Rob Davies
After a slightly turbulent start to the season the Swans finally got their campaign started with a crucial win at Blackpool that at times wasn’t pretty but effective enough to earn all three points.
There was a slight change to the tactics employed by Russell Martin perhaps showing that he can be adaptable and spring the element of surprise on opposition’s managers who seem to have sussed out his game plan.
Olivier Ntcham scored the crucial winner five minutes from time after a sharp breakaway from Michael Obafemi left him and the former Celtic man bearing down on goal – allowing him the simplest of finishes.
This came after a dubious penalty award – which did look like a spot kick from the stands – which gave Jerry Yates the chance to put Pool ahead in the second half only for the impressive Andy Fisher to save with his legs.
The Swans goalkeeper was reliable throughout and also made a strong save to atone for Jay Fulton’s area as Martin’s men kept their first clean sheet of the season to go 12th in the Championship after three played.
There were a couple of changes to the starting eleven that played against Blackburn Rovers last Saturday with Matty Sorinola and Ben Cabango coming in for Olivier Ntcham and Nathan Wood. Jamie Paterson was also not in the matchday squad and has now only started one of four matches played this season.
Fisher
Cabango – Naughton – Darling
Latibeaudiere – Fulton – Grimes – Manning
Piroe – Obafemi – Sorinola
As the title says this game had a different air to recent matches with a slightly more direct approach (not hoof ball in case Russell is reading) with the ball heading out to the wings much quicker than usual.
The only issue comes when your wing options consist of Joel Latibeadiere, – a centre half by trade – Matty Sorinola and Ryan Manning (who is a good asset coming forward). This is clearly an avenue for much work before the transfer deadline although one still thinks there’s a quick potentially strong full back in Ogbeta although there was no sign of him here again.
Yet again though for all the positivity we were seeing in the first half – Matt Grimes coming close with a 25 yard strike and Ben Cabango heading a corner just wide – there were some trademark overplaying issues in defence.
Some of that overplaying almost allowed Blackpool in through Josh Bowler but Fisher saved the blushes of his defence by palming away for a corner.
Jay Fulton then had a glorious opportunity when he turned well inside the area but was just blocked as he went to shoot on his left foot as the Swans ended a first half strongly and could say they were unfortunate not to be ahead.
Second half arrived and Michael Appleton the manager in the home dugout opted to make a change taking off former MK Dons loanee Theo Corbeanu and introducing striker Lavery to change formation and take the game to the away side.
The change immediately shook up the home side with his energy and drive giving the Swans defence some real issues.
But they should have been ahead when a ball was only half cleared by the Pool defence allowing Grimes to strike on the half volley and via a deflection it looked for all the world the opening goal. Grimshaw in the Blackpool goal had something else to say about that as he palmed it away.
The real talking point of the game arrived when the Swans defence failed to clear the ball away from danger allowing an attack down the left allowing Australian Kenny Dougall to run towards the box. As our defence tried in vein to block the run Harry Darling stuck a leg out which seemed to bring the midfielder down – penalty awarded.
On second viewing Dougall clearly dived but the decision remained and up stepped Yates who planted his spot kick slightly left of goal only for Fisher’s legs to heroically deny the home side the lead.
Bowler – linked with a move to Nottingham Forest – then had a couple of opportunities which were spooned over the bar before the crucial breakaway led by Obafemi.
The Swans striker received the ball via a clearance and bypassed the sole Blackpool defender within the home side’s half and ran clear. Ntcham chased up with the former Southampton man receiving the pass and finishing to make it 1-0 with just four minutes to go.
The away end was practically shaking and were almost celebrating a second goal as Obafemi was denied by Grimshaw but that mattered little as Martin’s team saw out the seven minutes of injury time quite comfortably.
It wasn’t always pretty but it feels fantastic to win after a long run without a win but just maybe things will look up from here with two home games to come this week.
A very nice day by the seaside.
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