Swans End Tour On Positive Note
Sparta Rotterdam 2 Swansea 2 |
Why not visit our sponsors lounge WESTERN MAIL ROBERTO MARTINEZ showed his hand last night - and was left in no doubt that Swansea City will be in the League One promotion shake-up next season. The Spaniard gave the strongest indication last night of what team he will field in against Oldham in nine days time by giving his first team a run-out in the hard-fought draw against Sparta Rotterdam. Swans rounded off their four-game Dutch tour with their best display and a draw against strong opposition. After falling behind to an early Iderlindo Moreno Freire strike, it was Darryl Duffy and Leon Britton who both netted their second goals on tour to give the Swans the lead before Darryl Roberts saved Sparta's blushes. It looks almost clear now, though, which side Martinez will name for the Boundary Park opener in August 11 after including just Jason Scotland from the mix-matched side that had appeared in the Tuesday night's win over Alphense Boys. Dorus de Vries looks to have won the race ahead of Willy Gueret to the Swans' goalkeeping jersey, while Angel Rangel and Maros Painter are set to line up either side of Alan Tate and Dennis Lawrence following Garry Monk's ankle injury. Ferrie Bodde and Darren Pratley look a commanding midfield pairing with Andy Robinson and Britton providing width and a goal threat from the flanks. Duffy and Scotland once again linked up well and are certain to edge out Guillem Bauza as the two strikers against the Latics following this. It looked like being a long night though for Swansea after they went a goal down with just seven minutes on the clock. After captain Tate had brought down Roberts on the edge of the box, Nourdin Boukhari's deflected shot from the resulting fee-kick found it's way to Moreno Freire, who scrambled the ball home. Swansea came close to hitting back almost immediately, but Duffy's control let him down and David Loriya smothered his shot following Lawrence's knockdown at the far post. The home side's slick passing and movement was giving the Swans problems and the lively Marvin Emnes forced de Vries into a fine block after Tate had failed to clear. But Swansea finally found their feet and, after Scotland's low drive was palmed out by Loriya, Duffy saw his half-volley was ruled out for offside following Painter's running cross. But the £200,000 signing from Hull City made amends after 25 minutes when he robbed Danny Schenkel before running through to fire the ball off the inside the post for the Swans leveller. And just three minutes later a crisp interchange between Scotland and Duffy freed Britton, who prodded home from an acute angle for the lead. Top Eredivisie outfit Rotterdam, who face Mark Hughes' Blackburn next week, got frustrated and Sani Kaita and captain Boukhari were booked in quick succession for ugly lunges. The home side came out with more intent after the interval and were rewarded when Boukhari's centre was slotted home by Roberts in the 57th minute. It was the home side who looked more likely to take the lead and when Arne Slot's clever flick carved Swansea open, substitute Rachid Bouaouzan somehow diverted his shot wide with de Vries stranded. The keenly-contested match ended on a sour note when Rotterdam's Kaita was dismissed following his second yellow card in the closing stages after hauling down Bauza as Swansea ended their constructive tour on the front foot. Sparta Rotterdam: Loriya, Adeleye, Schenkel, Polak, Boukhari (capt), Slot, Kaita, Emnes, Roberts, Promes, Moreno. Swansea City: de Vries, Rangel, Tate (capt), Lawrence, Painter, Britton (Allen 83), Pratley, Bodde, Robinson, Scotland (Anderson 62), Duffy (Bauza 74). |