JORDAN Ayew has spoken of his delight about signing off for Crystal Palace ahead of the African Nations with a vital 3-1 home win over Brentford.
The Ghanian provided the 14th minute assist for Michael Olise to equalise and cancel out Keane Lewis Potter’s early opener.
Eberechi Eze put the Eagles ahead shortly before the break and Olise grabbed a second on 58 minutes to give Roy Hodgson’s side a vital victory, their first since early November.
Ayew told Palace TV: “It was a big game for us. We haven’t won for two months and it was important today to win.
“Obviously today is my last game because I will be off to the African Cup of Nations.
“I wanted to go with a win. It was the last game of the year as well at home, so it was important to win and to give the supporters something to cheer about.”
He added: “It has been a good year – ups and down. It is normal because we have a young group and these type of things happen, but we are improving and we have a good staff behind us as well.
“They are doing a good job. We were unlucky in the last four games.
“Apart from the City game, in terms of performances, it was really good – City was a good performance, we got a draw.
“But apart from that game, the rest of the games we could have won it.
“Today we were rewarded and I think today we were the better team.
“When you keep on working and keep on pushing you get rewarded. I want to congratulate the boys, the team, the squad, the staff, and the medical team as well, because they’ve been brilliant.”
Ayew’s cross for Olise certainly paid off in style, although the man himself was keen to downplay it afterwards.
“It is not because I tried to look for Michael or anything like that,” he said.
“We always speak before the game and we have good communication – all of us, all the forward players – and we try to help each other on the field.
“It has been working and I’m happy.”
Pressure had been building going into the Bees game, with Palace anxiously looking over their shoulders at the relegation places.
The 3-1 result eases those fears as the Eagles are now six points clear of the danger zone, with Ayew hoping his team-mates build on the winning feeling while he is away.
He said: “It is important because it is much more than three points.
“It gives you confidence, it gives you belief.
“When you win it is totally different, no matter how you play.
“It is always good to win when you play good football and stuff but sometimes you need to win scrappy.
“Today I think we won but we won it with a good performance.”
Speculation had been growing in recent days Hodgson was under pressure, with former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper being continually linked as a likely replacement.
But the current Selhurst manager was in no mood to discuss the matter when asked about it after the Brentford win.
Hodgson said: “I tell you what I really think. I’m 76 years of age.
“I’ve been in management for 47 years. I’ve got a CBE for services to football.
“My answer to you is that makes no difference to me at all.
“To suggest that it should is disrespectful.
“I think about the match. When you’ve been in football as long as I have, you understand that.
“My attitude is I’m employed to do a job to the best of my ability.
“If there are people that want me to leave the club, they can tell me.”
