Swansea City took another step towards addressing their poor away record this season with a win at Fratton Park, Portsmouth this evening. A very commanding first half which saw two Swans goals was followed by a nail biting second period where tactics and belief seemed to drain away.

The Swans started this game brightly, two Zān Vipotnik efforts, one with his right foot and one header, neither bothered Portsmouth keeper Nicolas Schmid. That really was the story of the opening ten minutes. The Swans pressing and Pompey giving the ball away. It was all a bit scrappy. The Swans were by far the better side with some decent passing though, However, their end game was questionable.

The Swans seemed happy with the tempo using the wings. The final pass though was lacking. Eom ever busy and Josh Key on the opposite side of the pitch already productive. The five hundred plus Swans fans behind Vigouroux’s goal were noisy willing their team forwards. (** apologies for our inaccurate ticket sales for this fixture) Portsmouth had the first corner of the game on the Swans left on seventeen minutes. Their crowd though was as silent as I’ve ever heard them here. How the home side didn’t go ahead from that set piece can only be answered by Lawrence Vigouroux in the Swans goal. A snap shot from a clearance saw a shot from Jacob Brown brilliantly saved by the Chilean number one, it deflected onto the post and the Swans keeper eagerly gathered it.

Priceless.

With twenty minutes gone it was apparent that the Swans were getting good ball possession but couldn't do anything with it. Their hard work ending up with nothing to show for their efforts. This was displayed when a Swans break by Ethan Galbraith with space to pass forwards ended up with Vigouroux in the Swans goal.

Then.

A good move on the Swans left on twenty six minutes involving Galbraith, Eom and Josh Tymon saw the Swans go one ahead. Overall it was deserved. The move was simple and had quality stamped all over it. Another assist from Tymon feeding Galbraith (below) who guided his shot beyond the Pompey keeper, it was sublime. His third league goal for the Swans. He seemed pleased to score. Another quick Swans break on thirty minutes ended with a deflected shot from Tymon feeding Galbraith which was easily saved.

A second Pompey corner followed on thirty six minutes.

That was cleared by Cameron Burgess for a third corner. That came to nothing but the Swans looked very fortunate to avoid a yellow card when Vigouroux came out to field a forward bouncing ball which at first looked as if he had handled it outside the area. The referee waved it away as his assistant on the Swans left agreed. Then on thirty nine minutes a second goal came for Swansea. Good work on the right ended up with Ronald who passed to Josh Key to guide a wonderful dipping shot into the Portsmouth net. Another lovely goal from the Swans to see them go two up.

The sides played out the one added minute of the half with the Swans in complete control of this clash. The home crowd booed their team as they walked from the pitch and the away support couldn't really have asked for much more.

Then second half was three minutes old when the Swans fashioned a chance from their left side. Tymon put a lovely ball across the Pompey area which Eom met. He messed up a clear opportunity as somehow he completely missed the goal. The assistant flagged for offside, but he really should have put that away. Then Franco tried a ‘Liam Cullen’ from a very similar distance to Saturday. He was on the same side of the pitch too. The Pompey keeper just about gathered the ball. That would have been a remarkable coincidence. On fifty three minutes Vipotnik robbed Dia in midfield and put Galbraith through on goal, his shot whistled past the Pompey post and really the Swans should have been three up.

From there the Swans looked rattled as the home side applied more pressure. A corner was well gathered by Vigouroux as the home crowd woke up. Then we saw Liam Cullen on for Vipotnik and Melker Widell on for Galbraith. Sixty minutes had been played. Thoughts maybe on Wrexham this Friday night ? Unfortunately for the Swans on sixty four minutes Jacob Brown slid in with a lovely touch to put the ball into Vigouroux’s net. It was preventable defensively and you just felt this game was now no longer a formality. In fact

Portsmouth pressed.

Swansea no longer had control, on sixty six minutes pinball was played in the Swans area, complete panic and Pompey were now the better side. They were more willing and had that burst of energy you always expect at Fratton Park. On sixty seven minutes we saw Marko Stamenić and Joel Ward on for Franco and Key. The Swans needed more ball and far more composure. That wasn’t happening as Joel Ward had a yellow card after fifty five seconds for time wasting at a throw in.

On seventy two minutes Ward threw the ball out from his own throw in, again no composure and little awareness. These little moments were giving Portsmouth confidence. They were finding their wingers and knocking the ball around dangerously. Loose balls were now falling to Portsmouth, we’ve seen it many times before in games where the defensive mindset causes issues for Swansea. The midfield was offering so much space to the home side it seemed almost certain we would see an equaliser.

On eighty two minutes Malick Yalcouyé replaced Eom who had offered little this half.

The Swans were playing for time as Cullen swung a shot goalwards but even though it was clearly deflected for a corner, the referee said goal kick. Portsmouth were now looking for space between the lines as the Swans were happy to clear the ball anywhere. The momentum increased in Pompey’s favour, they had the possession stats and the desire. A corner was given on the Swans left on eighty six minutes. The Swans penalty area was packed. It was well cleared and a wayward Pompey shot hit a photographer situated near the corner flag.

With two minutes of normal time it was till clear it anywhere by the Swans.

They were conceding ground and another corner followed on the ninety. It was flicked on towards the Swans goal but Vigouroux saved. This was a painful watch as it was now quite clear the Swans would defend the five minutes of additional time. Clearances followed, first Stamenić then Burgess. Ronald was penalised for a foot up tackle with ninety seconds to go. The ball sailed into the safe hands of a Vigouroux. Seconds remained bitnthe Swans had the ball in their half. A very rare situation this half. Right on the button referee Gavin Ward blew for full time and the Swans had won away.

For now the Swans are niw tenth in the table, five points behind Wrexham.

⚽️ Pompey: Nicolas Schmid, Terry Devlin, Madiodio Dia (John Swift 84), Connor Ogilvie, Zak Swanson, Marlon Pack (captain), Ebou Adams (Harvey Blair 88), Gustavo Caballero, Jacob Brown (Adrian Segecic 76), Millenic Alli (Conor Chaplin 46), Colby Bishop.

Unused Substitutes: Josef Bursik, Jordan Williams, Hayden Matthews, Ibane Bowat, Luke Le Roux.

⚽️ Swans: Lawrence Vigouroux 8 Josh Key 8 (Joel Ward 70) 5 Ben Cabango 6 (c), Cameron Burgess 7 Josh Tymon 7 Jay Fulton 7 Goncalo Franco 7 (Marko Stamenic 70) 6 Ethan Galbraith 8 (Melker Widell 59) 5 Ronald 7Jisung Eom 6 (Malick Yalcouye 82) Zan Vipotnik 5 (Liam Cullen 59) 5

Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Gustavo Nunes, Leo Walta, Ollie Cooper.

⚽️ Referee: Gavin Ward : 7/10 : Officiated well compared to recent standards we have seen.

⚽️ Attendance: 18,508
Away 566

⚽️ Tuesday results

⚽️ Table

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Photographs : Xolin & Reuters