As Ben Cabango joined the Swans fans in the away end for this game having been ruled out on Friday evening the Swans displayed a determined approach to this fixture. However, once again a match winning lead was given away by the Swans with well over twenty points now being lost this season.
The Swans started in a rather lethargic way, and the passing out from the back nearly cost the away side this afternoon. Two good chances for the Blues followed with a shot that fizzed just by Carl Rushworth’s post then a cracking overhead kick by Ivan Sunjic was safely fielded by the Swans keeper. Another noticeable factor was the Swans lack of strength in the challenge, both Liam Cullen and Sam Parker unable to compete with Birmingham’s strong arm tactics.
Carl Rushworth added to the concerns with another poor pass out from the back which was intercepted leaving the Swans keeper to salvage his own error. When Cullen did get forwards, and that took ten minutes his cross was put out for a corner on seventeen minutes. Bar a Josh Tymon chance this was really all the Swans could muster. The Blues were constant in their press on the Swans defence and in midfield. The visitors were left fighting for scraps when in possession.
A Swans set piece resulted in head ping pong in the Blues defence on twenty three minutes but the threat was cleared. Another ridiculous situation created by the Swans a minute later with Bashir Humphreys giving the ball away saw Rushworth called upon again with a fantastic save. The rebound bravely blocked. Again the error nearly cost the Swans. This insistence on passing out from the back as a tactic was clearly going to cost the Swans the game if it continued.
Sam Parker forced an opportunity for himself shooting at the home goal on twenty seven minutes. Immediately the ball was back in the Swans half as a result of more misplaced passing. The threat again cleared but as Jamal Lowe broke he was scythed down by Juninho Bacuna. The Swans just didn’t or couldn’t match the effort put in by Birmingham City. Second best all over the pitch.
Then all of a sudden the Swans clicked, Parker hassling the home defence and the inter play was effective. Fouling by Birmingham was going relatively unchecked encouraging more aggression and infringements. Harry Darling started to get more involved as Parker won a corner on thirty three minutes. Again it came to nothing but we were seeing a far better Swansea. Bashir Humphreys continued to struggle with the idea of passing out from the back. Josh Tymon then threatened but his cross went out for a corner. It was clear this Blues side were easily unsettled. From that corner Harry Darling (below) rose unchallenged and his header hit the back of the net. The Swans despite all their mistakes were 1-0 up.
On thirty seven minutes Dembele broke down the left and the Swans stood off and - stood off even more leaving him to fire a cheeky shot in to Swansea City’s net. Once again the Swans had given up a lead from a winning position. When you consider they’ve done that to their own detriment losing twenty one points so far this season, it really wasn’t a surprise.
Well in to injury time Birmingham had a corner which unsettled the Swans yet again. Pinball ensued with the ball eventually going out for another corner which was cleared. There really was some room for Luke Williams to look at his bench options and tactics at half time.
A quick move with only a minute in to the second half saw Dembele clear but Rushworth did remarkably well in saving the one on one opportunity. The Swans again caught napping at the back. The visitors needed some guidance and encouragement from their Captain Matt Grimes, however he was noticeably absent from the midfield and wasn’t influencing too much. Birmingham were definitely starting the second half far better. A strong and needed challenge on Dembele by Darling caused the winger some pain, but it was a fair tackle. More of this was going to be needed. The Swans passing was again poor, and the pace in closing down by the Swans was wanting.
A wonderful free kick from Grimes on fifty three minutes looped over the Blues defence and was met by Darling whose header bounced off the bar. It was a warning across the bows of the home side. Jamal Lowe was next latching on to a pass which saw him run in to the Blues box. His shot was saved well by Jon Ruddy. The pressure was on. More fouls from Birmingham ensued, Scott Hogan deservedly booked for a rash challenge on Grimes. At last the Captain was finding his feet in this game.
Sadly, those Swansea mistakes continued which put the defence under pressure. Nathan Wood on fifty seven minutes the next offender. However, the Swans pressure would be rewarded. A lovely pass inside from Josh Tymon found Jamal Lowe who got ahead of the Blues keeper and rifled his shot home. 2-1 to Swansea City. Again we saw a lovely pass to Jamal Lowe from Grimes but the Bournemouth loanee was just offside. There was still half an hour to go.
Sam Parker then fell to the floor clutching his hamstring, it was a clear issue. The decision was made to bring on Joe Allen. Jerry Yates came on for Jamal Lowe as the Swans looked to freshen up their attacking threat. The Blues brought on three including Welsh international Jordan James. That would prove pivotal.
If there’s a problem with Jerry Yates he displayed it within seconds of coming on. He runs at his opposition player, in a clear position to put pressure on and he just stops a yard before he can pressurise his opponent and does nothing. He rarely if ever makes a decision to gamble or put on a spurt of pace, he just slows down before he can influence the play. I say that as it was pointed out to me by an Ex Leeds United player in the commentary area at Elland Road. It’s so obvious when you watch him.
On seventy minutes the game again opened up with the Blues probing down the Swansea flanks. Luke Williams continued to be animated on the touchline calling his players over whilst Jay Fulton was treated for an injury. Then … we saw Kyle Naughton introduced for Nathan Wood. Jamie Paterson delivered a fine ball across the Blues area but Yates didn’t have the pace to get on to it. Had he done so it would have been a tap in. The Swans started to match their opponents with aggression in the tackle, much to the home supporters annoyance.
What’s good for the goose.
The Swans continued to press and another yellow was issued to Blues defender Lee Buchanan. An eighty four minute free kick on the Swans right was taken by Grimes after a bad tackle on Fulton. It came to nothing. But the ball was there for someone to get across John Ruddy. A lot of what the Swans were doing was coming to nothing and possession switched sides regularly. Then Tyler Roberts somehow earned his side a free kick on eighty seven minutes, it was hotly disputed but the home side had a good opportunity to equalise. Bacuna would take it. His shot blasted against the Swansea wall.
Eight minutes was added by the fourth official.
That encouraged the home side as the Swans were looking for anywhere to get rid of the ball. Another free kick for the Blues in a dangerous position followed. The action ended uo with James fouling Darling as the home side fans got more than frustrated. Surprisingly Jerry Yates was next for a yellow card after challenging an opponent. It looked a tad poor.
Then again another lead was given away as Jordan James fired in a speculative shot which beat Carl Rushworth all ends up on ninety four minutes. The Swans defending questionable. Just one second lapse in concentration and it was 2-2. The Swans then had a glorious chance to go ahead but somehow Joe Allen lost complete control of his feet. All this as Birmingham fans celebrated a draw, which seemed a bit odd
The game ended with the score at 2-2, it was an enthralling game, both sides were determined to win and had it not been for the lapses in concentration in the Swans defence it most certainly would have been an away win. Two points dropped for me.
Below : Nearly two thousand Swansea City fans at St Andrews today.
⚽️ Birmingham City: John Ruddy, Lee Buchanan, Dion Sanderson (captain), Krystian Bielik, Scott Hogan (Tyler Roberts 65), Koji Miyoshi (Lukas Jutkiewicz 84), Cody Drameh, Siriki Dembele, Kevin Long (Emanuel Aiwu 85) Jay Stansfield (Jordan James 65), Ivan Sunjic (Juninho Bacuna 65).
Unused Substitutes: Neil Etheridge, Keshi Anderson, Gary Gardner, Oliver Burke.
⚽️ Swansea City: Carl Rushworth; 7 Jay Fulton, 6 Harry Darling, 8 Matt Grimes 6 Jamal Lowe 7 (Jerry Yates 65) 4 Jamie Paterson 7 (Charlie Patino 84), Josh Tymon, 6 Liam Cullen,5 Nathan Wood, 6 Bashir Humphreys 5 (Kyle Naughton 74),5 Sam Parker 7 (Joe Allen 65 ) 5
Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Kristian Pedersen, Nathanael Ogbeta, Yannick Bolasie, Ollie Cooper.
Referee: Matthew Donohue : Card happy chappy : 5/10
Attendance: 21,166 (1,947 away fans )