Swansea City were outclassed by their opponents Leeds United at the Swansea.Com Stadium this evening. From the first minute to the last the visitors strolled through the game and could have scored far more.The Swans did have their chances but the few they had they failed to take as another big loss was again witnessed by Swansea fans.
The game started just as Leeds expected and Swansea feared. The Swans loose and half asleep as Leeds pressed from the first seconds. Italian, Gnonto living up to his tag as one of the quickest and dangerous forwards in the Championship. The Swans hardly got their heads around the fact the gulf in quality was so huge when a deflected shot put Leeds ahead. Summerville luckily found the back of the Swans net on eight minutes. Jay Fulton enabling the ball to completely wrong foot keeper Carl Rushworth. That sort of bad luck coupled with the evident gulf in class just seemed unfair.
If the first goal was fortunate the second came from complete pace and power with Joel Piroe slotting the ball in to Rushworth’s net on ten minutes again from quick Leeds thinking and passing. At two down the concerns were very evident as Luke Williams screamed and danced across his dugout area. The Swans were second to everything, slower than their opposition and whatever the tactic was at the start it wasn’t working. Ronald did put his foot down a few times, his second cross of the night nearly finding a Swans front player. Liam Cullen was being exhausted of any oxygen, extremely well marshalled by the Leeds defence. On twenty five minutes the Swans were still being outclassed by the opposition. Leeds were just quicker and far better prepared. The Swans chasing shadows.
When the Swans did get forwards the decision making was chaotic and hurried.
A lovely Placheta cross on twenty seven minutes from the left was deflected away from Liam Cullen but Ronald met it with fierce shot which the Leeds keeper Meslier blocked. Then came the twenty ninth minute applause respecting the life of Chris Brown. The play stopped, I’ve never seen that before, the players applauded and respect was shown. It was quite a moment.
Once again, as we saw on Saturday Josh Tymon was good at getting forwards, but he was tied up at times with the speed and guile of Gnonto. However the Swans were slightly edging in to the game. The main concern for all Swans fans was it had to remain at two, anymore and the game would be lost. And on thirty five minutes that fate was confirmed. Gnonto put the Whites three up, breaking clear he turned the Swans defence around and slotted the ball in to the net. At three down this game was gone. The pace and class again far better than the Swans.
Thereafter the Swans continued to struggle to match their opponents in midfield despite Paterson picking up a ball on the right and putting in a cross shot which the Leeds keeper saved. Before that Cullen had tried to attempt to head the ball goalwards but it just turned into a very good defensive clearance. Leeds continued to be a pain in the Swans side, jinking through their defence causing Rushworth to go down low in his six yard box to stop a dangerous ball. Next up was Tymon to be booked, completely outstripped for pace and hauling Gnonto back. If he hadn’t taken that action Gnonto would have been clear. The Swans crosses were wayward when they did get forwards, it added to the frustration. Either too deep or in to the keeper’s hands unchallenged.
Swansea City are not a top or even a middle of the table team currently. When the ball is in possession it becomes a hot potato, nobody able to take responsibility. The half time whistle from David Webb was met with silence. As the Leeds players left the pitch they looked relaxed and unflustered. Luke Williams had a huge job on his hands.
The second half started and Leeds were once again in cruise control, Gnonto smiling after a move within seconds of the restart. The issue again was the Swans couldn’t pass the ball accurately, Paterson and Cabango failing to control the ball. And that second mistake almost put Leeds in for a fourth goal. The Swans were allowed to retain the ball by Leeds who seemed to be taking a break from the game. The home side couldn’t find a player, the Leeds players easily marshalling any danger. Then Ronald took a shot on goal on fifty three minutes, Paterson ran in on the shot and his touch went just wide of the post. Possibly the Swans best chance of the game. The pressure continued, from a set piece corner Tymon threw in a cross which just evaded Bashir Humphreys. Then another Swans attack, Placheta crossing for Cullen who headed back for Paterson and somehow he blazed his shot over the bar.
These chances just had to be taken.
With Jerry Yates warming up and looking likely to come on Leeds waltzed through the Swans defence, Summerville misplacing his pass which would have easily resulted in a fourth. As the sixty passed the Swans were back in control. Liam Cullen was off for Yates. Then we saw Joe Allen on for Fulton. Ronald continued to try and make opportunities but he was falling short. Joe Allen was next in the book for dissent. We had twenty three minutes to go.
The rain continued, the mist added to the gloom but the Swans did have a chance from a Paterson free kick. The shot was deflected out for a corner. From that set piece Yates threw himself to the floor and Leeds broke away. Paterson and Placheta got into a mess with the ball, Grimes was flat footed and Gnonto raced away to slot home number four. That was his last touch as he was subbed off. It really did sum up the night for the Swans, too ponderous on the ball and far too slow in thought. Dan James on as a replacement then raced away on seventy five minutes, his cross cleared by Ronald, and once again Yates threw himself to the floor with the referee completely ignoring him.
Mykola remained on the bench yet again, as the final Swans subs were made. We also saw Connor Roberts on for Leeds. The ball was once again a hot potato as Dan James had another chance which he failed to take. Humphreys went off injured for Kyle Naughton. The final ten minutes ticked by with both sides comfortable to pass the ball about, seemingly happy or having just given up. On ninety four minutes the referee put the home fans out of their pain. It just was never going to happen tonight, the Swans were not up for it, and it’s Ipswich Town at home this coming Saturday.
Another tough fixture.
Watch the goals here -
⚽️ Swansea City: Rushworth; 5 Humphreys 4 (Naughton 78) 5, Cabango, 4 Wood, 4 Tymon 6 Fulton 5 (Allen 62) 5 Grimes (c) 5 Ronald 5 (Cooper 78) 5 Paterson 7 Placheta 6 (Sagoe Jr 78) 5 Cullen 5 (Yates 63) 3
Subs: Fisher, Patino, Kukharevych, Lissah.
⚽️ Leeds United: Meslier; Gray (Roberts 77), Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Gruev, Kamara; Gnonto (James 72), Rutter (Joseph 77), Summerville (Anthony 72); Piroe (Gelhardt 87)
Subs: Klaesson, Cresswell, Cooper
⚽️ Referee : David Webb : Looked to be enjoying the game as much as the visiting fans : 6/10
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