Townsend wins PL Goal of the Month award for 35-yard wonder strike vs Man City

Andros Townsend has scooped the Premier League Goal of the Month award for December, following his sublime volleyed effort against Manchester City at the Etihad.

Townsend scored in what was one of the shocks of the season, as Palace battled against the reigning champions in their own back yard and took a 3-2 victory.

Townsend's goal was the jewel on the crown, catching the ball in the sweetest way possible on the volley from around 35-yards out.

The build up to the goal saw Palace on the attack, launching a freekick into the area from deep on the half-way line.

Patrick van Aanholt's lofted cross only reached as far as the edge of the area, before it was met by a City defender and headed out to what appeared to be safety.

With power lacking, however, the ball only cleared as far as Townsend who was waiting outside the area, and the England international did not require a second asking to lash his laces through the ball and hit it first time.

The net bulged, and Townsend's wonder strike saw Palace go 2-1 up after initially falling behind to Pep Guardiola's side.

Palace added a third to send the travelling away supporters to dreamland, before City pulled back a late consolation courtesy of Kevin De Bruyne for a final score of 3-2.

'We were under pressure for the whole of the first half. But we got an equaliser, then a free-kick and the ball dropped out of the air and sat up perfectly and I thought, I’m going to hit this,' said Townsend upon receiving the award.

'It was in the net after 0.9 seconds, so I didn’t realise how good of a goal it was! But when I looked back at it, I thought wow maybe it was a bit special - it was a special day for myself and a massive 3 points.'