Planet Swans ArchivesIn the season 2007/2008 I think it is fair to say that away is becoming the new home as the Liberty is a fortress made of little more than papier mache at the moment as Huddersfield became the second side to leave with maximum points already this season.
Like their Yorkshire counterparts Doncaster two months back, they came, they were organised, they had a plan that was better than ours and they deserved the three points that they took home with them. For the Swans – 10 points from the last 12 on the road they must be hoping that every game turns into an away game on current form.
Compare and contrast 7 home games this season yielding 8 points to 8 away games yielding just 16 and you have the glaring reason why we don’t currently sit top of the league. If the home form matched the away form today we would be three points clear at the top. Ifs and buts for sure but something that doesn’t bode well for the remainder of the season – home form has to be produced and we have to generate a plan that can cope with sides who are happy to let us have possession knowing that we struggle to break down a resolute defence. A Plan B if you like.
More worrying those 7 home games have generated just 6 goals – in contrast to 19 in 8 away from home – the side has goals in them but they won’t find them without the previously mentioned Plan B.
The starting line up showed a drop to the bench for both Alan Tate and Guillem Bauze despite their excellent performances in the preceding two games with Dennis Lawrence and Jason Scotland back in the starting line up giving us a set up of
Doris
Rangel Monk Lawrence Austin
Anderson Pratley Bodde Butler
Duffy Scotland
It’s difficult to remember much about what was a very dull game. Doris certainly pulled off a save of the highest quality in the first half with a strong downward header from the Huddersfield forward that appeared to have goal written all over it bar from the reactionary save from the Dutchman. Bar that Monk and Lawrence were dealing with much that Huddersfield threw at us but at the other end there was little end product to some very neat and tidy passing interchanges in the lead up. Possession though was given away cheaply on more than one occasion though which allowed promising moves to break down and all too often the wrong option was taken. Sometimes no option at all was taken – a look up to see players in space was not always top of the agenda.
A goalless first half was no major surprise when it came and it could (should) have given the Swans chance to regroup and turn it around second half. But it didn’t.
Within ten minutes of the restart the visitors were ahead. Ferrie Bodde conceded possession cheaply in midfield and Huddersfield broke with the ball centred. Danny Cadamarteri hit a low hard shot that again tested De Vries’ reactions to the limit but his save only fell to the feet of Kamara who shot home into an empty net to the delight of the 134 travelling supporters.
The goal had probably been coming with Swansea allowing Huddersfield more into the game – the question from here was would it spring the Swans into sufficient response to make a difference. Roberto’s reaction was to strip two subs – Robbo and Bauza. Robbo was introduced, Bauza was told to sit down again. Robbo replaced Butler who had been poor all evening – his only contribution of note was being booked for questioning a decision. Robbo showed plenty of willing to run but there was little movement around him as Huddersfield blocked off the space available – something everyone else bar us seems capable of doing. Or is that just we cannot find space. Or at least we couldn’t in this game.
Britton replaced Austin as the Swans went three at the back and we looked more dangerous then we had been in the first 70 minutes Huddersfield seemingly a little surprised at the extra man we suddenly had in midfield. Bauza stripped again. Bauza sat down again before he was introduced with 7 minutes to go – almost 25 minutes since first being stripped. He replaced Duffy who had looked the more likely of the two strikers to score with Scotland seemingly off the pace during the game.
Leon Britton had a half shout from the penalty that drew more of an appeal off the pitch than on it and Garry Monk had a seemingly good goal ruled out in the 3rd of 5 minutes of stoppage time. But the damage was done and the Swans were left to rue the opportunity to go back top of the league that was never grasped.
Man of the match for me was De Vries, honourable mentions to Pratley and probably Lawrence tonight but it never happened for us full stop and thankfully it’s away next week which probably increases the optimism of us bouncing back.
Can and must do better.
