Robinson Strike Gives Swans Victory
Swansea City 1 Bradford City 0 |
Swansea extended their unbeaten run to four games and leapfrogged opponents Bradford in the table thanks to Andy Robinson's solitary strike. Striker Adebayo Akinfenwa had the best opportunity of the first half but Bradford goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts tipped his goal-bound effort wide of the target. The visitors then suffered an injury blow in stoppage-time when Dean Windass was forced off and replaced by David Graham. Swansea enjoyed the majority of possession in the second half and they were rewarded for their play when Robinson wriggled free of the City defence to fire a left-foot shot into the net from six yards. The hosts continued to push for a second goal and Akinfenwa had a chance five minutes from time only to see Ricketts deny him with a fine save. Leon Knight could have doubled the Swans' lead seconds before the whistle but Ricketts was again alert to save the 25-yard strike. Swansea manager Kenny Jackett hailed his side's 1-0 home win over Bradford as their best display of the season "by some way". A strike by substitute Andy Robinson gave the Swans a deserved victory over a well-drilled Bantams outfit. Coming on for Leon Britton midway through the second half he only took five minutes before shooting his side's winner with a left-footed shot following goalmouth scramble. "That was the best performance at home this season by a considerable way," said a delighted Jackett. "We were looking to score more goals, but at least created a number of chances against a very good Bradford side. "We have given away possession too easily in previous matches so I brought in Bayo (Akinfenwa) and he held up well and also worked his way into shooting off opportunities. I'm sure that he will soon be regularly on the score sheet. "We have started the season slowly, but we were a little more like the real us." Despite the home side's early domination, it was the Bantams who had the first goalscoring opportunities. Jermaine Johnson flashed a shot over the home crossbar and then veteran Dean Windass was worked through the middle only for Swansea goalkeeper Willy Gueret to come out bravely and block. Bradford's luck seemed to desert them when Windass was forced off with a foot injury on the stroke of half time. "Our rhythm was broken when Dean left the field," said disappointed Bradford boss Colin Todd. "But we had several opportunities to score in the first half and had we taken our chances it may have been a different story. "I thought we had weathered the storm after their good start, but they are a side who have a spent a lot of money while I have to get by on loan players." thisissouthwales.co.uk RATE THE PLAYERS | SHARE YOUR VIEWS | MATCH PICTURES What to read next:It’s an early start for Swansea City fans today, no matter where you are travelling from. However, both sides will see this as a winnable game, especially the home side as Ruben Selles takes charge officially for his first home game. Today we see Swansea City take on Hull City at the MKM stadium in Hull. (12.30pm) Below we can see the match officials from Gwyn Davies and all the up front information on this afternoons early kick off. The fact Swansea City fans will have to navigate train delays, roadworks, and at the very least a six hour one way journey to Hull tomorrow will most certainly always be our main news. We’ve covered that already. So we move to transfers in January. With the Hull City away game an early kick off this Saturday (12.30pm) MKM stadium the Swans have the usual slim selections to choose from. With Swans head coach, Luke Williams looking unlikely to dip into a form player from the U21 squad it’s very much as you were. By slim we pretty much mean what he had last week. Swansea City will travel on Friday to play Hull City in an early kick off the next day (12:30pm) at the MKM stadium. Hull are based within the East Riding of Yorkshire. The old medieval wool port with far better access since the building of the Humber bridge in 1981 has housed a football team since 1904. Our staff football writer Trystan Bending has reviewed this weekends home game against Sunderland. The highs and the lows in a game which produced five goals and more disappointment for the Swansea faithful. Trystan puts real context into this fixture. In another game of goals the Swans again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, and yes that age old term is being used far too often this season. Even when it comes to losing a point. Today however, all three were lost and the best team won the day. Game of the day in the Championship for us, but then every Swans game fits that bill. The Swans and Sunderland meet this afternoon at the Swansea.com stadium in a big game for both sides. (3pm) The Black Cats are desperate to return to winning ways with one victory in the last eight games whilst the Swans are slowly beginning to show their appetites for scoring goals and winning games. Sunderland come to the Swansea.com this Saturday afternoon (3pm) looking to return to their good form of the very recent past. It hasn’t been plain sailing over the month of November and December to date. |