Planet Swans ArchivesToday’s team was the usual defence with O’Leary still in for Bound. The midfield was Romo Price Lacey & Jenkins with Watkin & Savarese up front. The weather had eased with the pitch playable and very soft on top. An estimated 400 Swan fans.
In the pre warm up the players looked focused and a change in the routines seemed to help. We even had a Spurs fan joining us in our shortest journey to a Swans match. The first half was very much end to end with the Swans dominating without any real chances on goal apart from on 10minutes when we thought we had scored. It was at the far end but it looked like Savarese & Watkin trying to bundle the ball in with their goalie on the ground, but a foul given.
This was a very good first half display by the team who looked up for it. Comments have been made in the past about the standard of officials and again we were not to be disappointed when again many strange decisions were given.
Their goal was slightly farcical what with half challenges and the bounce of the ball on an uneven pitch, the ball going past Rog in the area which resembled a sandy beach.
Half time came with the team putting in a large amount of effort to get back into the game. On around the half-hour mark Savarese had been caught in a tackle but no foul given, resulting in him needing lengthy treatment.
We started the second half in good spirits, but this was to change dramatically when not for the first time Rog had to race out of his area to intercept, after taking the ball around one attacker he was caught in possession resulting in an open goal.
Cusack came on for Saverese who must have been suffering from the effects of his first half injury. Romo was also replaced by Casey. Walsall were still showing us respect with their goalkeeper Walker wasting time at every opportunity. Even so they were now gaining the upper hand and the inevitable happened, goal no 3. A cross from their left was met at the near post with their player getting there before 2 defenders and glancing a header into the far corner.
We did get some hope when Cusack was bundled in the area And Watkin converting from the spot. This hope was short lived as Walsall now playing confident football dragged the defence all over the pitch and it was no surprise when number 4 came, when the defence were ball watching allowing Hall a clear shot on goal after a cross from their left found him in acres of space on the right in our area.
By the time the fifth came many fans had left. The final minutes were played out with us doing most of the attacking but in fairness Walsall had won by a canter.
There were a few shouts towards the end aimed mainly at Cusack about pride. We saw it differently, the team had played the majority of the game, showing commitment. effort and courage.
The fact unfortunately is that we are not good enough and need strengthening. We have come away from many games this season feeling much worse than we do tonight. 5-1 is a bad result, but at least effort was shown.
In the end we were well beaten by a team who attacked at pace and spread the ball around. We could say that luck was not with us especially for the first 3 goals. The first down to the pitch. The second a mistake by Rog. The third was after a counter attack from one of our attacking moves which looked like it was broken up by a handball.
In reality you make your own luck and as confidence is low 50-50 balls end up 40-60. In the last 2 reports, and others commenting at games we were not at, Price has been roasted for lack of effort, well today that cannot be said as he battled with the rest of them. As at Wigan it was only Rog that really applauded the fans at the end.
Fans who for the final 5 minutes were singing their love for their CLUB. The question is where do we go from here. The team selections can be questioned, but whichever team we put out is eventually overrun as our midfield is far to lightweight.
Why not restore Bound in defence allowing O’Leary to beef up the midfield. Time is running out quickly, but more importantly the loyalty of the fans is stretched to the limit. If only we could add our good second half performances to our first half display today.
