Swans Depart The Carling Cup
Swansea 0 Reading 1 |
Click Here For Match Pictures Yet again the Swans found themselves on the wrong end of a scoreline in a game that they dominated from start to finish against a Reading side who showed little intent, invention, desire or willingness to show why they should be two divisions above the Swans. From early doors they decided they would sit back and soak up what we could offer and in throwing themselves on the floor at the earliest possible opportunity at times it was more like an audition for the latest ITV drama than a Carling Cup tie. Swansea on the other hand were the side who were prepared to bring the ball down onto the deck and pass it around and wait for the opportunity - sometimes maybe even waiting too long and looking for one pass too many but it made for great entertainment. To be fair if you looked at the proverbial alien from another planet landing to watch the game he probably would have assumed at times that the team in white was the Premiership side. As expected, Roberto rung some changes from the side that started Saturday's win at Walsall - bringing Anderson, Allen, O'Leary, Bussy and Craney into the starting XI and dropping Scotland, Duffy and Britton to the bench with Bodde and Pratley missing out all together. Doris Rangel Monk Lawrence Austin Anderson KOL Allen Robbo Bussy Craney Subs: Butler, Britton, Scotland, Duffy It's hard to remember back over 120 minutes of football without reference to some notes, some notes that I don't have as I can't take them and watch the match! Seriously though it seems so long since the start of the game that its tough to remember. The Swans had the better of the first half with some lively football - as has become the norm this season - but with no real threat of an end product. Shots at goal were restricted to long range efforts and if I was to draw a criticism from tonight's game it would be that it's one pass too many at times. You can't always walk the ball into the net - and against a Premiership opposition the chances of it happening reduces quite significantly. Anderson had the best chance of the first half when he forced a save from the Reading keeper with a shot from outside the area. Craney was having one of his good games, providing the link well between the midfield and Bussy and trying his best to break his Swansea goal duck in the process. Joe Allen is one of the best talents this club has produced in many a year and it's a matter of when not if he makes his full league debut in the starting line up. Nothing phases his him and to be honest I don't recall him losing the ball this evening or failing to win a tackle he elected to go for. His man of the match award was deserved and nobody could really argue with that decision. Reading were offering little going forward with Kev Austin, Monk and Lawrence dealing quite ably with the pace of the arrogant Leroy Lita who believes he is twice as good as he really is. Quality player but unfortunately his attitude quite easily masks that. And early change in the second half saw Britts replace Robbo and Anderson move to the left. Ironically he got more space on the left than he did on the right but the quality of his crosses noticeably goes downhill on the left hand side of the park which reduces his effectiveness. An injury hampered him towards the end of the 90 minutes and through extra time but even with that he never stopped running. Britton was enjoying the space to run at people and his introduction seemed to spark Rangel into life and he came more and more into the attacks. Sam Sodje was sent off just before the hour mark for a second bookable offence - the second booking being pretty pathetic but it happened, deal with it kind of scenario. And the Swans from there looked to capitalise. For the last 30 minutes it was almost a siege on the Reading goal with Swansea creating wave after wave of attacks but again without finding that killer instinct - something which has let us down in three games this season. The entertainment level was without a doubt at 10/10 at this stage but it really didn't look as if a goal was just around the corner and Federici was not really overly tested as the game moved into extra time. Again the first period of extra time was dominated by the Swans but Reading had already had one breakaway chance saved by Doris when they cruelly struck at the end of the first period. Dave Kitson kept the ball in play and hit it across the area where Lita stabbed home from close range at the near post to give the visitors the lead. Swansea now had to score or the Carling Cup dream was over. And being a goal down they became a little more direct. Not in terms of abandoning their passing style but in terms of shooting a little more on sight. A couple of long range efforts came before Craney produced the best save of the night from Federici before Rangel hit the rebound against the crossbar. It was not to be. Yet again I find myself thinking back on a report where we were by far the better side but yet we lost the game. That can't keep happening but I do think we need to be more direct in front of goal and shoot a little more often. If we do that the goals will surely come because nobody seems able to cope with us passing the ball around. Man of the match as mentioned earlier was Joe Allen who was outstanding yet again in another good Swans performance. All we need now are the goals..... Click Here For Match Pictures What are your thoughts? Share your views on the Message Board |