|
| Swansea 1 v 1 Rotherham |
RICHIE APPLEBY offered a glimpse of his dazzling brilliance last night to suggest that the nimble-footed Swansea midfielder is slowly winning his battle to regain the form which won so many rave reviews last winter.
With Swansea looking down the barrel at their first home defeat at Rotherham’s hands in 24 years, it needed something special to rescue a tricky situation.
When it came, it seemed inevitable that Appleby would inspire the move which led to a superb equaliser from Martin Thomas to guarantee the sixth successive draw between the clubs.
But while Swansea could quite rightly moan the loss of two points in front of the season’s biggest Vetch crowd — and on the night Cardiff went top — most left singing the praises of the player who finally opened the Rotherham defence.
Having switched from his favoured right-wing slot, Appleby emerged on the flank where he had previously struggled and left Chris Sedgwick and Gary Scott in his wake on a zig-zagging run which carried him into the box before setting Thomas up for his first goal since the opening day of the season.
“Unbelievable, that could be goal of the season," enthused manager John Hollins. “Richie showed great composure at the end of the move. He could have shot but laid it back and Martin did the rest.”
But while the manager was merely expressing widespread-felt sentiments, neither he nor Appleby were completely satisfied.
‘‘It was too little. I expect more from Richie and he expects more from himself so we are both on the same wavelength. I know there is more there. Eventually it will come and someone will be on the end of it,” insisted Hollins.
Despite no lack of effort, there had been no serious hint of the old Appleby artistry as Swansea struggled for 50 minutes to get back on terms after Leo Fortune-West had punished them for a sluggish start.
Swansea looked nervous as the 6ft 4in striker from Lincoln marked his debut by directing a cross from ex-Cardiff defender Chris Beech into the bottom corner of Roger Freestone’s net.
Like so many previous matches, it proved the wake-up call Swansea needed during a rather disjointed first half in which they played in fits and starts.
But while their early play looked hurried and shapeless, they might well have been on terms long before Appleby’s intervention had it not been for the brilliance of Michael Pollitt.
The former Sunderland goalkeeper made vital saves to deny Thomas, Dave O’Gorman and Julian Alsop before his defences were pierced by the best move of the match.
Rotherham were rocking when Thomas equalised but Swansea failed to force home the initiative despite grafting performances from Thomas, Nick Cusack, Appleby and centre-backs Matthew Bound and Jason Smith.
But while Bound and Smith never again allowed Fortune-West a sniff of a chance, former Swansea defender Alan Knill was equally miserly in his handling of Alsop.
Swansea should have pressed home the advantage to claim maximum points, but they never created another Thomas had offered the hint of victory.
No wonder Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore left the ground hugely relieved. “I thought we were a bit lucky in the end with all the second-half pressure and possession Swansea enjoyed, but I’ve got to be happy. My defence played really well,” he said.
For Swansea the run is now six unbeaten in the Third Division, but it’s still two points lost which is why Hollins is already targeting the game at Chester next weekend to regain the ground lost last night.
Midfielder Martin Thomas was The Swans saviour as the Welshman extended his side's unbeaten run to six at the Vetch Field. However, on-loan debutante Leo Fortune-West had silenced over 5,000 as he gave The Millers an early lead boost, as John Hollins' men struggled to find an early rhythm. The Yorkshiremen were grateful to their 'keeper Mike Pollitt before the interval, as Steve Jones, David O'Gorman and Julian Alsop rattled in rasping efforts
GOALS
0-1 Rotherham 8 mins Fortune-West
a Chris Beech ball from the left caught out a flat-footed Swansea rearguard and Lincoln's on-loan hitman found the corner of Roger Freestone's net with a deft flick
1-1 Swansea 58 mins Thomas
midfielder Richard Appleby ghosted past Gary Scott and Chris Sedgwick at the bye-line to set up Martin Thomas who rifled home from ten yards
TEAMS and player ratings
Swansea
Freestone 7
Jones, S 8
Howard 7
Cusack 8
Smith 7
Bound 7
O'Gorman 7 sub 85 mins by Coates -no rating-
Thomas 7
Alsop 6
Watkin 6
Appleby 9*
Subs not used: Bird Jenkins
Rotherham
Pollitt 9*
Scott 8
Beech 7 sub 60 mins by Thompson 7
Garner 8
Knill 8
Dillon 7
Sedgwick 7
Hudson 7
Fortune-West 7
Glover 7
Roscoe 7
Subs not used: White Richardson
Referee C. R. Wilkes (Gloucester) (Rating 7)
Yellow Cards
Rotherham Hudson 27 mins (foul); Fortune-West 78 mins (foul)
Shots On Target: Swansea 9, Rotherham 1
Corners: Swansea 7, Rotherham 8