reporters Crystal Palace 0-2 Swansea
guardian
Swansea's exceptional week ended on a high with a straightforward victory over a lifeless Crystal Palace. Goals from Michu and Nathan Dyer at the start of each half were enough to secure the points at Selhurst Park.
There were fears of fatigue for the Swans with this their third game in seven days, but in truth they will have few more relaxing afternoons all season.
Michael Laudrup had demanded his side "move on" from the thrilling 3-0 win in Valencia in midweek and any doubts about their ability to do so were dispelled after 80 seconds. Chico Flores picked the ball up at the back and chipped a pass to the deep-dropping Michu, who had time and space to feed Wayne Routledge. He helped the ball on to Jonjo Shelvey, Shelvey forced a pass through to Michu once more, and the force of the Spaniard's shot beat Julian Speroni in the Palace goal.
It might have been 2-0 only three minutes later, but Flores's effort from Shelvey's deep corner came back off the post. Four minutes gone and the pattern was set. On the half hour Michu sent a volley just over the bar via a deflection and seven minutes before half-time it took a superb Speroni save to keep out Angel Rangel's sweetly-struck volley.
The second half began just as the first had done, though Swansea on this occasion took 150 seconds to break through. Michu followed a stunning spin with a perfectly-weighted pass to the debutant Alvaro Vázquez and though he could not beat Speroni with his first shot, he had the wherewithal to cut back for Dyer, who fired home from close range.
It might have been worse for Palace had Dean Moxey received the second yellow card his scything tackle on Rangel warranted, but the home side struggled to make an impact even with 11 men on the pitch. Vázquez scooped over before the hour when put clean through by the ubiquitous Michu, who himself might have added a third with 10 minutes to go but shot straight at Speroni.
Palace improved marginally after their shambolic opening 10 minutes but were a distant second best throughout. Dwight Gayle's effort that bobbled wide of the post with 18 minutes to go was perhaps their best attacking moment until José Campana's drive that zipped over the bar in injury time.
All in all, the chastening experience told of the uphill struggle Palace are facing this season.
There were fears of fatigue for the Swans with this their third game in seven days, but in truth they will have few more relaxing afternoons all season.
Michael Laudrup had demanded his side "move on" from the thrilling 3-0 win in Valencia in midweek and any doubts about their ability to do so were dispelled after 80 seconds. Chico Flores picked the ball up at the back and chipped a pass to the deep-dropping Michu, who had time and space to feed Wayne Routledge. He helped the ball on to Jonjo Shelvey, Shelvey forced a pass through to Michu once more, and the force of the Spaniard's shot beat Julian Speroni in the Palace goal.
It might have been 2-0 only three minutes later, but Flores's effort from Shelvey's deep corner came back off the post. Four minutes gone and the pattern was set. On the half hour Michu sent a volley just over the bar via a deflection and seven minutes before half-time it took a superb Speroni save to keep out Angel Rangel's sweetly-struck volley.
The second half began just as the first had done, though Swansea on this occasion took 150 seconds to break through. Michu followed a stunning spin with a perfectly-weighted pass to the debutant Alvaro Vázquez and though he could not beat Speroni with his first shot, he had the wherewithal to cut back for Dyer, who fired home from close range.
It might have been worse for Palace had Dean Moxey received the second yellow card his scything tackle on Rangel warranted, but the home side struggled to make an impact even with 11 men on the pitch. Vázquez scooped over before the hour when put clean through by the ubiquitous Michu, who himself might have added a third with 10 minutes to go but shot straight at Speroni.
Palace improved marginally after their shambolic opening 10 minutes but were a distant second best throughout. Dwight Gayle's effort that bobbled wide of the post with 18 minutes to go was perhaps their best attacking moment until José Campana's drive that zipped over the bar in injury time.
All in all, the chastening experience told of the uphill struggle Palace are facing this season.
