Coming into this game as they were on losing runs of differing sorts - Wolves had lost 5 on the trot and for the Swans it was 4 consecutive away fixtures without return - both Clubs could be forgiven for a tentative start. Had this been the case then surely the Midlanders raucous home support, or the Welsh travelling army could not have complained.
So, at the 12.45 kick off of the Premier League weekend, on a bright and sunny Autumn day, it was, perhaps, a little surprising that despite speculation otherwhise during the week, the only Swansea team change from the Norwich game saw Mark Gower drafted in to replace Wayne Routledge, who was on the bench. Wolves started with both Ebanks Blake and Doyle up front, ostensibly a 4-4-2 vs the visitors 4-3-3/4-5-1.
From Swansea, tentative this was not. From Wolves, maybe. The grumbling from their fans was noticeable from the off.
Apart from a 1st minute Karl Henry shot, which swerved violently on it's way to a good parry from Vorm, the Swans proceeded to show the Wolves how to keep the ball, and how that leads to better things.Although both Sinclair and Dyer were being doubled up, after 7mins Dyer and Graham produced a corner from a blocked attack on the right.
Again, a Joe Allen shot on 9m led to the same result. On 13m, an Ash Williams cross-field ball gave Dyer again the chance to earn another corner. Swansea were on top, but had to cope with Wolves around the 19min mark carving out a flurry of opportunities with Vorm's save from an O'Hara shot the highlight. Swansea, with their quality posession, finally produced a goal on 23 mins. Gower chipped an outstanding pass from the inside right channel some 30yds out which left Danny Graham, on receipt in the 6yd box able to both elude Johnson's challenge,twice,and show excellent composure in rolling the ball into the net below Hennesey for his third goal in three games. 1-0 Swansea, and deserved.
Despite Wolves on occasion threatening the Welsh goal from a succession of dubious free kicks awarded against Monk, the quality and quantity of Swans posession and attacks produced a loud chorus of boos from the home fans for the home team.To this cacophony of dissent, Graham ran an excellent through channel on the right to produce an effective cross which Joe Allen, arriving perfectly, turned into the net. 2-0 Swansea, and the home howls of derision got louder.
The remainder of the half passed in much the same fashion- Swansea generally first to both
initial and second ball, and Wolves stuttering and stumbling to get into the game.Both teams left the field to renewed hostilities toward the hosts, and stirring renditions of Hymns and Arias, and other vocal gems from the always loud and proud JackArmy.
The second half, for 2/3rds of its length, followed much the same pattern, puncuated by thrills and spills mostly at the Wolves end, with Welsh goalkeeper Wayne Hennessy between the home sticks, keeping his team in the game.I recall him making at least 5 crucial intervensions of one sort or another- from Sinclair(played in by Rangel) on 60mins : a deflected Sinclair shot that spun over the bar on 66mins :from Gower on 81mins. It's apparent, on reflection, that all of these interventions kept his team in the game and it would be remiss of me not to say that
this was the period when the Swans could have put the game to bed.2-0 up and coasting seems fine. 3-0 and the opponent is dead and buried. Swansea were at least profligate when they could have been clinical. Lesson no 1.
There were a whole load of other influential instances from both parties in this half, too.
1) On 67mins Mick McCarthy sent on sent on Milijas and Guedioura for Hammill and Jarvis. Despite vociferous criticism from the stands, both played a part in changing the game.
2) On 73mins, Brendan Rodgers swapped Orlandi for Britton. The key here was that while Britton had been instumental in Swansea both getting and keeping the ball, the Spaniard,
despite sterling effort, was unable to exert the same influence.
3) Swansea, despite ample posession and skilfull breaks began to sit deeper and deeper, almost inviting Wolves to "sling it in"- either from wide or general play- which they did.
It led to Routledge, who had replaced Dyer on 82m, conceding a disputed(from TV replays) corner. The incoming kick was headed back into the middle of the six yard box mix, and despite Vorm's initial block, Kevin Doyle poked in the goal. 2-1, with 5mins to go, and the home crowd woke up.
Moras replacing Gower confirmed that the Swans would be happy to hold what they had- but it was not to be. From a break on the left, a good pull back to the penalty spot saw Jamie O'Hara smash home the equaliser. 86 mins, 2-2, and we Swans were gutted. Collywobbles aside, the minutes ticked to full time. Swansea had their first premier League away point. Wolves had snatched a draw from not the jaws, but half-way-down-the-oesophagus of defeat.
Conclusions
The period from 75 mins to the close was crucial. As a team, we were guilty of dropping deeper and deeper and this invites the opposition to push forward.Many of us have seen our team do this when we are in front on numerous occasions in our journey up the League. It's easy to say it, it's very hard NOT to do it. We need to cut the team some slack- they know what went on and will also spend this week analysing it. We must, and will, learn-quickly- the Prem is unforgiving.
We didn't take one of numerous chances when on top at 2-0.It would have killed the game stone dead.
I've already made plain my feelings about the Britton substitution.The crucial fact is that when he was playing we had, kept, and pressed the ball. The ball is all. With it we win. Without it, unless we get it back, we struggle.
The psychology of our performance is important. People will have seen us, and will know that we are more than capable of winning. Anywhere within reason. We are a work in progress, and, from the interviews I've seen, our Manager is savvy enough to learn. Initially very frustrated, I'm chilling. Do our players and staff the courtesy of allowing that they will learn from today's harsh lesson.
Onwards, and Bolton at Home next.
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