Ten years on – the first steps to glory as Barnsley and Crawley beaten

Ten years ago this week the Swans won their first – and to date only – major trophy when they lifted the Capital One Cup at Wembley following a 5-0 win over Bradford City.  All this week we will take a trip back down memory lane with a look at the road to that trophy which started back in August 2012 – six months before the majestical final day.

The early stages of the League Cup can often be greeted with low crowds, reserve teams and potential shocks which was certainly almost the case for the Swans in Round Three at Crawley.

In today’s first installment we look back at the Second Round win over Barnsley and an unlikely last minute hero in that aforementioned game in Crawley.

The Swans were on the back of a 100% start to their Premier League campaign when Barnsley arrived at the Liberty – could that run continue?

Report – The Guardian

Luke Moore’s double helped Swansea book their place in the third round of the Capital One Cup with victory over Barnsley at the Liberty Stadium.

Goals either side of the break from Danny Graham and Moore put Swansea, who rejected Manchester City’s £6.2m bid for Scott Sinclair earlier in the day, firmly in control. But the Welsh side were wobbling after Bobby Hassell pulled a goal back for the Championship visitors, until Moore slotted his second with three minutes remaining to maintain Swansea’s 100% start to the campaign.

Michael Laudrup handed debuts to record signing Ki Sung yeung and Kyle Bartley as he made seven changes from the side that beat West Ham 3-0, with Swansea looking to avoid a repeat of their embarrassing exit against Shrewsbury at this stage of last season’s competition.

Barnsley boss Keith Hill also rang the changes from their 5-1 thumping at Brighton but it was the Tykes who made the more solid start, and they saw plenty of the ball in the early going as Swansea’s new combinations struggled to settle.

Graham’s header from Nathan Dyer’s cross was well blocked by Barnsley skipper Scott Wiseman, but the striker had an easy finish for the opener after 24 minutes.

Angel Rangel delivered an inviting cross from the right and Moore astutely headed back across goal for Graham to chest in his second of the season from less than a yard.

Ben Alnwick, back in the Barnsley goal after suspension, tipped away a stinging drive from Dyer after excellent build-up play from Swansea, while Tomasz Cywka troubled Tremmel with a dipping volley that the German just held, clouting his head against the post in the process.

Moore, who was guilty of being wasteful in possession on occasion, should have doubled the lead 11 minutes before the break but he headed wide after Rangel again overlapped on the right.

But the former Aston Villa man made no mistake when he found the net just short of the hour. Jonathan De Guzman found the substitute Jazz Richards, and the full-back slipped into the area to find Moore, who turned and fired left-footed high into the net.

That should have been the game won for the hosts but they let the Championship side back in it as poor marking from Scott Golbourne’s corner allowed Hassell to get in a header which beat Tremmel at his right post. Tremmel then had to be alert to prevent an equaliser. Chris Dagnall looked set to get a reward for his industrious efforts when he stole the ball from Bartley and raced in on goal, but the keeper was out quickly to deny him.

The impressive Hassell then rattled Tremmel’s crossbar from distance with Swansea rocking. But Moore settled any nerves by sliding home from an acute angle after Mark Gower had charged down a Stephen Dawson clearance.

With the first hurdle of the competition successfully navigated the Swans were drawn away to Crawley in the Third Round.   An eventful tie was eventually settled by a Garry Monk stoppage time winner but not before the Swans had been threatened by a cup shock when they found themselves 2-1 down with twenty minutes to go.

Report – BBC Sport

Garry Monk’s header in injury time spared Swansea’s blushes after Crawley had threatened a shock in the Capital One Cup third round.

Miguel Michu’s opener, curling home Wayne Routledge’s cross, suggested an easy night for Premier League Swansea.

But their League One hosts hit back with Josh Simpson’s deflected shot and led when Hope Akpan scored on the turn.

Swans levelled when Danny Graham nodded in Dwight Tiendalli’s cross before Monk rose at a corner to end Crawley’s hope.

It was a welcome return to action for club captain Monk, who was making his first appearance of the season following a troubling back injury.

The central defender’s late winner ensured Swansea did not suffer last season’s fate, when they were knocked out of the competition by League Two side Shrewsbury.

A defensive error by Crawley right-back Nathan Byrne, newly arrived on loan from Tottenham, nearly gifted Swansea an easy opener, but Luke Moore’s shot whistled past the right post.

An almost identical error of judgement saw Byrne cause panic among the home defence for a second time, but this time Moore was hustled off the ball.

Michu nodded a free-kick straight at keeper Paul Jones before Routledge stabbed a glorious chance into the side netting.

But Routledge made amends in the 27th minute by unlocking the Crawley defence with a mazy run that set up the opener for Michu.

Stationed on the edge of the area, Michu steered the ball over the head of Jones with a superb finish to grab his fifth goal since his summer arrival from Rayo Vallecano.

The Spanish attacking midfielder was then booked for fouling Dannie Bulman and later sent a header over the crossbar, but only after Moore had squandered another great opportunity.

The closing moments of the first half saw Swansea come under pressure.

A spectacular overhead kick from Billy Clarke just failed before Crawley made their breakthrough. Simpson gathered a failed clearance from 20 yards out and drilled home, his shot taking a heavy deflection in a crowd of players.

Crawley came out for the second half with their tails up and Jonathan Forte surged through midfield before testing keeper Gerhard Tremmel, with Nicky Adams just failing to capitalise on the follow up.

Forte was also involved as Swansea’s worst fears were realised, Akpan taking his incisive pass, turning and slotting home from close range.

Having run half the pitch, Forte should have put Crawley 3-1 up but his shot was easily saved by Tremmel.

The home side were left to rue the missed chance in the 74th minute as Swansea equalised when substitute Graham nodded in Tiendalli’s pin-point cross.

And the decisive blow was struck as the match entered injury time as Monk jumped highest to head home Routledge’s corner.

The Swans had safely negotiated the first two rounds of the competition – what awaited next was a tough test against the holders who were managed by a very familiar face…