Phil SumblerHistory repeated itself this afternoon as the Swans got a last minute penalty for the second game running to gain the three points after another distinctly average performance.ย ย Andre Ayew scored both goals to secure the win but it was far from pretty for the Swans.
After the late winner at Stoke in midweek and the calling off of Brentford’s game against Rotherham, Steve Cooper made his selection knowing that a win would lift his side above the Bees and still with a game in hand over Thomas Frank’s side.ย ย Watford’s win earlier in the day had put 2nd place at the close of play today out of our reach but, as Cooper always says, we should worry about ourselves and take it one game at a time.
Conor Hourihane was recalled into the starting line up at the expense of Jamal Lowe who took a much needed rest on the bench as Cooper tinkered slightly with his formation as the Swans also looked to put last week’s Liberty Stadium disappointment behind us.
The first half largely took a familiar looking pattern for the Swans with the bulk of possession being at the feet of the home side but goal chances were few and far between and both keepers found themselves largely spectators for long periods.
Woodman was forced into one save with his legs – we could debate for a long time how much he knew about it – after a good challenge from Guehi caused enough doubt in the forwards mind just as it looked as if the visitors may take the lead.
The Swans formation change wasn’t having the desired effect as we struggled to get control of the game despite our possessional advantage so it was probably no surprise that when we did take the lead it was from a Middlesbrough error.
A Hourihane free kick was curled into the box and cleared before being headed back in by Roberts.ย ย As it came back out it was designed to look an easy clearance for the defence but two Boro players got in each other’s way and the ball rebounded to Ayew.ย ย Swansea’s leading scorer was not going to pass up the opportunity presented to him and he fired past the keeper low and hard into the near corner to give the Swans the lead.
When you are pushing for promotion it doesn’t matter how the goals come providing they do come and in a scrappy first half we went in at half time with a goal advantage and the real opportunity to build on it.
If the recent first half patterns have dictated that we have plenty of possession but not necessarily a host of chances then recent second half patterns have seen us play more on the back foot and almost invite pressure from the opposition.ย ย And that was most certainly the case today as Middlesbrough pushed more and more forward and the Swans started to look more and more ineffective.
If you need stats to back that up then as the clock ticked past the 30 minute barrier of the second half then the Swans had not had a single shot at goal in the second period by that point.ย The game was pretty much being played in the Swans defensive third and it looked like we had settled for the 1-0 lead and the hope that we could keep the visitors out.
For their part Middlesbrough during that same 30 minutes had not threatened a huge amount although they did have a goal ruled out for a foul on Fulton which was soft to say the least but it is one of those decisions that you get if you are the defender but if the roles were reversed very few referees give a penalty for the same.ย ย That said, the decision went our way so again I find myself not complaining in the same way we wouldn’t bemoan the midweek penalty.
Changes were slow in coming again but we had seen Lowe on for Smith and Bidwell for Manning in an attempt to introduce fresh legs into the team but still it was Middlesbrough on the front foot but with ten minutes to go the visitors (outside of their disallowed goal) had not had a shot on target in the second half despite their territorial and possessional advantage.
As adverts go for Championship football it was fair to say that this was a dreadful one but as we ticked towards the 90 minute barrier we were comforted by the knowledge the Swans were still winning although you could put much of that down to the fact that Middlesbrough were as distinctly average as we were.
If you had just switched on with no concept as to what the Championship table looked like you would definitely have assumed for the large part this was two mid table teams and not a game where one side has clear aspirations of Premier League football next season.
In the 89th minute the Swans finally managed to “threaten” the Middlesbrough goal but Jamal Lowe’s shot was easily held by the keeper and never really one that was going to double the Swans lead and secure the points.
Unfortunately for the Swans the signal of six minutes of stoppage time coincided with the moment that Middlesbrough finally got their reward for the second half domination.ย ย The ball came to Morsy on the edge of the area and, as it sat up, he struck it low and hard past a static Woodman and into the back of the net.ย ย It was the least the visitors deserved on an afternoon where it just wasn’t happening again for the Swans.
Incredibly though it was not the end of the afternoon as stoppage time bought to life a game that was largely dreadful.ย A Jamal Lowe into the box was aimed at Bidwell and as the full back tried to get to the ball he went over the trailing leg of the defender and for the second game running the referee pointed to the spot for a last minute penalty for the Swans.
As with Wednesday if you want a player to keep his cool in that position then it is Ayew and it was almost a carbon copy of Wednesday’s penalty and found the back of the net to give the Swans the lead.ย ย Ayew had two goals in the afternoon and the Swans had the lead again.
You start to wonder whether sometimes things are just designed to go your way and whether this has to be your time.ย ย Two games, two last minute penalties and both of them easily could have not been given.ย ย The reaction of the Middlesbrough team and the management at the end said it all from their perspective but it mattered not as the Swans walked away with the three points.
A very poor performance but yet another win, imagine what could happen if we actually hit form!
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