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Match report |
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Swansea City 1 Tranmere 0 | |
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Swansea City 1 Tranmere 0 - Match Report by Nigel Gigg - Pictures by Andrew Thomas
After years of talk, at last Swansea City kick off a League programme in a new stadium, and what a stadium!  Jason McAteer passed his fitness test and started for Tranmere and Ian Hume who scored the stunning goal that helped Tranmere knock Swansea out of the FA Cup two seasons back, started on the bench. Side- Gueret, Ricketts, Iriekpen, Monk, Austin, Forbes, O'Leary, Martinez, Goodfellow, Akinfenwa, Trundle. Subs- Tate, Tudor-Jones, Britton, McLeod, Connor The introduction of the teams at 2.55 bought an incredible noise and a few tears, a new era was about to begin for Swansea City Football Club. The game unsurprisingly started at 100 mph with Akinfenwa, Goodfellow and Trundle all having shots at goal in the first 90 seconds.  However, Tranmere didn't take long to get into their stride with Welsh International Gareth Roberts firing just wide with a terrific left foot shot. Swans began to lose their early impetus and all too often were hitting long hopeful balls at Trunds and Akinkenwa. Tranmere for their part were playing attractive football through midfield, and had the upper hand in just about all areas. It was against the run of play that Swans took the lead after 29 minutes. Lee Trundle received the ball to the right of goal, close to the by-line. In little space he played the ball over the head of his marker and managed to lift the ball toward goal with his right foot virtually on the by line. There looked little danger with the keeper on his line and only Adebayo Akinfenwa presenting any threat, but the ball sailed over the keeper and there was only one winner at the far post as Afinkenwa bundled the ball into the net. The goal sent 16,000 Swans fans into raptures.  Tranmere picked themselves up and were again starting to dominate and they were thrown a lifeline on 38 minutes when Sam Ricketts seemed to mistime a challenge against the awkward Calvin Zola sending the Congoan International crashing to the ground. Referee Mr Probert had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Jason McAteer's penalty was well directed just inside Willy's right hand post but the penalty lacked power and Willy did brilliantly to save the shot and also Sam's blushes. On the stroke of half time, just as I was saying to my wife how lucky we would be to go in 1-0 up, Mr Probert gave us the chance to go 2-0 up. Marc Goodfellow fed Lee Trundle the ball, for once on the ground, inside the penalty area. The defender seemed to no more than brush Trundle, who went down and he along with everyone else couldn't really have expected Mr Probert's decision. Trunds picked himself up and hit his penalty to John Achterberg's left. His penalty, like McAteer's lacked power and Achterburg was able to save easily.  As the teams went off at half time Garry Monk was notably limping. He had received lengthy treatment earlier in the half to his left thigh. His injury was a major worry as Monk had marshalled the defence brilliantly in the first half. Unsurprisingly, Alan Tate replaced Garry Monk for the start of the second half. He went right back with Sam Ricketts going left back and Kevin Austin moving to centre half. It wasn't long before the new back four came under pressure and Willy Gueret made a spectacular save pushing a shot from Chris Greenacre over the bar. Tranmere were now virtually setting up camp in Swansea's half and Swans were restricted to rare breakaways. Despite dominating the game Brian Little made a triple substitution on the hour. The domination continued but individually every Swans player was giving 100% and there was a steely determination in every tackle. As the game went on slowly Swans began to hold onto the ball for longer periods and the defence pushed up from playing just in front of Willy. With just 3 minutes remaining after another period of sustained Tranmere pressure, Swans broke away and Lee Trundle was through with just one defender to beat. Trunds left his defender for dead and with everyone expecting him to roll the ball past the advancing Achterburg, he lifted his shot over the keeper but didn't appear to put enough power into his shot. The ball came off the keeper's body and still appeared to be heading goalward but a defender had time to retreat and clear the ball for a corner. Adrian Forbes almost scored from the corner with a powerful shot that was well saved by Achterburg.  With the game going into injury time Swans were finally able to retain the ball, and Trunds and Akinfenwa had time for a few party tricks in holding the ball near the corner flag. The final action saw Jones replace Trundle as Swans played down the clock. So Swans start life at a new stadium with a win. The performance from individual players could not be faulted. Every man Jack gave 100%. But Tranmere will feel aggrieved in losing a game they dominated. Ratings- Gueret 9 - Excellent display. Ricketts 7 - One or two mistakes but looked quality. Monk 8 - Superb first half. Iriekpen 7 - Solid game. Some excellently timed challenges. One awful mistake second half almost cost us a goal. Austin 7 - Started with a poor back pass, but thereafter gave nothing. A real brick wall in defence. Forbes7 - Usual 100% effort. Does spend too long on his backside trying to trick referees. Martinez 9 - Excellent throughout. O'Leary 7 - Usual no nonsense performance. Goodfellow 7 - Some lovely touches but off his best. Trundle 7 - Like Goodie, off his best but still created a goal from nothing. Akinfenwa 7 - Scored the goal he would have wanted on his debut through sheer power. If the ball hadn't have ended up in the net, the defender or keeper or both would have. Swansea City 1 Tranmere 0 - Match Report by Paul Nicholas - Pictures by Andrew Thomas
With the pre-season hype and big name friendlies behind them, the Swans took to the field for the first competitive match of the season, and the first to be staged at the magnificent new (small 'n' intended) Stadium.  The Swans pretty much controlled the opening 45 minutes. Martinez was displaying a very calming influence in the middle and his distribution and reading of the game certainly seemed to a pace up on last season. Akinfenwa wasn't having the best of the aerial battles, but for a big man, he seems to have very clever touches, and an ability to create space for himself and others. Ricketts and Forbes were constantly involved on the right, with Ricketts particularly, showing good pace and control. On 30 minutes, good work by Ricketts saw Trundle with the ball on the edge of the area. He worked to the by-line, and a curling cross was met and netted by the head of Akinfenwa to send all but the away end onto their feet in unison. The referee was demonstrating some very strange interpretations on the game's rules, and his idea of a foul and handball were at odds with even the most balanced spectators in the crowd. He reached his peak in his decision making when he awarded Tranmere a penalty for an innocuous challenge. Loud chants of Big Willy from the supporters, and Willy G felt obliged to do his bit and save the penalty taken my McAteer low to his right. An excellent save, which ensured the Swans maintained their advantage as we moved towards half time. That lead could have been doubled when the Swans were awarded their own penalty just before the interval. The game had become a little ill tempered on the part of the Tranmere players by now, and even as Trundle walked the ball towards the penalty spot, a Tranmere player decided that a face to face confrontation was necessary.  Uncharacteristically, Trundle fired a poor penalty and the keeper saved low to his right to send the players in at half time with a one nil scoreline. Tranmere had avoided the more severe punishment that some of their players deserved in the first half purely because the officials chose to ignore the seriousness of the offences. One particularly bad tackle on Martinez could have had serious consequences for us, but thankfully, other than Monk having to be replaced by Tate at half time following a knock he took early in the first half, no other changes were necessary. The second half saw Tranmere in a more dominant mood, and throughout the half, the Swans were put under increased pressure. Gueret was having an excellent game in goal, not just with his saves – one very acrobatic save early in the 2nd half was superb – but also with his taking of crosses and his decisions on when to catch or punch. He was on great form. Tate looked a little jaded and I thought his distribution was poor at times, but overall, despite some second half performances not quite reaching those of the first 45 minutes (Forbes/Ricketts faded a little), the Swans handles the pressure very well, and always looked capable of breaking away and adding to their score. Austin, now playing in the centre made two absolutely superb tackles where the timing and control was immaculate. Trundle did miss a golden opportunity at the end of the game when he was put through in space but was forced to take the ball out to the right of the keeper, and chose to try to flick the ball with the outside of this left boot towards the open goal when a simple side foot with the right would have made it 2 – 0. The ball lacked pace and didn't reach the goal line.  This was not an easy game but the scoreline does not flatter. The Swans deserved every bit of this win and they can go into their next game with the confidence that Tranmere, who are a much fancied team this year, were as tough a test as you could ask for in an opening fixture, and they came through it well. Once the team settles playing together in the competitive environment, and if they learn to take a little more time on the ball and play it on the floor more often rather then clear to nowhere, then the Swans could become a difficult side to beat, which has got to be a great starting point. The difference in the quality of football played in League 1 compared to League 2 is clear, but we have the players with the skill to play better football, and match the teams we will meet. Hopefully we'll see this develop through the season. Having not seen any of the pre season games, I really enjoyed this one, and thought that they played well, with the defence standing up very well in the second half.  There was no shortage of fight or passion in the team's performance today, qualities that have been criticised for their absence in the past. Watching a game in this stadium is a great experience, and for those that have visited more modern away grounds than I have, I cannot imagine any other new style stadium generating the atmosphere that I felt down there today. So, the new dawn has broken, and simple row letters and seat numbers have now come alive. Settling into new surroundings and getting to know your new supporter neighbours will be a big part of this season for Swans fans. As for me, I'll move around the ground game by game, but for today I was looking after someone else's season ticket for the day, and found myself in the East Stand and in the midst of the more verbal part of the Swans support. It was very loud, heard enough F words shouted to have relegated Twin Town to 6th in the recent poll of films with the most obscenities, and can't understand why some people have paid £315 just to stand, stare and swear at the opposition supporters. The game must have been a big distraction for them today.  Anyway, one part of the Vetch has made its way to the East Stand at least, as I couldn't understand one word that Kevin Johns said through the PA system!! Hope they get that fixed because this stadium is fantastic, and if the team continues the way it played today, it will be home to a team that deserves it. Comments: Gueret – did nothing wrong, made a great penalty save and timed everything perfectly Ricketts – great first half but faded a little in the second Monk – first half was the mainstay of defence but injury cut his game short by 45 minutes Iriekpen – distribution a bit hopeful rather than directed, but was the best of our players in the air Austin – an average first half was more than compensated for by a superb 2nd half display at centre back after Monk's departure. Two great tackles. Martinez – my man of the match for his total control and cool headed approach throughout the game. O'Leary – quiet game Goodfellow – a few breaks forward but little impact on the game overall Forbes – A good first half in partnership with Ricketts at right back, but not as effective 2nd half when Ricketts moved to the left. Trundle – tried a few things but a penalty miss and a failure to score at the end made this a very average day for him Akinfenwa – Took goal well, and caused defence problems. Not great in the air and no real pace, but some clever footwork. Would you like your match report printed here? Email it to the site straight after the match. Click here to return to the main page. |
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