An unchanged Swansea City dominated this game despite a referee who wasn’t favourable to both sides during the ninety minutes. It was a deserved victory with Olivier Ntcham and Liam Walsh the Swans star men in a 2-0 win.
Within seconds of the start Joel Piroe had a clear chance but shot wide when he should have squared to Liam Cullen. The same eleven started as they did at Millwall and pretty much the same fluid formation dominating early exchanges. Whilst the fans exchanged banter about tractors and sheep Swansea looked comfortable with Luke Cundle and Liam Walsh busy. The latter in on goal in a quick move with Piroe but failed to convert.
Sadly the chances weren’t taken again when Cundle put in Liam Cullen whose touch was dreadful in front of goal. It was a much brighter start for the Swans than Bristol City, after ten minutes the best side was more than evident, even if they hadn’t scored it felt as if it was coming. A lovely move involving Olivier Ntcham saw confusion in the Robuns defence and they were lucky to escape a scrambled move without conceding.
Referee Jeremy Simpson seemed keen to penalise Swansea’s efforts as Ryan Manning got away a hard shot at the Robins goal. From there Bristol City found themselves in a dangerous position but the move was stopped by Matt Grimes fouling Sam Bell. Alex Scott’s free kick was blocked. Swansea’s passing was exquisite at times but the final ball was missing. This was no more evident when Manning skied his left wing cross on eighteen minutes. There was an urgency about the Swans play, Ntcham was pulling the strings and again Manning let his side down on the ball when it seemed easier to deliver a pass in to the Robins penalty area.
These are the situations that have let the Swans down all season, dominating a game and making chances that very rarely get converted. Bristol City stepped up their pace on the ball and passing but were finding it very hard to bypass Grimes, Walsh and Ntcham. Walsh especially had the industry rarely seen in his time at Swansea, but now fit and raring to go he looked a definite plus. The Robins first shot on goal came on twenty two minutes but was well held by Andy Fisher.
Scott and Bell were beginning to make a nuisance of themselves on the Swans left earning the first corner of the game on twenty five minutes. The move came to nothing but the Robins did earn a second corner, then a third corner for the visitors with the Swans managing the threat easily. .
Referee Simpson ridiculously stopped play for a foul when the Swans were through on goal, his lack of ability and foresight not greeted well. It was an appalling decision. The Robins escaped again. Swansea increased the pressure more so and again it was Ntcham orchestrating matters. It was just the final ball that was missing. Then a Grimes cross was met by Harry Darling who saw his header saved and Walsh unfortunately saw his shot blocked. Swansea were dominating again but the score remained 0-0.
Referee Simpson continued to influence the game with late calls penalising the Swans almost a slap in the face for his shocking performance so far. Despite the awful officiating Simpson seemed to think it amusing that Ntcham was clearly brought down as the referee gave nothing. As the half entered the last fifteen minutes Swansea still edged towards the Robins goal. It resulted in a goal for Liam Cullen after more sharp passing and delivery from Ntcham. Cullen ( below ) placed his shot beyond the reach of visiting keeper O’Leary.
It was nothing more than the swans deserved. That was the young strikers seventh of the season.
The Swans seemed to relax more and Bristol, City themselves worked a move which again was well held by Fisher in the home goal. It has to be said Jeremy Simpson clearly didn’t have his Weetabix this morning as the slightest infringement went against Swansea. He missed an obvious back pass as well. Coupled with Swansea’s less frantic efforts and Simpson’s abnormal behaviour the visitors definitely took some positivity from the final few minutes of the game. Andy King became more obvious and a move late on went for another Bristol City corner. That was dealt with and the Swans set Ntcham free but the ball from Walsh was loose.
A wonderful move from Nathan Wood put Manning in whose cross was perfect for a striker, sadly Cullen was somewhere else and Piroe, well, he isn’t a striker that sniffs out those sort of chances. It really should have been 2-0.
At half time the Swans led 1-0 but really it should and could have been more.
No changes for the Swans at half time meant Cundle could be involved in the first move if the half but Piroe somehow placed himself in an offside position. He was at having the best of games. And then the curse of the writer saw Piroe control the ball wonderfully but his shot was blocked and went out for a corner. There were more goals in this for sure. Mannings corner came straight off the training ground with Ntcham shooting on goal but it was blocked. From the corner Cullen came alive and nearly bagged his second goal of the game. Ntcham and Cundle again were pulling the strings, numerous chances were being made. Piroe again was out of position as Walsh’s corner was so well placed. However there really should be no excuse why Piroe shouldn’t have been able to read the exquisite set piece.
Dasilva tried to make a difference for the visitors onnthe Swans right but looked a busted flush when in space. A wonderful team play goal ended up with the Dutchman heading the cross against the Robins post, it really didn’t look like his day. Piroe isn’t renowned for his heading ability and despite a height advantage he hit the post. However, at 1-0 the game could easily swing as we have seen so many times this season. Referee Simpson again imposed himself on the game awarding the Robins a free kick some five seconds after it happened. From that kick a headed chance was missed by the visitors. The issue on the pitch was clearly some of the home sides players were missing obvious passes and were tiring. Walsh especially who continued to deliver quality passes.
On sixty one minutes we saw Jamie Paterson on for Liam Cullen, Paterson the second ex Robins player on the pitch for the Swans. Bristol City were now employing a higher press with more numbers leaving space in the midfield. The Swans were screaming out for pace but it wasn’t there. Fisher then saved from a shot from Mehmet as the visitors looked far more dangerous.
A Ben Cabango possible handball wasn’t given and Bristol City were beginning to look like the team more likely to score. Swansea’s breakaways were disrupted by the Robins midfield and defence. The game was on what could only be described as a crucial stage. The lack of pace as mentioned was evident. Harry Darling had a half chance but fired his shot wide on sixty seven minutes. The Swansea east bank continued to shout their side as Ollie Cooper came on for the magnificent Liam Walsh and Morgan Whittaker for Luke Cundle.
A promising move from the Swans saw a Cruyff like turn from Paterson but he shot in to the side netting. Whittaker was put out on the right by his head coach which was to nullify the threat of Mehmet, the visitors danger man to date since coming off the bench. The game was opening up. Bristol City players were now swarming around the Swans midfield three or four at times on Ntcham who still broke free for a long speculative shot on goal.
The last fifteen minutes was to be a roller coaster ride.
There was a tension on the pitch and in the home stands and the effective Morgan Whittaker set up Ntcham for a superb second goal for the Swans. Surely now that would be enough ? Ntcham’s quality was far better than we had seen from the visitors all game. Tactically to this point Russell Martin had most certainly got it right.
With Ntcham continuing to be the Swans star man a move that ended up with Paterson with a sight on goal saw his shot deflected inches wide. The Swans support were brilliant as they had been throughout. The passing was again spot on as King blocked off Paterson when he looked to be in on goal. That second goal had given the Swans so much confidence they looked anything but relegation candidates.
Bristol City looked beleaguered and clueless in fact rudderless when going forward. However the few minutes left as the Swans support boomed out ‘Russell Martin’s Barmy army’ had to be navigated. Nearly seventeen thousand attended this game, or that was the official number given and they were treated to a special Swansea performance as the Swansea / Cardiff derby now looms, Six minutes were signalled by the fourth official, crazily with little physio involvement it seemed a tad hopeful. But six it was as Matt Sorinola replaced Ntcham to huge applause. A good move by Martin so the crowd coukd show their appreciation.
This result was so much deserved and it signified everything Russell Martin wants from his team. Of course there now needs to be consistency and a product the head coach can crow about. A Robins free kick ended up in the net but Mehmet’s header was ruled offside. A few pitch invaders entered the play showing a far sharper turn of pace than Bristol City. Unfortunately he left his mobile phone on the pitch !
It’s a satisfying win, but we did again see some weaknesses at the back, abandoning possibly getting g away with a handball and the linesman’s flag saving further blushes. It wasn’t perfect but it was much better, and gives the club a huge lift going in to the international break.
Cardiff City away next. Be there.
Swansea City: Fisher; 6 Darling,7 Cabango, 6 Wood, 7 Manning; 7 Grimes (C), 8 Ntcham 9 (Sorinola 90+1), Cundle 6 (Whittaker 72) 7, Walsh 8 (Cooper 72) 6 Piroe, 6 Cullen 7 (Paterson 62).6
Subs not used: Sondergaard, Naughton, Congreve.
Goals: Cullen 34, Ntcham 77
Yellow cards: 🟨 Manning 82, Piroe 82
Bristol City: O'Leary; Tanner (Weimann 46), Vyner (C), Pring, Dasilva; King, Scott, Taylor-Clarke (Wilson 80); Sykes, Cornick (Mehmeti 62), Bell (Wells 68).
Subs not used: Haikin, Idehen, Wood.
Yellow cards: 🟨 Wells 74, Sykes 82
Referee: Jeremy Simpson 3/10: Not that good.
Attendance: 16,730
831 away.