Planet Swans ArchivesWith ten days passing since Robinson notched a late equaliser at Tranmere to maintain the Swans position at the top and whilst a disappointing 13,207 witnessed the game, it was the result that was all important as we embarked on the first of three home games in a week.
Fifty points this side of the New Year is well within our grasp now and would provide a benchmark on which we could build to promotion so that the Scunthorpe Uniteds are replaced with the Sunderlands for next season. It could easily happen at this rate.
As expected, Kenny Jackett stuck pretty much with the side that ended the game at Tranmere just Britton for Forbes being the the only change from that line up
Big Willy
Tatey Monk Izzy Sam
Ickle Leon Roberto OTJ Robbo
Bayo Trunds
Subs: Connor, KOL, Forbesy, Big Kev, Freezer
The first half passed by with as little incident as the two sides could muster. Robbo had a stinging shot from 30 yards fumbled by the keeper and Izzymade a world class saving tackle in stoppage time to deny Scunthorpe a lead that they didn’t deserve any more than we would have done. Slack defending from Swansea was causing concern at times but Billy Sharp looked a 15 goal striker as much as Lee Trundle looked a 17 goal striker on the night. Read that comment whichever way you choose.
I sometimes grow convinced that Kenny has some form of magic potion in his dressing room because all too often we see a different Swansea in the second half and so it proved again tonight. For twenty minutes after the interval we passed the ball around, the way that we know we can and we created chances and good chances at that. We had already threatened a couple of times when we took the lead with one of the best goals the fledgling stadium has seen.
Leon won the ball on his own goal line with a great tackle and advanced fifteen yards before playing an exquisite back heel to Tate. Tate’s forward ball found Trundle who played the ball into the advancing run of Britton who was now away from the defence by several yards. We all know that shooting is not Leon’s strong point but there had to be hope that someone could keep pace with him. That someone was Robbo who was on hand to take the side pass from Leon in the penalty area and drive home. Simple football, very effective and a joy to watch. It took 53 minutes to arrive.
Bristol City and Chesterfield have been buried under avalanches at White Rock this season and for the next 15 minutes it did look as if Scunthorpe may go the same way. OTJ saw a bullet header blocked by Trundle’s back whilst another shot from distance flew just wide. In that as well there was snapshots from Trundle whilst Bayo just couldn’t stretch to convert another perfect Britton close. Swansea were sizzling at this point and “That’s why we’re top of the league” was most apt.
But whilst it looked as if it was a matter of time before one became two we decided that Scunthorpe had had enough and persisted in trying to let them back into the game. The busy looking Sharp ran plenty but never threatened Willy and although they did hit the back of the net it was ten minutes after a blow of the whistle for a free kick. A better side may have taken advantage of some of our generosity but Scunny are, sadly for them, not a better side.
Forbesy replaced Robbo and as one goalscorer departed we were welcoming another as he ran onto Trundle’s perfect through pass to hammer home the second with three minutes to go. The points were ours once again – 23 from 30 at home. That is why we are top of the league.
Connor came on for Bayo at the end and almost witnessed Trundle scoring the third bar a blocked shot inside the area and the clock ticked down to a comfortable night in the end despite some of our best endavours at times.
Man of the match by a mile for me was Leon who was one of the few to come out of the first half with credit and then built on that second half. Honourable mentions to both Martinez and Tate who played well and a word about Trundle who was very quiet on the night. But we’ll take that time to time, another night (Yeovil) we need his magic and we get it.
Twenty games. 41 points. 45 goals. Top of the league. Admit it, what odds would you have given me on that at the beginning of August?
JACK ARMY!
