Planet Swans ArchivesTrundle’s goal was his last involvement in the match as he was substituted immediately but was well enough to celebrate with the 2000 travelling support at the end of the game after a three points superbly battled for.
You don’t expect to lose both your starting centre halves to injury during the game but that is exactly what happened to the Swans as they started with Izzy and Watt and ended with man of the match Tate and Ricketts. But other than one moment of Tyson speed, they kept Forest out.
After wins against Bournemouth and the extra time success against Carmarthen, the Swans lined up as
Big Willy
Sam Watt Izzy Tommy W
Big Leon Tatey Roberto Robbo
LT10 Fallon
Subs: Murphy, Thorpe, Little Leon, Old Macdonald, Forbesy
Forest definitely did start the more brightly with Lester and the speedy Tyson combining to cause us danger although it was dealt with with some comfort by Izzy and the impressive looking Watt. I say impressive, well he was for 16 minutes until he had to leave the field with an arm (shoulder?) injury which caused him to receive treatment twice. He too celebrated with the fans at the end of the game albeit with his arm in a sling. I think we need him back soon – I liked his composure in the time he was playing. Forced into an early change, Forbes came on for Watt with Leon reverting to central midfield and Tate dropping into the back four. Forbes taking Leon’s place on the right wing
At this stage, Forest were the better team but it was Swansea who came the closest to opening the scoring early on when Trundle was fed through by Fallon and his trademark left footed shot came back off a post with Forbes unable to capitalise.
It was evident during the opening exchanges that Forest saw Tyson’s pace as the way to break Swansea down and it was that pace that saw him time a run to perfection onto a Lester pass to give Forest the lead just after the 20 minute mark. Tyson coolly slotting home under the advancing Gueret much to the delight of the home fans.
That delight though lasted just six minutes. Fallon controlled the ball under pressure and laid the ball back to Martinez. Roberto’s high ball forward was met perfectly by Forbes whose first touch lobbed the ball over the advancing Paul Gerrard and into the back of the net to send the Swans fans into celebratory mode.
1-1 and back in the game, Swansea were never really under threat for the remainder of the first half but at the same time never really a threat themselves. And when you go in at the interval level away from home you have to be happy knowing that you may just nick it from there
Second half saw Forest have plenty of possession – I would say the Lions share – but rarely did Willy actually have any save of note to make. Tyson was being increasingly well marked by the ever impressive Tate whilst in Leon and Roberto we had two players always looking to spring a counter attack. Fallon and Trundle were close to combining on more than one occasion whilst Robbo was working hard at tracking back to keep us in the hunt.
Sam Ricketts shook off what looked a nasty knock at the start of the second half whilst when Izzy went down under challenge with 25 minutes to go, the bad news was a signal to the bench that the Swans were to lose their second central defender of the afternoon. Second reshuffle of the day and it was Forbes who dropped to right back to allow Sam to move into the middle alongside Tatey whilst Shaun MacDonald was given another taste of first team football – this time on the right wing!
Could the patched up Swansea survive? Within two minutes they did more than that. Britton picked the ball up in the middle of the park, laid a perfect ball to Trundle who reminded us how dangerous he is as he hit home past a keeper who didn’t move. Loves it, the Swans were 2-1 up. Celebrations over it was the Swans players signalling to the bench as Trundle hobbled off with Leon Knight on in his place.
20 minutes to go and a one goal lead to protect. Forest threw plenty but other than a last minute goal line clearance by Tate they never really looked like scoring. The referee seemed to do his best to help them but it wasn’t to be and some good thinking from both Robbo and Knight saw us run down the clock despite the five minutes of stoppage time.
It was a deserved three points for the Swans from a performance based on battle and bottle rather than some of the total football displays from earlier in the season. If we are prepared to battle this hard from now until May then promotion would be a distinct possibility.
The injuries will be a worry in the lead up to Bradford on Tuesday but at least it gives the overworked Richie Evans some overtime!
Great stuff Swans, now lets make it four on Tuesday night
