Planet Swans ArchivesIn the process it was back to back wins for the Swans for the first time in the league since December 2012 as they followed up last weekend’s win over Newcastle with this win that lifted them to 12th in the table and finally banished all talk of relegation from the Liberty Stadium.
Instead the talk after the game was of Shelvey’s goal just about midway through the first half when he volleyed the ball from inside the centre circle over the head of Brad Guzan and into the back of the net to restore the Swans lead shortly after Villa had cancelled out the opener from Wilfried Bony.
It bought the Liberty to it’s feet and gave a very late contender for the goal of the season award not just at the Swans dinner on May 7th but also overall as there will be fewer pieces of opportunism and skill that can top it over the course of the season to date.
It was a strange afternoon for the Swans though as they lost out on the possession stats, something which doesn’t happen often at the Liberty but I think every Swans fan would rather 4 goals and be behind on possession than some of the home performances that we have seen this season.
Bony had scored the Swans first after 10 minutes when he slotted past Guzan but that goal was cancelled out by Agbonlahor who converted a cross from out wide to bring the visitors level as they went in search of the points that would secure their own safety. That mark though is some way off for a Villa side who will go into the last two weeks of the season looking nervously over their shoulders at the teams behind them knowing that a good run for two of them could see them drop out of the top flight. Their fans made their own feelings clear with some of their chants and it seems inevitable that Paul Lambert is likely to be the next manager to leave his post irrespective of whether they gain another season in the top flight or not.
On the other bench though Garry Monk is doing his own chances of a permanent role no harm at all as he secured the Swans safety with his fourth victory in charge and with games against Southampton and Sunderland to come the Swans have got every chance of extending this strong end of season finish to some more wins.
Pablu Hernandez scored the third after controlling Shelvey’s cross and curling the ball into the top of the net whilst for the second week running Bony converted a stoppage time penalty after a foul on Marvin Emnes.
The win was just what the Swans needed and with Sunderland and Cardiff meeting tomorrow results elsewhere meant that safety was mathematically ensured as we take our Premier League stay into a fourth campaign and now the planning can start in earnest.
Shelvey’s goal was without a doubt the highlight of the afternoon but a comprehensive win for the Swans was most enjoyable as the relative comfort of mid table beckons.
