A stylish last twenty minutes from Swansea City ensured three points and a huge sigh of relief for boss Russell Martin. Strikes from Joel Piroe and Cyrus Christie from well supplied crosses in the last quarter brought a huge smile to the big away swans support. It was a cold and damp night, a slick pitch underneath the lights and a first win in nine years at the Hawthorns for Swansea City.

The first half was more about two teams who were clearly lacking any confidence at all, not only in front of goal but to take the risks needed to win a game of football. Callum Robinson did head the ball on to the Swansea post in the first half for Albion but Andy Fisher looked to have the attempt covered. That is despite again looking fallible on his goal line. Swansea dominated possession as is the story of their season, some of the link play was good to watch, and the fact we didn’t see another capitulation as witnessed too many times this season was comforting. That may well be because West Brom are not as good as Sheffield United or Stoke City, confidence now so low manager Steve Brice asking for any type of goal pre match seemed a big ask.

Diangana did torment the swans defence on a few occasions, but his form of two seasons ago seemed a long way from the game he played at the Hawthorns. Cheered on by a noisy and very decent travelling support the swans laboured at times but the support was relentless their voices filling the empty areas of the stadium. A reflection of the home fans lack of faith in their side. Jamie Paterson isn’t anywhere near his form of last year but he hurried the baggies defence in to making quick passes as did Michael Obafemi. Chances though were at an absolute premium.

The second half started much the same as the first, West Bromwich Albion looked possibly the more likely to score but around the sixty fifth minute it was Swansea who started to press and look more dynamic in their willingness to win the game. Flynn Downes stepped up his passing accuracy and work on the ball and Matt Grimes seemed to be enjoying space further forwards. Ryan Manning too, his engine running on non stop covered every blade of grass. It wasn’t until Olivier Ntcham came on for Jamie Paterson that things started to flourish for the swans. His presence was immediately felt by the home side when he sprinted forwards beating tackles to cross low and hard from the baggies right. A supportive Joel Piroe was found and he fired his shot in to the baggies net. It was what the visitors deserved having slowly broken down the home sides resistance. The goal followed another chance for Robinson who saw his shot graze the swans post, but the goal from Piroe knocked the stuffing out of the Albion.

A delighted Russell Martin and his coaching team celebrated and minutes later a similar break away saw another cross come in from the same position reaching Cyrus Christie who drilled home a carefully executed shot to make it 2-0 to Swansea. Ntcham was again instrumental and a more alive Hannes Wolf latched on to his pass to fire another low cross which Christie made no mistake with. The win was much needed by Russell Martin who was facing increasing pressure due to his teams lack of results away from home. It was Swansea City’s first goals in five away games, and it won’t make that much of an impact on the league table. However what it will mean for Swansea is the hard work and training is paying off. Chris Christie stated post match “ We knew they conceded late in in the game, and we knew we would be in it right to the end”

Russell Martin was delighted and quick to praise his side. “Yeah, I think I’m extremely proud of them, it was a different performance, they’ve been incredible in training. It takes a lot of courage and concentration. They have to have the courage to do it. It was a brilliant team performance. They showed incredible courage and character. We have a ninety minute game plan, they don’t have a great record, they concede goals late on. We asked for belief and positivity and we got that “

On the goals Martin said “ Michale ( Obafemi) should have scored with a header, but when we score first we have a brilliant record. We are a work in progress, tonight thankfully it paid off”

West Brom : Johnstone; O'Shea (Furlong 46), Ajayi, Bartley (C), Townsend; Molumby (Grant 77), Mowatt, Reach (Castro 65), Diangana, Robinson; Carroll.

Subs not used: Button, Gardner-Hickman, Kipre, Clarke.

Swansea City: Fisher; Cabango, Naughton, Manning; Wolf, Downes, Grimes (C), Christie; Paterson (Ntcham 77), Piroe (Joseph 90+2); Obafemi (Smith 83).

Subs not used: Hamer, Burns, Latibeaudiere, Fulton.

Yellow cards: 🟨 Downes 33, Cabango 64

Goals: Piroe 79, Christie 85

Referee: Dean Whitestone 7/10 : A controlled performance.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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