As much as we urged the Swans this morning to go to Huddersfield and fight for out clubs shirt this game had many stories to tell, and it was a fantastic ending for Swansea City. Before the goals started to flow it was a fifty-fifty shout as to who would take the points, and the Swans at one point couldn’t do enough to help their hosts.
Overall the class of the Swans was the winner, the shocking finishing of Huddersfield coupled with their lack of confidence against a Swans side which at times purred along was the telling factor.
The Swans started positively in the early moments, a good chance worked by Ben Cabango after a lovely ball spun in from Matt Grimes. His header just going wide. It was a sublime pass from the Swans captain. He would prove instrumental today. Key was next to have a crack on goal on four minutes, his shot deflected to a home player. The away side were looking cool and calm, maybe Luke Williams words had a soothing effect pre match ?
Ronald started to harass the Huddersfield Town’s left side but his cross did not deliver an opportunity. Kasumo started to target Oli Cooper as the usual boos echoed around a ground that was more empty than full. A blatant foul on Jay Fulton led to a half hearted effort by the Terriers. Ronald then produced a chance for Jamie Paterson but his shot spun over the bar. Fouls began to interrupt play and that was interrupting the Swans passing game.
Huddersfield looked frantic in their play, however they have a good record at home scoring in the last thirteen games. If they settled they would be a danger. However, they continued to foul and mistime tackles which the referee either had his back to, or just let go. His game plan would become clear later.
Both sides were up for the scrap, and Town earned their first corner on twelve minutes. It was cleared easily. The fouls continued this time on Josh Tymon, it was more disruptive for the Swans but Huddersfield were relying on long balls to exert pressure. The Swans high press, impressive from Paterson and Liam Cullen pushing the Terriers back to their keeper. Sorba Thomas was quick to divert a poor Fulton pass on seventeen minutes, but his pass was awful going forwards. The home sides possession turning in to frantic miscalculated passing. However Huddersfield earned a corner on nineteen minutes. The delivery by Thomas was good but Jack Rudoni fluffed his lines right in front of goal.
Ronald then became the target for the tales of Brodie Spencer, another sign of the home clubs temperament. The Swans now started to press quickly. The stop - start nature of the game rewarded Huddersfield with the referee’s favour evident. Paterson was clearly fouled on the build up to the Terriers third corner, the referee not happy with the broken pea in his whistle. Thomas curled in the set piece, it went nowhere. Ronald was body checked, Paterson protested, he was carded. The officials leniency spurred on the home side. However, he really couldn’t ignore yet another foul on Cooper. Shirt pulling, niggling fouls continued. Both sides on twenty six minutes were finding it difficult to find a final ball. That changed when Fulton linked with Ronald who used his strength to bowl away three attending defenders. His pass to Fulton in the box saw a snap shot saved by the keeper for a Swansea corner. The ball came in from the Swans a minute later, Harry Darling sneaking in at the far post and volleyed his shot just wide.
The Swans threatened again as Ronald was pushed to the ground when looking to get in on goal, In pain the Terriers fans berated him. Josh Tymon gave the Terriers some treatment, the referee waved the home sides complaints away. His tackle was fierce. Then a Swans attack was met with a header from Key, the ball rebounded out for a corner. That was taken off the head of Darling as he rose to connect. The tackles were now flying in, Huddersfield broke, Thomas outstripped Cabango for pace but the Terriers attack ended with a poor ball in. From that move, Paterson was fed by Harry Darling his cross defended away for a corner. The set piece was poor, the ball rebounded around and was cleared. The away side continued their impressive form in this game, quick passing and finding space in midfield. This resulted in Fulton again in space in the opponents box but his pass in to danger was poor.
The bite was back, shirt pulling on Ronald again going ignored as the Swans pressed again on thirty nine minutes. The game kicked on a level, fast and furious. Key was a thorn in the Terriers side , Ronald frightening them to death with his pace, the Swans just needed a bit more composure. That was evident with a minute to go when Tymon found Cullen beautifully, his header was shocking by any standards. He really should have put the Swans ahead. Analysing the referees performance he was allowing a fast and strong game to flow, both sides were complaining,’ just get on with it’ was screamed from a local wag in front of me. He had seen football when it was more about muscle and pace on thick muddied pitches in days of old., that’s for sure. I agreed.
More fouling by the home side, more time wasted for Huddersfield’s dream of three points. The referee blew up on forty seven minutes. The boos were evident. Huddersfield trudged from the pitch, deflated and openly tired. This game was up for grabs.
What I did find unnerving was the absolute dogs abuse the home fans were giving their players. They are a support that has had enough, a season of poor performances and frustration was spilling over. In fact some of the unprintable things shouted were exceptionally funny. A raw sense of humour in despair.
Huddersfield Town kicked us off for the next forty five, the sun out and a brighter complexion on the game. Town pressed higher to try and suffocate the Swans domination. Paterson chipped forwards for Tymon but even after reaching the ball in the home sides area his pass was weak. Paterson was a continued threat for the Terriers. Grimes was pulling the strings, Key involved and Ronald an eager outlet. Then on fifty four Cullen spun on the ball outside the area, his shot shaving the post. The Swans were hungry. Ronald next with a pin point cross which well defended.
The Swans were playing some lovely footbal as another corner was awarded on fifty two minutes. Tymon’s cross not good enough and cleared. Noticeably Fulton was playing a more advanced right sided role. The Swans made numerous unforced errors and nearly put the Terriers in with a chance but this was a team low in confidence. They do love a shirt pull though. Another nonsense moment as Rushworth had to rush out and floored a Town player. The Swans scrambled the ball clear, somehow. The game was at full tempo, the home side playing on when Key was clearly injured clutching his head.
Terriers fans were shouting out the score at Rotherham v Birmingham City, a half hour break in play unexplained. Then a triple substitution from Huddersfield after a second half of amatuerish football. The Swans were under pressure and at last Huddersfield were in the game. Fulton again misplaced his pass putting more pressure on his defence. As a result, chances were beginning to fall for the home side. On sixty three Paterson was too greedy when the play switched to the Swans. The triangles being played were impressive, but not causing too many problems.
Jamal Lowe, Liam Walsh and Jerry Yates replaced Fulton, Cooper and Cullen.
Immediately Walsh had a chance but miss hit his shot with it spinning out for a corner. Head tennis ensued, the ball fell to Darling whose snap shot went low and wide. The pressure continued, a possible hand ball called for in the Huddersfield box. Huddersfield broke, a simple chance for Delano Burgzorg, he blazed over the bar. The abuse was unbelievable, no safe spaces here. With twenty to go the game was moving end to end. Walsh earned the Swans a throw in on seventy minutes. Another unforced error by Paterson the ball was a hot potato..
And then we had a goal.
Jamal Lowe running to receive the ball and cooly gliding the ball in to the net on the keepers left hand side. The Swans were 1-0 up. Yates in his eagerness to get to the ball so close to being offside. On seventy three we saw Paterson leave the pitch, and Charlie Patino replaced him. It was obvious now the onslaught was coming, the Terriers had no choice. Darling continued to marshall the defence well, a stand out defender in this game. Something else the Swans didn’t need to do was give the ball away in another unenforced error. Walsh did just that and a frantic defensive action by the away side ensured that one goal lead remained. Anything that the home side earned this half came from Swansea City’s poor passing. Then it happened again, Patino this time, it was pathetic football. How that didn’t lead to a goal I’m sure nobody in this ground knew. The shot hit the post, rebounded across Rushworth’s goal line and out for a corner on the opposite side of the pitch.
Another Swans corner taken by Walsh was cleared. Walsh again thereafter on the break poorly picking out his man as nine minutes remained. On eighty two a ball in from Walsh saw Yates on the wrong side of the keeper when he could have easily ghosted in front to knock the ball into an empty net. Another Swans chance came when Lowe fired at the home sides goal.
Then a superb pass from Rushworth found Tymon in clear space, he looked up slid the ball to Ronald who easily bagged the Swans second goal.The three hundred play Swans fans delirious. I really have to say, the stands emptied, protesting Town fans hurling abuse towards the dug out, each other and anyone within ear shot. There were even a few pushes within my view, this was a fanbase that was livid. Their ability of the home side to show any desire was so evident. Thereafter the Swans played around Huddersfield. Again Grimes the pass master. Then Azeem Abdulai replaced goalscorer Ronald.
His introduction was immediate, he supplied a lovely cross for an unmarked Jerry Yates who passed the ball in to the net.
3-0.
On ninety, the insatiable Abdulai found Walsh and he displayed all the reasons why the club want him fit and playing. His shot was so well executed it it flew in to the Huddersfield net.
4-0.
Swansea City played the game out and could have extended their lead, Jamal Lowe the star of the show. Three subs scored and changed the game. And the big question now has to be what could Liam Walsh offer next season ?
⚽️ Swansea City: Carl Rushworth, 5 Josh Key, 7 Jay Fulton 5 (Liam Walsh 65), 7 Ben Cabango,6 Harry Darling, 7;Matt Grimes (captain), 8 🌟Jamie Paterson 7 (Charlie Patino 74’), 6 Josh Tymon, 7 Liam Cullen 6 (Jerry Yates 66) 6/Ollie Cooper 7 (Jamal Lowe 65’), 7 Ronald 7; (Azeem Abdulai 82;) 6
Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Mykola Kuharevich, Nathan Wood, Bashir Humphreys.
⚽️ Huddersfield Town: Lee Nicholls, Matty Pearson, Michal Helik (captain), Delano Burgzorg (Danny Ward 60), Jack Rudoni, Josh Koroma, Sorba Thomas, Brodie Spencer (Jaheim Headley 60), David Kasumu, Alex Matos (Rhys Healey 60), Tom Lees (Ben Jackson 88).
Unsued Substitutes: Chris Maxwell, Bojan Radulovic, Tom Edwards, Ollie Turton, Ben Wiles.
⚽️ Referee : John Busby : Allowed some reckless challenges to go, just wanted two teams to get stuck in and shut up with their teeth banging, I enjoyed it. 7/10
⚽️ Luke : "I think it was the attitude and the approach to the game by the players that really gave us victory in what was actually a really tough game,” said the Swans boss.I thought the opposition were excellent really. They’re fighting so hard for their club and we knew this was going to be a really, really tough game. Of course, when we make the breakthrough, it’s difficult for them because they need to push really hard to get back on level terms and maybe this left more space at the top of the pitch and we capitalised on that. But that’s what you need to do, you need to be ruthless in football, and we showed that side today.