Match Report

Swans let another two points slip away with Blades captain Chris Morgan grabbing an undeserved equalising goal after the Swans had totally dominated the second half.

It seemed hard to believe that this was the Swans 100th game at the Liberty Stadium. Today’s visitors Sheffield United were in 5th place prior to kick off and although seven places separated the teams, a Swans victory would have lifted them to within a point of the Blades.

Roberto Martinez made a couple of changes to Tuesday’s game against Barnsley with Mark Gower dropping down to the bench and Owain Tudur Jones dropped. Joe Allen was promoted from the bench to start in the centre of midfield and Darren Pratley returned from his one match suspension.

Side- de Vries, Rangel, Monk, Williams, O’Halloran, Gomez, Britton, Allen, Pratley, Butler, Scotland. Subs- Konstantopoulos, Tate, Gower, Brandy, Pintado.

Within a minute of kick off it seemed the curse of the left back had struck again with Stephen O’Halloran going down clutching his knee. Thankfully, after lengthy treatment form Richie Evans he was able to continue.

Sheffield United looked a rough, tough side. They closed Swans down very quickly and relied on long balls forward to their two big strikers. Swans were the side trying to play the football.

The games first chance fell to Joe Allen. He showed great composure and despite being forced to a narrow angle it needed an excellent save from Blades keeper Paddy Kenny to deny him.

United created just one chance in the first half with James Beattie bursting through and looking suspiciously offside. Thankfully, he blasted over from 20 yards out.

Despite looking much the better side, Swans also failed to create many clear chances. Tom Butler had a couple of efforts, as did Jordi Gomez but that apart, Paddy Kenny was barely tested.

Stephen O’Halloran after the early scare was stretchered off after 34 minutes. He played a pass and was caught by a late challenge from James Beattie. Beattie’s challenge despite being late did not look malicious and it could be O’Halloran’s problems were more to do with the earlier injury scare.

United would have been content to go in at 0-0 although they would have earned few friends with their direct and physical approach.

The second half was barely 10 seconds old when Blades striker Darius Henderson saw red. He caught Angel Rangel with a flying elbow to the head and gave referee Mr Marriner little option. After Blades skipper Chris Morgan’s appalling, nearly lethal elbow on Barnsley’s Iain Hume, Henderson’s action was deplorable.
The Swans now took total control of the game. On 50 minutes with a United defender down injured the referee played on and Swans took full advantage with Jordi Gomez drawing a flying save from Paddy Kenny. It looked odds on a goal with Jason Scotland following up but Kenny did brilliantly to deny the striker.

Just three minutes later and Swans did grab the lead. Swans produced a slick passing movement. Leon Britton put Darren Pratley away down the right. Prats cut inside the left back and was pulled down just inside the area.

Jordi Gomez grabbed the ball and it took some diplomatic negotiations and no doubt the odd threat before the midfielder handed the ball over to Jason Scotland. Scotland made no mistake from the spot sending Kenny the wrong way.

Tom Butler almost extended the lead with a thunderous shot that drew another spectacular save from Kenny.

Butler was having comfortably his best game of the season and had the beating of Blades right back Greg Halford time after time. It was no surprise that United’s first substitution saw Halford replaced by striker Danny Webber with midfielder Kyle Naughton dropping back to right back.

Jason Scotland had a real chance after being fed in by Joe Allen but fired over, no doubt leaving the young midfielder wishing he had taken the chance himself.

Swans were retaining possession for long periods and United were hardly seeing the ball. Kevin Blackwell then threw caution to the wind and took off his left back and went to three at the back.

Within seconds a clever Swans move pulled centre back Matt Kilgallon over to the left and Darren Pratley found space down the middle and was through on goal. With the goal at his mercy Prats shot wide. There was a heated debate between Kilgallon and Blackwell with Blackwell indicating to the centre half that he decided the tactics.

Jason Scotland made way for Gorka Pintado with Roberto Martinez choosing the safer option than attacking a depleted defence with a two prong strike force for the final 20 minutes.

Jordi Gomez had a couple of chances but he looked as if he’d left his shooting boots at home. Tom Butler went agonisingly close with a shot and just about every Swans fan must now have been fearing the worst.

With just 4 minutes left and United throwing men forward Ashley Williams made a terrible mistake at the back allowing Chris Morgan to lift a bouncing ball over the advancing Dorus de Vries. It was rough justice for the Swans but not for the first time this season the inability to finish teams off had cost us dear.

Ratings –

De Vries 6 – Hardly called upon to make a save.

Rangel 8 – Another excellent game.
Monk 7 – Another with a relative easy afternoon.
Williams 6 – I’m afraid his lapse cost us two points but he no doubt would point the finger at those missed chances at the other end.
O’Halloran 5- Only played 34 minutes and struck down by the left back curse.

Gomez 5- A game that should have been made for him but he rarely got into second gear.
Britton 6 – Another to have a quieter game than usual.
Pratley 8 – Excellent 90 minutes apart from poor finishing.
Allen 7 – Did loads of good work but tired late on and quite a few passes went astray in the last 20 minutes.
Butler 9 – Comfortably his best performance in the CCC.

Scotland 6 – Will have a few bruises from his afternoon against two tough centre backs.

Subs –

Tate 8 – A revelation at left back. That said United offered no threat whatsoever down the Swans left in the second half.
Pintado 6 – None of the wasted chances were down to him.
Brandy – Only on 2 minutes or so.

Swansea: De Vries, Williams, Monk, Rangel, O'Halloran (Tate 36), Britton, Pratley, Gomez, Allen (Brandy 90), Butler, Scotland (Pintado 75).
Subs Not Used: Konstantopoulos, Gower.

Goals: Scotland 56 pen.

Sheff Utd: Kenny, Halford (Webber 70), Naysmith (Stokes 80), Morgan, Kilgallon, Henderson, Spring, Quinn, Naughton, Beattie, Howard, Stokes (Ehiogu 89).
Subs Not Used: Cotterill, Sharp.

Sent Off: Henderson (46).

Booked: Howard.

Goals: Morgan 87.

Att: 14,744

Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

More pictures from Andrew Thomas below