Swansea 2 Brighton 1

Swansea City 2 Brighton 1

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With Oldham being defeated at Crewe and next week’s opponents, Carlisle, falling at home to Bristol City, Swansea now find themselves separated from the play off positions by just goal difference with two games remaining – next week’s trip to Carlisle and play offs secured Blackpool at the Liberty a week later.

Victory in both is likely to see the Swans extend their season for the second campaign running but there will surely be more twists and turns between now and then as we reach the business end of the season.

In truth today could have been so different – Brighton were afforded too much space and movement in the second half – but the Swans will never do things the simple way as they again showed a resilient side to their play having fallen a goal down during the first half. That resilience is a new trait which seems to have been instilled since the change in management and maybe had it been there earlier in the season then the play offs would not be all that was on the mind of another disappointing crowd at the Liberty.

Daryl Duffy’s first half brace was the difference between the two sides – both well taken from a striker who must be impressing his new manager and is doing pretty much all he can to interest the same in a move this summer. Whether that move materialises remains to be seen but with four goals in his last two home games he is fast turning into the player who could fire the Swans towards the Championship and with the talisman of Lee Trundle next to him then anything could be possible. The chants of “The Jacks are going up” may have been premature this afternoon but all of a sudden there is real hope that maybe we could do it and if, in two weeks time, we are sat in the top six at the end of play then nobody can doubt that we have the momentum to take that position and who knows – maybe we will end this season on a Sunday in May at Wembley.

But for now, back to the present, and the game itself. Andy Robinson returned to the starting line up on the left side of midfield as Martinez looked to continue his impressive Liberty Stadium record and he sent his troops out as follows

Willy

Tatey Lawrence Izzy Painter

Britts Craney KOL Robbo

Trunds Duffy

Subs: Oakes, Amankwaah, Austin, Williams, Abbott

The sun again shined on the Liberty Stadium but it was a slow Swansea start that frustrated the crowd who have almost come to accept three points again after the apathy that seemed to exist around the turn of the year. Sloppy passing and little movement dominated the first 15 minutes before Brighton took the lead with a glancing header from Revell which beat Willy with some ease and sent a reasonably impressive 500 support into celebration.

Swansea’s response wasn’t instant although it could have been as they kicked off with Brighton still back slapping each other on taking the lead. Trunds broke but the move broke down on the edge of the area – a goal would possibly have seen some quite vociferous protests to the referee from the opposition but play to the whistle is the first rule of football.

It didn’t take the Swans long to equalise though as Duffy found himself unmarked and headed over the Brighton keeper to make it 1-1 and give the Swans the lift that they so badly needed. And they came close a couple of times including a seemingly endless goalmouth scramble that saw Izzy, Lawrence, Britton and Trundle desperately try to poke the ball home to no avail.

The second goal was simplicity in itself. Britton passed to Robinson inside his own half, one look up and a long ball to Duffy on the edge of the area who controlled, shot and beat the keeper to give the Swans a 2-1 lead – a lead they were never to surrender.

It was what was needed and the Swansea dressing room would have been a happier place for it at half time. And the words press on would surely have been heard but it wasn’t to be. The Swans tried on a few occasions but for the second 45 it was Brighton who were the most dangerous and some hairy moments in the Swans defence would have sent alarm bells ringing in many Swans fans hearts/heads/wherever!

Willy was booked for handling outside the area after a typical piece of confusion “Should I stay or should I go?” is the thought train, the answer usually lies somewhere in the middle. A shot from outside the area struck the outside of the post and a couple of low shots tested Willy but he was equal to them.

The huge sigh of relief that followed the referee calling to an end the five minutes of three minutes of stoppage time was audible as was the cheer that greeted the news that Oldham and Carlisle had lost. Yet again results go our way, the difference being this time we capitalised.

This wasn’t perfect by any means and we can play much better but at this stage of the season I want three points and nothing less and we got them. Man of the match very obviously Darryl Duffy who scored the goals that has very much kept our dream alive.

Onwards to Carlisle.

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