The Swans were capably defeated this evening in the beautiful setting of the Fussballplatz Mittersill in Austria. The Swans coaching team would have learned a lot from this friendly from effort, fitness, determination and awareness of course. However, it wasn’t a good watch.

Despite looking the better side with more attacking intent for the first half an hour the Swans spent a lot of time looking for dangerous positions as opposed to getting into them. Ronald had a number of touches but nothing came from his efforts, he switched wings with Moussa Yeo on fifteen minutes. With Jay Fulton operating more as defensive cover as a sweeper there was little or nothing to fear from the German League 2 side. That was until Alessandro Cramaldi latched on to a through ball for Bochum and casually slotted his side ahead, a well taken goal to make it 1-0. Just before this Adam Idah (below) jumped on to a defensive error and missed what will be easily classed as a sitter. His shot flew over the bar.

The Swans should have been one up but some sleepy midfield work ensured they would be 1-0 down going into the end of the first half an hour. Bochum put in a few ruthless tackles on Ollie Cooper (below) Ronald and Stephen Welsh. The assessment as the referee brought this particular part of this friendly to an end was ‘A lot of running with nothing on the end of the few chances the Swans had’ Therein followed a ten minute break for the next half an hour of action.

Bochum had a good number of fans there and the Swans had to be content with the remnants from Saturday and a good twenty newbies who were at this game, Athletic reporter Stuart James was also there with his son. Both big Swans fans.

The second third saw the Swans start the game with just Ollie Cooper off for Liam Cullen. The Swans still tried to build and look for space as Bochum seized upon errors in the Swans midfield. They do break quickly. On thirty three minutes Ronald beat his man on the right but his cross almost ended up approaching the half way line. Pretty poor. This third seemed a lot more competitive, Ronald again crossing which reached Idah who couldn’t work space to shoot, he gave it to Cullen with an opportunity to do so. Nothing came from that.

A good save from Vigouroux (below) kept the score at 1-0.

The challenges started to go in again with Widell harshly fouled and moments later Fulton decided enough was enough slinging his opponent to the ground. Despite their efforts the Swans were flat and looked very much like very early days in their summer training. Bochum on the other hand when presented with opportunities were sharp and had excellent acceleration down the right wing. On forty four minutes Berkan Taz was provided with a super opportunity to shoot. He did so and his powerful shot deliciously flew into the Swans goal with Vigouroux helpless.

That was 2-0.

We then saw a whole host of changes for the Swans. Thomas Woodward, Cameron Congreve, Zedaine Inoussa, Sam Parker (below) and Filip Lissah replaced Adam Idah, Ronald, Moussa Yeo, Josh Tymon and Stephen Welsh. A few academy players there or newly promoted showing some of the depth the Swans have coming through their age grade sides.

The pattern of the game continued with Bochum looking the more dangerous and Swansea still trying to retain the ball and looking for openings. Bochum continued to rely in their pace on the right but after their second half goal things had levelled off. Bochum now though the better side. The Swans it has to be said were toothless as the second period came to an end. Congreve had tried and failed to beat his man but what was noticeable was the smooth running, ball delivery and composure of Filip Lissah. Thomas Woodward tried to make something right at the end of the half earning a corner but the effort went unrewarded.

That was it, 2-0 to Bochum after sixty minutes.

As you would expect more changes for the final third with Paul Farman, Cameron Heywood, Arthur Parker, Daniel Watts and Ollie Cooper replacing Lawrence Vigouroux, Ben Cabango, Josh Key, Melker Widell and Jay Fulton.

This was now quite an inexperienced side, they battled hard but couldn’t get past their man or create any threat for the first fifteen minutes or so. Bochum kept the young defence occupied but getting over the halfway line was the mission for the Swans. Distribution was poor but it got a lot better as the game moved on. Lissah though continued to clear things up and put in a challenge. This final third gave a number of younger academy players a run out and seeing a few Welsh players in a Swans side was gratifying. They did their bit and didn’t concede. Ollie Cooper had some decent game time but he seemed sunk in amongst the midfield battle, especially with Liam Cullen in what can only be described as an odd position.

Also there was more awareness at right back with Lissah (below) who was a stand out. Wing work from Inoussa and Congreve just didn’t come together, Inoussa who looked extremely out of confidence, unable to take a player on and choosing to pass backwards. Cameron tried but it wasn’t his game. It was good to see local Pembrokeshire lad, Evan Watts get some game time. Whatever the Swans do he must be retained. Head coach, Vitor Matos will take heart from seeing his younger players navigate thirty minutes of football, and that is maybe the point. This was a tired looking effort from Swansea City with another game coming up on Friday. Also hearing talk of another behind closed doors game next week leading up to the home friendly against CD Leganés on Saturday week. Matos will want to see a big difference on Friday before the Swans return home for the run in and that first round League Cup fixture against Birmingham City.

Zān Vipotnik again did not feature, the general feeling is he is injured. However, that won’t stop the speculation that he is on his way out of Swansea City.

OS
⚽️ First third – Lawrence Vigouroux, Josh Key, Jay Fulton, Ben Cabango, Melker Widell, Josh Tymon, Stephen Welsh, Ollie Cooper, Adam Idah, Ronald, Moussa Yeo.

⚽️ Second third: Lawrence Vigouroux, Josh Key, Jay Fulton, Ben Cabango, Melker Widell, Josh Tymon (Sam Parker), Stephen Welsh (Filip Lissah), Ollie Cooper (Liam Cullen), Adam Idah (Thomas Woodward), Ronald (Cameron Congreve), Moussa Yeo (Zeidane Inoussa)

⚽️ Final third: Paul Farman (Evan Watts), Josh Key (Arthur Parker), Ollie Cooper, Carter Heywood, Melker Widell (Dan Watts), Josh Tymon (Sam Parker), Filip Lissah, Liam Cullen, Zeidane Inoussa.

Follow the Indy on X
⚽️ Swansea Indy on X

⚽️ CyberSmile BEAT the online cowards

All photographs Swansea Independent