Match Report

Swans secured their first Coca Cola Championship away win with a totally dominant performance against Plymouth with Jason Scotland scoring the only goal late in the first half.

Roberto Martinez made only one change to last week’s starting line up with fit again Angel Rangel replacing Matty Collins. Plymouth, who have started the season poorly, started with ex Swans Rory Fallon up front.

Side- de Vries, Rangel, Monk, Williams, Painter, Gower, Britton, Bodde, Pratley, Butler, Scotland. Subs- Tate, Gomez, Brandy, Bauza, Pintado.

Swans started like an express train and Darren Pratley forced Argyle keeper Graham Stack into a first minute save with a terrific shot from outside the area.

Swans were looking the more confident on the ball and looked a far classier outfit than Argyle. The Swans midfield trio of Pratley, Bodde and Britton took an early grip of the game as Argyle began to chase shadows.

Ferrie Bodde almost beat Stack with a wickedly bending shot from 40 yards.

Jason Scotland battled manfully in attack but was being well supported from midfield. Plymouth only looked any threat from set pieces and seemed incapable of retaining possession for any length of time. Their tactics more often than not involved thumping the ball forward for Rory Fallon to battle against Garry Monk.

Despite looking streets ahead in quality Swans didn’t create enough chances. Just before half time though Swans grabbed a well deserved lead as Jason Scotland, with his back to goal received the ball to feet. He played the ball square to Darren Pratley and spun toward goal. Darren Pratley picked out Scotland’s run to perfection with a chip over the Argyle defence. Scotland got to the ball ahead of his marker and fired the ball home off the Argyle keeper’s knee.

Roberto Martinez would have been relieved to go in at half time one up but Plymouth should have already have been out of the game such was Swans dominance.

Unsurprisingly Argyle came out with renewed vigour and Swans were grateful to referee Andy D’Urso for not allowing what looked a perfectly good equaliser on 48 minutes. Predictably the ‘goal’ came from a corner and Dorus de Vries came for the cross and never got close to the ball. Garry Monk was out jumped by Rory Fallon but he missed the ball and the ball was then headed in at the far post by Marcel Seip with was allowed to head home unchallenged by his marker, Ashley Williams.

Swans were soon back into their stride and once more dominated the game. The Home Park crowd were unusually quiet no doubt taken aback at seeing their side very much on the back foot.

Paul Sturrock had made all three substitutions by the 65th minute but to little effect. Roberto Martinez brought on Jordi Gomez and Gorka Pintado for the superb Darren Pratley and hard working Jason Scotalnd.

Again if there was to be a criticism it was the lack of chances created again but the defence was untroubled.

By the end it seemed Plymouth wouldn’t score if the game went on for another 24 hours and but for some heroics by Stack in the Plymouth goal the score line would have reflected Swans clear dominance.

Ratings

De Vries 6 – His nervousness at set pieces continues to causes problems.

Rangel 8 – Excellent in both attack and defence.
Monk 7 – Given a thorough examination by a pumped up Rory Fallon.
Williams 7 – Asleep for the Plymouth ‘goal’ but good game otherwise.
Painter 8 – As with Angel, good in attack and defence.

Butler 8 – Saw plenty of the ball and did really well but lacked a little composure with his final ball.
Britton 7 – Quieter game than normal.
Bodde 7 – Tidied up well and bossed the midfield.
Pratley 9 – Absolutely brilliant. Did the work of two men.
Gower 7 – Lacked a cutting edge but provided an outlet all afternoon.

Scotland 8 – Great goal capped a typically hard working performance.

Subs-

Gomez 7 – Once more looked a class act.
Pintado 7 – Didn’t get much of a chance to shine today.

Plymouth Argyle 0 - 1 Swansea City - Evening Post

JASON Scotland fired Swansea City to their first away win in the Championship in front of the Sky cameras at Home Park.

Roberto Martinez's side dealt comfortably with the direct style of Plymouth, although the hosts did have an equaliser disallowed in the second half.

The telling moment came just before the break as Scotland blasted in from close range following Darren Pratley's well-judged pass.

Martinez made just one change to the starting line-up that beat Nottingham Forest last week, with Angel Rangel replacing Matty Collins at right-back as the former Fulham man was left out of the squad.

And Swansea adopted the same approach in Devon, with Pratley and Ferrie Bodde standing out in the opening half.

Pratley's rasping 25-yard effort was tipped out for a corner by Graham Stack within the first minute while Bodde's thunderbolt five yards further out was again pushed wide by the ex-Reading keeper.

Marcos Painter then shot well over after Tom Butler squared possession and Bodde again tested the home goal only to see his free-kick palmed out for a corner.

Plymouth's biggest threat — and they were few and far between — landed to striker Steve MacLean, but he failed to connect properly with Jason Puncheon's corner.

Swansea had to make all their territory and possession count — and that they did just before the break.

Showing a great deal of patience, Swansea went backwards to go forwards. Britton sent a free-kick back to Monk, who in turn fed Painter via Ashley Williams.

The left-back found Scotland and he was sent racing in after a superb one-two with Pratley.

Scotland charged on and outmuscled Mathias Kouo-Doumbe before firing in off Stack at the near post.

Plymouth came out with more purpose in the second half.

And after just five minutes they had the ball in the net, only for Marcel Seip's header from Puncheon's corner to be ruled out for an infringement.

With Plymouth looking rather empty in the creative department, Sturrock changed his strikeforce with ex-Swansea man Rory Fallon and MacLean replaced by Jamie Mackie and Jermaine Easter.

Jordi Gomez and Gorka Pintado replaced Pratley and Scotland for the final 15 minutes as Swansea looked to put the game to bed.

Rangel went closest as he latched onto Mark Gower's return pass in the box but Stack smothered his cross.

But Swansea had enough in the tank to see the remainder out, and with it came their first away win of the campaign.

Plymouth Argyle: Stack, Duguid (capt), Kouo-Doumbe, Barker, Puncheon, Walton, Summerfield (McNamee, 59), Clark, MacLean (Mackie, 68), Fallon (Easter, 68).
Subs not used: Paterson, Timar.

Swansea City: de Vries, Rangel, Monk (capt), Williams, Painter, Bodde, Pratley (Gomez, 72), Britton, Butler, Gower, Scotland (Pintado, 77).
Subs not used: Tate, Brandy, Bauza.

Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex).

Booked: Summerfield; Britton.

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