Rob Davies
A bitterly cold day in South Wales was met by a pretty cold performance on the pitch as Norwich City came and quite easily took three points away from the Swansea.com Stadium.
Perhaps if Teemu Pukki hadn’t had the easiest of finishes in the first minute – two of his fellow team mates should have netted before that such was the shoddiness of the defending from the corner – it may have been a different game.
Indeed the Swans huffed and puffed thereafter to offer some hope of a comeback but it seemed throughout the 90 minutes that it was unlikely Russell Martin’s team would get one let alone the two needed to win.
It marks a miserable return to Chamoionship football after the four week break for the World Cup and continues a winless run that now stretches to six games.
Martin largely picked his team as expected with exception of the surprise inclusion of Jamie Paterson from the start; the former Bristol City winger has been reduced to a bit part player due to form and injury since he was given the much demanded improved contract earlier this year.
Benda
Wood – Naughton – Cabango
Latibeaudiere – Fulton – Grimes – Manning
Cundle – Piroe – Paterson
As above the key moment of the match came in just the first minute. The Swans looking shocked by the visitors’ fast start which firstly saw Pukki handed an opportunity which was blocked down the left side of the box.
The Finland striker didn’t have long to wait as seconds later the resulting corner was whipped across the six yard box with three Norwich players unmarked; Pukki eventually slamming in from a tight angle at the far post. Not the best way to restart after the four week break, eh?
The goal was met with the usual groans that have become the norm again of late at the Swansea.com Stadium with the five (now six) game winless run quickly overriding the great run of form that propelled the team into the play-off places in late September and October.
Martin’s team quickly set about making amends and the pre-match line-up with three centre backs was quickly ripped up allowing Kyle Naughton a free roaming role, often meaning he would go beyond the midfield and leaving four (sometimes two) at the back.
That helped to create space on the left for Ryan Manning and his left foot half volley was almost converted by Joel Piroe within the first fifteen minutes.
The Dutchman then had a clear sight of goal inside the box but his shot was deflected away by Grant Hanley as it looked for all the stadium that he would equalise. It typifies what has been a poor return for him in his second season in the Championship.
Paterson then had the best other chance of the half as the ball found its way to the back post but his left foot strike was blocked by Angus Gunn for a corner.
Second half saw more urgency at times with Naughton’s weak header into the ground summing up the frustration around the stadium as Gunn was allowed the opportunity to push it over the top.
Three attacking substitutions were made in a bid to get the all important goals although quite why they didn’t start will bemuse with Ntcham, Cooper and Oko-Flex introduced.
That gave the opportunity for a half hearted penalty appeal as Oko-Flex charged towards the box with a free-kick the result. Quite why the West Ham loanee is still being marginalised so much is again bemusing although Martin clearly has concerns about his ability defensively.
Piroe poked a volley wide from a Manning free-kick and directed a header straight at Gunn as the Swans ran out of ideas on a cold winter’s afternoon in SA1.
And after four minutes of injury time the home team were out of time and dropped down to 11th position. There was to be no bounceback after the international break.
Closer to the relegation zone than second place was something not many of us would have predicted a few weeks ago but that’s now where we are. Still with a sniff of the play-offs at just about the half way mark but so much needs improving. That must start at Coventry with a positive result.
On this evidence talk of a new contract for the manager may be ever so premature…
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