Russell Martin’s Swansea City shook off the shackles that were evident last weekend in their mundane attempt to win a football match and delivered a much better performance at Blackpool. That’s the basic view of the vast majority who witnessed the game and indeed the majority view is right.
As much as the negativity in places was right after the Oxford United defeat on Tuesday there has to be some balance when a performance like this is the response. A real change of tactics from the off most certainly confused Michael Appleton the Blackpool manager, the long range passing forwards and across the pitch if executed better would have brought rewards immediately. Once Jay Fulton got his traditional dodgy passing out of the way, and was bailed out by keeper Andy Fisher the swans dominated and did so with far more energy than we have seen so far this season.
Michael Obafemi doesn’t seem to bothered by his lack of goals,so far this season and it has to be said missed chances, which continued at Blackpool, with several gilt edged chances. However when he did burst through as one of the few swans players with natural pace late on in the game his awareness is to be applauded when he squared to substitute Olivier Ntcham. For a brief moment it looked like Ntcham had miscalculated his control and was going to join Obafemi in the top misses of the season. However he dragged the ball back with his left foot and managed to place the ball in to the back of the net.
Manager Martin said afterwards It's a big moment for Michael. He's not scored yet. It would have been really easy to try to take the chance. The run from Olivier was outstanding. Me and Olivier had a really good chat after Tuesday. I was disappointed with him when he came on, he was disappointed with himself. He has so much potential and ability. He just ran so hard, and that's the reward. It's a brilliant message for him and the players." Oddly enough after that chat rumours started to circulate of him possibly not being as happy as he could be at Swansea, hopefully now he has settled down, the swans after all do pay his wages. It has to be said though up until then he was as bad as he was at Oxford, if not worse.
It was a deserved victory for the swans, especially when referee Andrew Woolmer once again decided to impose his will on the game, and not for the first time when officiating Swansea. Deeming Harry Darling to have tripped his opponent in the penalty area he pointed to the spot. A look at the incident showed no contact whatsoever by Darling, but that’s what Swansea get when Woolmer is in town. The penalty from Jerry Yates was fired down the middle of Fishers goal but the swans number one saved the effort.
For the first time in a long time under Woolmer justice was done.
On the performance of Fisher Martin was full of praise "Fish really stood up well to the challenge today, he has been growing all the time He has been absolutely fantastic throughout pre-season and he deserves this moment,” he said. You need players to step up in those big moments. Ideally you don’t want it to be your goalkeeper having to do it too often, but he did brilliantly. That’s down to a lot of hard work he puts in with Dean Thornton on penalties, they had spoken about it before the game and that shows the level of preparation they go to.”
Swansea Independent man of the match, Andy Fisher
Although the second half was a more level affair Fisher was as good if not better than he was when he won the plaudits at Rotherham two weeks ago. Preventing Bowler, Yates and Lavery as well as the penalty save he once again is displaying his value to the first team. The negatives we noted are the distinct lack of pace in either sped,of the flanks in Matt Sorinola and Joel Latibeaudiere who both are not in anyway suited to those positions. If Sorinola is in his rightful place in this swans formation then his lack of strength on the ball and pace are noticeably lacking. Latibeaudiere is a trier, but again there has to be some alternative for this team to climb the league.
Ben Cabango made the odd error and was saved by Fosher in the second half but to see him back in the three at the back is very reassuring. Alongside Darling the two of them look sold and capable.
To see Obafemi still trying everything from involvement in the penalty area to long shots is a credit to his determination, and his assist evidence of his unselfish play. Joel Piroe continues to struggle and for some swans fans they don’t want to see him catch fire until September 1st when the transfer window ends. Without doubt he will be monitored by other clubs as this month progresses, and has been already, he is lacking direction at the moment. You would have thought reports back to interested clubs won’t be flowing with positives. The chances the swans made are pleasing, the fact they had so many and scored only one goal is again frustrating but as we have said this is a big week for Russell Martin, and one which he has started very well indeed.
Blackpool: Daniel Grimshaw, Callum Connolly (Jordan Gabriel 79), Lewis Fiorini, Jerry Yates, Josh Bowler, Kenny Dougall, Rhys Williams, Sonny Carey (Charlie Patino 79), Marvin Ekpiteta (captain), Dominic Thompson, Theo Corbeanu (Shayne Lavery 46).
Unused Substitutes: Chris Maxwell, James Husband, CJ Hamilton, Jordan Thorniley.
Swansea City: Andy Fisher; Joel Latibeaudiere, Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Kyle Naughton (Joe Allen 89); Jay Fulton (Olivier Ntcham 62), Matt Grimes (captain); Matt Sorinola (Cameron Congreve 78), Joel Piroe, Ryan Manning; Michael Obafemi.
Unused Substitutes: Steven Benda, Liam Cullen, Nathan Wood, Ollie Cooper.
Referee: Andy Woolmer 4/10
Away : 1,628 ( Reuters )
Man of the match : Andy Fisher