Planet Swans ArchivesBrian Flynn made two changes from the side that started against Rushden last weekend bringing in Alan Tate for Kris O’Leary and Mark Wilson started his last game for the club in place of Lenny Johnrose.
Freestone
Duffy Tate Iriekpen Howard
Britton Wilson Robinson
Durkan
Trundle Nugent
The first half was a largely disappointing affair with plenty of the ball being in the middle third of the pitch but very little being actually created for the two sets of strikers to feed off. Izzy had our best chance of the first half when the ball fell to him in the area but his shot was saved low down by the Northampton keeper whilst the home side found their best efforts to be coming from outside the area as Northampton too struggled to make any real creation.
Former Cardiff man Josh Low on the right though was starting to cause Swansea problems and he seemed to have the beating of Michael Howard as the right flank seemed their most dangerous outlet. It was from that right flank that they took the lead a minute before half-time. Low picked up the ball following the break down of a Swansea attack and with Howard missing through being in that attack he bit both Izzy and Britton to the ball and laid a pin point cross onto the head of Richard Walker to put Northampton ahead.
As the second half started, so Swansea’s game seemed to brighten up a little and they were level within two minutes of the restart. Andy Robinson broke clear in midfield and his shot was deflected off a Northampton defender and into the path of Leon Britton who hit his first time shot into the back of the net and earned himself a yellow card in the process for his celebration with the travelling support. For the next five minutes Swansea looked at their most dangerous as Northampton seemed rocked by the equaliser and although no real chances were created in this period it seemed that the next goal would surely go against the away column.
But it was not to be as Low again broke down the right and as he lost control of the ball it deflected off Howard and into the path of Martin Smith. He controlled the ball as he turned and drove a hard shot past the dive of Roger to put Northampton back into the lead.
Brian Flynn responses by changing Howard for O’Leary – moving Izzy out to left back – a move that seemed more effective with Izzy looking more comfortable on the ball on the left hand flank. Five minutes later Durkan was replaced by Nardiello and Flynn went fully to three men up front in a bid to try and save the game. Durkan had had another of his ineffective nights on the right hand side and once again in the first half had managed to take a corner without delivering the ball into play. Maybe the inswinger is not for him? Within five minutes again Flynn was forced into another change as Richard Duffy went down with cramp to be replaced by Lenny Johnrose – moving Izzy back into the centre of defence with O’Leary and Johnrose taking the full back positions. Richard Duffy it has to be said is an 18 year old who seemingly gets cramp every game that he plays – that just doesn’t seem right to me?
Swansea stepped up a little to look for the equaliser leaving holes at the back that could, and probably should have been exploited by a Northampton third. Several good chances went missing as Swansea looked aimless at the other end as they searched for an equaliser. Nugent certainly looked off form tonight and with Trundle not firing as well Swansea’s options were limited and the game petered out into a defeat which leaves the Swans in 6th place
Picking the positives from tonight – both Leon and Robbo in the centre of midfield had decent games and Tate looks more solid at the back. Izzy at left back would be an interesting one to have another look at in a future game but really too many people under performed on the night and we got the result that we deserved. Josh Low on their right compared to Kieron Durkan on ours was no comparison – comparing Low with Maylett would have been nice had we been able to have that luxury.
Swans man of the match for me goes to Alan Tate who looked assured in everything that he did and it was he who tried to break through at the end to get an equaliser but his control at the last minute let him down.
Back to the Vetch on Saturday and we need to get back to winning ways now before we start to lose touch with those at the top end of the division. Five points is nothing – we cannot afford for that to become seven or eight.
On the bright side maybe everyone will under estimate us again now!!!!
