Phil Sumbler
The Swans returned to winning ways this afternoon at the Swansea.com Stadium with three first half goals that did full credit to the best first half display of the Luke Williams era.
Two goals from Liam Cullen took his tally to seven league goals in his last eight league appearances and a first Swans goal for Goncalo Franco were the stats that showed under the goals tally but it was a first half display that generated eighty-three per cent possession and prevented QPR registering a shot on goal in that opening forty-five minutes.
If defeat at Hull last weekend was against the division’s most out of form side, this was a performance against a side who was one of the division’s form horses after a run of form that had taken them away from the bottom end of the table to the relative comfort of mid table. Luke Williams had demanded a performance from his side, Matt Grimes had said that the Swans would deliver and certainly before half-time both those statements came true with the Swans effectively delivering the three points before the game was halfway through.
Just a few short weeks ago the Swans had thrown away a two goal advantage on the same ground to lose to Sunderland so there was somewhat a relief around the ground when Franco slotted the third into an empty net as it gave the breathing space that we needed although the second half was much more evenly fought as the performance levels of the Swans dropped.
The form of Cullen has been a revelation since he scored twice to secure Nations League success for Wales and he is now one of the hottest strikers in the Championship with two neat goals meaning now just six people have scored more Championship goals than him this term such is the form that he has shown. Incredibly this was his first double for the Swans since a 5-1 FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest in January 2021 but having been on target in five of the last eight league games it is clear to see that right now he is riding a crest of a wave created in that big Wales win over Iceland last month.
His first saw him perfectly anticipating a squared Ronald ball into the area and his second had similarities about it as he flicked home a Josh Key assist to have the Swans two up inside half hour. Franco added the third shortly after and the Swans were coasting at this point playing the kind of football that was generating space all over the pitch and we were at our very best to expose it at this point.
For all the times we looked off the pace last weekend we were the exact opposite in those early stages and there were no complaints from the away end when the referee bought to an end a first half that gave us that all important three goal advantage.
As is often the case the second half never lived up to the levels set in the first and whilst the Swans looked for more they were not able to deliver with the inevitable run of substitutions disturbing the overall pattern of the game.
We should not lose sight of the fact that Lawrence Vigouroux never had a shot to save during the game thanks to a defence expertly marshalled by Ben Cabango – new contract safely in his pocket – and Harry Darling who the Swans hope to tie up to similar before too much longer.
With a home game to come on Sunday against Luton, the Swans have a great chance to cement their top ten placing ahead of the New Year and a performance anywhere near what we saw in the first 45 minutes will surely make that happen. However, each player needs to remember that they need to be delivering these performances on a more frequent basis and not slip back to the old habits seen against Sunderland and Hull. Today proved that we can do that, the next few games will show that we can do it more consistently then we have seen in recent seasons.
Today though was a good day at the office and result and performance were both what was needed and demanded. And for that we celebrate.
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