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Swansea City 2 Chesterfield 0 |
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Why not visit our sponsors lounge Say it quietly but Swansea City have pushed themselves very much back into the promotion hunt and this evening sit within the top six of the league having pulled off a third win inside four games under Roberto Martinez. With three clean sheets on the bounce to boot there is a steel about this side that gives hope that maybe we can bury the pain of last season and that there is still a chance that Championship football may grace the Liberty next season. "Winning Ugly" is a phrase often banded about in football and maybe that was apt for a performance that never sizzled in the way it did the last time Chesterfield played here but it was effective enough as two late goals saw us home. With a further home test to come next weekend, there is every chance that by the time the clocks change a week on Sunday, the Swans could have their destiny back in their own hands with something else on their side – momentum. When Kenny Jackett walked out of the club just a month ago, few would have believed that things could turn around so quickly and maybe there is some irony in the fact that the side have finally put together the run that he always said was there but we are getting results and we are doing it when the odds are stacked against us and changes are being forced upon us. What could we do if Roberto ever gets the luxury of a full squad to choose from! The suspension of Lee Trundle forced a change on Roberto who lined up 4-2-3-1 as follows Willy Amankwaah Izzy Den Imelda Craney Tatey Britts Robbo Butler Abbott Subs: Oakes, Macdonald, Jones, Williams, Duffy A largely forgettable first half was lit up by a stunning save in the Chesterfield goal from a Butler shot that had "goal" written all over it whilst Lawrence hit the top of the bar from the resulting corner. But all too often Swansea headed down dead ends as they struggled to make any impact on the game. Butler drifted in too often leaving the left side pretty much vacant at times whilst Abbott as a lone man up front just isn’t going to work. At the back we dealt pretty much comfortably with what was thrown at us although Willy had to save with his legs from one low effort from outside the box. Both Craney and Tatey struggled with the ball in midfield first half on what appeared at first glance to be maybe a negative line up at home and one that really didn’t appear to have a goal in it at that time. Changes during the second half saw Williams come on for Butler and the Swans revert to a 4-4-2 formation with Robbo joining Abbott up front. Duffy replaced Amankwaah to give a different option on the right hand side as the Swans searched for the win that they so desperately wanted to follow last week’s three points against Tranmere. The introduction of Williams gave the Swans the width that they needed and all of a sudden there appeared to be danger in what was fast becoming a very stale game. And with just under 15 minutes left, the Swans got the breakthrough in probably what was going to be the only way it would happen. Abbott was felled in the box and the referee, quite rightly, had no hesitation in awarding what was one of the clearest penalties of the season. Andy Robinson had no trouble in despatching the penalty kick past the keeper to break the deadlock. Two minutes later, one became two as Izzy rose to head home a Robbo corner to double the Swans advantage and the game was as good as won. Chris Jones made a late appearance but was unable to convert a chance handed to him by a good through ball but that would have been the icing on the cake – his first goal will come before too much longer. As I said at the top, it wasn’t pretty – far from it – but we are at the business end of the season and results are what matter between now and the end of May. Well, hopefully the end of May for us anyway. We are back into the play off zone although that could change tomorrow but with another home game to come, we should be full of confidence before we think about away games again after next Saturday. Roberto wanted 7 wins from 10 games, it’s now just 5 wins from 8 games required? |
This article first appeared on JACKARMY.net.