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| Swansea 2 v 1 Brentford |
 Richard Appleby fires Swans into the lead as Brentford’s Herman Hreidarsson looks on (Picture: JAMES DAVIES) |
Steve Watkin fired Swansea to victory over fourth-placed Brentford at the Vetch Field last night.
Leading scorer Watkin returned from suspension to net his 10th league goal of the season six minutes from time. His shot glanced off Brentford defender Darren Powell, wrong- footing ’keeper Andy Woodman to finish off a sharp attack involving Richard Appleby and substitute Ryan Casey. The Swans had let slip a lead for the third successive home game. They had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Carlisle on Saturday and were held 2-2 by Brighton in the previous game. But last night Watkin’s late goal put them back on the winning trail. John Hollins’s side are unbeaten at the Vetch Field since August and have lost only once in 13 games to suggest they can still join leaders Cardiff City in the promotion race. |
Swansea showed five changes to the side that played Carlisle. Matthew Gregg, on loan from Crystal Palace, made his debut in goal with Jason Price recalled at right-back in place of the luckless Steve Jones, who broke his jaw on Saturday.
Strikers Julian Alsop and Watkin returned from suspension, along with skipper Nick Cusack.
The first quarter was more eventful than the whole 90 minutes against Carlisle as Swansea went in search of victory after dropping four points in their last two home games.
From their first smooth attack, involving Jonathan Coates, Price and Stuart Roberts, Alsop directed a solid header over the bar under a challenge from ’keeper Woodman.
The visitors replied with a header by Herman Hreidarsson from Tony Folan’s corner, Gregg claiming safely under the crossbar.
There was almost controversy from a drop-ball situation after the game was stopped following an injury to Appleby. Cusack, expected to give possession back to Brentford, hoisted the ball with such power that it almost bounced into the visitors’ net.
Woodman seemed to get his fingers to it to turn it round a post but referee Gurnam Singh gave a goal kick. Would he have awarded a goal had the ball gone in the net?
Swansea took the lead after 12 minutes when Appleby, supplied by Alsop, netted with a cross shot Woodman should have saved.
The ’keeper was well positioned minutes later, however, to prevent Alsop doubling his side’s lead with a solid header from a cross by Coates.
Appleby came close to a second goal after slipping two challenges in a clever run along the by-line.
The 20-year-old Gregg had to stretch to tip over a slanting cross from Martin Rowlands after he had bundled Appleby off the ball.
But the former Torquay ’keeper was at fault over Brentford’s 42nd- minute equaliser. He left his line to claim an out-swinging corner by Folan, then checked, allowing Icelandic international Hreidarsson to score with a header from 10 yards.
Within minutes of the second half, more trickery took Appleby to the by-line. This time he pulled back a cross that Coates volleyed wide from a difficult height.
Gregg made a smart save from Folan as the Londoners showed greater conviction that they could gain their fifth away win of the season. But after Casey had replaced Roberts and Damien Lacey had come on for Coates, Swansea pressed forward to grab the winner.
Swansea: Gregg, Price, Howard, Cusack, Smith, Bound, Roberts (Casey 63), Appleby, Alsop, Watkin, Coates (Lacey 82).
Subs Not Used: O’Leary.
Goals: Appleby 12, Watkin 84.
Brentford: Woodman, Boxall, Anderson, Hreidarsson, Powell, Quinn, Bryan, Mahon, Owusu (Fortune-West 87), Rowlands (Freeman 87), Folan. Subs Not Used: Oatway.
Booked: Rowlands.
Goals: Hreidarsson 42.
Att: 5,109 Ref: G Singh (Wolverhampton).