Swansea City extended their unbeaten run to eight games and really could have won this game had they matched the intensity they showed at Norwich City last weekend. It means that the Swans will be in the championship next season with a number of newish fixtures which will excite the Jack Army who yesterday travelled to Humberside in large numbers.
Ben Cabango’s early deflected own goal put the home side one up but the Swans gradually worked their way back in to the game with good work from Olivier Ntcham and Ryan Manning. Ryan will play his last game for Swansea City on Bank Holiday Monday against West Bromwich Albion ( 8th May ) it’s highly unlikely he will will sign on for another term with Swansea. His salary demands far outweigh the financial availability of funds at the Swans for him to do so. Joel Piroe was pretty quiet throughout the game as was captain Matt Grimes. Jamie Paterson had a few opportunities to create chances for the Swans but support around him was lacking. Swansea’s man of the match was clearly Luke Cundle who will also play his final game on loan from Wolves for the Swans against West Bromwich Albion.
Luke Cundle’s equaliser on thirty nine minutes was exquisite.
We saw the introduction of Ollie Cooper who most certainly tried to add that extra spark head coach Russell Martin stated was lacking post match. It didn’t work and it was Andy Fisher who came to the Swans aid in the second half, although it has to be said he wasn’t blameless for Hull City’s only goal of the game. All in all the game lack intensity and the expected dominance ( with pace ) of Swansea that we have seen of late was lacking. It’s a shame and we hear the players were extremely down after the game as the draw signalled the end of any play off hopes.
The Swans have generally dominated possession in the majority of their games this season, win, lose or draw, so it isn’t a surprise this again was the case yesterday at the MKM stadium. The Swans build up play lacked intensity, and that enabled Hull City who play a very similar game under Liam Rosenior to regroup effectively and thwart any attacks. The match summary data shows this. Both attack through the middle and left side and prefer short passing moves.
Swansea City had the most attempts but this is skewed only slightly as Hull City had a golden opportunity to win the game at the death.
Both sides matched each other on long passes, but the ineffectiveness of Joel Piroe and late on Morgan Whittaker meant the large number of crosses supplied by the Swans went unrewarded. It is noticeable the lack of ability of Piroe in the air, and he does lack some pace which is noticeable at times despite his ice cool finishing and awareness. Morgan Whittaker who seems to be played on the right of the Swans formation when he comes on also has a lack of physical ability and his ability in the air is extremely weak. This makes the large number of crosses that Swansea City get in to their opponents box ineffective at the best of times. What is a clear source of frustration is that no Swansea City player gets across the goalkeeper when set pieces, crosses and corners come in to the box. You will notice that the Swans allow the opposition goalkeeper to take the ball at chest height at times. This shows a lack of awareness by any Swansea City player to challenge or get across the keeper, or indeed gamble to take an opportunity. That is a strikers bread and butter.
If selected and it’s almost certain he will be, Luke Cundle will play his last game against West Bromwich Albion. It isn’t inconceivable another loan of the player from Wolves will be sought. We often hear that players have a desire to return after loans and in the main they rarely materialise. Luke has been a wonderful option for Russell Martin since joining the club and has been very solid and attack minded when picked to play.
The run of eight games unbeaten will now be one which Russell Martin will want to complete as nine after the season ends. Only then will his hard work start with a newly appointed player recruitment manager ( for want of other vastly overrated titles ) That will mean a variety of positions will need filling before he even thinks about new recruits to add to what he has. That’s very much one for the future. An away point at Hull would be welcomed by most football fans, and it was a welcome point. We again see the Swans improve on last seasons sixty one points and fifteenth place. Now with one game to go it’s sixty three points and tenth.
After forty five games here is a basic assessment of where Swansea City are at.
And of course the excellent run of games continues with just one more to go.
So it’s an eight day build up to the last game of the season, and one which the club now urge people to purchase tickets for with around 480 left before it’s declared a sell out.
Hull City: Darlow; Coyle, Jones, Greaves, Elder; Seri (Docherty 74), Slater; Allahyar (Simons 75) Ozan Tufan (Pelkas 78), Vaughan (Woods 89); Traore
Subs: Ingram, Ebiowei, McLoughlin
Swansea City: Fisher; 5 Latibeaudiere,6 Cabango,5 Wood,6 Manning; 6 Grimes,6; Ntcham 7 (Whittaker 84); Cullen 5 (Congreve 84), Cundle, 7 Paterson 6 (Cooper 68); 6 Piroe 5
Subs: Naughton, Darling, Sondergaard, Sorinola
Yellow : 🟨 Manning, Paterson.
Referee Eltringham 6/10 : Will have much harder games to officiate.
Stats supplied by WhoScored.com