Planet Swans ArchivesReport – Northern Echo
Scott Sinclair’s 85th minute goal proved to be decisive between two sides at different ends of the table.
Third-placed Swansea were inventive in attack, while Boro looked ropey at the back. So it was somewhat of a surprise that both sides went in at the break goalless.
The Swans went close when both Scott Sinclair and Nathan Dyer penetrated Boro’s backline before the 20-minute mark, before the visitors were forced into a change on 22 minutes, the injured Kevin Thomson replaced by Nicky Bailey.
Swansea broke through Boro’s ranks again on 27 minutes, when David Wheater’s slide tackle found Craig Beattie, who fired across goal only for Bates to get ahead of Sinclair and clear for a corner.
And the hosts went close again five minutes before half-time, Sinclair getting the better of Bailey before breaking into the box to square to Pratley, whose shot was saved at the feet of Steele. Fullback Angel Rangel followed up with a rasping effort which was deflected wide for a corner, and seconds later, Beattie went close with a curling effort over the bar.
Boro were fastest out of the blocks in the second half, a Gary O’Neil shot hit Joe Allen’s legs on 48 minutes after good work from Barry Robson had brought the ball into Swansea’s box.
But Boro were made to wait a whole half-hour before they had another sniff at goal, with most of the play taking part in Boro’s half.
A McDonald shot was deflected out for a corner on 74 minutes, O’Neil’s flag-kick headed wide by Lita. And, a minute later, McDonald volleyed over de Vries’ crossbar.
Steele made a fine stop on 79 minutes from Rangel’s low, rasping effort, while Williams headed over from the resultant cross from a loose ball.
Just as it looked like it would peter out into a 0-0 draw, Swansea got the vital breakthrough with five minutes left on the clock. Sinclair made a decent run down the left flank, before cutting inside and firing home, Steele getting a hand to it on the way in.
A Wheater header dropped wide in the sixth minute of added time, the last action of the game which ensured that the 301 Boro fans made the 325-mile trip back to the North-East without a happy ending.
