An eleven goal thriller at Boothferry Park signalled the end of Jan Molby’s reign as Swans manager at the end of August 1997. It was an odd sacking at the time as the Swans had won two games already that season and weren’t looking too bad. But then a look at the owners of the time and all questions are answered.

Swansea City reported on the game -
Hull City 7 Swansea City 4
Att 5,198
Away 341
The Swans played out an astonishing eleven goal classic at Boothferry Park as their winning start to the new campaign was brought to an end. Jan Molby’s side had won their first two games and they were still in the game with the score at 2-2 shortly after the break. Duane Darby and Gregor Rioch had put the hosts ahead, only for Jonathan Coates and Tony Bird to level for the Swans. But Glyn Hodges and Darby put the hosts two goals to the good and, while Jason Price pulled one back, a brace from Neil Mann and Darby’s hat-trick strike meant a Rob Dewhurst own goal was no consolation to the visitors.

Here it is !

Then there’s that 4-4 on Valentines night 2020, just before Covid disrupted all football fixtures.

Second-half substitute Tom Eaves scored a dramatic late equaliser as Hull secured a hard-fought point in a thrilling 4-4 draw with Swansea at the KCOM Stadium on Friday night. Leonardo Da Silva Lopes opened the scoring for the Tigers (6) and Wayne Routledge equalised shortly after to send the two sides in level at the break (14), before Marcus Maddison's first goal for the hosts made it 2-1 after 50 minutes. Kyle Naughton then levelled for the Swans once more (55), but Mallik Wilks put Hull ahead for a third time just after the hour (61). A first league goal for Jordon Garrick (77) and a strike from Rhian Brewster (84) put Steve Cooper's visitors in front for the first time in the match, but Eaves slid home in stoppage-time to earn a deserved last-gasp equaliser (90+5).

Here’s the game !

Keith Haynes recalls ‘that’ game !
That 4-2 win we should mention of course, and I will now relay a conversation I had with the late Lyn Phillips, then Swansea football liaison officer for South Wales Police when the Swans secured their football league status. It is customary for games like this, a highly charged and competitive fixture with much hanging on it for the police to brief the officials regards on the pitch and in the ground intelligence. Lyn being in charge of that particular side of things briefed the referee, Mr Mathieson of Cheshire. In Lyn’s words to me the referee was ‘definitely on the other side of shaking in his boots, the atmosphere was tangible’ Lyn calmed him down and gave him a pre match brief, it took about a minute and a half. This included the possibility of pitch encroachment, which was high. As he left the changing room Lyn said to the referee. “Oh by the way, if by any chance people do get on the pitch it will probably be due to an incorrect decision, they are very hyped up on the main bank. But I’m sure you’ve managed games like this before, so don’t let it bother you”

That’s a very true story, now I wouldn’t say Lyn won us that game, but anyone who saw those decisions the referee made that day in front of the North Bank may well agree - There was no harm in being open and honest with the ref. We never did get round to writing his book, I wish we did now. It would have been a scream for sure. He was a very good friend.

Photographs open source

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