Planet Swans ArchivesCoasting into the last minute with a goal advantage, the Swans looked set to pick up the three points that would put them on the verge of promotion – especially with Doncaster only level at Huddersfield. However, a simple press of the self destruct button and the work of 89 minutes was undone in less than two as Bournemouth completed a smash and grab raid to boost their own chances of league survival even if total survival does prove to be beyond them.
It was bad enough seeing a poorly defender corner to allow Bournemouth an equaliser that they hardly deserved but when they broke through again and grabbed the winner it was too much for many in the stadium to cope with and the stands – filled at one stage by more than 15,500 – were probably populated by less than half that as the final whistle blew.
It had all seemed so different ten minutes earlier. Carlisle were level at home to Yeovil, Doncaster were losing at Huddersfield and the Swans were ahead. A series of scorelines that could have seen promotion sealed this afternoon. But a late Carlisle winner, a Doncaster equaliser and the late Bournemouth double blow means this is going a little bit further with Carlisle also having the chance to cut our lead at the top to a solitary point on Tuesday night.
And whilst the odds still appear stacked in the favour of a Swansea promotion, it is becoming much tighter after a month of patchy form at best.
Dorus
Rangel Tate Lawrence Austin
Butler Britton Pratley Robinson
Scotland Duffy
The first half passed in a haze of pretty much nothing. There was much neat build up work by the Swans but very little final product with Angel Rangel the nearest to opening the scoring when he burst in the area after nice linking with the Swans midfield but he was only able to screw his shot wide of the goal as the Swans support rose ready to acknowledge the first goal of the afternoon.
At the other end a poor Bournemouth side were restricted to a couple of long range free kicks from Darren Anderton as they seemed early on happy to play for a point having ten behind the ball at many stages during the opening half.
Less than two weeks back at the Liberty a poor first half was followed by a rousing second half which secured a point. Any similar lift in this game would have see us home and dry against this opposition but it never happened. Even the news that both Carlisle and Doncaster were losing could lift the Swans to that kind of level.
They were however soon ahead as Andy Robinson was left unmarked from a corner to head the Swans into the lead and the promotion party was in full flow. Doncaster equalised but Huddersfield were soon back ahead as it looked as if it would be our afternoon. Again, we were getting much possession but struggling to make any real impact on the game chance wise as Roberto looked to make changes by introducing – at various stages during the half – Brandy, OTJ and Bauza.
And it was Bauza who wasted the best chance to make the score beyond doubt when he pulled wide after good move down the right hand side.
It was a miss that proved to be costly as Bournemouth were awarded a corner – a decision disputed hotly by De Vries – and from the set play Partington headed home unmarked as it looked as if De Vries had missed a relatively easy chane to catch the ball. The Liberty Stadium was stunned and it looked as if the Swans would have to settle for a point.
If only
A minute later good work down the right saw the cross evade De Vries and Jo Kuffor was onhand to stroke the ball home from point blank range. Swansea were down, out and beaten and the promotion party very much had the "delayed" signs up rather than the cancelled ones.
There was enough time for Tate to receive a yellow card for hacking at a Bournemouth defender and De Vries was potentially lucky he didn't get a second of that colour for his protests at the end of the game.
It wasn't to be this afternoon but just four points needed now………………..
