Planet Swans ArchivesWhen Lee Trundle arrived at Swansea we talked about how we hadn’t had a goal scorer to score 20 league goals in a season. Well now we have one who could easily have 20 league goals by Christmas as he makes the League One lark look so easy with touches of sublime brilliance. On a night when two evenly matched sides met in front of a stadium record crowd of 19,288 it was the genius that is Lee Trundle that proved the difference between the two sides.
A possibly dubious penalty was converted with ease, a strike from 30 plus yards found the corner of the net with pin point accuracy and for good measure he hit the bar, had a goal disallowed and got booked for good measure as well. Lee Trundle is becoming more and more irreplacable for Swansea but with every game the likelihood of his departure seems to go up.
Yeovil were the last side to beat Swansea in the league – the only side to achieve that feat in the league since August – and proved tough opposition at White Rock this evening. They hustle, they bustle and they are effective as a unit which makes them so frustrating and to be honest I am glad to see the back of them this season. We were helped by a red card for one time Swans target Lee Johnson who saw yellow twice in a matter of ten seconds as he boiled over – particularly good timing for us as Yeovil were very much on top at that point.
There was an excited buzz around White Rock at the start of the game with talk all week being of a record crowd and with the ‘SOLD OUT’ signs on the stadium before today arrived, it was to be an electric atmosphere as the league leaders looked to preserve their position.
Jackett made no changes from the side that started last week against Southend, leaving captain Roberto Martinez on the bench again
Willy
Tatey Monk Izzy Sam
Leon KOL OTJ Macca
Bayo Trunds/God/Genius/Sir Lee
Subs: Big Kev, Forbsey, Connor, Robbo, Roberto
It was cagey for most of the first 45 minutes with Swansea restricted in the main to busy midfield work and the occasional threat up front whilst our visitors were much the same. Way and Johnson always cause us problems in midfield and Sodje and Skiverton can look like a wall at the back. For us I felt we were crying out at times for the calming influence of the Spanish one but it was not to be – not tonight anyway. The only goal of the first half came from Trundle. He burst into the area a la his 3rd against Chesterfield and as he went around the defender there was a slight clash of feet and Trundle went down. The referee had no hesitation to point to the spot – maybe luckily for us – but a decision is a decision and Lee’s 60th goal for the Swans came as he sent the keeper the wrong way. 1-0
Now it was interesting and Yeovil had the ball in the back of the net soon after only for their annoyance to show through as Willy had clashed with Izzy and the referee stopped play – rightly so – for a head injury to the central defender. The visiting fans – 1200 of them – weren’t happy but the decision was correct. Probably one of the few in the first 45 minutes that were. Most of the anger was directed at the linesman on the East side who had to ‘Ip Dip Sky Blue’ before making every decision such was the length of time he took.
Half time came, Swans were up by the goal. Second half saw a nightmare start as Izzy looked hell bent on giving Yeovil an equaliser. Two mistakes went unpunished as Swansea struggled to get hold of the ball and create anything. Even a pass. Yeovil were on top, Swansea were rocking and a goal looked likely. Until Johnson’s moment of madness. He broke up a run from Leon on the right and the referee gave a free kick – again possibly one of those that may not have been given on another day. Once he made the decision it was a free kick he produced a yellow card to Johnson for protesting. Cue Red Mist descent, hand gesture at referee, red card for Johnson. Stupidity in the extreme especially as his side was on top at the time.
But even with a man advantage we struggled to make it pay as Yeovil came at us and again I would have introduced Martinez into the fray. Put a foot on the ball, calm it down, play football and make the man count. It didn’t happen.
But when you have Lee Trundle in your side, sometimes you just need one touch. Bayo and Weale went up for the ball together, keeper cleared to Trundle, 35 yards out. Trundle controls with chest, looks up and connects with left foot. Weale scrambles back but the connection is as good as it gets, White Rock is on its feet before the ball is in the back of the net. Trundle adds another £100k to his value, Swansea have a hero in which they can be truly proud. It’s almost as good as it can possibly get. 2-0, game is effectively won
With a two goal cushion Yeovil didn’t drop, they carried on at us and we were content to break. We could have had more, they could have had one back. They probably deserved at least one but it wasn’t to be for them. The Swans were home, the game was won and there was time for the female streaker to make an appearance. 4000 stewards in the ground, only one is brave enough to come on and stop her. Strategically placed hands remove her from the ground.
We’re not a one man team. Honest we’re not. But in one man we have someone who can turn any game and there really is nothing else to add.
WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!
