It was an exciting game at the swansea.com stadium yesterday afternoon, admittedly as an exciting game you will likely see without any goals. The purists will love the way Swansea City played at pace and very direct at times. Sadly there was no breakthrough for all the swans efforts as the teams shared the spoils.
Hull manager Grant McCann will be the first person to admit that his team got away with it somewhat in front of a passionate and noisy home support.Two very questionable and odd decisions in the penalty area saw the home side denied two clear penalties, and when referee Keith Stroud wasn’t determining the final outcome, the Hull City keeper, Matt Ingram definitely earned his corn on the day. He was superb.
What we saw yesterday was a bright and positive Swansea City. A clear change from the games we have seen to date. Smart inter passing and clever touches from a midfield playing at least ten yards further forward than usual was key to this. Flynn Downes and Captain Matt Grimes were a big influence on the game - and Olivier Ntcham on his debut got his shots away, and was extremely positive throughout the game. There will be a variety of opinions on how a complete mindset change and productivity work together after six league games, these will certainly range from the very poor to the exceptionally good. That’s fans opinions for you. However, there’s no getting away from it this Swansea side is travelling very much in the right direction.
For all the attacking the swans did the final finish was lacking, but Ingram was also tested on numerous occasions. The woodwork too from a Grimes free kick was also a bit of help. Yes, a bit more composure is required, but the situations created yesterday were as a result of hard work and endeavour with a clear strategy to dominate the ball. There were numerous changes from the embarrassment of Preston a few weeks ago. Olivier Ntcham and Rhys Williams both made their debuts, while Hamer was handed his first league appearance for the club. Flynn Downes and Kyle Naughton also returned to lineup as Joel Latibeaudiere, Jay Fulton, Liam Cullen, Steven Benda and Ryan Manning dropped to the bench.
Referee Stroud twice denied the swans penalties, the first on Ethan Laird looked obvious, the second on Jamie Paterson infuriating as he was blocked by his marker in the penalty area. Minutes later the very same challenge made by Bidwell saw a free kick awarded and a yellow for the swans defender. Pulling swans players back was another party trick of Stroud’s when they were clearly in a position to take advantage of fouling. He didn’t have a good game at all, and it most certainly affected the result.
Joel Piroe had his opportunities, but couldn’t get on the scoresheet
Russell Martin was very pleased with his sides performance, and rightly so. "I am frustrated for the players because I thought they were outstanding. I thought the performance was excellent. All we asked before the game was that they were courageous enough to transfer the stuff we have worked on into the game. We have limited a team to just one shot on target, and that was in the 94th minute” Yes, Martin did display some frustration but his pleasure at seeing his side produce such domination football must be pleasing.
"They came here to press really high, and if you look at the first 20 minutes they came to try and stop us playing but soon realised the guys were playing with real intensity and conviction and it soon turned into what it was. But that next bit is going to come, if we had scored one today the game opens up and becomes completely different. "I know it’s easy to say that, but you could see that and I am disappointed for the players but I am positive because that was a big step in the right direction." It is unlikely the swans will dominate a game so much again this season without reaping the rewards they deserved yesterday.The change from the ‘Cooperball” seasons to yesterday was dramatic and effective.There is little else swans fans should be asking for after so little time given to the new management team.
Russell Martin and Olivier Ntcham yesterday
It is all about patience, it isn’t all about demanding results immediately, swans fans have to be patient, and as Russell Martin said yesterday. " It’s a big step, it will come " Swansea City move on to midweek where they play another home game this time against Millwall. Many I am sure will expect goals and a win, and thats a distinct possibility if yesterday is anything to go by.
Swansea City: Hamer; Bennett, Naughton (Cabango 86), Williams; Laird, Downes, Grimes (C), Bidwell (Obafemi 76); Paterson, Ntcham (Manning 71); Piroe.
Subs not used: Benda, Fulton, Cullen, Latibeaudiere.
Yellow card: Paterson
Hull City: Ingram; Coyle (C), Bernard, Greaves, Elder; Huddlestone, Docherty; Lewis-Potter, Moncur (Longman 81), Wilks (M Smith 64); Magennis (T Smith 72).
Subs not used: Baxter, Smallwood, Emmanuel, McLoughlin.
Yellow cards: Bernard 62, Lewis-Potter 90+5
Referee: Keith Stroud
Attendance: 16,317