Swansea City completed a memorable week in style with their second Premier League victory, easing past Crystal Palace 2-0.
After his goal in Valencia, on Thursday, Michu opened the scoring after just 80 seconds firing low past Julian Speroni. Nathan Dyer also opened his Premier League account, for the season, converting from close range after good work by debutant Alvaro Vazquez.
Michael Laudrup made five changes from the mid-week win in Spain. Ashley Williams and Ben Davies were included in the starting XI, while Shelvey replaced Jonathan De Guzman, Wayne Routledge faced up against his former employers and Wilfried Bony found himself on the bench giving Vazquez his full debut.
It took the Swans 80 seconds to record the quickest Premier League goal of the season. A nice flowing move started with Chico Flores who found Michu, via Routledge the ball fell to Shelvey who tried to play in Routledge. The ball deflected off the winger into the path of Michu, whose right footed strike nestled in the top corner, with the help of a little touch from Speroni.
His fellow Spaniard, Chico, had a great chance to double the lead on a minute later as he connected with Shelvey`s corner, only to see his effort crash off the post.
Despite the quick start from Swansea there was a premium of chances, for either side, as the game reached the half-hour mark.
Michu saw a half-volley deflected over for a corner. And from the resulting corner the Swansea number 9 could only head well over.
Palace offered little attacking threat, their best chance came from a free-kick that Adlene Guedioura could only fire straight into the waiting Michel Vorm.
Speroni again was called into action as he had to palm away a viciously struck volley from Angel Rangel, as half-time loomed.
It was another early goal in the second half that saw the Swans well in the driving seat. Not quite 80 seconds, more like 180 seconds this time. Three minutes after the break Michu put Vazquez through, Speroni parried the shot straight back to the Spanish under-21 international who pulled the ball back to Dyer, who from six yards out buried the ball into the net.
On loan from Getafe, Vazquez was handed his best chance to score on his debut but lifted his effort, from 18 yards well over the crossbar, after good build-up pay between Michu and Dyer.
The game could have been out of Palace`s reach with just over ten minutes left, as Michu was put through one-on-one but loose control from the midfielder allowed Palace to clear the danger.
At the end of it all, Swansea`s win and Arsenal`s 3-1 triumph over Stoke, moved Michael Laudrup`s side up to ninth.
Swansea begin the defence of their League Cup trophy on Wednesday as they travel to Birmingham, before a home game against Arsenal next Saturday.
Report by Matthew Thomas
Twitter: @mcthomas2905
Blog: http://matththomas66.wordpress.com/
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