Planet Swans ArchivesIt may not have been the most defined finish of the season – indeed that is probably an understatement as it looked like it was helped by an attempted block by Cabaye but it was enough to give the Swans victory in an entertaining game at the Liberty which saw the better of the chances for the home side fall to their defenders.
Newcastle had played their part in the game and will probably count themselves unlucky not to pick up at least a point from a game in which they tested Michel Vorm on more than one occasion.
Following last weekend’s Wembloey victory the Capital One Cup Trophy was on display as the two teams took to the field at the start of the game as the Swans made the most of highlighting the success of their first major trophy. Michael Laudrup made two changes from the side that started last Sunday with Vorm coming back into the goal for Tremmel whilst Garry Monk skippered the side as he returned ahead of Ki Sung Yeung.
The Swans started brightly enough with some good flowig football of which we have become so accustomed to and one of the moves of the season saw Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge exchange passes at close range with each other but they were unable to cap the move with a goal.
The best early chance fell to Ashley Williams as a cross from the Swans left found the head of Michu who headed back across goal and a falling Williams could not get enough pace behind the effort to get past Steven Taylor who was positioned on the line.
If that was a good chance his fellow central defender Monk spurned an arguably better one just before half time. This time it was a cross from the right hand side that found Monk’s head but the unmarked captain could not find the target with his header and the score remained goalless at the interval.
If the Swans had the best of the first half it would probably be difficult to disagree with a statetement that said Newcastle had the better of the second half. But that in itself doesn’t mean that the Swans were always on the backfoot and they had their own chances.
Alan Pardew seemed to have told his side to close down the Swans much quicker in the second half and they did that to some good success as they pressed much higher up the pitch and created chances of their own.
Twice they blasted over when well placed and Vorm produced two fantastic saves from long distance efforts – one against the crossbar – as he kept the score goalless.
If the best chances of the first half for the home side fell to the central defenders it was the full backs who looked to have the best chances of the second half as Rangel saw his powerful shot palmed away by the keeper whilst Ben Davies almost capitalised on a poor back pass to give the Swans the lead as the game looked to be heading to a goalless draw.
That was at least until Moore popped up five minutes from time. Routledge crossed from the left and Newcastle failed to clear the ball and it was Moore who managed to bundle the ball home to send the 20,405 crowd mainly home happy as the Swans gained a victory that ended a perfect week for the club.
This wasn’t the Swans most polished display of the season – indeed it was far from it but sometimes it is just enough to win the game and that’s what they did today and the managers first points target has been reached with 10 games to go – now for the 50 point barrier.
Onwards to West Brom
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