Swansea City delivered another three points for the travelling Jack Army at Coventry City this afternoon. The home side believing they were nailed on favourites were shown how to force out a result, and even the weather couldn’t stop the Swans.

The first away win of the season out of three attempts, and Vigouroux in the Swans goal earned the plaudits under some vicious clouds in Warwickshire. The win see’s the Swans into seventh place in the EFL Championship, with early season stresses melting away.

The Swans although starting cautiously, quickly got a foothold on this game. The flanks were the objective and several moves on either side resulted in the opening goal. Liam Cullen found himself in space after a move from the Swans left, and on eight minutes he slotted the ball away scoring the Swans first away goal of the season. As per last week the Swans had an early lead.

It took the home side a good five minutes to gain their composure and in the thirteenth minute Vigouroux in the Swans goal made a fine save from a long distance attempt. It was on target. The resultant corner came to nothing.

A Swans corner came from a lovely run into the box by Ollie Cooper. Taken by Tymon, it whizzed across the penalty area. Nothing came from that either. The Coventry midfield was being disrupted continuously by Cooper and Franco, and the home side found ball retention very difficult. Some would say a poor start from the home side, however it looked like an excellent start for the Swans. The identified weakness in the home sides midfield was being exposed.

A lovely ball from Vigouroux out wide to Tymon did indicate that the Swans needed more bodies in the box when attacking on the break. Another corner saw Ronald dominate the Swans right hand side leading to another set piece. The home crowd were getting very annoyed. The large Swans following were as noisy as ever.

With the Swans waiting to take the corner, Coventry City’s Allen limped off the pitch to be replaced by Torp. Harry Darling came close to increasing the scoreline with a glancing header which bounced the wrong side of Dovin’s post.

On twenty six minutes we saw two crunching but fair tackles by Ben Cabango again disrupting the home sides midfield. Good work by Asante saw a lucky fall of the ball to Wright, he struck his shot well, but the Swans keeper ‘looked’ to have it covered. The Sky Blues seemed intimidated by the Swans passing, it just needed an extra body running into the box. Another strike by Coventry was easily fielded by Vigouroux, but the home side were finding their feet.

However, the first thirty minutes were Swansea City’s for sure.

Proof of that came a minute later when the ever improving Ollie Cooper worked himself space in the home sides area and struck a shot low down into the Coventry net. (below) Then the match caught fire. Rudoni struck a deflected shot which first hit Ronald, and creeped into the Swans net on the keepers right. That was 1-2. That goal was awarded to Ronald as an own goal. Seemed a bit unlucky for the player taking the actual shot.

Coventry sensed blood and pushed on. A corner off Harry Darling ensued. It was cleared but the Sky Blues continued to press. A cross which Vigouroux eventually fielded saved any danger. The Swans needed to press on, there surely would be more goals for either side. Coventry allowed the Swans to play with half time approaching. Ronald delivered a nice cross which Dovin gathered easily. Then it was Coventry’s turn, a cross of similar standard saw Vigouroux field the ball at waist height. Asante continued to bother the Swans left flank, a lovely through ball saw him strike an effort which again Vigouroux saved. The cross was wasted from the corner.

The Swans needed to sharpen up, especially with just a few minutes of the half remaining. No late goals required this week. Each time the Swans had possession the home side stood off,that surely wouldn’t be a tactic from Mark Robins. Right on half time the Swans were again sleepy. A Jake Bidwell cross was sent crashing against the bar, the rebound was superbly saved by Vigouroux. It was all action.

Again another move by the Swans saw the Sky Blues keeper gather comfortably, Swansea were looking tired in defence and in attack. Right on the whistle a lovely Josh Key run and cross was cleared but Ronald met it with a thundering strike, it looked like he shaved the post. Referee Linnington who had let the game flow with very few fouls blew uo with three minutes injury time played.

Just a short distance away the weather was hailstones and driving rain at Leicester City.

The second half had five minutes of football that saw both sides again trying to get a foothold on the game. On fifty minutes a lovely move initially orchestrated by Matt Grimes found Josh Key who blasted just over the bar. A niggly foul on Eom by Booby Thomas saw the first yellow card of the game. The free kick was weighted superbly but a Swans head directed the ball straight into the Sky Blues keeper’s safe hands. The nasty challenges continued this time on Franco in midfield after another superb ball by Grimes. When he looks up and plays forwards there’s very few to match him in the league.

Darling continued his Tatey style falling to the floor in defence, it works you knkw.

On fifty eight minutes Coventry had another attempt at goal, Ewijik fashioning a decent shot which Vigouroux again saved well. The corner was defended well for another set piece which was cleared. It seemed the Swans were happy with just Ronald as the main outlet. What was missing was a more controlled feel to the game by the Swans. Coventry were edging this now. Bidwell seemed to be the main outlet as that Leicester rain and hailstones appeared on sixty one minutes.

The introduction of Ellis Simms for Coventry was well timed, regardless he would cause the Swans problems. Another shot from Clarke was stopped by Vigouroux, and you just knew this couldn’t go on. Loose balls and a defensive mindset wasn’t helping. Fortunately Luke Williams saw this replacingEom and Cullen with Myles Peart-Harris and Abdulai. More shop window time for the Scotland U21 international.

Coventry again started to play, a loose shot after a good move sailing over the Swans bar. The rain now was lethal. On sixty five minutes referee Linington stopped the game. He consulted with Robins and Williams due to the fierce thunder and lightning. It has to be said in years gone by this wouldn’t have been an issue. It was just weather, play on man. The referee seemed reluctant to start play. Then the players were asked to leave the pitch.

Ridiclious.

The crowd booed that decision, Linington persistently making circles with his gestures and shaking his head. The travelling support cleared the away end for refreshments. The audio around the ground playing ‘Why does it always rain on me’ It should have been ‘I’m awoke Ref’ The players returned after five minutes, it may work in the Swans favour after being second in the second half. The ball was running freely, the pitch well maintained still looking like a bowling green. Ronald’s urgency to get forwards saw him offside on sixty nine minutes.

Coventry mixed it up employing hoof technology to break the Swans defensive lines. Ronald was put through on seventy one minutes, his shot was frustratingly weak. Abdulai, playing more central was hauled down on seventy two minutes. The Swans were dragging themselves back into this game. Peart-Harris clearly being employed in a more attacking midfield role though was struggling to get in to this game.

To date it had been a half of little chances.

Ollie Cooper was now employed in that much talked about false nine role. It really does mess with his game. On the break the Swans looked dangerous, but that final missing ball was creeping into the game. It was settling down for a Swans rearguard action, you could just sense it. Simms looked dangerous but he too was affected by poor ball control.

We were into the final ten minutes with daft time added for the stoppage. The Swans didn’t help their cause by waiting too long to take a set piece. Josh Tymon booked, that’s every away game this season he has earned a yellow card. Josh Key from a throw in saw it differently but his attempt to put Ronald through was messed up by the Brazilian. Then on eighty two minutes a ball to hand decision was made in the Swans favour after Cabango seemed to have handled. If given that would have been harsh. More Coventry pressure, and the rearguard was on. Now the Swans employed their own version of hoof technology.

More Swans subs, Jay Fulton, Joe Allen and Kyle Naughton indicating just what we expected, a defensive finish. Tymon, Cooper and Franco left the pitch. More chances for the home side were on the menu. Hoof again made its appearance. On eighty nine minutes more bouncing around the Swans area came to nothing. Then Bidwell was replaced by Dasilva. A ninety minute free kick was awarded to the Sky Blues, Fulton booked. However, even at this late stage we saw little real effort from Robins team.

Four minutes time added on was signalled. The referee played nearly six but brought the home crowds pain to an end with a well fought Swansea win, despite the belief before this game it was a nailed on three points for the home side.

⚽️ Coventry City: Oliver Dovin, Luis Binks, Bobby Thomas, Jack Rudoni, Jamie Allen (Victor Torp 24), Haji Wright (Ephron Mason-Clark 46), Jake Bidwell (Jay Dasilva 94), Brandon Thomas-Asante (Tatsuhiro Sakamoto 62) , Milan van Ewijik, Josh Eccles (captain), Norman Bassette (Ellis Simms 62).

Unused Substitutes: Ben Wilson, Ben Sheaf, Liam Kitching, Joel Latibeaudiere.

⚽️ Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux 8, Josh Key 7 Ben Cabango 7 Harry Darling 6 Josh Tymon 7 (Kyle Naughton 90); Matt Grimes (captain) 7 , Gonçalo Franco 7 (Joe Allen 89) Ollie Cooper 7 (Jay Fulton 90); Jisung Eom 5 (Azeem Abdulai 64) 6 , Liam Cullen 7 (Myles Peart-Harris 64) 5 ; Ronald 6

Unused Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin, Žan Vipotnik, Florian Bianchini, Nelson Abbey.

Indy applause : Vigouroux. Now just conceded four goals in six games.

Referee: James Linington. Despite his head pop with the weather, administered the game well. 7/10.

Attendance: 26,273

Away : 1,236

Photographs Open Source. Artwork Swansea Independent: D: tag:reuters.com,2024:newsml_MT1IMGOSP000QJ88MZ:1525880633.

Swansea City Polls