Ruthless fouling didn’t work, hitting out like a child didn’t work, muscling up to Swans players certainly didn’t work as Vitor Matos got his first win at the third attempt as Swans head coach against a misguided Oxford side this afternoon. The referee, one Anthony Backhouse matched Oxford with the worst performance seen at the Swans home stadium this season.
Oxford United were hot off the blocks starting this game with a corner after thirty seconds. U’s head coach, Gary Rowett had stated that he had plans to stifle and dilute the Swans play in possession. They definitely started on the front foot. On three minutes Mark Harris fluffed his lines when given a lovely ball in on goal. His control let him down.
Oxford had a free kick which took over a minute to take due to the fussiness of referee, Anthony Backhouse. Hopefully that wouldn’t continue but coming up to eight minutes we had seen nothing from Swansea. The Swans first attack resulted in a huge penalty shout for a foul on Ronald, this resulted in a U’s breakaway where Mills for Oxford shot wide. Backhouse ruled out a nailed on penalty, last season for the Swans at West Brom he did exactly the same. Ronald was clearly pushed in that challenge, once again shocking officiating from the referee.
Backhouse continued to influence the game stopping a Swans attack for a nothing challenge on Oxford captain, Helik. Another minute lost. On seventeen minutes a wonderful header from Zân Vipotnik after a clever delivery from Ethan Galbraith went inches wide. The Swans luck still not changing in front of goal. More good interplay on the Swans right with four Oxford players around Galbraith and Ronald resulted in the second Swans corner of the game. It was desperately cleared for a Swans throw. That resulted somehow in Cameron Burgess being caught offside.
The home side continued to impress but again we were seeing that final ball being misjudged, on twenty two minutes Galbraith was the offender. Another corner in front of the east stand followed after good work by Galbraith, Tymon would deliver. That was headed back across the goal by Marco Stamenic. Eom picked up the clearance and floated a lovely cross into the Oxford area with Swans players scrambling to get a touch on it. They failed to do so. Oxford were now looking far less industrious with Mills and Mark Harris now not getting on to breakaway balls. This encouraged the Swans who were now pressing on the U’s defence. It was clear the away side wanted a slower pace.
On twenty seven minutes the Swans conceded a corner after what looked like a clear foul on Widell. This from the Swans right. The delivery cleared the first defender and fortunately ended up in the hands of keeper, Vigouroux. Then a wonderful interception from Cabango found Eom who played it on to Tymon. His low cross evaded Vipotnik and Franco was just short on getting ahold of the ball. Oxford fouls continued when Tymon delivered a free kick into the U’s area. Galbraith was just offside as Vipotnik leathered the ball into the Oxford net. Oxford were at sixes and sevens as raids left right and centre were continuing as we moved into the last third of this half. A neutral would have the Swans most certainly ahead.
The Swans were happy to rebuild.
Distribution wasn’t the best from the two key centre halves but it was a lot better overall. The Swans looked very solid in defence. On thirty five minutes Eom the main Swans influencer with Galbraith joined in on a lovely move with the Northern Irishman, sadly that only led to a corner. That was cleared as Galbraith had a shot outside of the area which just dipped over. Eom was again brought down on the Swans left and again the referee took no action regards a card. Eom was loving this. Now a free kick from Tymon from that foul, it sailed over the keeper and Stamenic met it powerfully for a very much deserved opening goal.
His header was spot on and at last the Swans were in front. Fully deserved.
More ruthless fouling was ignored by Backhouse, as an incompetent an official you will see. Then the play overspilled into physical aggression as Oxford now employed more ridiculous tactics. The referee was completely at fault for all that was now occurring. His officiating with a bias that was now being questioned by the crowd all around me. Tymon and Harris were booked. The way this official was handling this game surely has to be questioned.
The roughhouse tactics were not something that was working for the visitors. Harris ended up on the floor after meeting Cameron Burgess. And Mills deciding the attentions of Tymon were probably not a good idea. This was full on Swansea City, no quarter given, that solidity head coach, Vitor Matos called for not in question. Vipotnik was kicked to the ground by Krestev who had already been booked, no action from the referee. A free kick on the Swans right by Eom followed.
Now this has been a season for decent Swans goals, when they get them, but this next one was a cracker. The clearance from the set piece by the hapless Oxford side fell to Tymon (below). On his left foot on the full volley his shot was measured. It flew into the top corner of the Oxford goal. A sweeter hit you won’t see this season. Simply incredible.
Those diabolical Oxford tactics had failed and despite the referee being a complete fool the Swans went in at half time 2-0 up.
The second half started with the Swans again at the Oxford defence. Two corners resulted quickly. The first saw Eom hit a clearance on the volley which was deflected. Melker Widell was slapped around the face by Vaulks off the ball. You guessed it Backhouse nor his assistant saw it. From there Oxford did put some pressure on the Swans defence, long throws the order of the day. On fifty four minutes one hit the back heel of Vipotnik which was gathered by Vigouroux. The Swans needed to find their first half happy place. There was now no pressure on the U’s back four. This was letting the away sode gather their composure and put together passing moves.
The rain was now piling down.
On fifty eight minutes after some more good work down the Swans left Eom shot when he should really have passed to Franco or Stamenic. The move was quick and very dynamic. On sixty minutes after relentless foul play from Oxford which went unpunished Franco was carded. The free kick was in a dangerous position. That was blocked by the Swans wall. Then we saw four changes from Rowett.
The Swans were finding it hard to keep possession, almost rushed at times as we went into the last half an hour. Ronald though did earn his side a corner on the Swans right on sixty four minutes. Eom would take it. Stamenic met it but the ball went out for a goal kick. Then a mistake by Ronald saw a decent cross in to Lankshear who headed just wide. He really should have done better. The Swans really needed to regain their composure. Franco was kicked on the conk again, a regular match day experience for him ducking low to win the ball. Eom stood over the ball. The delivery caused issues but Cabango couldnt get enough on the ball. We were now seeing the Swans inches short each time they attempted to cut out a challenge or get a touch.
Backhouse was back at it on sixty nine minutes giving a clear foul on Stamenic against him.
Then a double Swans change. Kaelan Casey and Zeidane Inoussa on for Vipotnik and Widell. After some confusion, now we had the Swans with no centre forward outlet. Galbraith moved into midfield with Casey taking a position at the back. Cabango was now a right back of sorts. We had eighteen minutes to go. Oxford were now crowding the Swans right hand side on seventy three minutes. That outlet very much blocked. A low shot from Oxford was well wide when they got forwards. A minute later Franco’s head got further treatment from Currie. It was actually a kick to the face. On seventy five minutes a powerful shot from Galbraith was straight at the keeper.
Passes were now going astray as the game became a midfield battle in wet and muddy conditions.
Then another double change for the Swans. Liam Cullen was on as well as Adam Idah. Off went Franco and Eom. He had a great game, even his dissenters will agree surely ? A magnificent shift by Eom. A Swans break was then overplayed with Inoussa caught offside. Then a great move which Idah supplied a nice touch to Cullen but he blasted over. More fouling on Galbraith as we hit eighty three minutes. Oxford had no answer to the fine Swans passing.
Another Swans break led to poor passing by Galbraith in what was a second half that required hard work against a pretty mundane and clogging Oxford side. On eighty seven minutes Vigouroux saved well with Casey beaten, Cabango steered the clearance away. The tiredness was taking effect. Oxford were not finished yet. Poor defending by the Swans saw Stamenic clear away. We were now on ninety minutes. Oxford’s finishing was woeful and for me they were the worst side we had seen in SA1 this season. Jay Fulton was on for Galbraith with four minutes of the five extra given at the end of this game. The Swans now didn’t seem interested in a third goal. Oxford were so poor they were done for. A corner on ninety two minutes for the Swans was defended by the corner flag, then another corner.
On ninety four minutes Fulton was sleeping when a fine shot came in from distance, Vigouroux saved well, and that was pretty much it for this game. The Swans enjoyed a good victory with two excellent goals. Inoussa tried to add another but the referee actually did get something right when he blew up for full time.
This was better, we still saw a game of two halves but no goals conceded. It’s a platform, but only a small one. Next up is Portsmouth at home on Tuesday evening (7:45pm) Another three points are most certainly required.
⚽️ Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux 7 Ethan Galbraith 9 (Jay Fulton 90), Ben Cabango 6 (c), Cameron Burgess 7 Josh Tymon 8 Goncalo Franco 7 (Liam Cullen 79) 5 Marko Stamenic 7 Melker Widell 7 (Kaelan Casey 72) 6Ronald, Jisung Eom 9 (Adam Idah 80) 5 Zan Vipotnik 6 (Zeidane Inoussa 73) 5
Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Malick Yalcouye, Manuel Benson, Sam Parker.
⚽️ Oxford United: Jamie Cumming, Sam Long, Ciaron Brown, Will Vaulks, Michal Helik (c), Mark Harris (Will Lankshear 63), Luke Harris (Ole Romenij 63), Brian De Keersmaecker, Stanley Mills (Hidde ter Avest 63), Jack Currie (Greg Leigh 80), Filip Krastev (Nic Prelec 62).
Unused Substitutes: Matt Ingram, Tyler Goodrham, Tom Bradshaw, Ben Davies.
Referee: Anthony Backhouse : An absolute clown of a man, shouldn’t be officiating at any level. 0/10. His decision making on crucial incidents either makes him very questionable or someone with so much bias it should be reported by his assessor today.
Attendance: 17,318
Away 683