Swansea City earned their three points the hard way but it was very much deserved despite a bizarre refereeing display and leaving it to injury time to secure the points.

The game started slowly with Luton Town wanting to be more involved from the kick off. On four minutes Ben Cabango battled well giving away a corner. Even by this time of the game the Hatters had committed four fouls. However, moments later another Vigouroux howler, too complacent and sleepy he passed to Carlton Morris in his own area, who easily placed his shot into the Swans net. Again, absolutely atrocious defending for a professional footballer.

That was on five minutes. There’s little to say on this, the Swans keeper was wholly responsible, and for the rest of the half he decided longer punts forward were better in the main. The Swans responded with an Eom free kick which Josh Key headed up and away from the Luton goal. The Swans hadn’t really settled into this game. Luton were getting back in numbers forcing errors from the home side, Josh Tymon especially. That didn’t stop Ronald pressing nor the Swans responding with short passing but the moves were not coming off. Luton were far too busy and committed to let their lead go too easily.

On twelve minutes Matt Grimes fired in a dangerous shot, Kaminski in the Luton goal fumbled it and Eom reacted but his shot hit the away sides post. At least now we were seeing signs of players wanting to get on with this game. Despite the Swans possession in midfield there was always a player ready to give the ball away. On fifteen minutes Bianchini was put through but he lacked the pace and the gamble when faced with an on rushing Kaminski.

Then a Swans move on twenty minutes saw Ronald put in a very dangerous cross with white shirts waiting. Not one got across their defender or the keeper, and the easy goal got away. A series of corners then followed for the Swans, but nothing came from them bar a Harry Darling header at goal.

As we approached the half hour we were seeing a well drilled Luton defence tripling up on a pretty effective Eom and Tymon. The home side unable to take advantage of second balls or indeed having the strength on the ball to do so. A tackle on Eom with the ball in play in the area was ignored by the officials with Eom clearly fouled. On a second look from my position it looked a clear penalty. From a corner the Swans moved the ball across the Hatters area saw Liam Cullen head towards goal and Darling just short to meet it on the line.

Ronald got a good cross in on the half hour but Bianchini was behind his marker, and a corner ensued, that came to nothing. Then a booking for Mcguinnes came who clearly couldn’t take the ribbing Cullen was giving him. Joe Johnston followed him into the book as the Swans had a free kick on their right. For some reason the ball ended up with Darling and the opportunity went. Much of the Swans possession was ending up in their own half.

On thirty four minutes possession was recovered after good work from Bianchini, Franco found Ronald whose cross shot was superbly saved by Kaminski. Just inches away from Cullen with a tap in.
The Swans pressure continued. Another spell of pressure from the Swans led to another corner on the Swans right. The Swans peppered the Luton goal and from the sixth corner of the game Franco popped up after a header from Ben Cabango, a shot from Cullen and then Bianchini to eventually force the ball home. Over the last ten minutes the Swans thoroughly deserved that goal. The Swans were now well at it with another Ronald cross going out for a goal kick. We had five minutes left of this first half.

Swansea were now a completely different team to the first twenty minutes. They were now stronger and more cute on the ball. Liam Cullen was now a target for Luton players. A foul into his back clearly premeditated by Holmes only resulted in a free kick. Holmes again ruined a chance for his side by fouling as the Swans broke. As the first half extra one minute was announced a lovely cross from the left was met by Ronald but his header hit the top of the net.

The first half whistle went on time and in this half we saw the good and the bad from Swansea City. Initially flimsy and clueless but growing into the game and becoming stronger and more aware of their opportunities. More of the same with added character in the second half please.

The second half started with Franco being treated for a blow to the mouth after another challenge from Mcguinnes. On this occasion it was a trailing arm, so not on purpose ? But Franco was in some distress, blood coming from his mouth area. A free kick was given but no yellow card ?

Moments later a cross into the area saw Bianchini seemingly brought down but the referee waved any claims for a penalty away. From there Franco went down again and was subbed off for Jay Fulton. This seemed to give Luton some confidence as they pressed the home sides goal. Vigouroux again nearly gave the ball away to Morris. Luton were now on top. A free kick on the Swans right from a Ronald foul came to nothing but Luton were now far brighter. Close play by the Hatters resulted in a foul on Clarke by Josh Key signalled the away side being the more dominant.

Mcguinnes then fluffed a shot much to the delight of the Swans support.

Then AGAIN Vigouroux started a move which fell to a Luton player, it wasn’t totally the keepers fault but really, what is going on with this defence ? On fifty nine minutes Eom earned himself a free kick, it was taken by Grimes and Darling with a clear header saw his chance well saved again by Kaminski. He really is the best keeper in this division. For all that since Franco had left the pitch the Swans had lost their drive.

The second ball again avoiding the Swans.

A few minutes of pressure saw the Swans again denied a penalty, the referee was losing his grip on this game completely. It was one of those games that was pinball with both sides aggressive but not able to get a foothold on the game. Not only were the Swans second to most balls they were second now around their own area as on sixty seven minutes Luton earned their first corner of the game. The referee again got it all wrong as Johnstone brought down Eom to get his second yellow card. Off you go Joe lad. But it was harsh.

This game would now be a test for Luton surely ?

First off a long drive from Darling was easily fielded by Kaminski. The inconsistency of the referee was becoming blatantly obvious if not displaying his incompetency. Luton continued to press as the Swans readied to bring on Myles Peart-Harris and Źan Vipotnik. Bianchini went off as did Eom. Cullen had a lot shot which again was well fielded by Kaminski, but this was now a game for Swansea to win.

Unfortunately slow possession ensued but the Swans were beginning to edge their way into the game as the final ten minutes greeted us. Swansea passed the ball, blocks and challenges by Luton in a rear guard action as any chance was cleared. Vipotnik was unable to muscle his way into any opportunity as Cullen fired a shot just wide on eighty five minutes. Cross after cross followed, numerous attempts to shoot all either passed up or not taken.

On the ninety, seven minutes added time was announced.

On the dot of that another lovely cross from Grimes was met by sub, Peart-Harris who headed superbly into the Luton net, oh how long had we waited that from the Brentford loanee. From there on in the Swans seemed reluctant to press home their advantage. When they did a Fulton cross was met by Vipotnik who had the whole goal to aim at, instead Kaminski saved. The quality in front of goal remains a question mark for sure, but the home side were going to win this game. It was deserved, and should and could have been more but that’s another three points in the bag for Luke Williams.

Now, Portsmouth away on New Year’s Day and then West Bromwich Albion at home. Surely Luke won’t be in the away dug out ?

As for Luton, couldn’t happen to a nicer team !

⚽️ Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux 4 Josh Key 6 Ben Cabango 6 Harry Darling 6 Josh Tymon 6 Matt Grimes (captain) 7 Gonçalo Franco 7 (Jay Fulton 54) 6 Liam Cullen 6 Ronald 7 (Azeem Abdulai 90), Jisung Eom 7 (Myles Peart-Harris 76) 7 Florian Bianchini 7 (Žan Vipotnik 76) 5

Unused Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Cyrus Christie, Kyle Naughton, Ben Lloyd.

⚽️ Luton Town: Thomas Kaminski, Amari'i Bell, Mark McGuinness, Tom Krauss )Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 84), Carlton Morris (captain), Elijah Adebayo (Reuell Walters 71), Marvelous Nakamba (Zack Nelson 65), Tahith Chong, Jordan Clark, Tom Holmes, Joe Johnson.

Unused Substitutes: Tim Krul, Victor Moses, Cauley Woodrow, Erik Pieters, Joe Taylor, Daiki Hashioka.

Referee: Farai Hallam 2/10 : Back to the drawing board mucka.

Attendance: 16,414

712 away.

Stats and comment to follow.

Photograph with permission Dimitris Legakis : Game stats Offical site.

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