Match Report

For various reasons I can’t get to too many games at the moment. This is probably a good thing. Because every time I witness this confident, fluent, passing team of ours first hand, they look pretty average. Bad game choice I am sure - just an aberration I hope – but today there is no disguising the fact that we were on a par (just about) with the bottom team in the division. A bit of a shame after allegedly matching the top team on Tuesday.

The first fifteen minutes were promising enough as we stroked the ball around confidently and dominated possession – our midfield engine being driven mainly through the drive and energy of Pratley and Britton. Pratley shot wide after three minutes after a good passing move; and then on 6 minutes Rangel surged the length of the field in a terrific solo run to fashion a shooting chance from a tricky angle – only to drag his effort wide. Bessone followed with an effort deflected wide, and our early dominance was epitomised by an audacious overhead kick attempt by Gomez which was rather badly fluffed – a little too much swagger too early in the day.

The home side had only responded with a couple of wayward long range efforts, but they continued to battle and harass, and soon began to get a foothold in an increasingly disjointed game. On 22 minutes Price was close being played in on goal, only for the offside flag to intervene, and on 26 minutes a loose pass from Bodde (one of many) nearly allowed a Donny player to sneak in on goal. Then on 29 minutes a drop kick from Sullivan in the home goal sailed on one bounce over Williams’ head, allowing Price to dash towards goal – luckily for us firing his effort well over. Whilst Britton and Gower had responded with a couple of long range efforts, it was now the home side that looked more lively. Price volleyed just wide from 30 yards and then a poor headed clearance from Williams was turned back on goal by a home player forcing Dimi into a smart save.

The Swans responded with a fluent move just before half time. Scotland won the ball back and fed Gower, whose cut back found Britton in a shooting position – his effort sadly flying just wide of the upright. Lewis Guy responded with a shot just over for the home side, who must have gone into the interval feeling that they had clawed themselves well into contention in a game which could have got away from the very early on. As for the lacklustre Swans, we suspected that they would be leaving the tunnel for the second half with their ears ringing from a Martinez roasting.

Indeed, the opening seconds of the second half suggested we had come out with some purpose, with an excellent fluent movement resulting in Gower being hacked down on the edge of the penalty area. Sadly, the free kick from the same man, like so many, lacked sufficient quality to trouble the home defence. But our early promise faded as the game became disjointed again – with half chances for both sides. Bessone was booked for an innocuous challenge, and then Price volleyed wide after a home corner was poorly cleared.

A booking followed for a Donny player following a cynical lunge on Gomez, and then a decent Swans move culminated in Scotland firing a sharp effort straight at Sullivan. The home side responded again on 59 minutes, once again through the lively Jason Price who produced yet another decent strike, this one being deflected narrowly wide, though Dimi seemed to have it covered. On 69 minutes it was Scotland’s turn again, this time producing a decent low strike on goal after neat approach play, but again failing to extend Sullivan greatly. A minute later it was Scotland again, this time with a lovely through ball to find a surging run from Pratley, who fired his effort over the bar from a tight angle.

On 72 minutes Martinez made a bold move to try to win the game, replacing the energetic Britton with Bauza, although rather than going 4-4-2, Bauza took up a rather withdrawn role in the midfield 5. There quickly followed our best move of the match, as Gomez and Gower combined to set up Bauza for a fierce drive which cleared the bar. It appeared that we might be reasserting ourselves at this point, but in fact it was the home team who exerted most of the late pressure, forcing several corners and creating several scrambles in our defence with their energetic, if direct, approach play. A couple of efforts flashed across our goal and one in particular caused us a flutter of concern as a home boot stretched to make contact with a low cross. But at no stage was Dimi in our goal really threatened, until the referee bizarrely awarded a penalty to the home side after several players from both sides attacked a corner kick before falling into a heap – clearly he must have spotted a push in there somewhere, although the reaction of our players suggested that this was generous to say the least.

But even as Heffernan stepped up to place the ball on the spot he looked like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders – or more precisely the weight of a team which hadn’t scored for 5 home games. I was cautiously optimistic that Dimi would be able to foil his effort – and so it proved, as he dived smartly to his right to block the rather poor effort, and then gathered the looping rebound, to retain parity. Whilst our performance had not been great, it certainly did not deserve to result in defeat – so justice was done.

In the final few minutes there was time for both sides to force a corner, and for Bauza to produce an excellent drive which Sullivan tipped over the bar. In the end the referee’s whistle signalled disappointment for both sets of supporters. For the Swans it probably felt like a point gained, and it was certainly no more, nor less, than their performance deserved on the day.

Player ratings (NB this is my observation of their performance on the day – this should not be mis-read as an assessment of their performance over the season)

Konstantopolous – 8 dominant under the high ball (apart from one) and a smart penalty save; otherwise, not greatly tested.

Rangel – 7 some great surges forward and always looking to play the ball.

Bessone – 6 As above, but didn’t get forward as well as he could

Williams – 6 Generally sound but a couple of misjudgements which could have cost us.

Monk 7 – Generally commanding in leading the defence against a relatively weak attack.

Britton – 6 Energetic and lively on the ball without really having a cutting edge

Gower – 6 Some lovely touches, and some mazy running, but the end product was missing.

Gomez – 6 Went missing a bit second half, but creative enough in the first; dead balls poor today.

Pratley – 7 the pick of the midfielders, playing the holding role and surging forward with energy and pace.

Bodde – 5 Apart from a couple of decent cross-field balls, he looked tired and off the pace, surrendering possession continuously. Has his head been turned again?

Scotland – 6 Spending most of the game with his back to goal, he worked hard, but was too often isolated. When he did get a couple of shots away they never really threatened Sullivan.

Bauza – 7 Two good strikes on goal in his 20 minutes and some impressive link play.

So today we did not have the benefit of our midfielders producing blinding goals from nowhere, nor did we have an opposition goalie gifting us chances. The result was a swamped midfield, which we barely won, and a lot of laboured possession which rarely had a cutting edge at the end of it. Maybe we were tired after the Wolves game, maybe we were dragged down by a poor and increasingly desperate opposition team (who had a relegated look about them already). But being honest, we should have had enough to put these guys away, and we didn’t – in fact we nearly lost it. On the positive side, we still ground out a point away from home, and of course all-round our season is going well; but hopefully some important lessons will be taken from this performance. So bring on those Hornets, and – luckily -.I can’t make the game next week!

Doncaster Rovers - 0 Swansea City - Match Report -  Richard of Warwick

After Wolves on Tuesday night I said we had arrived in this league. After todays performance you would be forgiven for thinking we had actually arrived in League One. That was the poorest game I have seen this season by far.

To give some credit to Donny they set out to stop us playing and they largely succeeded in that. Their high up pressing discomforted Bodde, Leon, Gomez and even Williams at the back. Maybe it was just an off day for too many players, but it would be churlish not to recognise that they knocked us off the ball, made the game messy in the midfield, and made the most of the ricochets that always seemed to go their way.

Our passing was dreadful at times today and the ball was given away too cheaply all the game. But we had started brightly enough, easily withstanding their early efforts and then having our best, and only, spell of the match. Rangel did really well to carry into the box with their defense trailing behind, but his shot was across goal and wide of the far post. Scotland had held at the edge of the box for the squared ball, and showed his frustration at not getting it, but to be fair the shot was there to be hit.

In this spell it looked too easy for us and they looked like relegation fodder. But chances went astray with Leon coming closest driving one just wide of the right hand post. It came of the rear stantion and rolled across the back of the net which must have fooled many at the far end. Our dominance began to show a touch of cockiness and you just had to have the feeling that we were heading for a fall. If you don't score when on top it usually comes back to bite you later.

And we ended up lucky to hang onto a point as Donny came at us in wave after wave. They looked far more likely than us to get something but never really troubled Kosta. How could I have got this far without mentioning him? He was superb today. He came for crosses, was dominating the box and was our best player by far.

In the end the ref just gave them a penalty, probably out of frustration at seeing so little action. But Kosta stood up and did well to block Heffernans poor effort and it was cleared away. Shortly afterwards Pintado made a saving tackle in the box and their player flew. This time the lino waved it away but I thought this was actually a better shout for a pen than the first one which was dubious at best.

So in the end we settled for a draw. But, if we are to mount any sort of serious challenge these are games that must be won. A poor side, playing poor agricultural kick and rush football, in a half full stadium with no noise. They don't get easier in this division but we were just not good enough to capitalise on it today.

And their best player? Jason Price. Obviously.

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