Phil SumblerSwansea City opened the Swansea.com Stadium era last night with a 0-0 draw at home to Sheffield United on a game with few chances for either side but a first league point for Russell Martin since his move to South Wales.
With both sides having been beaten last weekend it was essential for both not to see their opening two games end in defeat and that made for maybe more of a cagey affair than would be expected with Sheffield United one of the promotion favourites and the Swans play off competitors in the past two seasons
BBC Sport – There was a vibrant atmosphere at the renamed Swansea.com Stadium, with a vociferous home crowd responding as Martin’s team dominated possession in the first period.
Yet for all their control of the ball, Swansea created only one opening of note in the first half when Joel Latibeaudiere’s shot was blocked by the sliding Jack Robinson and Liam Cullen’s slip ended any hope of converting the rebound.
Swansea’s desire to play out from the back almost cost them early on when McGoldrick challenged goalkeeper Steven Benda and watched as the ball rolled wide of the post.
McGoldrick then drew a decent save from Benda before Oliver Norwood’s free-kick presented the unmarked Sharp with a golden opportunity, only for the United skipper to head straight at Swansea’s young number one.
The pattern continued after the break, with Swansea – who were watched by American director Jake Silverstein for the first time since he bought into the club 12 months ago – seeing plenty of the ball.
Swansea head coach Russell Martin:
“I think there were a lot of positives to take from it. I think the players went out and played in the way we asked them to. We had control for a lot of the game.
“I think we lack the fitness we really need to do it for 90 minutes and to keep control at the moment .
“We limited them to very little. We probably didn’t have as much as we would have liked in the final third but, on the whole, in terms of what the players are giving us and what we’re asking them to do, they are doing brilliantly because we played against a team that is going to be right up there tonight.”
Sheffield United manager Slavisa Jokanovic:
“It can be positive [to get a first point]. If we don’t score the goal the best we can find is that we win one point.
“On the other side of course we expect we can play better football than we play right now.
“We can be more dangerous, creating more chances.
“The staff are working hard. I am sure with the work we can improve in the next game.”
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