Report & Highlights: Palace ease past Swindon as França fires hat-trick

Summary:

• Pierre Sage names two different XIs for each half at the Crystal Palace Academy, taking on a Swindon side managed by former Eagles’ boss Ian Holloway.
• 9 – GOAL: Nketiah opens the scoring after charging down a loose clearance
• 21 – GOAL: Nketiah scores his second after reacting smartly with a sliding finish
• 27: Swindon win a penalty when Glatzel is fouled by Ozoh but Drinan’s effort comes back off the post
• 33 – GOAL: Holman halves the deficit for Swindon after bursting into the area
• HT: Palace 2-1 Swindon
• 56 – GOAL: França reacts sharply to chip the ball over Ripley for Palace's third
• 59 – GOAL: The Brazilian gets his second, converting a penalty after Drakes-Thomas is fouled
• 82 – GOAL: França gets his hat-trick after another solo run into the Swindon box
• FT: Palace 5-1 Swindon

Summer signing Óscar Mingueza got his first taste of action for the Eagles – who wore the brand new 2026/27 home kit for the first time – with the Spain international starting in the right wing-back role.

In glorious South London sunshine Palace started brightly against their League Two opponents, Eddie Nketiah nearly getting in-behind after only three minutes with Swindon ‘keeper Conor Ripley required to be alert.

And the forward swiftly got the first goal of the Pierre Sage era when pressing a defensive clearance inside the Swindon six-yard box – the ball rebounding off Nketiah and straight into the net.

It was an unusual goal to start the game, but demonstrated how eager Palace were to press fast and force errors from the Robins.

A driving run from Romain Esse won a free-kick in a dangerous area as the Eagles aimed to add to the lead – Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’s resulting effort just over.

Nketiah had his second not long after, sliding in to get on the end of Esse’s low effort across the face of the Swindon goal.

Ian Holloway’s Swindon could have earned a route back into the contest when David Ozoh tripped Paul Glatzel inside the box, after Palace overplayed at the back.

But Aaron Drinan – the League Two Player of the Season last year – saw his effort kept out by Walter Benítez.

The Robins were growing into the contest with Holman whipping a free-kick over the Palace bar.

They got their reward when the same player chopped inside Tayo Adaramola and coolly found the inside of the post.

And they went close to levelling just before the break when Glatzel headed just past the post from a dangerous free-kick.

With Palace leading 2-1 at the break, both sides introduced fresh XIs for the second-half.

Most notably, Cheick Doucouré was back in action for the Eagles, after missing the entirety of last season, whilst Matheus França also came in up front.

And 11 minutes after half-time the two-goal lead was restored through the Brazilian. A deflected pass ran kindly for França, who dinked the ball calmly over Ripley to find the net.

It was four just a few minutes later. Joél Drakes-Thomas was brought down by Ripley, leaving França to step-up and coolly find the bottom left-hand corner for his second.

Palace were now in the mood for a goal glut, with Justin Devenny’s excellent cross finding Brennan Johnson, the Wales international heading just wide.

Sage’s side continued to control the contest, but had to wait for the final ten minutes to get the next goal.

Doucoure’s high press up the pitch saw the ball fall into França’s path. The Brazilian drove forward into the Swindon box before converting calmly – a lovely solo effort to complete his hat-trick.

That was how it finished, with the Eagles making a strong start to their pre-season campaign. Palace return to action away to Bromley next Saturday (15:00 BST).

Palace first-half XI: Benítez (GK), Walker-Smith, King, Mingueza, Mitchell, Adaramola, Hughes, Ozoh, Esse, Rak-Sakyi, Nketiah.

Palace second-half XI: Matthews (GK), Jemide, Canvot, Benamar, Sosa, Cardines (Imray, 70), Devenny, Doucouré, Drakes-Thomas, Johnson, França.

Unused substitutes: Whitworth (GK).