Swansea City FC vs Queens Park Rangers FC (27/12/2011)
The first of three games in seven days for Swansea. Both teams have just been promoted to the EPL and are holding their own against the more established clubs. This was a big game for both teams to gain points and bragging rights.
QPR started well, but Swansea were first to break the deadlock in the 14th minute, with a well taken goal from Graham. Routledge played a difficult ball from deep on the inside right channel. Graham controlled it with his mid-rift (and an unintentional touch with the arm) in the centre of the 18 yard 'D', and curled the ball past the keeper's left hand into the bottom corner.
After a long clearance by QPR was flicked back by Britton, mid-way in his own half; the ball went through the defence and Mackie slotted it past Vorm for the equaliser. The draw for QPR was not totally undeserved.
Swansea had more possession (55.7%) than QPR as expected and were generally the better team throughout the ninety minutes, but again failed to create enough opportunities. QPR had 14 Shots and 4 on target, while Swansea had 8 Shots and 3 on target. This had also been a stand out stat in Swansea's previous games, along with a lack of crosses. Swansea were unlucky to conceded in that fashion, but with fewer opportunities created, they reduce the probability of winning any game.
The first of three games in seven days for Swansea. Both teams have just been promoted to the EPL and are holding their own against the more established clubs. This was a big game for both teams to gain points and bragging rights.
QPR started well, but Swansea were first to break the deadlock in the 14th minute, with a well taken goal from Graham. Routledge played a difficult ball from deep on the inside right channel. Graham controlled it with his mid-rift (and an unintentional touch with the arm) in the centre of the 18 yard 'D', and curled the ball past the keeper's left hand into the bottom corner.
After a long clearance by QPR was flicked back by Britton, mid-way in his own half; the ball went through the defence and Mackie slotted it past Vorm for the equaliser. The draw for QPR was not totally undeserved.
Swansea had more possession (55.7%) than QPR as expected and were generally the better team throughout the ninety minutes, but again failed to create enough opportunities. QPR had 14 Shots and 4 on target, while Swansea had 8 Shots and 3 on target. This had also been a stand out stat in Swansea's previous games, along with a lack of crosses. Swansea were unlucky to conceded in that fashion, but with fewer opportunities created, they reduce the probability of winning any game.
Swansea City FC vs Tottenham Hotspur FC (31/12/2011)
New Year's Eve brought Tottenham Hotspur to the Liberty stadium. Both teams had been playing a beautiful brand of football, so this was expected to be a game for lovers of 'total football'; what followed was ninety minutes of joy.
Both teams kept the ball well; building up attacks with patience, flow, support, movement and accurate passes, brilliant to watch. Dyer set the tone for the game with a rasping shot in the 5th minute, well saved by Friedel.
Tottenham opened the scoring as Ekotto attacked Richards at right back; cutting inside then beating him on the outside to deliver a low cross, which was deflected into Van Der Vaart's path for a volley. The ball was heading straight at Vorm but another deflection off Williams sent it into the bottom right corner of the goal. A sucker punch by Spurs at the end of the first half.
Swansea were arguably the better side in the first half. During the second half they came out and piled on the pressure to grab the equaliser in the 83rd Minute. Once again it was a full back, Rangel, who put in a speculative low cross from the corner of the 18 yard box. A mix up between Friedel and his defence allowed Sinclair to tap in from close range and the city of Swansea exploded. You could feel the jubilation in the stadium and imagine the euphoria in pubs, sports bars, and living rooms.
Many would have expected Spurs to pin Swansea back and go for the winner, however the jacks were doing all the attacking and could have taken all three points.
By the end of the game Swansea, once again, had more Possession (55.8%). But what impressed me the most was that Swansea took 13 shots with 4 on target, while spurs had 10 shots with 5 on target. A big improvement against a big side; and Swansea kept the danger men, Bale and Modric, pretty quiet throughout the game.
The performance received high praise from Harry Redknapp who admitted that Swansea deserved their goal ''the last 25 I have to say they deserved a goal and they played very well'' and that he "would be surprised if they went down".
Aston Villa FC vs Swansea City FC (02/01/2012)
The final league game in this batch of fixtures came against Aston Villa at Villa Park. Villa hadn't been in great form during the first half of the season, but came into this game off the back of a 3-1 win at Chelsea. Swansea had not registered a win in the last four games but after the performance against Spurs they were full of confidence. You could feel that they had the momentum going into this game.
It wasn't long before that momentum materialised into a positive release of energy. An error from Warnock in the 4th minute, allowed Dyer to sweep the ball away in the Aston Villa half and drive towards the goal. Dyer hit a low fizzing shot from just inside the penalty area; it deflected off Dunne and went past the keeper's right hand.
Swansea completely outplayed Villa in the first half, and a segment of beautiful possession football from
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