Swansea City earned a point at the Swansea.com and once again after going ahead didn’t look like they could go on and win the game. Chiedozie Ogbene scored an equaliser for the Milers and his second goal of the season against the Swans in what was a deserved point for the visitors. Swansea remain in fifteenth in the league and now are twelve points ahead of the relegation places and a big ten points off the play offs.
To say the first half an hour of this game was lacklustre to watch for Swansea City fans would be an understatement. Rotherham United looked more dangerous as they pressed forward and it was Chiedozie Ogbene who struck the post for the visitors after two minutes. His curling left foot shot striking the foot of the upright. The attempts by the Swans to play out from the back made for tedious viewing for the crowd of fifteen thousand plus who continued in their support throughout the half. Those that braved the cold singing continuously through the first forty five.
Although the Swans could only muster a couple of half chances in the first half an hour the play when it did come together was a delight to watch, albeit rare. Morgan Whittaker had the best chance when put through on goal by Joel Piroe, but his effort to open the scoring when one on one with the Millers keeper was weak at best. His lethargic play was frustrating at times, and most certainly reflected his desire to score.
Ryan Manning was busy, as was Oli Cooper both of whom broke the Millers press rarely but when they’did the Swans looked dangerous. It wasn’t the best of games to watch but the last fifteen minutes of the half would determine how the half would end. The Swans had a willing outlet in Manning who was industrious and quick in his decision making looking for good balls inside to put Piroe and Cooper in to more offensive positions. Once Matt Grimes decided forward passes would be of more benefit to his side we saw a productive and far more threatening Swansea City as the half drew to a close.
The move of the game so far resulted in a quality strike from Joel Piroe. Joe Allen found Manning out on the left and he drilled a quality assist through to Piroe who steadied himself before firing his shot home. On the balance of play and for the more industrious home side, the Swans deserved the lead. However Rotherham’s quick if not erratic press was causing confusion at the back for Swansea. There were a few suicidal moments for the Swans to deal with that needed tough challenges to rescues the situation.
When all was considered the lead was on the balance of chances deserved. If it wasn’t for more indecision in the last few minutes the Swans could have extended their advantage. There needed to be more positive action in front of goal and less stalling. The second half started as it did the first with the erratic press working for Rotherham. It paid off on fifty one minutes with a decent cross from Shane Ferguson who found Ogbene in amongst four ‘spaced out’ Swansea defenders and he rolled the ball in to the net at the second opportunity. You have to question Andy Fisher who was slow to react to the cross. Immediately after we saw Morgan Whittaker put through by Fishers long pass and clearly brought down when in on goal by David Wright - but it was ignored by referee Gavin Ward.
The introduction of Jay Fulton for Joe Allen and Olivier Ntcham for Ryan Manning, which was a surprise left the Swans with a more bolstered midfield for the remaining thirty five minutes of the game. The harsh challenges continued with Hjelde booked for a poor tackle on Cooper. From here it was clear that if the Swans were to get anything tonight it would be hard fought. Ogebene was the main concern for the Swans defence, he was brought down on fifty eight minutes and the free kick was taken by Shane Ferguson who only found the Swansea defensive wall.
This was a game that could go either way and a far bigger test than Swansea faced when they last won at home against Blackpool. Just like the first forty five the Millers looked more positive and direct after they scored. Swansea were relying on their passing ability but it was again a sign of their inability to carry that off that they gave the ball away due to the excessive high Millers press.
With twenty five to go the Swans had no shots on the visitors goal in the second half, and that really had to change. The Millers work rate was better, more determined and far more dangerous. Matt Sorinola on the left had an opportunity to put a cross in, and when he did it went in to the keepers hands. Ryan Manning’s vision was definitely missing. There really was little for the home crowd to get excited about.
Ntcham found himself rewarded for all his hard work with seventeen minutes to go and his useful cross was met by Piroe who headed wide. The Dutchman did get some power on his header but it went frustratingly past the post. Rotherham continued to look dangerous on the break and sub Connor Washington fluffed his lines when put through on the Swans goal. It has to be said the draw was looking likely, but the Millers didn’t look like they wanted just a point. A mad scramble in the Swans goal resulted in pinball football with a shot hitting Fisher who saved well. But once again we were seeing an extremely panicked home defence.
With the game stretched and yellow cards being the order of the evening the Swans replaced Sorinola with Luke Cundle narrowing the pitch even more. The ball became a hot potato strangling Swansea City’s attempts at their passing game. If anything this game most certainly gave some clarity on the Swans chances of making progress up the table this season. Unless something beyond drastic happens this is at best mid table form. Liam Cullen came on with two minutes remaining, a substitution many will say is pointless at such a late stage in the game.
For the first time since god invented grass Matt Grimes went off for Cullen, and on ninety minutes a long throw was taken by the Millers. It failed and five minutes injury time was signalled. Ball retention by the home side became difficult especially by Joel Latibeaudiere and Cooper. Late Swansea pressure to win the game was to come to nothing. Rotherham had a chance well blocked by Latibeaudiere which resulted in a corner. The Swans survived the last knockings and although they got the point the boos around the ground told their own story. The second half produced very little for Swansea and Rotherham earned their only point of the season when coming from behind after being a goal down.
Now doesn’t that really tell the whole story ?
Swansea City: Fisher;6 Latibeaudiere, 5 Cabango, 5 Wood, 6 Manning 7 (Ntcham 56) 6 Allen 6 (Fulton 56) 6 Grimes (C) 5 (Cullen 88 ) Sorinola 5 (Cundle 81); Cooper 6, Whittaker 5, Piroe.6
Subs not used: Sondergaard, Darling, Walsh.
Goal: Piroe 42
Yellow cards:🟨 Latibeaudiere 34, Wood 72, Cabango 81
Rotherham United: Johansson; Peltier (Harding 78), Wright, Humphreys, Hjelde; Coventry, Rathbone (C) (Lindsay 72), Fosu; Ogbene, Hugill (Washington 74), Ferguson (Kelly 78).
Subs not used: Vickers, Bramall, Odoffin.
Goal: Ogbene 52
Yellow cards: 🟨 Hugill 10, Hjelde 58
Attendance: 15,144
Away : 78
Referee: Gavin Ward 6/10 : A bit slow and fussy.
Game rating 5/10 : Predictable for the Ogebene goal and the Swans throwing away another lead.