Sometimes you just have a bad day at the office. And today was very much a case of that for the Swans as they found themselves second best in justa bout every department and some soft defending saw them concede three goals to a Palace side that deserved the win on the day.
It was a day where too many players found themselves off the boil and despite the best efforts of the Swans on the afternoon there was just not enough in the tank to get anything out of the game.
Maybe it would have been different if Scotland's chance in the second half had gone one inch either side of the relieved Palace goalkeeper but then again you got the feeling on the day it probably wouldn't have made any difference. You cannot afford to gift goals to a side as experienced as Palace – especially not when they are managed by someone with as much nous as Neil Warnock is capable of displaying.
Mark Gower was back in the starting line up – you would assume because of injury to Tom Butler who did not even feature on the bench. It left the Swans to line up as follows
Dorus
Rangel Serran Williams Tate
Dyer Britton Gomez Pratley Gower
Scotland
Yet again those that elected the afternoon should be spent at the Liberty were treated to a largely forgettable first half. The Swans had the larger share of possession but you always got the feeling that Palace were the more dangerous as they hurried Swansea. Nathan Dyer extracted a booking early doors from the Palace left back and then inexplicably never ran at him again all afternoon as the Swans style was broken down all too easily.
The side was starting to show the effects of a long season back in the second tier and I am sure the fortnight break that will follow the two away trips will be as welcomed in the dressing room as potentially in the bank accounts of those who elect to make most away trips.
The usual dominance in midfield was missing and the shape of the team was not helped as Gower and Dyer drifted into the middle of the park leaving spaces on the wing. Coming forward Tate and Rangel were less effective then they have been and the afternoon was a shortened one for Tate who was limping when he went in at half time to be raplaced at the interval by Matty Collins.
Collins almost became an instant hero when he combined well with Scotland but his shot hit the outside of the post and went out for a goal kick. If that was disappointing what followed less than a minute later was extremely sloppy. Serran should have elected to head the ball back to De Vries but hesitated allowing Moses to collect the ball and fire home to give the visitors the lead.
Pintado replaced Gower shortly afterwards but before he could have any impact the Swans were two down just past the hour. A free kick conceded by Dyer found the back post and as the ball was headed back across goal Jose Fonte had the easiest task to double the Palace lead.
Pintado sparked some hope five minutes later when he burst free to keep his copmposure and score but it was a glimmer that was never going to turn into anything more as Dyer wasted two decent chances and appeared to visibly lose interest in the game to be replaced eventually by Orlandi.
Swansea were trying and Palace were defending in numbers but by no means hanging on as the Swans poor afternoon was compounded by below par performances from those that are usually so consistent. Just one of those days.
The misery was complete in stoppage time when Kuqi added the third and it was the 600-odd Palace fans who went home happy as the Swans play off hopes took a knock.
The season though remains very much alive but a big step up in performance is needed as we hit the road for three successive away games that will test us much more than many predicted Palace would.
A bad day at the office indeed but that happens.
This article first appeared on JACKARMY.net.