Planet Swans ArchivesWith the Swans competing against the Egg Chasing, Early K.O. and the threat of violence posed at this match the Swans turnout of around 1,200 fans was pretty respectable and easily out vocalled the Local support for 95% of the match.
When the game commenced things weren’t looking good for the Swans as the pressure was piled on by the Robins in search of an early goal, but the Swans took an early lead after 10 mins when a mistake by the Robins defence set Stu Roberts through on goal, his shot was parried but had enough power to take it over the line.
From this point onward we started to get into the game but the impetous was always in favour of Bristol City as their front 2 (Peacock and Thorpe) were ripping our defence apart with their off the ball runs. After 17 mins this pressure finally told twice, after a ball dissecting Howard and Smith sent Peacock through Howard in trying to tackle him pulled him down. Peacock made a Tesco’s own Chicken Tikka Masala Microwave meal out of it though, but the descision was fair and Howard made the long walk off the pitch.
From the resulting FK shot after shot was not being cleared as the Swans struggled to adapt to their new formation, and eventually the ball popped out to Brain Tinnian on the left wing who cut inside Jenk’s forcing Roger to attack him on the by-line, but his cross went the back post where City’s defender Mickey Bell stumbled the ball into the net rather than shooting it!
Game On! The rest of the 1st half was a lot of pressure from Bristol but Swans were playing well on the break with Stu Roberts adapting to his new role upfront extremely well.
Bristol City had 2 great chances to lead at the half when Roger pulled off a great save diving low and to his right from a close range shot destined for the bottom right corner . In many opinons the save was better than the save against Reading on Tuesday. However miss of the season has to go to City’s Peacock who after a defence splitting cross from the left had only to tap the ball in from 1 yard, but somehow he managed to push the ball over the bar!
As the second half started the Swans had a new whiff of confidence and they more than matched City for the first 40 mins of the second half.
The game could have completely changed 6 mins into the 2nd half when a great ball from Romo sent Stu Roberts through on goal again, but this time he was pulled down in a carbon copy incident that Howard was sent off earlier for but in my opinion the foul was not given because the difference was Stu was pulled down in the area, and the double advantage of a penalty and back to equal men was an unfair advantage in the refs eyes!
However the game carried on with Swansea looking the more enterprising as Bristol have this fascination of passing the ball along their back 3/4 for 2 mins before they consider an attack much like Reading on Tuesday, therefore possesion wise we did not see a lot of the ball but we were a hell of a lot more constructive.
15 mins into the 2nd half another through ball from Romo sent Savarese clear on goal again who shot from the edge of the area as the keeper advanced, but his shot was saved and collected from the cross from Stu.
Then 10 mins later a free kick from Romo hit the post with the keeper stranded only for Bristol to return the compliment a couple minutes later from a powerful shot.
For the last 5 mins though Bristol sent on another forward and were forcing us to defend very deep and although the defence had been comfortable giving away corners when in danger, Bristol eventually scored from their umpteenth corner when a great cross from left was rattled home with a great header by Beadle on the far post.
Hollins then brought on Watkin & Cusack in place of Savarese & Keegan but in the meley of pushing everyone forward a lucky rebound fell for Beadle clear on goal from the halfway line, he passed to a very offside Thorpe who slotted home against starnded Roger.
Despite the result there were so many positives about this game that gives hope for the future, were finally starting to play like a team, Stu upfront is proving an excellent idea an is causing many more goal scoring opportunities.
