The Swans put on their best performance of the season to remain undefeated at home in this seasons Championship. It wasn’t easy with lapses of concentration, and a poor showing from some of the substitutes ensured the drama went on to the ninety seventh minute of this fixture.
Here is how the teams lined up at the start.
The Swans had a superb start to this game after pressing high on the Norwich defence. With just three minutes gone Ollie Cooper made the best of a short pass finding Eom who crossed the ball. In an attempt to cut the ball out Norwich City’s Amankwah Forson deflected the ball into his own net. Angus Gunn in the Canaries goal was left flat footed, and it was 1-0 to the home side. It was the perfect start for the Swans and it turned out (somehow) as the only goal of the game. That doesn’t mean to say the Canaries weren’t making their own opportunities as they too saw two raids into the Swans area thwarted early on. It was a quick start to the game, both sides committed and favouring good football.
The Swans first corner came about on their right hand side, a nicely delivered cross from Josh Key almost finding Liam Cullen. Unfortunately he couldn’t inject enough pace into his run. The Swans were looking alive and determined, even Franco tried a Jon ‘Jo Shelvey’ shot from within his own half, a long lofted shot from over half the pitch away, not finding the net. The Swans continued to press, Kyle Naughton adding creativity and another noticeable thing was the home side were pressing so close to the Norwich defence and midfield they were struggling to get any momentum. This is the style we have been promised from Luke Williams. The Swans continued to break, Ronald on twelve minutes should have done better. An area of his game that certainly needs work on.
Ollie Cooper was getting the treatment, but the Swans looked vulnerable when Josh Sargent burst through after a Franco error, but Vigouroux in the Swans goal saved superbly. From a resulting free kick the away side came close with a flick header. On seventeen minutes a wonderful effort from Eom was tipped over by Angus Gunn. This was a great game to watch.
Josh Key was in fine form on the Swans right and utilised his pace to cause more problems. Eom and Franco adding to the dynamics in what was a wonderful Swans performance to this point. Franco so terrier like, breaking up play. The pressure continued. Norwich could only foul in reply. It has to be said as well the weather was superb, and added to the flavour of this game. Bright sunshine and free flowing Swansea football. That didn’t stop Norwich as they too pressed, and on twenty five minutes they had a corner on their left. It was well defended by Ben Cabango. Sargent again the protagonist.
Another corner for the Swans on twenty eight minutes. The set piece was met by a Swansea head but it looped slowly upwards, albeit the ball had to be cleared off the line. The half hour came and went and you just had the sense there would be more twists and turns to come. On thirty two minutes the Swans had a free kick on their right. It was in a dangerous position. Franco sadly was penalised and the opportunity came to nothing.
A wonderful opportunity for Norwich came on thirty eight minutes, a header which Vigouroux again saved superbly, it was going in that’s for sure. Nunez especially started to target the Swans flair players, he put in a nasty challenge on Eom. Ollie Cooper and Franco though were not to be left out, they continually chased and harried. The challenges were now flying in, and it was in the main fair and hard. Evidence of this came on forty one minutes when Cooper superbly won the ball back in a dangerous area on the Swans left, he slotted the ball to his right for Franco to blast an effort that had it not been deflected would have sailed into the Canaries net.
It has to be said though the Swans were leaving some space at the back which would have to be attended to at half time. Eom burst through in the final minute of injury time only to be hauled back by Nunez, and at last he got a card to match his jersey. All round going into the break Swansea would be happy with their efforts. At times unplayable, and really will be asking why they were not at least two up. Mention has to be made of Naughton throughout this half, he was absolutely faultless.
The second half started with no changes.
Norwich looked more purposeful having been given a bit of a football lesson in the first half. It had to be now a case of the Swans not falling asleep and carrying on their brilliant first half form. Ronald wasn’t helping giving the ball away on two occasions. McLean earned himself a yellow card for his ridiculous dive in front of the referee, John Busby. The Swans needed to up their involvement a level to match the away sides determination.
They did so with Ronald putting in a decent cross but it hit the head of Cullen and deflected away like a balloon. Harry Darling was booked on fifty three minutes, trying to rearrange an opponents head in some form of wrestling hold. He was lucky with just a yellow. Norwich were very much still in the game, they had most certainly pushed up a good fifteen yards and that was proving effective. The high press from the visitors was working leaving the Swans with little space to manoeuvre. A nice move from Key and Franco saw a nicely placed cross in from the Portuguese player, but no Swans player was evident.
Again a lively move leaving Cooper to cross was again met weakly by Cullen. The bench began to look busy. Surely Luke Williams could see that his side were letting Norwich gains on their right and needed Zan Vipotnik in the centre ? The Swans were being far more cautious this half, the energy from the front almost non existent. They were being far quicker in the ball than we had seen this season, but new blood was needed.
A Franco break - passing the ball to Cullen who turned his opponent, but was brought down. Duffy acknowledged the yellow card. Signs of tiredness after some showmanship from Ronald, Franco giving the ball away. The game was very open. End to end but neither side could take their chances. On sixty nine minutes we saw the impressive Naughton replaced by Josh Tymon, his contribution was excellent. Then Florian Bianchini for Eom. Some new faces were needed and they were now on the pitch. Cullen though was spared the hook. Norwich responded with two of their own. The last twenty minutes was with us. Ronald had switched to the left with Florian taking up an attacking role on the right. A cheeky shot followed from Cooper but it was weak and well taken by Gunn.
Norwich continued to look dangerous but their theatrics especially from Martinez were laughable. Despite the Swans working diligently the away side were forcing themselves into the game. A nicely curled in free kick from the Canaries was defended for a corner on seventy five minutes. The end result was a high and wide shot. Both sets of players were looking tired. Then Cooper burst through into the Norwich area from the left. Florian was inches away from securing the points. On seventy seven, Myles Peart Harris, Zan Vipotnik and Joe Allen came on for Franco, Cooper and Cullen. That was all the dice Williams had left.
Hernandez earned his side a corner on their left on eighty minutes, Norwich were getting closer. Then another corner for the visitors. Vipotnik cleared. Vigouroux then went down in his area off the ball. The tension was getting to the crowd. The Swans keeper was up on his feet in seconds earning his side a chance to draw breath. Norwich pressed again, a scramble in the area that was cleared. The Swans were right up against it. On the break the Swans earned a free kick, it was wasted. But the ball was at the right end of the pitch.
On eighty eight Key earned himself a yellow card for taking too long at a throw in.
The seven minutes announced at the end of the game brought the worst out of the Swans. Under siege, they offered up two golden chances for the Canaries. First Cabango with a wonderful challenge when Norwich only had to score, then Ronald with a dreadful back pass again flunked by the visitors. The shots were coming in, the Swans only offering only slight resistance. Both Florian and Vipotnik looked far too heavy, signified by their lack of pace and indeed by their reluctance at times to track back. Both players needed to offer more. It ended well for the Swans but this game could have gone either way. An exciting game at times, high tempo as well, that will ensure the crowds start returning - if they can keep up this type of performance.
⚽️ Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux; 7 Josh Key,7 Ben Cabango,7 Harry Darling,6 Kyle Naughton 7 (Josh Tymon 70); 6 Matt Grimes (captain), 7 Gonçalo Franco 8 (Joe Allen 79), 6 Ollie Cooper 8 (Myles Peart-Harris 79); 6 Jisung Eom 7 (Florian Bianchini 70),5 Liam Cullen 6 (Žan Vipotnik79); 5 Ronald 6.
Unused Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin, Jay Fulton, Nelson Abbey, Azeem Abdulai.
⚽️ Norwich City: Angus Gunn, Jack Stacey (Liam Gibbs 80), Shane Duffy, Callum Doyle, Borja Sainz, Josh Sargent, Ben Chrisene (Jose Cordoba 71), Amankwah Forson (Garbriel Forsyth 70), Kenny McLean (captain), Marcelino Nunez (Onel Hernandez 45), Oscar Schwartau (Ante Crnac 58).
Unused Substitutes: George Long, Grant Hanley, Kaide Gordon, Kellen Fisher.
Referee: John Busby : 6/10
Attendance: 14,097 ( approx 330 away)