Palace made two changes from
the match against Manchester United for the trip to Swansea with Yannick
Bolasie and KG Dikgacoi coming in for Glenn Murray and Jason Puncheon. This
match was played in the backdrop of atrocious weather conditions and driving rain,
as the game took place just forty eight hours after Swansea City’s European
trip to Napoli. The short turn around between games did not seem to effect
Swansea as they dominated the first half slotting into their passing style as
the Crystal Palace midfield failed to break up play as Swansea’s passing
regularly penetrated a deep lying Palace defence.
Early in the match Maroanne
Chemakh was injured and after an ineffectual ten minutes he was replaced by Cameron
Jerome. The tall striker tried in vain to change the flow of the game in the
first half by counter acting Swansea’s passing and pressing. He tried to bring
Yannick Bolasie more into the game to see whether his pace could have some
effect on the flow of attacks. Leon Britton Wayne Routledge and De Guzman
controlled the game through tight pass and move football that Crystal Palace
did not have an answer to. The pressing nature of Swansea’s attacks meant KG
was ineffectual in the first half unable to either break up play or launch
attacks from midfield. The away side needed an outlet.
Palace was under pressure. On
twenty five minutes the pressure told and Swansea broke through. Neat and
patient passing on the edge of the Palace box pinned the defence back and
Routledge sent De Guzman through on goal to slot past Speroni to continue his
recent goal scoring run and give the Jacks a 1 – 0 lead. Minutes later and
dominant possession stats almost saw Swansea double their lead. Julian Speroni
made a fantastic save from Wilfried Bony to keep Palace in touch in the match
at a crucial stage. It was a save that would change the game in the second half
keeping Palace alive in the contest.
At halftime Glenn Murray came
on for Tom Ince who was having a hot afternoon along with Joe Ledley from the
locals who gave them both a hostile reception. Murray changed the game getting
Cameron Jerome more involved in the match. He read Jerome’s flicks and runs effectively
enabling Palace to effectively launch attacks and pressurise Swansea for the
first time. KG got more into the game breaking up Swansea’s passing rhythm for
the first time enabling palace to pose a threat on the counter attack. Yannick
Bolasie was also cutting an increasingly effective figure down the wing running
at the Swansea defence for the first time.
On Eighty One minutes Murray
latched on to a loose ball as Swansea tried to play out from the back. He beat
goalkeeper Vorm, but was fouled in the box by Chico Flores who was judged to be
the last man and was shown the red card and sent off. Palace had a penalty and
Murray who had been out injured for eight months picked himself up and took the
penalty himself. Murray scored with the spot kick to equalise with his first
goal of the season to make the score 1 – 1.
After the goal Palace
dominated the last ten minutes of the match as they tried to make their man
advantage count. Murray had a shot cleared off the line by Jordi Amat. Jerome
Thomas who was on as substitute for Jonny Parr fell in the box trying to
convert a goal mouth scramble and was booked for simulation. Palace failed to
make their man advantage count and the game ended 1 – 1. Tony Pulis will fine
Thomas and Chemakh for diving in a creditable attempt to stamp it out at Palace.
Sunday’s game was Crystal
Palace’s first away draw of the season. With just two away wins and six away
goals all season the performance at the Liberty Stadium showed signs of
improvements from Palace away from home. This will have to improve again in a
fortnights time when Palace play League Cup Finalists Sunderland at the Stadium
of Light. Next Saturday Palace are back at Selhurst Park at home to Southampton.
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