Rob Davies
A new season, a new manager but familiar mistakes saw the Swans held to a draw on the opening day against Birmingham City yesterday afternoon.
The Swansea team saw no fewer than four debutants in the starting eleven against a Blues side with five new signings themselves – one of which was Lee Buchanan who was heavily linked with a move to SA1 in July.
It was two of the newbies who scored – Siriki Dembele for Birmingham and Jerry Yates for the Swans in a hard fought, competitive but ultimately scrappy opening day draw.
Dembele’s goal came from some poor play between Ben Cabango and Carl Ashworth to allow Keshi Anderson to slide across to the unmarked former Bournemouth man to open the scoring before half time.
A more urgent Michael Duff team responded after the interval as Grimes’ delightful first time ball found substitute Cullen who found Yates for a tap in at the far post.
The line up was largely as anticipated with the only surprise being the inclusion of Jamie Paterson although developments this evening regarding Olivier Ntcham makes more sense of that decision.
Rushworth
Darling – Cabango – Wood
Ashby – Fulton – Grimes – Key
Paterson
Yates – Piroe
There had been quite considerable changes to the laws in the Football League this summer namely nine players allowed on the bench (still five changes permitted) and a much stricter interpretation of added time. Much like the World Cup in Qatar.
Although for the first half at least you could reasonably believe that Birmingham’s players hadn’t interpreted the latter in the spirit it was meant. Soft dives from the likes of Dembele, Buchanan and Tyler Roberts were all rewarded with free kicks to the away team with plenty of rolls for good measure.
The fact Paterson saw yellow after less than two minutes for an innocuous challenge tells the story of a first half lacking in real quality from both teams.
Swansea struggled to get into any sort of rhythm and the Blues probably created the better but both shots were well held by the solid looking Rushworth between the sticks.
The lack of Ntcham was noticeable as his form over the last six months would suggest that this type of game would be where he would shine and carry the ball from middle to front.
Piroe and the Duracell bunny like Yates were isolated. Key initially struggled on the left but grew into the game very well whilst Ashby could get little change out of Buchanan when moving forward.
As it looked to be a 0-0 at half time. Rushworth sold Cabango short with a pass and the Welsh defender couldn’t react quick enough to stop Anderson from dispossession him. He quickly slid the ball to the left where Dembele gleefully cut in and smashed in for the opener.
That was a little gutting as whilst we had lacked creativity and fluidity the general concensus was that the team was stronger and more streetwise on that first half showing.
No changes at the break and it was Birmingham who started the second half the stronger. Their press was good and the counter attacks sprung almost paid dividends once or twice, mainly down Ashby’s side.
The Swans came close as some defensive hesitancy from a corner allowed Darling a free looping header which agonisingly came back off the bar. One of those days?
Well it seemed that way until Abdulai replaced Ashby and Cullen took the place of Paterson. There seemed a new, more direct energy about the team and it soon paid off.
Grimes quickly slid the ball down the side for the onrushing Cullen and his delightful pass across the pitch was met by a delighted Yates to score on his debut. What a relief.
Yates impressed me. He is deceptively quick, full of energy and looked to be worth every penny of the ยฃ2.5m paid for him this afternoon. Piroe on the other hand was subdued but still put in a shift.
It should have been 2-1 to the Swans not long after the equaliser as pinball around the box saw Cullen presented with two opportunities – blocked – before Fulton and Piroe had attempts with the latter cleared off the line.
That was really it for Duff’s men in terms of chances bar a last gasp free kick which was straight at Ruddy and Cullen’s header from a late cross which sailed over.
It was probably fortunate that Ivan Sunjic didn’t have better shooting boots on as he could have stole the win for Birmingham but for firstly a superb save by Ashworth and then a shot that was high and wide when well placed.
In summary plenty to ponder after a game that wasn’t the best of viewing for either side. But there were reasons to be optimistic and the new, tougher Swansea City will undoubtedly be a tougher nut to crack this term than it has been for a while…
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