A pulsating second half full of controversy and questionable decisions left the Swans as 1-0 losers in this keenly contested game. Both sides had staff that were sent off after a huge melee late in the second half. Swans keeper Andy Fisher after some stunning saves gifted the home side the points.

Swansea City with no Matt Grimes started the game brightly. Matt Sorinola was busy but ineffective but the Swans did have the first shot on goal of the game through Luke Cundle. It was. Pacy shot which the Luton keeper found fairly easy to deal,woth. Luton responded with an Adebayo header from the first corner of the game but it went over the bar.

Doughty on the Luton left was bright, and he found Adebayo after a quick move and Andy Fisher responded with a double save. It was good work from the Swans keeper as the first twenty minutes approached. The Swans looked much better in midfield Jay Fulton and Joe Allen strong in the tackle and clearing up those loose balls we generally see coming for Swansea’s passing moves.

Despite the Swans better play Luton were looking the more dangerous, Osho found space but fired his shot over the bar. Fisher was kicking long which seemed to be a more productive route for the away side, however Piroe and heading are not good friends. Luton looked like a side that believed they could win the game. Referee Whitestone was beginning to impose himself on the game turning over a Swansea throw then not seeing a clear foul throw. The Luton crowd were not happy with Sorinola whose continued attempts to widm them up was most certainly working.

Luton had more pace and on the half hour Cundle was booked for pulling back Luton’s Bell. From the resulting free kick from Doughty the ball rolled across the Swans area and escaped an opening goal. Luton increased the pressure further and Swansea were beginning to look ragged. Oli Cooper remained busy with Ryan Manning on the left but it was a hurried game with both sides frantic to get and retain the ball. There clearly was more aggression in Swansea’s play, but Clarke on the right again fired in a cross and Joel Piroe just cleared for a corner. The corner was met by Morris who header clipped the bar.

The Hatters on the break were finding space in behind the Swans midfield.

The pressure paid off after a wonderful save by Fisher after a downward header from Morris. Then a minute later for all Fishers good work he fumbled a Clarke cross shot and Morris was there to tap in the first goal. It was deserved and the Swans had been living dangerously. The lack of concentration again at the back undoing the visitors. The same tale of every game once again.

The games frantic pace continued with Luton frenetic in their press and winning the fifty fifty balls. Swansea really had to battle to hang on to being just one goal down. The real issue the Swans had was their complete lack of ability in the air from long passes and Fishers kicks. The other being their lack of strength in the tackle. With seconds remaining Joe Allen went down. The despondent look on the captains face said it all. Fulton took the arm band and Morgan Whittaker came on. Strangely enough the Swans used up their one first half change.

As the second half started the Swans looked far more aggressive, Cooper was booked for a wild kick on the turn and then having battled his way in on the Luton goal but fired high and wide. It was far more impressive, and from recent games out of character. Fisher again was going long and Cooper and Manning were again scrapping for every ball. Again though the well marshalled Luton defence were sharper. A Manning corner fell to Piroe but he miss hit his shot. The frustration in the home crowd was good to hear as the Swans passed the ball around the park.

It frustrated the Luton players as well, kicking Swansea players and surrounding the ball carrier. Another cross not dissimilar to the first half when Luton scored was again bungled by Fisher but on this occasion Cabango cleared. The Swans pressed on and Luton continued kicking the opposition. The end result unfortunately ended with a scuffed shot, misplaced cross or loss of the ball. On sixty five minutes we saw Liam Cullen on for Sorinola and Liam Walsh on for Luke Cundle. Both had worked hard with little reward. Morgan Whittaker really didn’t look up to championship football again. He ran about but he looked pretty out of sorts in this company.

Sub Cullen then looked to have put the Swans level but was ruled offside in what looked like a very poor decision initially by the linesman. With fifteen minutes to play the Swans were looking the better side and the Hatters most certainly were tiring. Sadly all the build up work went for nothing with the Swans very much reluctant to put in a cross when able to do so.

The fun really did start when both Russell Martin & Richie Kyle were sent off after a melee on the touchline, Swansea pressed forwards and had their chances, penalty box scrambles, a linesman who couldn’t leave his flag down, and it all ended with the second half effort coming to nothing. Sadly it all falls down to one mistake, one error and quite simply a Swansea team that really needed something, but once again got nothing.

Luton Town: Horvath; Osho, Lockyer (c), Bell; Drameh, Nakamba, Campbell, Doughty; Clark; Morris (Mpanzu 81), Adebayo (Woodrow 68)

Subs: Shea, Bradley, Berry, Onyedinma, Taylor

Swansea City: Andy Fisher; 3 Ben Cabango, 7 Nathan Wood, 7 Joel Latibeaudiere; 5 Matt Sorinola 5 ( Liam Cullen 68) 6 Jay Fulton, (c) 6 Joe Allen 6 (c) * ( Morgan Whittaker 45), 4 Ryan Manning; 5 Oli Cooper 7 ( Jamie Paterson 77) 4, Luke Cundle 6 ( Liam Walsh 68); 6 Joel Piroe 5

Subs: Sondergaard, Darling, Naughton,

Referee : DEAN WHITESTONE 4 - missed the fact Cullen was well on side when he scored. Poor.
Lino’s : Daniel Leach and Rob Smith
Fourth Official : David Rock

* Allen handed the captains armband to Fulton when he left the pitch injured.

Artwork by Swansea Independent

Freelander added 17:45 - Mar 4 Well Fisher in not up to Championship standard and Russell Martin as for me has run out of ideas and blame others for his mistakes and does not know how to manage a team in this league and the way things are at the club the owners are just happy for us to be a run of the mill Championship c!ub and with very little investment coming in from them owners the only ones who will benefit from the Swans are the people in America who are all shareholders and stand to make money out of it.

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