Planet Swans ArchivesYou could have predicted that the game would be decided by a penalty. Against a Plymouth team who seemed hell bent on collecting yellow cards – they had 6, could have been probably more – the Swans struggled to get through the fouls and one of the fussiest referees that potentially we have seen this season.
And it was more sweet as Scotland sent the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot for the win which sends the Swans into a season high league position of 6th place as well as sealing the striker's 50th strike for the Swans.
His 18th league goal of the season could not have come at a better time and with a home game to come on Saturday can the Swans build on that and cement that place which they currently hold thanks to their excellent goal difference.
It was the end of a tough night for the Swans who came through it with the return of Darren Pratley giving the midfield a more familiar look even if he did look almost out on his feet come the end of the game.
Tom Butler was also included in the starting line up giving the Swans a look at kick off of
Dorus
Rangel Serran Williams Tate
Dyer Britton Gomez Pratley Butler
Scotland
The Swans could have found themselves a goal down early on as hesitation from Williams allowed the Plymouth striker to capitalise and his shot was well saved by Dorus as the Swans looked to settle.
When you look at the match stats at the end of the game – 23 fouls from the visitors tells its own story as they flew in for challenges against a side that was a gear above them in terms of speed with Gomez a seeming target for Argyle as they collected their first three bookings inside half hour.
Swansea were controlling possession as has become the norm these days although with Plymouth seemingly here for a point it was becoming increasingly difficult to break down and create clear chances of note in the first half.
The referee simply never helped – his insistence to blow at every opporunity and talk to players when the only real option was a yellow card just slowed the game down and played right into the hands of the vistors and their spoling tactics.
But Swansea were keeping their patience and Butler, Dyer, Rangel and Tate were becoming more of a threat on the flanks as the Swans stepped up through the gears to try and find the breakdown. Rangel, Britton, Scotland and Butler all came close in the first half whilst Gomez rattled the bar from a free kick as the blank scoreline at half time did not reflect the balance of play.
The secondhalf took a similar story as the Swans continued to probe towards the Plymouth goal whilst the bookings kept coming. Gomez and Dyer went close and as the game ticked into the last 15 minutes you started to wonder whether it was just destined to be one of those nights.
Pintado was on for Dyer as the game entered that period and it was just a minute later that the deadlock was broken. A shot at the Plymouth goal was spilled by Larrieu and as he chased the loose ball Gomez got there first and was felled by the Plymouth keeper. The Liberty held its breath (if that is possible for a stadium to do) as you wondered what decision the mad referee would come up with and the relief when he pointed to the penalty spot was what we wanted.
Jason doesn't need asking twice and he celebrated the goal before being replaced just minutes later – another job well done for the bargain of the century. 50 goals in less than 100 appearances and just 83 starts. You don't find many strikers with that record. And certainly not at a cost of £25,000.
There were hairy moments in the last 15 minutes but they were dealt with by the Swans who emerged battered and bruised but ultimately victorious and heading upwards as we speak.
Look up the table now folks, there are only 5 teams above us.
