The good news for Frank de Boer is that the natives are not restless just yet. Well, not all of them, if the applause directed towards the Dutchman and his players from many home supporters after the final whistle is anything to go by. But there were boos, too, after a third straight Premier League defeat for a Crystal Palace side struggling badly to come to terms with the ways of their latest manager and even at this early stage of the season there must be doubts about whether he will be given time to see through the job.
Such is life in the cut-throat surroundings of England’s top flight, and especially when a team is not only losing but playing in a manner that suggests a first victory is not around the corner. Palace were deservedly beaten here on the back of a shoddy and toothless display, and following their reverses against Huddersfield on the opening day and Liverpool last week find themselves on zero points going into the international break, having scored no goals and conceded six.
For Swansea City the outlook is much brighter following a first win of the season achieved through goals either side of half-time from Tammy Abraham and Jordan Ayew. But as Paul Clement admitted afterwards, the visitors hardly sparkled during what was a poor-quality encounter and that they had to barely get out of third gear to triumph only damns the bleak display Palace served up in the south London sunshine.
“This result is very disappointing,” conceded De Boer. “Especially in the first half we did not show courage on the ball. There were a lot of moments we could have played on the ground but we did not look comfortable with the ball.
“And that wasn’t because Swansea did a fantastic job – this was a game in which two teams did not play their best and the team that makes less mistakes wins this type of game, which is what happened.”
There was no mistake greater than the one committed by Martin Kelly in the buildup to Swansea’s second goal. The second half was barely three minutes old when the defender’s casual manner allowed Kyle Naughton to steal possession away from him and deliver a pass into the path of Ayew, who, clean through, pushed the ball past the outrushing Wayne Hennessey and watched as it ricocheted off the goalkeeper and rolled into an empty net.
Kelly, who had come on as a substitute for the injured James Tomkins on 41 minutes, was also at fault for Swansea’s first goal when he was easily outmuscled by Abraham .The striker ran on to Leroy Fer’s cross and sent the ball past Hennessey with a side-footed volley from close range. It was an impressive finish by the England Under-21 international, who caught the eye here with his movement and technique and now has his first Premier League goal for Swansea having arrived on loan from Chelsea in the summer.
Swansea’s goals summed up Palace’s lack of defensive awareness and sturdiness in a 3-4-2-1 formation that appears to suit none of their players. Their midfield, missing the injured Ruben Loftus-Cheek but containing James McArthur following his brace in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over Ipswich, failed to impose themselves against the central trio of Swansea, for whom Sam Clucas delivered an encouraging display on his debut. Up front Christian Benteke cut a frustrated figure as he regularly failed to link up with Jason Puncheon and Andros Townsend.
Palace posed more of a threat in the second half and Townsend could well have pulled a goal back with a side-footed shot that went just wide. But Swansea coped and overall created the better chances, most notably an Alfie Mawson header on 36 minutes that landed just past the post.
“This was an important win for us given we drew our first game and lost our second 4-0,” said Clement. His side have lift-off. Palace, meanwhile, have to contend with that familiar sinking feeling.
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