premier league
SWANSEA added to the dark clouds circling over Frank De Boer’s Crystal Palace with victory at Selhurst Park.
Tammy Abraham with his first Premier League goal and Jordan Ayew struck either side of half-time to hand Swansea an opening win of the campaign.
But for Palace this is a worrying start to De Boer’s reign; no goals, no points and no confidence heading into the international break after three defeats.
De Boer wants to change the Palace philosophy and make them more attractive to watch, but the adjustment has not been smooth so far, with this contest already being billed by some as a relegation battle.
Swansea handed a debut to £15 million new boy Sam Clucas, while James McArthur came in to the Palace midfield as Rub en Loft us-Cheek nursed a groin injury.
The visitors should have been ahead inside three minutes when Kyle Naughton played Abraham down the right and Ayew headed his effort wide when in front of goal.
Palace were slow to settle but the crowd came to life when Patrick van Aanholt flashed the ball across goal and McArthur went close with a header.
McArthur also rifled a shot past Lukasz Fabianski’s far post, but both sides were guilty of lacking urgency and any real quality in the final third.
But Swansea were almost ahead after 36 minutes as Ayew spied Abraham with a ball over the top and the striker forced Wayne Hennessey into action, as he stopped an effort that was probably creeping wide.
Alfie Mawson was left unmarked from Tom Carroll’s resulting corner, but the centre-half missed the target from close range.
The half was meandering to a close when Swansea scored with the first on-target attempt of the game.
Leroy Fer swung over a cross a nd Abr ah a m showed plenty of strength to fend off Palace substitute Martin Kelly and finish with a close- range volley.
There was another moment to forget for the former Liverpool defender after 48 minutes when Kyle Naughton dispossessed him and spotted the run of Ayew.
The Ghanaian blocked Hennessey’s attempted clearance and the ball rolled embarrassingly in to the Palace net.
De Boer made three quick changes to try get Palace back in the game, but in reality the Eagles were toothless in front of goal as Paul Clement celebrated an important win for his Swansea side.