Phil SumblerIt always seems to be thus. Swansea City come up against a side that hasn’t won for ever, scored for ever or even a former player who never grabs goals and the script says that all of that will change against us.
I am sure that fans of other sides think the same that their side always seems to end someone else’s bad run but I am convinced it happens more against us than almost any other club. To such a level last weekend that it wouldn’t have surprised me if David Cornell had netted a goal from a corner or a freak goal kick.
Our former player this weekend is Jamal Lowe who has had a stuttering start to his Bournemouth career following his transfer deadline day switch from South Wales. Two recent goals – against Bristol City and Reading – have kick started his goalscoring but he has made just two starts since he made the move to the South Coast to stand alongside his eight substitute appearances.
Of course game time could be limited when you are part of a side that has gone 15 unbeaten at the start of the season but a midweek defeat, combined with those two recent goals, could see Lowe retain his starting spot for Saturday which could mean bad news for us.
Scott Parker speaking at the end of September knew the score when he was questioned on the lack of game time for Lowe and he said “My main message is just keep working hard and wait for your opportunity. Your opportunity will come and you just need to take it.”
You could certainly argue that Lowe has done that in recent weeks with his two goals and he did find himself in the starting line up for only the second time as the Cherries lost for the first time this season at home to Preston in midweek.
“But at the same time my main message is just keep working hard and wait for your opportunity. Your opportunity will come and you just need to take it,” added Parker back at the time where Lowe had made just eight minutes of appearances for Bournemouth.
Speaking himself after scoring his first goal for the club at Ashton Gate last month Lowe echoed the words of Parker when he said “I’ve said before, whenever I’m called upon I just want to be ready. I’m working hard every day and I got to understand how well the team’s performing and how well the boys are doing.”
“You can’t be too frustrated when you’re not in the team because we’re unbeaten. Dom (Solanke) scoring, Phil (Billing) scoring and everyone’s scoring. It’s not like you can knock on the manager’s door and start complaining. It’s just about being ready, being patient and taking the opportunity when it comes.
“It’s massive to be part of this team, obviously. We’ve started the season so well. The unbeaten streak, winning games week-in-week-out. It’s hard being in a winning team, it is hard staying in a winning team, so it’s just about whenever being called upon being ready to take your opportunity. Hopefully today I have done that.”
A 2-1 defeat to Preston in midweek could change the thought process of Scott Parker ahead of the weekend and it is always interesting to see how a side reacts after losing such a long unbeaten run. With the Swans in excellent form thanks to four wins in five it will be a game that everyone is looking forward to and a chance for Lowe to shine against his former side but hopefully on this occasion it will be a day when a former player doesn’t shine against us.
