Match Report

 Swansea City 3 Northampton 0

Match Report - Nigel Gigg Match Photos - Gary Martin

74 Match Pictures from Gary Martin

A big thank you to Paul Nicholas for stepping in and doing the match report for the Hartlepool game as I was sunning myself in Tenerife.  Anne and I  watched the Horsham game in a bar alone while all the other holidaymakers sat outside with their sangrias whilst two sad old gits sat inside watching a game played on a park in the most awful of conditions.

That said I felt Swans were thoroughly professional and were only denied by a ‘lucky’ goalkeeper, some poor finishing, especially from Guillem Bauza and one slip up by Alan Tate. Horsham’s equaliser brings perhaps an unwanted game but financially with the share of the gate receipt for the home game plus the Sky monies, upwards of £100,000 by way of compensation. Also, surely with the size and strength of our current squad, one additional game, at home, against Non League opposition is no major inconvenience.  

 

Turning to tonight’s game and Roberto Martinez returned to his 4-5-1 formation with Jason Scotland up front supported by Andy Robinson on the left and Paul Anderson on the right hopefully getting forward in support. With Garry Monk suspended Alan Tate took the captain’s armband.  

Side- De Vries, Rangel, Tate,  Lawrence, Painter, Anderson, Britton, Bodde, Pratley, Robinson, Scotland. Subs- Austin, Orlandi,Butler, Bauza, Feeney.  

Swans started well and soon had Northampton on the back foot with Paul Anderson making an excellent run and providing a perfect cross that Jason Scotland was inches away from getting on the end of.  

After dominating the opening exchanges there were a couple of wobbles in the defence with stand in captain Alan Tate guilty on both occasions.  

Jason Scotland went near with a close range header after another Paul Anderson cross saw Swans began to totally dominate proceedings.  

On 16 minutes Swans dominance was rewarded. Paul Anderson again fed Jason Scotland in the box; Scotland took one touch to control before swivelling on the proverbial sixpence and smashing the ball into the top corner past a hapless Mark Bunn in the Northampton goal. Jason Scotland has lost much of his early season form but Roberto Martinez has kept faith with the Trinidad and Tobagan striker and both were rewarded with this tremendous goal.  

Just two minutes later and Swans were 2-0 up. Jason Scotland turned provider this time, finding space wide on the left. He held the ball up well before rolling the ball perfectly into the path of Darren Pratley bursting into the box. Prats first time shot cannoned in off the far post.  

The rest of the first half was virtually one way traffic with some wonderful flowing football and passing. Paul Anderson in particular was having a terrific game and Northampton full back Danny Jackman must at times have wandered what day of the week it was as the speedy winger shot past him time and again.  

Jason Scotland had a great chance to make it 3-0 but fluffed his finish after a magnificent one two with Andy Robinson. Perhaps it was the shock of actually getting a pass back from Robbo that put the striker off.  

Northampton’s only chance was a free header for Andy Kirk from a corner but he headed straight into the grateful arms of Dorus De Vries.  

Swans had an early scare in the second half when Ryan Gilligan, son of Swans legend Jimmy, fired a shot just wide of the post from 25 yards. However, from there normal service was resumed with Swans dominating possession and creating chance after chance, Mark Bunn pulling off a series of excellent saves to keep Northampton in the game.  

On 63 minutes Tom Butler replaced Andy Robinson. It was a brave decision by Roberto but in fairness to him, the Swans were playing some delightful football and the one criticism you could have was Robbo drifting out of position in his insatiable desire to get on the score sheet and his marked reluctance to pass or return passes to colleagues in better positions. Robbo trudged 60 yards across the field with a superb ovation from the Liberty crowd ringing in his ears. We know from experience with Robbo,  he is never happy being substituted but he seemed to take it in good grace with a handshake for Tom Butler and Roberto Martinez but his good grace lasted all of two minutes after Dennis Lawrence was pushed at the near post from a corner and rookie referee Mr Cook pointed to the spot.  

It seemed Ferrie Bodde and Leon Briton were putting themselves forward as penalty takers with Robbo on the sidelines and it seemed Angel Rangel was delivering a message after speaking to Roberto Martinez and was indicating Bodde should take the penalty. However, Jason Scotland had quickly taken charge of the situation by grabbing hold of the ball and was not about to hand the chance of an ‘easy’ goal to anybody. He placed his shot low in the corner giving the keeper no chance.  

Swans dominated the remainder of the game and with some great football and long periods of possession, frustrated Northampton to the point that their keeper and full back were squaring up to one another at one stage.  

Guillem Bauza replaced Jason Scotland late on and Kev Austin replaced Marcos Painter in injury time.  

So Swans open up a two point gap at the top after what was comfortably the best home performance of the season.  

Ratings –

De Vries 8 – Little to do but what he did he did well.

Rangel 7 – Not really tested and with Leon Britton and Darren Pratley supporting Paul Anderson on the right little scope to impress going forward.
Tate 7 – After a few dodgy moments early on did well.
Lawrence 9 – Pick of defence.
Painter 8 – Offers so much more than Big Kev.

Anderson 9 – Awesome first half.
Britton 8 – Ran his socks off for 90 minutes.
Bodde  9 – Ran the show.
Pratley 8 – As with Britton ran, ran and then ran some more.

Robinson 7 – Guilty of letting his desire take precedence over everything else.
Scotland 9 – Scored two and set the other one up.

Subs –

Butler 7 – Never afraid to run at people but a little predictable cutting in and looking to shoot with his right foot all the time.

Bauza – Only had a couple of touches.
Austin – Not sure if he had a touch.

Swansea: De Vries, Tate, Painter (Austin 89), Lawrence, Rangel, Bodde, Britton, Pratley, Robinson (Butler 64), Anderson, Scotland (Bauza 87). Subs Not Used: Orlandi, Feeney.

Goals: Scotland 16, Pratley 19, Scotland 66 pen.

Northampton: Bunn, Crowe, Jackman, Hughes, Branston, Henderson, Bradley Johnson, Gilligan, Dolman, Kirk, Larkin (Bowditch 67). Subs Not Used: Dunn, Holt, Jones, Hubertz.

Booked: Jackman, Crowe.

Att: 10,957

Ref: Steven Cook (Surrey).

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