Match Reports

Report – Swansea City 3-0 Crystal Palace

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Image for Report – Swansea City 3-0 Crystal Palace

Swansea City enjoyed a comfortably 3-0 victory at the Liberty Stadium this afternoon against a rather poor Crystal Palace side.

After a dominant opening 40 minutes from the home side but few chances to show for it, Sinclair helped to open the scoring just before the break as his left footed cross was side-footed home by Darren Pratley.

Sinclair then scored twice from the penalty spot in the second half to give us all three points which puts us up to second place before the rest of today’s Championship matches.

Brendan Rodgers welcomed back Alan Tate to the starting line-up and he took over as captain in Garry Monk’s absence. Angel Rangel also returned after missing last weekend’s FA Cup game due to an injury.

Nathan Dyer recovered from flu to start on the right wing and he put in another superb man of the match display.

The Swans completely dominated the opening half but there was little for the 13,000 Swans fans to cheer about until Pratley opened the scoring a few minutes before the break.

Mark Gower got our first opportunity after five minutes, running onto Dyer’s cross at the far post but he couldn’t keep his diving header down as it flew over the bar.

Luke Moore was showing his ability to hold the ball up and he had a great chance to score his first Swansea goal after half an hour. With his back to goal, he turned well and his left-footed strike was tipped over by a full stretched Speroni.

Rodgers’ side were showing great intensity when they lost the ball, putting the visitors under lots of pressure as they looked to regain possession.

After a patient start to the game with a lot of possession and few chances, Scott Sinclair helped to put us 1-0 up. The winger got in behind the defence down the left flank thanks to a well-worked one-two. He pulled back a low cross which picked out the unmarked Darren Pratley who side-footed the ball home.

It was what the Swans deserved as Palace looked a poor side who made too many needless mistakes – they made two more major ones in the second half which ruled out any chance of them getting back into the game.

Nathan Dyer was causing problems with his skill and trickery and he displayed how effective it can be inside the box as he beat 4 players as he made his way into the box but he was tripped as he looked to get clear of David Wright.

Scott Sinclair took over as our penalty taker and he cooly slotted the ball home into the right corner of the net to double our lead.

5 minutes later and the referee pointed to the spot again. McCarthy handled the ball as he looked to defend Gower’s cross which Tate headed towards goal.

Sinclair stepped up again and fired the ball into the left corner this time to make it 3-0.

Swansea City were cruising now but we were unable to find another goal or two which we looked capable of doing in the remaining 30 minutes.

Jermaine Easter came on as a second-half substitute to play against the side he was on loan with a few days earlier. He had Palace’s best chance of the game when he ran onto a ball through on goal, but de Vries did well to race out from his line and get a hand to his shot. Ashley Williams also slid in with a tackle to try and deny a shooting chance for Easter, and de Vries looked to be hurt as he looked to keep a clean sheet. Thankfully he was able to play on.

Luke Moore had another chance to score his first goal for his new club as he found a bit of space inside the box, but he scuffed a shot as he fired one straight across the face of goal and out for a throw-in.

The Swans enjoyed a comfortable victory against a rather poor Crystal Palace side as they move back into 2nd place as Cardiff City could only draw at Norwich.

Swansea: Dorus de Vries; Angel Rangel, Ashley Williams, Alan Tate (C), Jazz Richards (Daniel Alfei, 89′); Mark Gower, Joe Allen, Darren Pratley; Nathan Dyer (Cedric van der Gun, 85′), Scott Sinclair, Luke Moore (Stephen Dobbie, 85′).

Not Used: Yves Makabu-Makalambay (GK), Albert Serran, Kemy Agustien, Craig Beattie.

Palace: Julian Speroni, Nathaniel Clyne, Patrick McCarthy (C), Anthony Gardner, David Wright, Owen Garvan, Neil Danns, Andy Dorman (Calvin Andrew, 57′), Wilfred Zaha, Steffen Iversen (Jermaine Easter, 61′), Pablo Counago (Stuart O’Keefe, 71′).

Not Used: Lewis Price (GK), Adam Barrett, Claude Davis, Kieran Cadogan.

Attendance: 13,369 Away: 287

Referee: J Moss (West Yorkshire)

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