Planet Swans ArchivesWe had wasted a host of good chances already by the time that we were awarded our own – brave but correct – penalty just past the half hour mark – a penalty that Wilfried Bony converted with ease to give the Swans a lead that nobody could deny that we deserved.
Chances had gone begging from Gylfi, Ki and Routledge in a first half hour that we dominated and were tearing Stoke apart with ease as we went in search of a first win in five Premier League games.
It was an ease which Rangel commented on after the game when he said รขโฌลOne of their players said to me that we were killing them. They couldnรขโฌโขt get near the ball, and we should have gone into half-time leading 1-0. ”
And it looked that it would have been the case when Moses turned into the box shielded by Rangel as the half time interval loomed. But with the home crowd on his back Michael Oliver pointed to the spot as Moses threw himself to the ground and he pointed to the spot to even out the two decisions and give Charlie Adam the chance to bring the home side level.
รขโฌลEverything was looking good but then things changed before half-time with an unfair penalty. It changed the game.” added Rangel
รขโฌลI donรขโฌโขt even have to watch the replay. I know I didnรขโฌโขt touch Victor Moses รขโฌโ he went down before I went to challenge him.”
The challenge and decision meant some strong words from Garry Monk after the game in front of the TV cameras – words that will probably land him in hot water at some point this week but words that many Swans fans would have been thinking after one of the worst decisions of the season.
It was a decision that changed the flow of the game and the Swans never reached the heights of the first half as they sat back more in the second half although the game looked to be heading for a draw until Jonathan Walters placed a header perfectly past Fabianski for what turned out to be the winning goal.
รขโฌลWe started well in the second half and we limited them to very few chances, but then they score from probably the only good cross they managed to get into the box.” said Rangel
รขโฌลBut itรขโฌโขs three points lost for us.”
Most of the after match reaction was around the two penalty decisions and there was no neutrals denying at any stage that the Swans penalty was indeed that and that Stoke’s one should not have been given.
Not that it matters now as the result will never change and it is hard to disagree with Rangel when he describes it as three points lost.
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