Phil Sumbler
It’s at that time and position that the Swans need any result they can get and a late Liam Cullen strike earned a point on the road at Coventry City last night.
The Swans typically took the lead as they often have this season as the resurgent Liam Walsh scored his first goal since netting for Coventry in 2020 but they were soon pegged back.
Haji Wright looked clearly offside but he continued and finished left footed past Rushworth before he had a claim for the goal to put the Sky Blues ahead. That’s a debate between him and summer Swans target Ellis Simms to debate.
Substitute Jamal Lowe earned a stoppage time free kick just outside the box, pretty central, and it was Cullen who curled into the corner with his left foot to earn a valuable point on the road.
It was a surprising pick for Alan Sheehan’s starting eleven in his sixth game in charge as Sam Parker was given his debut (having not even made a substitute appearance so far) whilst both Lowe and Jerry Yates were left on the bench. This meant Yannick Bolasie started up front.
Rushworth
Darling – Parker – Cabango – Humphreys – Tymon
Fulton – Grimes – Walsh
Paterson – Bolasie
It took less than ten minutes for the Swans to open the scoring. A break down the right ended with a ball into the middle which wasn’t dealt with and Walsh robbed a defender and with his second touch fired clinically into the bottom corner.
It has been impressive stuff from Walsh of late who everyone knows has struggled for fitness during his three seasons at the club but it can’t be argued that whenever he has played he’s impressed. His touch is crisp and his first thought is to look forward in stark contrast to Messrs Fulton and Grimes.
The away fans didn’t have long to cheer as just a few minutes later big money signing Wright beat the offside trap (questionable at best) and fired past Rushworth for the equaliser.
Bolasie has been more miss than hit so far and a cross from the right again caused problems in the box with the former Palace winger missing a glorious chance as the ball hit his standing foot ten yards out.
In a first half of few chances you could see both sides were easing themselves into the game. Both needing points for very different reasons with Coventry flying up the table over Christmas; the Swans just desperate to keep the gap between them and 22nd as big as possible before a new manager is installed.
And level it stayed until after the break as Paterson was withdrawn due to sickness which has spread through the Swans camp, Jamal Lowe taking his place.
It was probably the away side who started the second half the better as Parker whipped in another right sided cross only for Bolasie to take the wrong choice and hit over the bar with his right foot.
Any idiot could have seen that a left footed shot would have been 2-1 Swans but from a few yards out he got it all wrong. And Sheehan’s team were soon made to pay for that miss.
A delightful cross from the right from Sakamoto found Wright at the far post and his header was going in but Simms just tapped it over on the line. Whose goal it was matters little and Swansea were again behind after leading.
It should have been worse but Rushworth saved superbly from O’Harr’s fierce strike before another late show saved the day as substitute Cullen struck.
He’s come under plenty of criticism despite playing on the right when starting (when he’s a striker) but you can never fault his effort and he stepped up in the 3rd minute of injury time to fire the Swans level.
Such an important goal over a Christmas period that’s best forgotten and puts the Swans eight points clear of QPR in 22nd. That’s Alan Sheehan’s job and he’s doing it regardless of our thoughts on his suitability for a permanent position.
West Brom is a game where we must get something but that is no mean feat against an inform team having beaten Leeds United last night. On to New Year’s Day.
Happy New Year everyone, may 2024 be more fruitful than 2023 to you and the Swans.
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