Rob Davies
It seems a lot longer than just over a fortnight ago that Swansea City were languishing on just two points from six games and on the back of a miserable defeat in the “Capitol.”
The change has been remarkable both in terms of results and performances and last night showed serious resilience and improved fitness levels as Bashir Humphreys lashed home late on to take all three points.
The Swans had gone ahead early on, buoyant after the 3-0 win at Millwall, as Grimes used some great skill just outside the box to set up the rejuvenated Jamal Lowe to finish.
Gonzalo Sara levelled on the counter attack with a header as the Swans were outnumbered on the left side and Norwich were certainly a match from that point on until Duff’s men turned the screw after the 70th minute mark.
He named the same eleven that won at The Den on Saturday with four at the back, three in midfield and three up top.
Rushworth
Key – Cabango – Darling – Tymon
Paterson – Grimes – Patino
Cullen – Yates – Lowe
Ironically the Swans didn’t touch the ball for the first minute and a half but before three was on the clock they had taken the lead. And it was high pressing that paid dividends.
Lowe won the ball back 40 yards from goal, played it to Grimes who with a great bit of skill maneuvered the ball back through to the onrushing Lowe to tap in. What a great start.
Norwich looked a little shell shocked at this point and their Russ-ball lite passing around the back was being hounded by white shirts allowing them not to get out.
Lowe was almost on the act again after a good ball from Humphreys before Paterson fired over with a left footed effort as the Swans looked to get a second.
But it was the away team who struck the next goal. The pace of Jon Rowe down the Norwich left caused Key and Cullen far too many problems and the equaliser on the counter came from that side.
The Canaries sprung down the left as both Key and Cullen were up the pitch with Patino’s less than energetic chase not proving sufficient to stop the cross which deflected to Sara for a diving header and 1-1.
This gave the away team a foothold into the game and with the Swans players desperately expecting a free kick Hwang forced Rushworth into a superb one handed save as rhe men in yellow smelled a second.
Duff’s men were soon back on the front foot and were inexplicably denied a second as firstly Patino weakly hit into a defender as he strode towards goal and then Yates’ backheal from a Key cross was agonisingly deflected wide by a Norwich defender.
The visitors probably ended the half on top and that would continue in the second half as the pace of Rowe was continuing to cause issues with Cullen and Key having no answer.
Warner and Norwich clearly saw this opportunity with balls over the top down the left side with the Swans responding by fouling the player and team-mates resulting in three (perhaps harsh?) yellow cards in the space of ten second half minutes.
Perhaps it’s the sign of a tougher team that when things are getting tough with the Canaries on top that the Swans can dig in, foul if necessary and hold on before fitness levels should be the difference later on?
It was somewhat of a surprise to see Wagner make three attacking changes as his team were on top. In reality it stopped their momentum despite Adam Idah missing from point blank range from a right sided cross.
Ben Cabango worryingly pulled up after a strong tackle from behind which saw him taken off for Tymon allowing Humphreys to move into a more familiar centre back role for the remaining 30 minutes or so.
Tymon struggled to get into the game somewhat defensively and when the opportunity came to block he would sit back which caused a few nervous moments in defence.
Aside from this it was the Swans starting to turn the screw.ย Paterson was denied by a great block in the middle as Lowe teed him up before Cooper’s close range effort was superbly tipped away by Gunn with Yates tapping in the rebound. It was ruled out for offside but a replay would help on that one?
Then further controversy arrived as Lowe again down the right caused problems and his deflected cross found Yates at the back post whose header was battered away from a defender over the line. It looked from my position in the East to be close but perhaps just not over despite the Swansea protestations.
It mattered for little as in the 83rd minute from a corner and a goalmouth scramble involving Yates and Paterson the ball fell to Humphreys who gleefully slammed in left footed for his first senior goal.
The remaining time was well managed as Kuharevych was introduced and the Swans held out for what was a big and very satisfying home win against a strong team chasing a play off place.
Ten points from four games is far more than any of us expected after Cardiff and things are definitely looking up. There was even a single fist pump from Duff – maybe there’ll be two soon?
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