We were treated to six goals at the Swansea.com but there will be question marks regards the Swansea City defence again today. With Harry Darling missing it’s another game the Swans haven’t won without him on the pitch under head coach, Alan Sheehan.

Despite that in a very sketchy game we saw the Swans misplacing numerous passes or giving the ball away and offering up the lead on three occasions, however it was a day for celebration. Joe Allen captained the side from the start with Kyle Naughton taking the armband in the second half. The ground seemed to be going through a spiral of emotions this afternoon, there were even tears in the eyes of many at the end of the game and especially when our Joe left the field. Even during this poor showing from the home side he showed glimpses of his ability in midfield.

Both Kyle and Joe have ended their careers in style, both could play on we know that but as we reported - their overall stats combined with pre and post match conditioning was the catalyst for both of their decisions. Plus we have to remember insuring players isn’t a direct debit of fifty quid a month. Pre existing conditions, scans and so much more information is required to insure footballers at this elite level. In fact if we went through the criteria it would take up all of this match report.

It was never about money and both now do have some thinking to do about their next steps with all manner of offers available to them. For me, and many around me I’m afraid that the ability of Zân Vipotnik is in question. His press on the opposition is even poorer than Jerry Yates, achieving nothing as he almost lumbers around the top third of the pitch. A little bit more effort it seems just isn’t in his tank or maybe even isn’t in his mindset. Today again we saw three chances for the Slovenian but his anticipation was too slow and his awareness of where to be for the incoming ball is completely lacking. Liam Cullen (below) came on and scored a gem of a goal, but there are whispers now on his future at Swansea City. Coupled with Jerry Yates who has been loan at Derby County this season and Mykola Kukharevych at Hibernian both players are most certainly earmarked for sale. The only thing that will keep them at the club is a disastrous summer window. And that isn’t looking likely.

There were of course some lovely touches of class, especially in the first half around the middle of the first forty five, Eom scoring a wonderful opener, a golden effort. Ronald also weighed with a goal in what I could only describe as another hit and miss performance. He tries so hard and really needs to hone in on what he can’t do well this summer. We all know this, but today there was certainly some messages left in Alan Sheehan’s mind. The second half goals that the Swans conceded were both avoidable, Delcroix asleep from a set piece which was forced home by Helik. Placheta found himself with all the time in the world to level in stoppage time. This after a howler of a pass from Lewis O’Brien. It seemed ex Swans player Placheta was given the freedom of SA1. It could be compared to earlier on this season and before when the Swans went to sleep right at the end of games causing either a loss of all the points or the full three.

The U’s leveller in the first half was right at the end of first half play, and then they found time to hit the post. Eleventh place was confirmed before this fixture and it shouldn’t be forgotten with that £150,000 goes into the Swans coffers. Cardiff City by comparison earned £4,000 for finishing bottom and being relegated to the old third division.

Like Millwall at home last season this fixture will be quickly forgotten as a scoreline but will remain in the memory for the big crowd and the closing of the careers of Joe Allen and Kyle Naughton. It was a fitting setting for both, the adoration and the praise will stay with them both I’m sure forever.

⚽️Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux 6 Josh Key 6 (Ollie Cooper 70) 5 Ben Cabango 5 Hannes Delcroix 6 Josh Tymon 7 Joe Allen 7 (captain) (Kyle Naughton 70) 6 Gonçalo Franco 6 Lewis O'Brien 6 Ronald 6 (Sam Parker 81) 5 Jisung Eom 8 (Ben Lloyd 88); Žan Vipotnik 5 (Liam Cullen 70) 7

Unused Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin, Jay Fulton, Florian Bianchini, Cyrus Christie.

⚽️Oxford United: Matt Ingram, Cameron Brannagan (captain), Ole Romeny (Marselino Ferdinan 77), Ben Nelson, Alex Matos, Tyler Goodrham, Ruben Rodrigues (Mark Harris 66), Greg Leigh (Joe Bennett 77), Hidde ter Avest (Sam Long 88), Stan Mills (Przemyslaw Placheta 66), Michal Helik.

Unused Substitutes: James Cumming, Elliott Moore, Matty Phillips, Peter Kioso.

Referee: James Bell 5/10, didn’t have much to do, ding dong.

Attendance: 19,672

Photographs : Swansea City AFC & Swansea Independent