Phil SumblerThe Swans head to the Championship play off final looking to repeat an outcome one day short of the tenth anniversary of one of the biggest results in our history.
It was May 30th 2011 when the Swans and Reading did battle on the Wembley turf for a place in the Premier League. A hat-trick from Scott Sinclair and a fitting goal from Stephen Dobbie won the day for the Swans but a 3-0 half time lead was soon almost wiped out in a nervy second half but sealed with a crucial penalty with less than ten minutes left to start the biggest football party South Wales had seen.
We look back now on that day as the anticipation ahead of Saturday increases and the thoughts turn to whether we can repeat that feat ten years on or whether play off heartache against Brentford awaits us for the second season running.
The Planet Swans Match Report – WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE!
An enthralling game saw Swansea City reach the promise land of the Premier League following a scintillating 4-2 play-off final triumph over Reading.
Three first half goals from the Swans ensured that the Premier League will see its first Welsh team next season as a frantic 20 minutes in the first proved enough to see off the challenge of Reading, and gave Swansea manager, Brendan Rodgers, the perfect response for his former side – having been sacked after just six months in charge at the Madejski Stadium.
Scott Sinclair scored three goals for the first time in a playoff final since Clive Mendonca acheived that feat in 1998. It was enough to destroy Reading’s spirit and hopes of regaining top-flight status.
Reading was quickly undone in 120 seconds of the first half. Zurab Khizanishvili, who was already on a yellow card, was beaten by the pace of Nathan Dyer and the Georgian brought down the Swans man. Referee Phil Dowd pointed to the spot and the nervous few moments for Reading continued as they could have been reduced to ten men, but leniency was on offer from Dowd and the on-loan defender remained on the field.
Punishment was dealt out from the boot of Sinclair as he confidently stroked the ball past Adam Frederici to give the Welsh side the lead.
With Reading down, Swansea put the boot in again. A run down the right from Stephen Dobbie beat the Reading defence and his daisy cutting cross was redirected by Frederici into the path of the man of the moment Sinclair, who tapped in from three yards.
Brian McDermott’s side were capitulating whilst Swansea could not believe their luck.
Reading entered a period of the game where they were content to just hold on for dear life. The attacking impetus was sacrificed for control. This spell was smashed to smithereens when Nathan Dyer powered down Reading’s left flank again and his cross was deflected by Khizanishvili into the path of Stephen Dobbie who’s comfortable finish belied the pressure he was under.
Swansea’s Premier League dreams was becoming a reality in front of them whilst Reading’s season was dissolving. The Playoffs were dealing the cruelty out again.
As the players returned to the dressing rooms for half-time, matters continued to deteriorate for Reading with sub, Jay Tabb and coach, Nigel Gibbs both being sent off following foul and abusive language aimed towards the officials.
The need for a Reading response after the interval was vital, and McDermott’s side were quick to fight back.
That response arrived when a cross from Jobi McAnuff was met at the near post by Noel Hunt who flicked header deflected off of Swan’s defender Joe Allen and beyond De Vries in the Swansea net. Game on.
The Reading spirit was tremendous and the revival moved up a gear when from another corner, captain Matt Mills’ header gave the Royals their second goal. The mood inside Wembley was turned on it’s head and it was Swansea’s turn to withdraw into their shell.
At this point in the game, the result was as delicately balanced as it could be with neither side holding the whip. Reading could have levelled matters if Jem Karacan’s shot did not hit the post.
But with the Royals seemingly edging their way from passengers towards the driving seat, Swansea were given the hammer to apply the final nail in the coffin, after a needless foul by Andy Griffin saw Sinclair grab his hat-trick from the spot.
Reading didn’t give up and the application they showed in the final period of the game was commendable, but the work of Sinclair was too much and the Welsh side can look forward to welcoming the likes of Manchester United to south Wales come August.
Swansea City Manager Brendan Rodgers – “The footballing Gods were with us today. The Premier League will be a better place with Swansea in it. It’s a beautiful place
“We had great motivation going into the game. We have Rod Stewart on at the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday and he said to us if we win the game he wants us all on stage.
“So all the staff and players will be there on Wednesday night up with Rod. Maggie May the whole lot. I love Rod Stewart. But I’m a hopeless singer.’
“Eight years ago the club couldn’t pay the electric bill and now we’ve won a £90m game. It will be very tough next year but we have targets to help us keep our identity.
“I want to give the players here a chance but we’ll need to strengthen. I won’t break the team up but I want to add to it. It’s part of a great journey the club is on.”
Captain Garry Monk: “You dream of this, it’s just nuts. I spoke to Alan Tate and said that I’ve not seen much like this in my life. Just to see so many happy people, so many smiles on people’s faces.
“This has been coming for a long time now, we deserve it, not just for today, all credit to Reading as well as they had a right pop at it, they had nothing to lose at the time but we managed to see it through and thank God we did”.
The Swans players all donned t-shirts at the final whistle in tribute to team mate Besian Idrizaj who had tragically passed away a little over twelve months earlier and it was somewhat appropriate that one of his closest friends – Stephen Dobbie – scored in the 40th minute as the Swans fans were applauding as part of their own tribute.
Skipper Monk explained: “We said right at the first game of the season that whatever we do this season let’s make sure we keep him in mind and from time to time in certain games he’s come to the fore and today was another occasion.
“We spoke about him in the huddle and we made sure his family at home could be proud of him and proud of what he means to use and as much as this is for the fans it is for Besian as well.”
I will never forget this day from the anticipation of the morning, the travel to Wembley, the pre-match build up, the game itself, the feeling of elation at half time to the feeling of despair in the second half. The moment Scott Sinclair tucked away the fourth, the celebrations, the trip home, the celebrations on the Severn Bridge and the few years that followed it. Magical times and the culmination of what seemed to be an impossible dream. Memories that will never be forgotten and memories that may never be repeated.
Or could they ?
