Crystal Palace 1-2 Swansea: Angel Rangel strikes late winner at Selhurst Park

Substitute Angel Rangel struck a late winner for Swansea as they won 2-1 at relegation rivals Crystal Palace in the Premier League at Selhurst Park.

With incoming boss Paul Clement watching on from the stands, Alfie Mawson had headed the Swans in front just before half-time on Tuesday night, before Wilfried Zaha's stunning 83rd-minute equaliser looked to have nicked a point for Palace.

But Rangel turned up in the box late on to slot the winner and lift Swansea off the bottom of the table and into 19th, one point off Palace in 17th.

Sam Allardyce, meanwhile, is still chasing a first win in charge of the club, having added a second-straight defeat to their draw with Watford in his first game in charge. 

Swansea had the extra day of rest heading into the game, and it showed in the first 45 minutes as they dominated virtually throughout.

Fernando Llorente was the first to go close after six minutes, heading wide from close range after Wayne Routledge had dinked a lovely cross into his path. 

The Swans then saw great chances go amiss for Ki Sung-yueng, Federico Fernandez and Routledge, and it would have cost them were it not for Palace being controversially denied a penalty after 33 minutes.

One long ball from goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey managed to beat the entire Swansea defence, and Christian Benteke raced onto it before appearing to be tripped by Lukasz Fabianski as he attempted to round him. Referee Paul Tierney, however, waved it away, much to the fury of the home fans at Selhurst Park.

And to add to their anger, Swansea finally did take the lead three minutes before half-time, as Mawson did well to flick a header from Gylfi Sigurdsson's inswinging free-kick into the bottom corner.

Palace were forced to withdraw Benteke at half-time after the striker got injured during the penalty incident in the first half, with Fraizer Campbell replacing him up top.

Sam Allardyce then threw on Bakary Sako for Andros Townsend shortly afterwards, and the changes helped to vastly improve Palace's attacking play, with Sako wanting a penalty in the 77th minute after going down under a challenge from Rangel, who also appeared to handle it, only for appeals to be denied again.

Zaha switched to the right and immediately provided a real threat to Swansea, but it was a drift into the middle that finally saw Palace grab the equaliser seven minutes from time.

And it was a sensational finish from the newly-converted Ivory Coast winger, playing his final game before heading to the African Cup of Nations. Martin Kelly's cross was just behind Zaha, but he managed to wheel his body around and thrash a volley home from the edge of the area.

It was a goal worthy of a Premier League point in any context, but it wasn't to be for Palace as Swansea managed to nick it late on as substitute Rangel was found by Leroy Fer while running in behind, before finishing smartly past Hennessey to send the away fans into jubilation.

Player ratings

Crystal Palace: Hennessey (6), Kelly (6), Delaney (5), Tomkins (5), Ward (5), Ledley (6), Cabaye (6), Puncheon (5), Townsend (5), Zaha (7), Benteke (4)

Subs: Campbell (6), Sako (6), Mutch (n/a)

Swansea: Fabianski (6), Naughton (7), Fernandez (7), Mawson (8), Taylor (7), Ki (7), Fulton (6), Cork (6), Routledge (6), Sigurdsson (7), Llorente (6)

Subs: Rangel (7),  Fer (6),  Dyer (n/a)

Man of the match: Alfie Mawson