Papiss Cisse was delighted with his late winner for Newcastle United against Crystal Palace.

The Senegal striker, in the side for the injured Loic Remy, had already missed a hat-trick of chances, most notably right in front of goal in the dying minutes. Then he powered Hatem Ben Arfa's perfect cross past Julien Speroni, 40 seconds beyond the added three minutes referee Lee Probert had signalled.

"Scoring that goal was one of the best feelings in the world," said Cisse, who had waited nearly a year for a goal from open play. 'It is difficult when you see the team working so hard to get the win and you're the striker up there responsible for getting the goals and the chances keep coming and don't go in. Again and again and again.

"I felt relief and joy when the goal went in and when it hit the net I just thought "thank you" to everybody in the team, who had worked so hard to get to that point for me to score. There had been a chance just before then when Mapou put the ball in and it went past me.

"I just went 'Oh my God'. I was lying on the ground and my head was just spinning, but I told myself that the game wasn't finished, that I would get another chance. In those moments as a striker you have to be strong, you have to keep going.

"The run of not scoring has been very difficult in my head. It is tough to take and you feel bad for yourself and your team-mates because you wonder if you are doing enough, but I have to thank the other players and the staff, because I have always felt that they have had faith in me. But this year has been very, very hard.

"I just had to say to myself that I had to do myself justice, work hard and keep smiling and maybe I would get my chance to play.

"Thankfully that has happened. Now I want more goals and I will do my best."