Premier League match report: Swansea 1-1 Crystal Palace

Swansea had to settle for a point in their Premier League relegation battle as Crystal Palace stopped the rot after five straight defeats.

Gylfi Sigurdsson's sumptuous free-kick, his fifth goal in six games, gave Swansea a 13th-minute lead which their first-half play merited.

But defender Scott Dann struck two minutes after the restart to secure a point for a Palace side who were far improved after the break.

Although this result will do little for either side's ambitions to claw their way up the table, the draw at least provides some momentum for Swansea and Palace to take into their next games.

Emmanuel Adebayor made a surprise first Palace start after Eagles boss Alan Pardew had said his fitness levels only allowed the 31-year-old to make a cameo appearance.

In the end Adebayor managed 86 minutes and there was nothing wrong with his appetite as he kept Swansea's defenders busy early on.

But Palace were devoid of a cutting edge, in keeping with a side which had failed to win in seven games since December 19.

Wilfried Zaha prompted the odd flurry in setting up half-chances for Lee Chung-yong and Adebayor but Palace failed to test Lukasz Fabianski during a first half in which Swansea carried the greater attacking threat.

The hosts were rewarded for their endeavour when Adebayor conceded a free-kick, perhaps harshly awarded, on the edge of the area and Sigurdsson buried it low past Wayne Hennessey in fine fashion.

Palace were almost undone again moments later when Hennessey failed to hold Wayne Routledge's centre and Damien Delaney reacted well to block Andre Ayw's goalbound cross.

Swansea were tidy in possession and Alberto Paloschi kept the Palace rearguard occupied on his debut, with the hosts benefiting from having a focal point in attack.

Ayew almost slid home a second when Sigurdsson's corner travelled unimpeded to the far post and there was another escape for Palace after 35 minutes.

Jack Cork broke to the byline to pull the ball back into Routledge's path and, though the connection was good, the effort flew wide of Hennessey's far post.

But Palace were encouraged close to half-time by efforts from Yohan Cabaye and Dann and sending on Marouane Chamakh at half-time for Lee was a positive statement of intent from Pardew.

Their strong start to the second half saw them rewarded when Delaney flicked on Cabaye's corner and Dann beat Neil Taylor at the far post to bundle home his fifth goal of the season.

Adebayor miscued when well placed from Zaha's pass as Swansea took time to clear their heads from conceding.

But when they did Ayew appealed for a penalty under a challenge from Pape Souare and the Ghanaian set himself for an outrageous overhead kick which drifted inches wide of Hennessey's far post.

Both sides had opportunities to take all three points late on as Swansea skipper Ashley Williams saw his effort blocked while Palace substitute Hiram Boateng's shot was deflected wide.