Planet Swans ArchivesThe Swans ended a very strong and tough week with a more than deserved point at the Liberty against the Champions of Europe – apparently we know what they are
A little over a week ago many would have given the Swans three straight defeats ahead of them with trios to Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea. Factor in that between those three sides they held the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League trophies and almost everyone outside of South West Wales had written off any chances for the Swans to pick up anything.
Fast forward seven days and you have a credible defeat at Manchester City where very few would argue that the Swans were anything but the better side, a 3-1 win at Anfield to progress into the quarter finals of the League Cup for the first time and now today a draw against the side that at the start of the day were considered to be the best team in the league.
And don’t be drawn into believing that just because the equaliser had come in the 87th minute that it was a case of Chelsea throwing away a deserved win because their side were matched in every department by the Swans and Pabloe Hernandez goal was the minimum the Swans deserved from an entertaining afternoon at the Liberty,
2000 Chelsea fans reminded us – with their only song – that they were Champions of Europe but that tag will last little more than one season as they were matched by a side that cost a fraction of the price but have a team spirit and a desire to succeed that a team like Chelsea can only dream of. Expensive individuals do not always make a good team and in the case of someone like Fernando Torres they do not always even make a good footballer.
It was Torres who had spurned the best chance of the first half when he flicked the ball off his hair straight at Tremmel in the Swansea goal when it would only have taken some power to give the visitors the lead after a strong break down the right hand side. In turn the Swans had been left to some long range shots stopped by desperate challenges from Chelsea defenders and a surprising unwillingness for Angel Rangel to shoot when well placed early on in the first half.
It was an evenly matched first half with the Swans – led on this occasion by the ever dependable Garry Monk – probably just shading it in terms of attacking possession although you always knew that there was the chance of a break although the Swans back line stood firm against their more illustrious opponents.
The second half had followed a pattern with nothing between the two sides although Chelsea were being helped by referee Kevin Friend who was certainly not following Mark Clattenburg in upsetting Chelsea with poor decisions or inappropriate language. It was from a corner that resulted from a generous free kick that Chelsea took the lead with VIctor Moses deflecting in Gary Cahill’s header from a corner to wake up the Chelsea fans and remind them that they did indeed have that one song to sing.
Michael Laudrup reacted quickly and Danny Graham and Nathan Dyer were introduced into the fray in replacement for Wayne Routledge and Leon Britton as he went for the goal that would get his side back on level peggings.
It made for an entertaining half hour with the Swans pushing on for their goal and Chelsea looking to hit them on the break but for the 30 minutes it always looked like the Swans who were more likely to grab the goal that their play had deserved.
But it was until the 87th minute that they had to wait for the moment when Hernandez was set up to shoot from the edge of the area and his shot was perfect beating the outstretched hand of Cech and coming to rest in the corner of the goal and to send the loud Liberty crowd off in scenes of great celebration.
It was perhaps then testament to the performance of the Swans that their visitors seemed content with a point although another blatantly incorrect decision from Kevin Friend and his linesman gave them the chance of a late corner but the Swans dealt with it – as they had done much through the afternoon – to get their point and keep their fine week going as they take real momentum into next week’s game with Southampton.
I really am not going to highlight a man of the match as the Swans players were just brilliant and grow with confidence and ability game on game which can only make for a good winter ahead of us.
Proud as ever to be a Jack.
