll get to that again under Roy."
