Federico Fernandez was "clutching at straws" when appealing for a push ahead of the own goal that put Chelsea in full control at St James' Park on Saturday afternoon.
The former Argentina international put through his own net under pressure from Ben Chilwell at the back post after Mason Mount's cross from the right-hand side.
The ball had been worked cleverly by Chelsea stars between Allan Saint-Maximin and Jamal Lewis before England international Mount whipped the ball across the six-yard box.
Former Ireland and Chelsea star Towsend debated the own goal with ex-England and Man City man Owen Hargreaves, he said: "Fernandez should do better there Owen shouldn't he?"
To which Hargreaves responded: "He has got to find a way to clear.
"But I credit the coaches for working it out.
"They realised there will be more bodies in the box, expecting a cross.
"If you can get things set, three vs two, that is great coaching it really is."
When asked if it was a push, ex-Bayern Munich star Hargreaves, a guest on BeIN Sports, reflected "He's clutching isn't he?
"He was hoping for a push because he put himself in a bad position.
"Really you can only clear that with your left foot, you don't clear it with your right.
"Clear with your right, it's an own goal."
Townsend did have a degree of sympathy for Fernandez and felt that the cross could have been dealt with before rolling all the way to the back post.
Townsend added: "It shouldn't actually travel to the far post that ball, it wasn't a cross that stood up.
"It was whipped in. Somebody somewhere should be getting to it before it comes to Federico Fernandez.
"In the end he didn't sort his feet out and unfortunately prods it in his own net."
