Oldham 2 Swansea 1

Swansea City were mugged on the opening day of the season as an early goal and a late goal got their season off to a losing start but it really wasn't a result that they deserved.

Twelve months ago this weekend, Swansea went to Oldham and put in a very inept performance to lose by a single goal and whilst the end result today was exactly the same there couldn't be more contrast in the two performances as the Swans dominated - particularly in the second half - but were hit by a last minute killer blow.

Alan Tate was the man at the centre of both goals that cost us today - harshly judged to have given away an early penalty and potentially even more harshly deemed to have handled the ball in the lead up to their winner. In between the two goals, the Swans had the better of the action but only had Jason Scotland's well taken goal to show for long periods of domination.

Competitive debuts were handed to Doruc De Vries, Angel Rangel, Ferrie Bodde and Scotland whilst Darryl Duffy made his first start as a permanent fixture of the Swnsea squad. The team lined up as we expected and predicted earlier in the week as follows: -

Doris

Rangel Tate Lawrence Painter

Britton Pratley Bodde Robbo

Duffy Scotland

If optimism was high at 3pm it had been dented by 3.02pm when Tate was adjudged to have felled the striker in the box whilst chasing towards the ball and the referee, after a glance at the Linesman many yards away decided that the penalty was to be given. To give an indication here play was running away from the linesman and both Tate and the attacked had his back to them. But once it's given it isn't going to be changed and the ball was bundled home past Doris to give Oldham the lead.

Swansea battled back in the first half but were disjointed and disturbed by the early setback. Robinson fired a shot against the inside of the post that bounced clear and the same player handled the ball into the back of the net but it was never going to be given.

A niggly game was progressing with Oldham intent on playing long ball route one tactics that was Swansea's downfall so often last season and with a referee who struggled to gain any control on the match it wasn't always pretty to watch but Swansea were definitely the footballing side of the two. Oldham's manager/assistant manager was sent to the stands early doors but it defeats the object when he remains with the subs thus able to provide coaching advice but that was really the standard of a pretty poor referee.

A one goal defecit at half time was not what we had hoped for on opening day and when Swansea emerged five minutes before the second half to warm up you wondered what Roberto had said to them. Maybe the hair dryers were in evidence in the dressing room.

And whatever was said worked as Swansea were massively better in the second half, pressing for long periods and playing the game that Roberto promised we would - a passing one. From the back the ball was played on the deck with Rangel and Painter providing the support that both Britton and Robinson needed on the flanks and both Bodde and Pratley were instrumental in midfield with much certainly going through the Dutchman.

Up front, the hugely impressive Scotland was always a threat in the second half as was Duffy - albeit to a much lesser extent.

And it was Scotland who got the goal that Swansea deserved when he picked up a neat ball inside from Rangel and turned the defender before hitting an inch perfect shot past Crossley in the Oldham goal and into the corner. Swansea were level and not before time.

We pushed on from here with Scotland again coming close on more than one occasion as the Swans looked for another goal that would give them the goal that they probably deserved. Robinson was replaced by Anderson and sadly Swansea seemed to lose their shape slightly at this point. Anderson is an exceptional talent I have no doubt of but he doesn't look at home on the left wing and maybe consideration could be given to playing him on the right and see how that develops although it's hard when you have Britton and Rangel playing so well on that side.

Oldham gradually were coming back into the game and threatening a little more up the other end of the pitch and created panic a couple of times in the Swansea defence before Roberto decided that O'Leary was needed ahead of Pratley to give more bite in midfield. It worked as KOL, Scotland and Pratley all missed good chances to give the Swans the lead before the sucker punch at the very end.

Tate was harshly adjudged to have handballed halfway in his own half and the ball was played right before the cross was converted at the back post to give Oldham the opening three points and to leave the Swans a beaten better team.

It's always disappointing to be beaten on opening day but we can take massive heart from the game itself and in particular the way we went about the second half. On that evident we will win far more than we lose this season as odd as that sounds when on the back of a defeat.

Onwards and upwards and two home games - one in the Carling cup - will kick start our season - no need to be deflated.

What are your thoughts? Share your views on the Message Board