Rob Davies
Another thoroughlly enjoyable afternoon for the Swans as they continued their winning ways on the road at Plymouth Argyle.
In a very satisfying performance, the Swans turned the screw in the second half after falling behind to Luke Cundle’s opener before the interval.
Jerry Yates tapped in from Liam Cullen’s superb header back across goal before Ollie Cooper’s brilliant long range strike put the Swans ahead just thirteen minutes later.
On the break Paterson set up Josh Key to score against his former club’s arch rivals as Michael Duff’s men made it four wins on the bounce and move into the top half as we go into yet another international break.
There was one enforced change for Duff as Ben Cabango wasn’t fit to start after his injury against Norwich which gave Josh Tymon the opportunity for his first Swansea City start at left back, Bashir Humphreys moving to the centre alongside Harry Darling.
Rushworth
Key – Darling – Humphreys – Tymon
Paterson – Grimes – Patino
Cullen – Yates – Lowe
It was a fairly positive start for the visitors and no wonder with confidence high after three consecutive wins although the Pilgrims pace down the flanks was causing some problems particularly on the left side.
Ball Mumba, a summer signing from Norwich had Josh Key’s number and along with Ryan Hardie the hosts were causing plenty of problems for the Swans without seriously testing Rushworth.
Until the opener. A ball down the right was kept in and played across the box ending in a slight blunder between Darling andย Rushworth with Cundle slamming home despite the attention of three men on the line.
Cullen was the first player to test the Argyle keeper as his left footed strike was brilliantly tipped around the post as the Swans sought to level quickly.
Then Jamal Lowe felt like he had a good shout for a penalty dismissed before the break as he ran through but nothing doing with the referee much to his and a handful of his teammates’ dismay.
Nothing happened further of note before half time with no changes for either side at the break – the Swans facing a big challenge a goal down against a team whose results of late probably don’t tell the story of how they’ve played.
Duff’s men started the second period with purpose with Lowe in particular leading the charge along with the very impressive of late Matt Grimes.
But perhaps the unsung hero of the season so far, Jamie Paterson, delivered the ball that led to the equaliser. His ball to the far post looked to be heading out for a goal kick but Cullen leapt like a salmon to nod back across for the gleeful Yates to tap home.
The Swans were now on the charge but could have been behind again as Bali Mumba under much pressure from Humphreys contrived to hit straight at Rushworth.
Then the killer moment as Cooper and Fulton made their entrance for Cullen and Patino. Everyone in white recognises that Ollie Cooper hasn’t hit the levels of last season but this was certainly a sign he’s on the way back.
Within 30 seconds of his arrival he took the ball and hit a dipping shot across the goal and into the bottom corner. Right in front of the strong away following. Scenes.
With only 68 minutes on the clock this would normally be nervous time for Swans fans around the country but as we saw against Norwich midweek there’s a new resolve, a new steel about this team. A grit and determination we haven’t seen in some time.
And in reality bar a Hardie effort which Rushworth did well to palm away Duff’s men were generally untroubled before a clinical counter attack finished Argyle off once and for all.
Morgan Whittaker (ironically) lost the ball in midfield and on a quick counter Paterson scurried away and delightfully set up Key who finished under the goalkeeper for a Swansea third.
This was a really hard fought win against a quick and attacking team. All the more impressive to come back from a goal down away from home.
Four wins on the bounce and the international break couldn’t be coming at a worse time. But optimism is high and the Swans are up to 12th this evening. What a difference three weeks makes!
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