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Swansea 2 Carlisle 1 |
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Click Here For Match Pictures Danny Graham had earlier given Carlisle the lead from the penalty spot after Leon Britton fouled in the area and before the two late strikes it appeared that a disjointed looking Swansea were heading for their second straight league defeat. A crowd of 11,300 – including a decent 190 from Carlisle – had watched a scrappy game between two sides that struggled to stamp an authority on the game up to the late goals with neither keeper forced into prolonged periods of action as much of the play took place in the central third with little goalmouth action of note. Before the game Roberto had declared that the result was not as important as the performance which baffles slightly when we won but didn’t play well – not sure what he will make of that one but I am sure we will hear soon enough. That aside there was not the predicted return of Marcos Painter but there was a first league start for Joe Allen in central midfield in place of the suspended Ferrie Bodde. Butler and Anderson had to make do with places on the bench as both Britton and Robinson held their places with Duffy and Scotland up front and Warren Feeney on the bench. Doris Rangel Monk Lawrence Austin Britton Allen Pratley Robbo Scotland Duffy Subs: Knight, Feeney, O’Leary, Butler, Anderson The early chances went the way of Swansea and they can certainly class themselves unlucky not to get an early penalty when Duffy was not so much felled but hacked down in the penalty area with surely only the referee believing it was a fair challenge. Swansea were having plenty of possession and bar one save of note, Doris was pretty much a spectator first half although it wasn’t quite the pressure that a statement like that entails that was being applied by Swansea. Duffy was yet again making runs and pointing to where he wanted the ball but not once was it played there, it must be so frustrating for a striker for this to constantly happen and surely should be something we are picking up on? Britton came close with a cross goal shot that just evaded Duffy at the back post and Scotland saw a goalbound shot hit a defenders back and rebound to total safety as the Swans searched for the goal that I think would have relieved the pressure that was starting to build around the Liberty. Duffy again came close in stoppage time with a header that was comfortably saved by the keeper and the 0-0 halftime scoreline was of no real surprise. The second half started in the worst possible fashion as Britton committed a foul in the penalty area and the referee had not alternative but to point to the spot. It was a foul, it was a penalty but it was hard not to think back to the hack on Duffy first half and wonder why one was and one wasn’t but that was irrelevant as Graham slotted home to give the visitors the lead. And that probably we suspected was that as we toiled to no avail. Joe Allen left early with an injury to be replaced by Butler – Leon moved into the centre – and Anderson replaced Austin as Roberto changed to a 3-5-2 formation, moving Robinson into the middle. A change that probably made quite some difference to the outcome of the game. Robinson had looked very much a passenger on the left but moving into the centre brought him totally into the game and Carlisle appeared to have little answer to this change as Swansea very much dominated from then onwards. It was Robinson’s powerful shot that rebounded to give Duffy his first of the season on 81 minutes to the evident relief of the striker. Two minutes later the “phew we got a point” reaction changed to “hell we’re winning” as Anderson hit a powerful curling shot that the keeper could only help into the net to put the Swans 2-1 up. Duffy could have added a third after a great Swans move – probably the best of the match – involving Robinson, Anderson, Scotland and Duffy – but his shot was well saved by the keeper and a late cameo for Feeney – on for Scotland saw the game drift into stoppage time and beyond with the Swans three points the richer. Not a great performance by any stretch of the imagination and some poor individual contributions at times but it’s three points on the board and I guess thats what counts come the end of the season. Is football a results based business or an entertainment industry? 😉 JACKARMY! Click Here For Match Pictures What are your thoughts? Share your views on the Message Board |
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