Another Stalemate For The Swans

Danny Graham wasted the game’s best chance with a first half header but overall Brendan Rodgers’ side can consider themselves unlucky not to have broken their Premier League duck with a victory in front of almost 20,000 fans at the Liberty Stadium

Graham somehow missed the target after good work from Kemy Agustien on the left hand side shortly after Scott Sinclair had rattled the crossbar with a thirty yard shot that gave the keeper no chance.

At the other end Sunderland always looked as if they could create something but always came up against either Williams, Caulker or Vorm who were able to deal with everything that was thrown at them on an entertaining afternoon at the Liberty Stadium.

Swansea soaked up early Sunderland pressure before coming into their own in the second half of the opening 45 minutes and it was in that period that the game’s best two efforts/chances came as the Swans searched for that vital first goal.

Brendan had made no changes from the side that started against Wigan last week and started the second home game of the season with the following line up

Vorm

Rangel     Caulker     Williams     Taylor

Britton     Agustien

Dyer     Routledge     Sinclair

Graham

It was Sunderland who started the brighter of the two sides and had some early chances well dealt with by the Swansea defence as the home side looked nervy and shaky after the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Shrewsbury.   The words of Brendan Rodgers were no doubt still ringing in their ears as they struggled to get hold or – or keep – the ball for periods in the opening exchanges.

But slowly they got into their own and Sinclair’s long range effort bounced back off the bar as the home crowd started to celebrate the first goal of this top flight era for the club.

If that was close then minutes later it really should have been 1-0 as Agustien chipped in a perfect cross for Graham who steered his header wide when it looked almost easier to score.    Guilt edged chances don’t come that often in the Premier League and you would want them converted when they are few and far between but it was not to be.

It did though lift the crowd as the Swans had the best of the remainder of the first half without ever looking like creating more clear chances.

A Graham header again at the start of the second half almost gave the Swans the lead but it was beaten away by the keeper and the Swans gradually started to increase the pressure on heir visitors with some good play around the midfield with Dyer, Sinclair, Britton, Agustien and Routledge getting plenty of ball and winning back much of what the Swans gave away.

Graham was also always looking threatening as the Swans pushed on for the goal that could have seen them move into the top half of the table and send them into the international break in a positive mood.

It was not to be though and Sunderland looked to create their own chances on the counter attack but despite some good chances they never made the most of them and Vorm in the Swansea goal was completing a good clean sheet. 

Vorm was named man of the match but that I think generally suggests a side that was second best and on the day I do not believe that the Swans were.  We did more to try and win the game then an under pressure Sunderland side and really there were stronger candidates on the afternoon than the effective Vorm.

So we go into the first international break of the season with 2 points on the board from the first 3 games which is a solid enough start and only marginally behind the required run rate for safety.  It’s Arsenal next up for the Swans in two weeks and who is to say that we won’t be above them when we meet at the Emirates.     They may only be there to watch the Swans.

A good encouraging performance but oh what we would give for a goal to increase the confidence all round.

Who are we?