Planet Swans ArchivesThe result of the game was the minimum the Swans deserved as they put in what is clearly their best performance of the season against the team that it was believed would give them the sternest test.
The Swans were unrecognisable from that which was beaten so comprehensively at Reading last weekend with the midfield trio of Pratley, Britton and Gomez running the show with Jason Scotland at his very best up front. No matter what reason meant he didn’t play in midweek, he was back today and his two goals could so easily have been four before he was replaced by Pintado towards the end.
From the moment that Gomez put the Swans in front on 26 seconds, the noise created by the home fans was superb and spoiled only temporarily by a blip when Andy Keogh scored an equaliser for Wolves.
The scoreline could have been more as Gower had a goal disallowed, Scotland hit the bar and a host of other chances went begging as the Swans threatened to bury Wolves under an avalanche of black and white.
The Swans lined up as follows
Dorus
Rangel Williams Monk Painter
Gower Britton Gomez Pratley Orlandi
Scotland
And it did not take long for the Swans to find their stride as the ball came to Gomez who was given the freedom of the penalty area by Wolves before turning a defender trying desperately to close him down and beating the keeper with some ease. 26 seconds read the Liberty Stadium clock, 1-0 to Swansea read the scoreline.
Andy Keogh equalised fifteen minutes later as Wolves showed some of their prowess in attack. He beat Rangel, Monk and Williams to shoot home low giving Dorus no chance and giving the largest away crowd at the Liberty something to celebrate. At 1-1 the Swans suffered their only period of being on the back foot – helped no end by some generous refereeing decisions.
And one of them denied the Swans a second goal and the first for Mark Gower. Gower shot home from the edge of the penalty area and turned to celebrate with the East Stand unaware that the linesman had raised his flag to rule the goal out. A decision that needs to be seen again to see if correct.
And if that one looked dubious the lack of a flag when Scotland had the ball played to him on 41 minutes looked twice as dodgy but the striker played the whistle and struck home to put the Swans 2-1 up. Another decision to be watched again but quite frankly does anyone really care?
Scotland had already hit the bar at that point with a header and twelve minutes into the second half he grabbed a deserved second when he fired home from outside the area – giving the keeper no chance and the Swans were rampant. And two goals clear.
Scotland could have grabbed a third for him personally from a Gower cross but he was just unable to control it whilst it seemed as if the Swans were creating space at will as they showed the passing style that we have become so accustomed to.
There was no more scoring but frankly who cares. A difficult week where people were happy with one or two points has seen the Swans grab six and move themselves back into 7th place in time for the second international break of the season.
No point in singling out a man of the match on a day like this where everyone was simply awesome. And with that word, it sums it up perfectly.
Awesome!
