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Townsend Thrilled With First St. James' Strike
Written by Newcastle Utd
Andros Townsend on his first goal at St. James' Park, where the Magpies put their last two defeats firmly behind them
By Tom Easterby - Newcastle United Club Reporter
After clinching Newcastle United's 3-0 victory over Swansea City with his first goal at St. James' Park, Andros Townsend hailed his team's resolution as they put the last two dispiriting defeats firmly behind them.
The 24-year-old capped a fine individual display with the third goal as Rafa Benitez's men brushed aside the Swans to move to within three points of Barclays Premier League safety.
Townsend had a hand in United's other two goals too, swinging in the corner from which Jamaal Lascelles forced home their first-half opener.
He then delivered the corner which led to Moussa Sissoko's 83rd-minute goal, before adding gloss to the scoreline in the closing minutes with his third goal since his January arrival from Tottenham Hotspur.
And Townsend believes it's now up to the Magpies to seize their chance to preserve their top flight status in the final five games of the season.
"It was massively important. The game have been running out and we knew that eventually we had to get three points, and we've done that now," he told nufc.co.uk. "We got five games left, and we've got to win our home games if we want to stay in the Premier League.
"I think people outside the club wrote us off after the Southampton game, but we knew that four of our last six games are at home, we knew that we had a good record at home and we knew that we were still with a chance.
"One week later, everything's changed. Norwich have slipped up, we've capitalised, and now it's anyone's to grab now. Hopefully we can be the team that takes the last five games by the scruff of the neck and does enough to survive."
Townsend, a thorn in the Swans' side all afternoon, latched on to Aleksandar Mitrovic's pass to net United's third and seal the points in front of the Gallowgate End.
The 10-cap England international expressed his relief that he'd managed to bag a significant goal for the Club, after previous strikes against Chelsea and Southampton had been tainted by his team's defeat.
"It was a relief, really. I think I've scored two goals as consolations and I wasn't able to celebrate, so it was great to get my first goal at St. James' Park and round off a great day, with three points and three goals to give our goal difference a big boost," he said.
"I'm feeling good, and I've shaken off the little hamstring niggle I had. I'm fighting fit and raring to go.
"I've scored two in the last few games and hopefully I can score a few more to help this club stay up."
Benitez's side now face reigning champions Manchester City at St. James' Park on Tuesday night.
Fresh from a much-improved collective display, Leytonstone-born wideman Townsend said United had finally shown what they can do against Francesco Guidolin's men, who suffered their first Premier League defeat at St. James' Park.
He also reiterated the importance of Tuesday's game, which is Newcastle's game in hand on their rivals, Norwich City, in the top tier's lower reaches.
"Everything you saw today is what we've been doing in training sessions. We've had some difficult away games when we've maybe not been able to show our true capabilities, but I think today, in front of our fans and on a massive pitch, we showed everyone what we can do," he said.
"But I think now Tuesday is the important game, and we need to capitalise on our game in hand.
"Manchester City is never an easy game, but it's even harder when you go in off the back of a few defeats. But we've got our tails up now, we've got three points and the fans are on our side.
"Hopefully the fans can create a great atmosphere here on Tuesday night and we can give them the three points they deserve."
And Townsend reckons that, with City, Crystal Palace and his old club Spurs still to travel to Tyneside before the season's out, having home advantage could be a huge factor in the all-important run-in.
"It's no secret that our away form hasn't been the best, but our home form has been very good, and it's going to play a massive part," he said.
"The St. James' Park faithful are going to play a massive part between now and the end of the season, and hopefully we can give them something to cheer against Spurs on the last day."