If 2006 was a disappointing year for the football at the Liberty then 2007 didn’t open with the promise of much better as the Swans stumbled to a 2-0 win over a dire Brentford team in weather that ranged from cold to soaking wet through to quite sunny for this time of year. I suppose you should never complain when the result has gone the way that we wanted it to but I can’t help but feel that anyone other than a side destined for League Two would have given us a real run for our money today.
It though was vital to get back to winning ways after the weekend suicide mission to Huddersfield although I bet there was the odd worried face in the dressing room at half time with a two goal lead once again the reward for the first half.
Both Leon Britton and Andy Robinson returned to the starting line up for the game with Amankwaah and Butler dropping to the bench. Bayo was handed the expected start in place of the suspended Trundle leaving us with the prolific forward pairing of him and Uncle Rory.
Big Willy
Tatey Den Kev Imelda
Leon Prats Craney Robbo
Bayo Rory
Bench: Oakes, Butler, Williams, Jones, Amankwaah
Swansea started the strongest side which isn’t difficult against Brentford who adopted timewasting tactics from around the three minute mark and it soon became obvious why they are in the position that they are in having got just one win in the last four months. We were also showing why our league position varies between touching the divisions front chasers and sitting just outside the play offs as we huffed and puffed in front of an East Stand treated to a knackered speaker which in fairness was as loud as the East Stand got on a day when the game never got going and neither did the crowd.
That aside we deserved what we got from the game but it is difficult to see as many teams posing as little of a threat as Brentford managed this afternoon. Indeed, at one stage as Fallon fired over from twelve yards I wondered if our strike force could present us with a goal as the efforts of the once again excellent Tate, Britton and Craney threatened to go without reward.
But there was a reward eventually as Bayo called for a Lawrence ball meaning Fallon left it and he somehow managed to seemingly scuff and chip it over the keeper and into the back of the net to give the Swans the lead on the half hour mark.
Robbo assisted in making it two ten minutes later as his side pass was deflected into the net by the retreating defender and the game was won with more than half to spare. Was this a chance for the Swans to press on and get a few more to their goal difference? In short the answer was no.
Butler replaced the injured Pratley at half time and soon after Amankwaah replaced the injured Robbo and the game pretty much ended as a contest at that point. There was little that I can remember happening from there on in other than a yellow card for Tate that means a suspension in the Bradford game on Jan 13.
As the full time whistle sounded, the Swans collected the three points but it was a very flat occasion and one of those where the points on the board were the positive that you could take away.
Man of the match Premier Club wise was Leon Britton although as I said earlier I thought Tate and Craney played well and once again Kevin Austin never let us down and I don’t recall him putting a foot wrong.
That was the Christmas period and seven points from the twelve available is a good return – oh how it should have been ten. FA Cup action next on Saturday as we take a 12 day break from the league stuff – at least we take that break in a play off position.
Happy New Year.
This article first appeared on JACKARMY.net.