Planet Swans Archives12 years after we tasted Wembley success in the competition, the Swans are now just two games away from a cup final in Cardiff with only current League One leaders Colchester standing between them and that accolade.
Leon Knight and Sam Ricketts had both passed up the chance to be the match winner when Tate stood up and as his penalty hit the back of the net, the celebrations started after a game which was enjoyable to watch despite Swansea failing twice to hold onto a goal advantage.
Following the disappointment of an injury time equaliser last Saturday, Jackett opted to field a pretty much full strength side for the visit of Walsall meaning no places for the youth that he had introduced in the early rounds. Even Big Willy kept his place ahead of Murphy who has been used in the competition so far
Big Willy
Tatey Monkey Stone Cold Sam
Big Leon Robbo Roberto Macca
LT10 Little Leon
Subs: Way, Murphy, Bayo, Watt, Forbesy
Swansea started at a great pace and when Leon Knight flicked in an Andy Robinson header from a Lee Trundle corner after six minutes it looked like it could be the opening of the floodgates as the Swans looked to bury an under strength Walsall side.
We were first at this stage to pretty much everything in midfield and the width that Leon Britton provided us on the right was causing endless problems in the Walsall defence. Kevin McLeod seemed to be four gears up from his performance on Saturday until injury ended his night early thanks to one of several heavy Walsall challenges during this period.
The departure of McLeod led to a home debut for Darren Way with Robbo moving out to the left and it took the Swans a little while to adjust to this change. We were still the better side but for fifteen minutes we were far less fluent. Up front we had Trundle and Knight showing that they really could work well and as the rumours around the stadium suggested maybe they were soon to be joined by a certain striker from Swindon, rumoured to be inside the stadium taking in his potential new surroundings.
Half time came and went and with it the thought that we were now going into the second half knowing what we have seen in the past few games. And yes we did sit back a little but nowehere near as much as we had done in previous weeks. The ever running Andy Robinson was proving a constant threat as was Leon Britton with both of them threatening to release the pace of Knight for the second. Robinson did on one occasion but Knight rounded the keeper but knocked the ball just too far to make it count. With Walsall coming into the game, the Swans were still in control until oddly we elected to replace Britton with Forbes.
Immediately we looked less dangerous, Walsall looked more so. And they grabbed an equaliser when their man shot home from the edge of the area for the equaliser Frustration at White Rock once more but done because we lacked the attacking edge we had gained for most of the game. Blame for the goal must stand at the feet of Kevin Austin who was outpaced by the lively striker.
Walsall at this stage were the better side and looked much more likely to score. The final killer ball was never there and when it was the finishing let them down as extra time loomed. Sam Ricketts though was on one of his inspired performances and on one of his many breaks from the back he hit the pin point cross which was met with a bullet like header from the soaring Adrian Forbes. The keeper pulled of a great save from the header but could only parry to Robinson who notched yet another goal in the chase of Trundle’s tally for the season. 2-1 less than ten minutes left, game won?
Not at all, another hesitation at the back from Austin let in Constable almost immediately and he hit a well placed powerful shot past Willy into the corner for two each. Twice leading, the Swans were heading for extra time.
And so it proved and extra time pretty much came and went with little incident. Couple of half chances were just wide of the mark and penalties it was for the right to face Colchester.
Robbo, Roberto, Bayo and Forbes were all on target for the Swans in the first four penalties as were Walsall. Four each and their keeper was David Beckham-esque as he hammered it over the bar. Cue Leon Knight’s chance to be a hero. Cue keeper making amends with the save. Big Willy saves the next and it is the excellent Ricketts chance to be the hero. Cue save again. Still four penalties each, they score and Garry Monk is the coolest in the stadium as he makes it five each. Walsall miss again and it’s Alan Tate who makes himself the hero along side the rest to put the Swans within touching distance of Cardiff.
It won’t be easy against Colchester and we will have to improve on current form but surely I can’t be the only one hoping tonight that the second leg is at home and we can have a real party to celebrate a cup final. It can happen. Can’t it?
