Planet Swans ArchivesPratley was injured in an accidental collision between himself and Guillem Bauza when both chased a loose ball. As Pratley rolled on the floor in evident agony he was signalling to the bench immediately and left the pitch after five minutes of treatment on a stretcher with his leg heavily strapped. The radio assessment was a potential broken leg although he did appear to be holding his ankle when he went down.
The injury marred what, up until that stage, had been a very comfortable performance for the Swans who had only been troubled by an early Wycombe shot that rebounded back off the bar and we were very good value for our two goal lead at that stage.
As was always expected Roberto rang the changes for this fixture but was forced to remain within the rules by fielding at least six first team regulars within his starting line up. Into the side came Kevin Amankwaah, Kevin Austin, Kris O’Leary, Bussy and Orlandi whilst rested were Rangel, Lawrence, Butler, Scotland and Feeney. Lawrence and Feeney were on the bench in case of back up.
Doris
Amankwaah Monk Austin Painter
Anderson O’Leary Bodde Orlandi
Pratley
Bussy
As I said above bar the early chance, Wycombe were never in the first half and the Swans were in control of just about every aspect of the game. Goal chances in the first half hour were at a premium but even with that in mind it did seem as if the goal could come at any stage and there was only one team that looked threatening enough to score that goal.
And it was Bussy that got the goal – his first in competitive football for the Swans. He got the faintest of touches on a cross from the right hand side but it was enough to see it past the outstretched arm of the Wycombe keeper and into the back of the net to put the Swans a goal to the good.
One goal soon became two as Anderson – provider of the first – finished off an excellent Swansea move to double the hosts advantage. O’Leary won the ball on the edge of the Swansea area and fed Bodde who in turn fed Anderson (?) who found Amankwaah a willing overlap and the full back went down the line. As he crossed to the far post Orlandi was on hand to head back across goal where Anderson poked the ball home. At least I think that is what happened anyway – I am open to be told otherwise (it may have been different people!) Either way, Anderson scored and the Swans were two goals up.
Two appeared to be three just minutes later when Bussy and Pratley found themselves bearing down on the Wycombe goal having sprung the offside trap. Bussy lifted the ball over the advancing keeper and Pratley finished it off but the goal was ruled out for an offside. Maybe Pratley was behind the keeper when Bussy played it – if he was then the goal should have stood but the record books will show it didn’t and the half time score of 2-0 was justified.
Pratley’s early second half injury disrupted the play for a while and Wycombe slowly came back into it with Doris on hand twice to tip dangerous looking shots over the bar. The introduction of Feeney for Pratley meant several switches of position taking place during the second half between Bussy, Orlandi and Anderson and that probably should have, at some stage, paid dividends with a third goal. But it wasn’t to be.
Wycombe’s early second half fight slowly evaporated and the game was left to dwindle towards its final stages with both sides seemingly having settled for the Swans victory. Lawrence was a late introduction for Painter – who seemed to be struggling a little – as the game went past 90 minutes and through it’s seven minutes of stoppage time.
Man of the match was the always impressive Anderson who seems to be getting better game by game and has joined Jason Scotland at the top of the scoring charts for the Swans with 6 goals so far this season.
A decent professional performance for the Swans and here’s hoping that the news on Pratley is not as bad as first feared.
