Rob DaviesJoel Piroe and Cyrus Christie delivered knockout blows as Swansea City ended their poor away run with a confident 2-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion, completing a double over the Baggies.
With the game petering out to a 0-0 draw, substitute Olivier Ntcham broke away down the left and delivered a pinpoint cross into the middle where Piroe struck through the legs of Sam Johnstone for 1-0.
Christie made it two thanks to a low cross from the left side again, Hannes Wolf delivering with the right back then slamming past the Albion goalkeeper whose right hand couldn’t keep the ball out.
The victory moves Russell Martin’s team up to 16th with a few games in hand on the sides around them ahead of the home game against Coventry City this Saturday.
The Swans boss looked to have made a formation change for the match with Piroe and Michael Obafemi both starting along with Wolf and Jamie Paterson in an attacking line up.
Fisher
Cabango – Naughton – Manning
Christie – Downes – Grimes – Wolf
Piroe – Obafemi – Paterson
Against a team under new management since the 2-1 win at the Swansea.com Stadium back in those encouraging days earlier this season, the Swans set out to control early possession as always.
There was a much stronger resolve to the team than the one we saw fall so meekly at Sheffield United last weekend and that was shown by the single shot on target from a goal shy Albion.
It’s good to remember that Steve Bruce’s new charges had only lost once at home this season so would be keen to continue their run despite not scoring in their previous two fixtures at the Hawthorns.
The most dangerous of those players were Callum Robinson who hit the post twice during the game, the first of which came after a cross which evaded Kyle Naughton and his flicked effort beat Fisher but not the woodwork.
The Swans grew into the game and whilst didn’t have huge chances to show for the possession they had in the game, Paterson and Wolf both looked dangerous as the away side looked to make the breakthrough before halftime.
Encouragingly Andy Carroll was effectively nullified and offered very little in a sign that Swansea are learning after a number of years how to deal with the threat he poses.
The second half began again with few chances, Robinson again coming the closest when he broke down the middle with the away defence parting both ways but his shot hit the post again and deflected away for a Fisher goal kick.
Three minutes later in the 79th minute the break through arrived. Substitute Ntcham received a clever pass on the left, side footed Darnel Furlong and broke away before finding the perfectly placed Piroe who made no mistake for his 15th goal of the season. Cue huge relief and bedlam in the away end.
An onslaught never came from Bruce’s men and Swansea sensed an opportunity to go for a second, which they duly got when Wolf’s ball evaded another substitute Korey Smith and found the ever impressive Christie who fired home to seal a much needed three points.
It wasn’t golden Swansea but it was effective and efficient – words that haven’t been associated with much of our team this season. It was also clinical and deserved and hopefully shows Martin again that small changes make a big difference.
There was much more danger to the Swans play, particularly late on and the post match admission from Christie that the game plan was to power on in the latter stages mindful of West Brom’s weakness in the last 15 minutes was clever and ultimately successful.
A lot changes in a week in football and nothing says that more than tonight’s result. We move on to Saturday against Coventry with confidence and hopefully a week what sees back to back wins for only the second time this season.
Onwards and upwards.
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