The Swans were a completely different team this afternoon and really did deserve the points at the MKM Stadium in Hull. A wonderful strike from Liam Cullen securing the points.
The first thing of note in this game was the Swans managed it through the early minutes without conceding. Coupled with the amount of decent possession there seemed to be an element of caution in the home sides approach to the game. The first chance came when Josh Tymon crossed for Liam Cullen who was inches away from putting the Swans ahead. A bit more anticipation and his side would be 1-0 up.
Then Grimes picked up the ball on the Swans left, his cross defended well for a corner. Straight off the training ground Josh Tymon delivered a lovely low ball in and Liam Cullen met it full on and it was 1-0 to the Swans. The warning signs were there for the home side. And at last a chance was taken in the eleventh minute. The Swans were ahead. Twenty three points have been dropped by the Swans this season from winning positions, could that change ?
Hull did venture forwards but up to the fifteenth minute could only muster a miss hit cross for their efforts. Hull’s real problem was Tymon out on the Swans left, he was getting in to space and causing some bother. Jadon Philogene was looking to replicate Tymon’s efforts as Hull grew into the game. Ronald had his first chance to run at the Hull defence. His cross was deflected to Cullen who was within a breath of scoring. A free kick followed an awful challenge on Paterson by Tyler Morton. He was carded. Paterson delivered a cross which was met by Ronald, but his effort flew wide.
On the half hour Tymon delivered a cross which went out for a corner. He then took the corner which was deep and didn’t cause too many problems for the Tigers. Up to this point the Swans were by far the better side. The glaring issues the Swans have had in defence of late resurfaced when Tufan for Hull had all the time in the world to direct his header for an equaliser. Luckily it went straight to Carl Rushworth in the Swans goal. A warning if ever the Swans needed one.
Ben Cabango was next to be carded for pulling back his opponent.
The game became a dead weight for the final minutes of the half. Unfortunately, the Swans switched to a longer ball game which Ronald couldn’t take advantage of. That said, Placheta put on the his accelerator and fired a shot into the side netting, but Philogene remained a threat. Carvalho had a shot wide for Hull as they started to boss the midfield more. Ronald did some terrific work from a defensive clearance and threatened the Hull goal in a build up up that resulted in a cross but no Swansea player was there to take advantage.
The half time was greeted by boo’s, the Swans support applauded, it was an encouraging half. I have to say the media arrangements at the MKM are superb, the best I’ve encountered in my time this season reporting on the Swans. I am learning such a lot from some journalists, especially with regards to preparation and techniques for note taking and delivery. Very enjoyable. As were the pies !
The second half started quietly, the crowd subdued, all the Swans needed to do was get Placheta and Paterson more involved in the game. You got the feeling a second goal would be crucial. Placheta did just that earning the Swans a corner on forty nine minutes. The whipped in cross similar to that when the Swans scored well defended. Rushworth was busier, coming out to spread himself over a through ball. You got the feeling the home side would cause more problems. Tymon then had a shot at goal but the keeper easily fielded the attempt. The stadium was almost silent. Doyle was substituted for Billy Sharpe, caution certainly for the Swans defence. Liam Rosenior increasing his attacking options. He was obviously going to put more pressure on what was a pretty easy afternoon to date for the visitors.
Rushworth was clearing long out to the wings but his efforts went unrewarded. The Hull midfield easily managing that tactic. A long ball over the top by Hull was met by Sharpe who was outpaced by Nathan Wood as Rushworth ran out missing the ball completely. The attacking threat now evident. Then a cross in to the Hull area was headed back by Ronald but Cullen fluffed his lines. The last half an hour was upon us. The Swans were defending admirably, hard in the tackle and able to set up counter attacks. It was the final ball that was failing them. Rushworth was continually misplacing his long passes which were easily dealt with by the Hull defence. Ronald was getting more in to the game, but his crossing although decent was too far ahead of any Swans player. On sixty six minutes Placheta was replaced by Joe Allen, clear intent to shore up the midfield. Then Cullen was off for Yates.
More subs for the home side with Tufan replaced by Traore and and Connolly replacing Zaroury. Early team news was that Connolly wasn’t fit, but clearly he was for the latter part of this fixture. A lovely Paterson cross for Jerry Yates saw the striker too late to anticipate the hard driven precise pass. With twenty minutes to go Hull were far more forward looking leaving their defence a man down for better attacking options. Tymon again was put in on goal by Paterson and his shot was parried by keeper Ryan Allsop. Kyle Naughton went down with an injury which resulted in Bashir Humphreys replacing him. We still had a corner to come. Grimes took it and Paterson met it on the volley which went high and wide.
We were now in to the last fifteen minutes as Carvalho was replaced by Omur.
A terrific drive from Grimes was spilled by the Hull keeper but again we saw Yates ball watching and too late to make an impact. His anticipation this season has been woeful, it’s a shame. A quick Hull attack saw Fulton clear the ball, but the pressure was now on. Grimes didn’t help on eighty minutes losing the ball when his side were on the attack. The Swans were defending like warriors, blocking shots and ensuring the score remained the same. Grimes again lost the ball and was booked on eighty two minutes. It wasn’t helping, these are the players you need to display their experience in games like this.
Another Swans attack saw a pile-driver of a shot by Tymon who received a touch pass from Yates. Allsop pulled off a remarkable save. Yates again just too slow to react to the keepers spilled save. The Hull attacks continued as we reached the eighty eight minute. The Swans working tremendously hard pushing them back. Every second seemed like a minute. Fourth official Robert Madley reported five minutes of injury time. This time though the Swans continued to press, unlike in other matches where desperation would lead to opposition goals. In to the second minute of injury time Hull pressed and Swansea counter attacked, Ollie Cooper getting a lot of positive ball on the Swans right.The home crowd were leaving the stadium as ‘Hymns and Arias’ rang around the stadium. Two minutes time left. Then a final chance for Hull as Cabango cleared a dangerous attack.
Then mayhem, the Hull keeper was up in attack, clearances a plenty. Patino able to get a shot on an empty goal. It fell short. Then at last the whistle was sounded. It was a great game I suppose for the neutral as the Swans yet again beat Hull City.
What an incredible three points.
Apologies there were so many subs my mind melted towards the end, possibly another learning curve for me. And definitely one today for the brave Swans.
⚽️ Hull City: Allsop; Coyle (Sharp 54), Jones, Greaves, Giles; Morton, Slater; Philogene, Carvalho (Omur 76), Zaroury (Connolly 68); Tufan (Traore 68)
Subs: Pandur, McLoughlin, Docherty, Ohio, Jacob,
⚽️ Swansea City: Rushworth; 6 Naughton 6 (Humphreys 74) 6, Cabango 7 Wood 6 Tymon; 8 Fulton 6 (Patino 78), 6 Grimes (c) 7; Ronald 6 (Cooper 78), 7 Paterson, 6, Placheta 5 (Allen 67) 6 Cullen 7 (Yates 66) 5
Subs: Fisher, Kuharevich, Sagoe Jr, Lissah
Referee: Geoff Eltringham, Referee’d the game well, and another Swans win under his officiating 7/10
Att: 21,007