Planet Swans ArchivesThe Swans can certainly consider themselves unlucky to leave the West Midlands empty handed after a cold night at Wolves, who with their victory returned to the top of the table.
The result also denied the Swans their first double of the season having triumphed against the same opposition at the Liberty Stadium earlier in the month.
Mark Gower must in particular be wondering what he has to do to grab his first Swans goal after being denied by a flying save in the first half and the crossbar in the second half having given the keeper no chance.
Gower had also played a big part in Darren Pratley’s equaliser – a goal that cancelled out the first strike from Ebanks Blake – a strike timed at six agonising seconds before the interval. He had linked up well with Fede Bessone to create the space from which Pratley profited.
Roberto’s two changes – one forced on him – must have given him some satisfaction at that piece of play with Bessone staking his claim for a long run in the team thanks to the injury to Marcos Painter.
The Swans lined up as follows
Krysiak
Rangel Monk Williams Bessone
Gomez Britton Bodde Pratley Gower
Scotland
The Swans were out of the blocks the quicker and forced an early corner but, as with so many of our set plays tonight, it was wasted with the keeper not really threatened from any of these kind of plays. Corners all too often failed to clear the first man and we were never able to test the shaky looking Wolves defence with either Monk or Williams.
Wolves soon gained the initiative and the difference that Ebanks-Blake and Iwelumo made to their side was obvious as they always possessed a threat up front and it was somewhat of a relief when the linesman’s flag ruled out an Iwelumo header midway through the first half.
A succession of corners were dealt with by the Swans and it appeared that they had seen out the first half when Ebanks Blake struck. The linesman’s flag was up and on display during the build up that saw the striker shoot home low into the far corner but it appeared that whatever the offence was it passed and the goal stood with pretty much nil opposition from the Swans side.
One down at half time, the nigh on 1500 travelling Jacks didn’t have long to wait into the second half for the equaliser. Gower and Bessone combined on the left and the ball into the middle eventually worked it’s way to Pratley who drilled home his second goal in as many games to his trademark slide across the pitch in celebration. Cold on the knees on a frozen pitch!
The Swans were lifted but were undone by a sucker punch less than ten minutes later. Carlos Edwards chased a ball that seemed certain to go for a throw in and the lapse of concentration in the Swans defence allowed his cross to be headed in by Ebanks-Blake who was in acres of space. 2-1 down was not what we expected to be the next scoreline in the game.
Heads did not drop though and the Swans pushed hard for the equaliser. And it looked for all the world as if Gower had found it when he struck from 25 yards but his shot came down off the underside of the bar and to safety much to the relief of the Wolves defence.
Swaqnsea were pushing hard and playing well at this point – Gower and Gomez were causing extra trouble for the Wolves defence whilst Ferrie – maybe not at his best – was a constant thorn in the Wolves side.
A change in formation was introduced when Pintado and Butler replaced Britton and Gower and with it the Swans seemed to lose their impetus and Wolves had the better of the closing exchanges and maybe could have added a third that would have been extremely harsh on the Swans who possibly had good cause to believe they deserved a point.
There is no disgrace in losing at Wolves and many more will lose here this season, we possibly deserved something from the game and we have every reason to believe we will return to winning ways on Saturday
Proud of the team and proud of the support on a cold October evening.
JACK ARMY!
