by Matt Woosnam

Ian Holloway was disappointed with Crystal Palace’s performance in their 3-0 defeat to Crawley at the Broadfield Stadium on Saturday.

Goals from Billy Clarke, Sergio Torres and Mat Sadler gave the Red Devils a deserved victory against an Eagles side that featured most of the first team who will be hoping to play against Tottenham Hotspur in the opening fixture of the Premier League on August 18.

And the manner of the defeat left Holloway exasperated, saying he “didn’t recognise that as a Crystal Palace team” and that he was “shocked with his senior lads.”

He added: “We had a lot of chances but didn’t take them, and that might be our problem if I’m not careful.”

Despite having twice as many shots on goal as the home team, Palace failed to find the net as they were wasteful with their finishing.

The away side did, however, begin the brighter, with a delightful ball across the area narrowly evading Aaron Wilbraham. Crawley tested Julian Speroni in the Palace goal, and the keeper looked a little nervy.

New record signing Dwight Gayle saw his fierce drive parried away by Paul Jones in the Crawley goal as Palace were the better of the two sides in the first half, Jerome Thomas failing to net despite being clean through on goal.

Yet it was the home team who went into the break a goal ahead, courtesy of Clarke who side-footed home.

The second half was a different story, with Crawley being far more dominant and Palace’s defence showing its frailties, particularly at full-back.

Torres doubled the home side’s lead with a neat header following another Speroni save.

Finally the match was sewn up by Sadler who fired home an emphatic volley from inside the area to make it 3-0 to Crawley.