Rob DaviesSwansea City were held to a 0-0 draw at high flying QPR in a game of few chances and yet again some questionable refereeing.
Flynn Downes saw red in injury time for a second yellow card; the referee becoming a little too happy to issue bookings in the second half as the game petered out.
In terms of chances, the Swans had the ball in the net twice through Piroe and Obafemi but both were denied by the linesman’s flag with Marshall having a couple of routine saves to make to maintain a clean sheet for the R’s.
Charlie Austin was denied by both Ben Hamer and the offside flag from a header in the first half, substitute Lyndon Dykes had a good chance saved whilst Luke Amos hit the post.
Russell Martin made one change to the line up from Saturday’s 1-0 win against Preston – Olivier Ntcham dropping out due to injury and a full debut for Hannes Wolf after his cameo appearance on the weekend.
Hamer
Cabango – Naughton – Manning
Christie – Downes – Grimes – Latibeaudiere
Smith – Wolf
Piroe
The first half was cagey at best with chances few and far between. Swansea had the better of the possession, with the defence again looking stronger than we’ve seen in recent months with Lati and Christie at the full back spots.
Thinks are definitely looking up in that respect but going forward the Swans looked toothless with the absence of Jamie Paterson again being felt to some extent.
As above, Piroe was put clean through as Martin’s men tried to carve out opportunities on a tight pitch but was flagged as offside; a shame as the Dutchman finished the pass with a clinical shot past David Marshall.
Austin’s header looked destined to be 1-0 only for Hamer to deny him from Willock’s cross, before the offside flag was raised as a follow up was sent wide.
Half time came and went with reasonable confidence that the Swans could go on to take at least a point, and a tough second half never saw enough pressure exerted on our defence to ever really worry fans that the team wouldn’t return home without anything.
Substitute Dykes saw his effort well saved and not long into the second period Amos’ driving run into the box almost saw the home side take the lead, but his powerful low drive bounced away to safety.
Latibeaudiere – for all his defensive qualities – undoubtedly struggles in the attacking sense and this was shown after a reasonable run into the box only for his tame effort to trickle wide. Marshall also came for a ball sent in but only palmed the ball to a Swans player with Korey Smith eventually side footing wide.
Obafemi thought he had finally started to get his career at SA1 on track but was denied by the linesman after a clean finish following Latibeaudiere’s ball in what was the last of any goalmouth action in the match.
There was time for some drama, the referee seemed intent on energising the contest by bringing some controversy and after yellow cards for both sides (why Moses Odubajo didn’t see a second yellow is anybody’s guess) Downes took bait from Charlie Austin in stoppage time. After a coming together, Downes ended up in some handbags with the former Southampton striker – resulting in yellows for both and a slightly premature bath for the Swans man.
The Sky pundits purred at the qualities of the passing skills after the game, things are definitely looking up. Defensively the improvements are huge and barring any major moves next week (left back, centre half) those in place now should be the five that play going forward.
On to Hull at the weekend. Another point closer to the play-offs (now 12) and 3 games in hand. We aren’t saying it’s going to happen, but ambition is critical as they say…
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