Well over two thousand away fans (2.414) were in attendance today to watch the Swans ease their way to an away point at Charlton Athletic. In truth the Swans should have taken all three points with their chances made throughout this game. It has to be said Charlton disappointed but they will surely be happy with the draw ?

First off we have heard that Zān Vipotnik won’t be available for the next two Swans games before the international break. Having felt tension in his Quadriceps (quads) Zân was immediately withdrawn from the squad yesterday. If there is damage it could result in a long lay off, however that won’t be known until Monday afternoon. It could mean a two week layoff after next Saturday with his withdrawal from the Slovenia squad.

It was a lively start from the Swans with a very questionable decision early on when Eom was brought down as the last man, it looked like a clear cut foul. The referee just waved play on. That would be the flavour of the day. Adam Idah has a snap shot on four minutes as the game settled. Charlton relied on a bit of luck for their first chance with Tyrese Campbell linking with Kelman but the chance wasn’t taken.

The Swans though were looking industrious in midfield despite being a man down within their usual formation. They were winning balls and looking to utilise the pace of Eom and Ronald with balls over the top. We were seeing a more long ball game from the visitors, but the accuracy was missing. On nine minutes Charlton played pinball with the Swans defence which led to a corner. That was the first real warning for Swansea.

Idah was working well in channels but the final ball to him was frustratingly lacking.

On ten minutes the Swans earned their first corner on their right. That was defended but the pressure remained ending in a wild shot from Franco. On thirteen minutes Ronald picked the pocket of Gillesphey and crossed, Franco just missing out on a touch as he arrived in the box. That was an opportunity but the Swans needed more threat in these areas to capitalise. It was interesting to note that Eom was also drifting into a more central role with Josh Tymon covering on the left. Like many teams Charlton were also employing the long throw.

Josh Key was pressing on the right and after eighteen minutes it all looked very comfortable. Now it was time for the Swans to employ their own long throw. No luck there from that move. The game was suiting the Swans, we had seen nothing of note from the home side and anything sent their way was capably being dealt with by the Swans defence. Charlton’s frustration was showing with their own long ball game seeing players offside.

The Swans had another chance after a flowing move that saw Ronald (below) take a strike on goal but it was wayward, that as we reached the half way point of this first period. Charlton had a free kick on twenty five minutes but wasted their opportunity as the Swans continued to look for outlets up front with long balls - but as it had been all half to date they just couldn’t find their man.

Charlton came alive on thirty minutes, Key lost the ball, that led to another corner on the Swans right, the header from Gillesphey was going in until Vigouroux pulled off yet another first class save to add to his seasons scrap book. It was pure class. The Addicks though were now pressing. Their nasty side showed at times in challenges, all a part of the game if it’s acceptable to the referee for both sides. It was clear the away side needed some touches on the ball, that though was proving difficult. The final ball was concerning and lacking. The fizz we saw over the first twenty minutes had disappeared.

However, on thirty six minutes a defensive misunderstanding led to a Swans corner on their left. This was Josh Tymon territory. He fooled all of us with a short corner to Eom, he had acres of space but his shot just looped over the bar. The Swans needed that boost. We were now approaching that period of the half where the Swans can be sleepy. Another long range effort from Key just sailed over the bar as the Swans saw daylight. Mention has to be made of Kaelan Casey. he was available for the ball when Charlton attacks broke down and in defence.

On forty one minutes a wonderful long ball from Vigouroux found Idah who controlled the ball and raced forwards. Franco was all on his own in the box, Idah ignored him and lost control of the ball trying to effect a silly back pass. That was a huge chance not taken. What more can you do when chances like that, literally on a plate are not seized upon. The Swans really should have been one up.

On forty four minutes Ronald broke free but fluffed his lines. Then Eom recovering the ball on the byline, he looked up with players waiting for a tap in and passed to a Charlton defender. Another golden opportunity to score. With Zân Vipotnik out with injury in training this week it was becoming a crazy situation to be in. Chances being thrown away at a ground and crowd that was expecting a home win. It was simply embarrassing for those players involved. Right at the death Galbraith put in a lovely ball but again the ball fell to a Charlton defender.

The whistle called an end to the half with Swansea obviously kicking themselves for not taking these late chances. You would have expected Vipotnik to have taken one, and even Bobby Wales or Liam Cullen who were both on the bench. Overall the passing had been poor from both sides, key opportunities fell to the Swans with one marvellous save from Vigouroux from Gillespie. What we will see second half was really now down to Sheehan and what he wanted to take from the game.

It was there for the taking on this evidence.

We didn’t see any Swansea changes for the second half but Charlton had taken two casualties in the first half. Charlton made one switch. What the Swans were thinking after twenty seconds of the half is anyone’s guess. A hit and hope pass into the Swans area was completely misjudged by Casey and Kelman came in on his right to score off the bar. Incredibly poor by the Swans. Casey’s first mistake of the game and the home side were one up. Charlton were now inspired, pressing, they were probing the Swans left hand side and creating chances. With the Swans exceptionally poor passing there seemed little chance to get forwards. Eom did have a chance to get a strike on goal with a lovely ball through from Tymon but his strength was lacking. Easily pushed off the ball. Then a long ball which Idah met on the full volley which whistled over the bar. This was a completely different game to the first half. A corner for Charlton fizzled out and the Swans really needed time to compose themselves.

And they did.

The away side earned a corner on their left on fifty two minutes. That eventually ended uo at the feet of Galbraith who again shot over the bar. With seventy five percent of the Swans goals not playing it was going to be a tough task. Eom made some progress and crossed on fifty four minutes but Idah couldn’t get his header on target. A cross from Key went out for another corner with the two thousand plus Swans fans cheering their side on. Then we saw three chances for the Swans to get good crosses in, all hit the first man in the Charlton defence.

The Swans were getting the best opportunities to get level but the passing and crossing was so bad they simply couldn’t get a sight on goal. Their hard work coming to nothing. A Swans corner on fifty nine minutes was earned after another Ronald cross was blocked. That came to nothing, yes cleared by Charlton but the outcome was the same. Poor passing thwarting any hope of causing danger. As we passed the sixty minute mark build up play from the Swans was fine. They were now just reluctant to cross. It had to pay off.

You could see the Addicks dropping defensively.

On sixty three minutes the chance came at last, and definitely the hardest one so far. Adam Idah received a pass from Casey. Outside the area he turned and shot, the ball nestled into the corner of the net. The Jack Army went crazy, and Adam Idah at last had returned a small percentage of his transfer fee with his first in play goal of the season.

On sixty five Melker Widell was on for Eom with instant impact, then Zeidane Inoussa replaced Ronald. A visionary move between Widell and Inoussa only found a Charlton player but the Swans were now on the up. Melker Widell had made a huge impact since his arrival on the pitch. The pressure was on the home sides defence. The Charlton keeper conveniently went down in his area on sixty nine minutes, the Addicks needed time to regroup. Nathan Jones clearly instigated this and drew all his players in for a frantic briefing, arms waving about. Charlton keeper, Kaminski miraculously recovered and we were underway for the final twenty minutes. Franco then went down for his traditional weekly - nut knock.

The Swans seemed happy to look for a winner and there was plenty of time to get it. Another move from Franco found Key in space but the script was already written, it was charged down for a throw in. From there a Galbraith cross was met by Casey leading to a point blank save from the home keeper. Then Inoussa crossed from the left, it was blocked for a corner. That was cleared but the Swans were still on top. It most certainly looked like Charlton would settle for a point now. The Swans had control of the play but because Charlton were inviting them on the ball was being played at walking pace. More ball into the Addicks area followed with Inoussa a yard short to connect with a Galbraith pass.

Charlton were obviously still in this game but any winner now would be a hammer blow to Swansea City. A stinging shot came in which Vigouroux handled well and the final minute was with us. From there a break from Widell saw him put in a dangerous low cross which resulted in a goalmouth scramble. Charlton rode their luck. The six added minutes were with us and the Swans had a corner on their left. The ball was cleared, Galbraith struck it, the ball was part cleared and with the ball just needing a knock which Key did somehow it went over the bar. That was the winner missed. The Swans pressed, chances came and went, how this Swansea side hadn’t secured a second goal is not a surprise to any keen follower, to others they will see a pattern forming.

A lot of it though down to the Swans own poor management and a determined Addicks defence.

In the last minute Widell went down in the area, it looked a penalty but referee Webb waved it away. This was the last chance the Swans would have to win this game. We now had no more time left as Vigouroux sliced a clearance. Charlton played out this game with as much luck as any team could muster, their performance was surprise, especially at home. Maybe a disappointment in fact ? We know the Swans are very difficult to play against, and it’s only their lack of goals that results in draws like this. There’s no shame in an away point, but some of those opportunities missed today meant it was surely two points dropped.

The Swans sit in seventeenth but the league is so tight they are only five points off fifth place. Beneath them is a decent gap of eight points to the relegation places. This week provides an opportunity for Alan Sheehan to put a halt to this mid table form. A win at Deepdale on Wednesday against Preston who are in sixth place would be more than welcome. (7:45pm) And then it’s the final game before the international break at home to Ipswich on Saturday (3pm) The rule seems to be this season the Swans will win one of these games and lose the other. That’s the spell Sheehan has to break in a positive way.

This week is crucial.

⚽️ The winners today

⚽️ Addicks: Thomas Kaminski, Macaulay Gillesphey, Lloyd Jones, Conor Coventry, Tyreece Campbell (Tanto Olaofe 83), Greg Docherty (captain) (Harvey Knibbs 83), Sonny Carey, Amari'i Bell (Kayne Ramsay 44), Charlie Kelman (Onel Hernandez 69), James Bree, Reece Burke (Miles Leaburn 46).

Unused Substitutes: Will Mannion, Luke Berry, Joe Rankin-Costello, Rob Apter.

⚽️ Swans: Lawrence Vigouroux 7 Ben Cabango 7 (C) Kaelan Casey 7 Cameron Burgess 6 Josh Key 7 Goncalo Franco 7 (Jay Fulton 87), Ethan Galbraith 9 Josh Tymon 7 Ronald 6 (Zeidane Inoussa 65) 7 Jisung Eom 6 (Melker Widell 65) 8 Adam Idah 7

Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Liam Cullen, Manuel Benson, Ricardo Santos, Bobby Wales.

⚽️ Referee: David Webb : Let the game flow but most certainly could have made those close calls better.

Attendance: 20,405
Away 2,414

⚽️ Managers mutterings, overall Alan Sheehan was not at all happy his side didn’t collect all the points whilst Nathan Jones felt a draw was the fair result. However, as you would expect he felt his teams performance was the reason for the draw.

⚽️ Results and current table

Photographs: Swansea Independent, Ant Man & Fast Eddie

Supermac added 22:33 - Nov 1 Swans looked sharper and much more incisive when Widell and Inousa came on. Eom goes down far too easily and needs to learn to keep on his feet especially when in the box.
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