Planet Swans ArchivesShelvey’s goal, a little more than ten minutes from time sealed a victory for the Swans that they deserved and it was a win that added pressure to under fire Fulham manager Martin Jol with calls of ‘Jol Out’ hear around Craven Cottage after the game,
Shelvey also passed up the chance to increase the margin of victory in the last minute after rounding the keeper he saw his shot blocked by Steve Sidwell and the score remained 2-1.
The win was the Swans first win in six games but their third league success on the road this season following wins at West Brom and Crystal Palace and sets them up nicely for a busy week – Valencia arrive at the Liberty Stadium on Thursday night with Manchester City next up on the road next Sunday for the Swans in the Premier League.
All three goals in the game came in the second half with Scott Parker’s rather fortuitous effort cancelling out Aaron Hughes’ own goal early in the second half.
The reality was though that it was the least the Swans deserved having dominated the home side in pretty much every statistic on the card which in turn led to their victory.
It could have been different though as the better of the first half chances fell to Fulham despite the Swans dominance and Darren Bent twice was foiled when well placed – once by the frame of the Swans goal whilst Nathan Dyer squandered the best chance of the first half for the Swans when he was denied by the Fulham goalkeeper.
Michael Laudrup had made two changes from the side that started against Stoke with Jose Canas and Nathan Dyer added to the starting line up in place of Leon Britton and Wayne Routledge and Dyer – as he often is – was a constant threat to the opposition defence and linked up well with Angel Rangel whilst Lamah and Ben Davies are starting to link well on the left hand side of the Swans line up.
Davies indeed looks more dangerous almost every game that he plays and it is no wonder that rumours continue of moves for him in the January transfer window but he simply is a talent that the Swans have to hold onto especially given his every increasing stature in the game.
The Swans also saw good chances go begging with Bony missing a good chance in the second half before Shelvey’s strike whilst Bent was again as guilty at the other end in the second half as he was in the first.
A move – although it may be short lived – into the top half of the table is the reward for the Swans with this win and now we can look forward to hopefully securing our European progress on Thursday night at the Liberty.
A good day at the office
