Rob Davies
It’s been a couple of weeks since we’ve suffered the misfortune of a really poor refereeing display but just like rain it’s always on its way and it arrived with a bang as the Swans held off a seemingly doomed Derby County.
Joel Piroe made it three goals in a matter of days with a “doube” inside the first twenty minutes and it looked like a comfortable win at that point until Russell Martin’s team contrived to hand Derby a lifeline.
Andy Fisher was the man to offer the gift of a penalty when he rashly stormed out of his goal to reach a chased long ball but took the man out instead of the ball; Tom Lawrence duly slotting home the penalty.
And whilst that was the end of the goals, it wasn’t the end of the talking points as the Swans were denied an earlier penalty claim when a Derby defender handballed from a cross and then – the worst of all – when the away keeper hauled down Paterson who was heading towards an unguarded goal.
Derby then had a late shout for a penalty which on first viewing looked a fair shout much to Wayne Rooney’s bemusement, but justice was probably served in not seeing a another spot kick for the away team after earlier events.
Russell Martin made just the one change with Jamie Paterson again returning to the line-up after sitting out midweek against Millwall and it was Ryan Manning who dropped out to allow Hannes Wolf to drop back to left wing back.
Fisher
Cabango – Naughton – Latibeaudiere
Christie – Fulton – Grimes – Wolf
Piroe – Obafemi – Paterson
Indeed it was Wolf’s most potent game in his loan spell at SA1, he was showing the type of form we’d all hoped to see and escaped his opposite number with ease time after time.
And with little more than a few minutes on the clock, his run down the left wing was ended with a glorious ball across the box to find Joel Piroe who delivered an unerring finish.
Derby showed little in terms of attacking ability early on and soon after the rush of positivity continued to flow in the Swans camp as they stormed forward and grabbed number two of the afternoon.
The attack was again started down the left and a ball whipped across the box was half cleared by Curtis Davies ahead of Obafemi only for Piroe to pop up and fire home in similar fashion.
Those two goals brought up 20 in a fantastic first campaign for the striker who Martin admits will attract interest in the summer. The interesting part of that is whether the Swans will hold out for decent money or sell for any reasonable profit.
It looked like a third goal was looming for the home side; Davies was again having a torrid time in the Derby defence and only what looked like a handball prevented another cross coming into the box.
How that wasn’t a penalty was a mystery although it was the Rams celebrating their own spot kick moments later as a long ball over the top was being chased by Luke Plange.
Fisher had a moment of madness and decided to leave his goalline to retrieve the ball unaware of how close Plange was to getting to the ball and he eventually took out the man despite pulling out of the challenge at the very end.
Welshman Tom Lawrence hit his penalty straight down the middle and whilst Fisher got a hand to it, it was 2-1 and game on.
One of the two major talking points came as the game edged towards half time, a Derby corner being hoofed away with the away goalkeeper Ryan Allsop (30 yards from goal) mis-hitting the ball and presenting it to Paterson.
The Swans midfielder still had a bit to do but was practically facing an open goal until the Derby goalkeeper cynically stopped Paterson in his tracks – the referee was unmoved.
At the interval the general question was “how are the Swans not out of sight” when they created enough opportunities to have put the game to bed against a team fighting for their lives.
Chances were few and far between thereafter although Wolf hit the bar with an effort which he and second half substitute (for Paterson) Ntcham created on the left, whilst the French midfielder himself missed a couple of opportunities.
Fisher was relatively untroubled thanks to the well marshalled defence (Joel Latibeaudiere again impressive) whilst Jay Fulton performed well on his second start in a few days – it seemed to allow Matt Grimes to roam a little further forward.
Wolf probably had the best game of his loan spell with the Derby right back failing miserably to marshal his runs and he was always an outlet on the counter attack.
Joel Piroe made way for Korey Smith as Martin sought to solidify the midfield and it generally worked until stoppage time when panic ensued as Rooney’s men piled forward.
Knowing they needed to win to stand any real chance of avoiding relegation, even Derby’s goalkeeper was up for a late corner which saw Festy Ebosele seemingly denied from reaching a rebound. The referee was unmoved as he was for earlier penalty appeals and that was that.
Three wins in a week is a phenomenal outcome to the three matches faced. There was clearly some fatigue in the play particularly second half today but there was enough done in the first quarter to have won any game.
The Swans are on a good run of form and have a bit of momentum behind them. Realistically a push for the play-offs is highly unlikely – eight points off with a game in hand – but whatever happens it brings real encouragement for what we are to see next season.
Onwards to the home game against Barnsley on Good Friday and a well done to all for a good result and nine points out of nine (also 19 out of 27 now).
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Yep Most independent people including the commentators were agreed it was a Swansea penalty for the handball in 1st half and a clear foul on Patterson when he was through past the keeper until he was given the forearm smash It’s all swing and roundabouts but unusually the it was settled by the ref not giving a penalty at the end
Swansea were the better side but that doesn’t necessarily mean they get the result.