Phil Sumbler
Swansea City earned a point this afternoon thanks to a late Jay Fulton goal that was the Swans first shot on target – the summary of the afternoon can be made when you factor in that it came in the 81st minute.
Up to that point all of our struggles were on display as former striker Jamal Lowe grabbed what looked as if it may have been the only goal of the game for the home side although Russell Martin still has plenty to ponder on in the two weeks before the next fixture.
Tuesday night’s FA Cup defeat means the Swans have to wait two weeks before the next fixture by which point the transfer window will have closed and the Swans squad sealed and delivered for the rest of the season.
With Morgan Whittaker left out for reasons you can draw your own conclusions on it seems certain that he will be on his way before the end of the month. Add to that the futures of Michael Obafemi, Jamie Paterson, Ryan Manning and Joel Latibeaudiere are still unknown and it is easy to see why the pressure is mounting on Swans boss Russell Martin.
The QPR commentators were delighted in telling viewers on the hour mark that the Swans had not managed a shot on target which is a problem and statistic all too often seen under a manager who seemingly wants his side to play with patience. “Cabango to Darling to Cabango to Darling to Cabango and back to Darling” was a period of commentary in the first half that bought equal amusement and this was after former striker Lowe had found some typically generous space in the Swans defence to fire the home side ahead on his home debut.
The worrying factor for Martin and all Swans fans is that this kind of defensive generosity is on display too often as is the toothless level at which we approach games. 62% possession in the first half was topped by 72% in the second half but it was the Swans total ineptitude at the back that looked for so long to be the most dangerous aspect of our play with QPR failing to capitalise on it being probably the most positive aspect of the afternoon for Russell Martin.
Putting to one side the space we afforded Lowe in the first half to score, Stephen Benda picked up a suicidal pass from Harry Darling early in the second half but, as is often the case, the free kick on the six yard box line was blocked by the advancing defenders.
Benda’s afternoon was not to last too much longer as he was forced off with an injury in the second half to be replaced by Andy Fisher. Fisher – as we saw often before he was dropped earlier in the season – has a tendency to have his own moments of madness and with fifteen minutes left one of those could have cost us a second goal. In fact it should have certainly cost us a second goal but Lowe was unable to lift the ball over Fisher and the Swans cleared their decks.
Whether that spurred the Swans into action or not will always be a point that we will never be able to say for certain but it wasn’t long after that when Fulton equalised to give the excellent travelling support something to cheer about on an afternoon when all looked lost. The commentators jokes had seemingly backfired on them as the Swans started to push forward more and Ntcham had a second shot on target which was well saved by the keeper as we went in search of the winner.
The game was ticking towards seven minutes of stoppage time and neither side were seemingly content with a point as both came close to what would have been a decisive goal.
It was not to be though and the two sides chasing a play off spot both had to settle for losing ground on the top six although both remain in contention at the same time.
This was another one of those afternoons where it is easy to see why there is frustration with our playing style. Lots of passes and possession for long periods seemingly had no purpose – a point made as referenced above by the commentators. It was another afternoon where we conceded the first goal as has become seemingly the norm and it was another afternoon where our lack of depth in the squad was there for everyone to see.
The next ten days are vital now for Russell Martin. We simply have to end the transfer window in a better position than we went into it and, give what has happened in the three weeks to date that is more than doubtful at the moment. Much it seems depends on the immediate future of Morgan Whittaker and with Rangers (not the ones we faced today) sniffing around then we can only hope that is resolved quickly or we will end with the late transfer decisions that have dominated the past two windows and we know how those play out.
Big times ahead for everyone concerned with Swansea City.
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