Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend reveals Sammy Lee rollicking turned season around
Townsend has revealed Eagles coach Sammy Lee had some harsh words for him as he struggled after joining Palace from Newcastle United last summer
ANDROS TOWNSEND has revealed some hard talking from Crystal Palace coach Sammy Lee helped turn his season around.
The winger moved to Selhurst Park from Newcastle last summer and initially found it tough, but some straight talking got his season back on track.
But the 25-year-old has rediscovered his spark under new Eagles boss Sam Allardyce, and his return to form has coincided with Palace pulling away from the drop zone with three straight league wins.
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Townsend said:“I was brought in to replace [Yannick] Bolasie and I can’t explain why I could not perform to the levels that I am capable of.”
The England international's solo effort against West Bromwich Albion won the Premier League goal of the month for March.
Townsend will be looking to repeat the dose as Palace travel across London on Saturday to face Premier League leaders Chelsea.
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The winger added:“I was working hard every day in training but come Saturday it just was not happening for me, and when you play bad and you come off after 60 minutes you get less confidence, and then as you are not playing 90 minutes you get less fit too."
“Sammy Lee worked with me at England and saw how well I was doing in training there, coming on and making an impact, and three or four months later he has come here and I am on the bench."
"He pulled me to one side and had strong words with me."
Townsend added:“He said that when I go away with England every single day I train like it is a cup final because I know that is there is other players ahead of me"
"If I want to get a minute on the pitch I have to perform better than them."
“At club level I was not doing that, and he said he wants to see the Andros he saw at England so that is what I did. I needed him to tell me that, and now I am in a good place and I have to thank Sammy for that.”