Planet Swans ArchivesThe good work at Nottingham Forest was undone tonight as we let a poor looking Bradford side into a game that they shouldn’t have been allowed into. Reading that sentence again it is slightly unfair as it suggests they didn’t deserve their point – they did but really it was the fact that we are incapable of defending a lead that we struggle for so long to gain. Even more mystifying when you consider the backs to the wall scenario of us defending a lead last Saturday.
With changes forced on the team it was never going to be easy tonight but on paper it looked a strong line up
Willy
Sam Monk Austin Williams
Big Leon Tatey Roberto Robbo
Fallon Little Leon
Subs: Murphy, Bayo, Macca, Forbesy, Old Macdonald
And we started the better side. The ball was passed nicely around, the midfield combined with the forward line, the defence played out along the floor as requested by Jackett and Bradford looked vulnerable. Surely it would be a matter of time before the gates were opened and potentially at this stage maybe the idea of them being flood gates was still fresh enough to be a possibility.
The thought of a flood turned more into a trickle as the first half wore on and Bradford were guilty of wasting the best chances of all. I think it was Windass that fell over when all he had to do was stay on his feet and side foot home as Swansea afforded him the freedom of the penalty area. Even Windass couldn’t appeal for a penalty here such was the space he had. Quite the fool he looked.
Fallon headed a Knight cross over and the first half was heading toward a goalless stalemate as the crowd began to get anxious – a trait that was spreading rapidly through our side with Tate often called upon to repair the damage of a Martinez misplaced pass.
The goal came from nowhere as the first half entered into stoppage time. I can’t remember how it got to him but Knight got the ball on the edge of the area and used his strength to get past the defender and hammer an unstoppable shot into the net to send the Swans in a goal up and in a position where they could build on it. Probably deserved at this stage despite Bradford having the better chances.
The only other time I can remember us opening the scoring that late in the first half this season was Bristol City at home so could we repeat a six goal half to follow it. Simply? Nowhere near. We played some nice football for the occasional minute here and there we played some poor stuff which involved retreating from an ever growing in confidence Bradford team.
Austin gave away endless free kicks with his two handed shove (yes Kev it will always be a foul) which kept us more and more on the backfoot. And therefore it was no surprise when Bradford equalised. It was probably less of a surprise that it came from a free header from a set piece. One each. Deservedly so and the Swans were chasing shadows.
Jackett responded with the triple substitution of Forbes, Macca and Bayo for Britton, Robbo and Fallon. Same formation, different personnel. Bayo won a few balls, Forbes crossed a few balls against a defender whilst Macca was there too. It wasn’t to be though as yet again the Swans saw points slipping away at home. With points dropped by the two teams above us this was a chance to get right back into the mix but we remain in the fringes with pressure mounting. Most of the top teams are still to come here for league games but they have to be beaten and the sooner we get players back and fit the better that will be for all concerned.
It is disappointing but we are within sight of the top still and focus moves to the next game – Scunthorpe on Saturday. Man of the Match? For me it was Tate again. By another country mile
