Player Profiles

TWENTY minutes from time the biggest Liberty Stadium cheer was reserved for an update of England’s Rugby World Cup capitulation to South Africa.

It was a sad indictment on a frustrating night when Swansea found all routes to goal barred.

For the first time there were murmurings from the stands during Roberto Martinez’s reign as Carlisle seemed certain to join Leyton Orient at the top of League One.

But then two goals in as many minutes changed a contest which seemed to slipping away from the Swans faster than the collapse of England’s sweet chariot in Paris.

Nine minutes remained when Carlisle keeper Kieren Westwood spilled Andy Robinson’s shot and the ball fell to Darryl Duffy.



The Scot might have been excused not taking the chance given that he had suffered an increasingly torrid evening which typified his barren season.

But all that frustration was washed away in an instant as Duffy latched onto the loose ball and finished in style.

The relief around the Liberty was tangible, but there was better to come moments later when substitute Paul Anderson drifted infield and drilled a right-footed shot goalwards.

Whether a deflection took the ball past Westwood was unclear, but Anderson was credited with the goal and, to be honest, the debate was of little concern to Swansea fans after a first home league win of the season.

Martinez made the decision that all Swans fans had wanted by including teenage Welsh talent Joe Allen in his starting line-up with Ferrie Bodde serving the second game of a three-match ban.



Casting an educated eye over the 17-year-old midfielder was Wales boss John Toshack, who might soon be fast-tracking the Pembrokeshire product into his senior squad.

Allen’s burgeoning reputation was enhanced last month by a winner for the Wales Under-21s in Sweden and Martinez is on record as saying that a career in the Premier League beckons.

Whatever the future holds for Allen, last night was about pitting his wits against clever operators like Chris Lumsdon and Paul Thirlwell in a Carlisle side occupying third place.

Except that Thirlwell was forced off as early as the seventh minute, by which time Allen had already produced a couple of neat passes into the Swansea front men.

Allen had plenty to hit as Jason Scotland and Duffy were lively, the pair combining for a third-minute penalty shout.





Scotland sent Duffy through the heart of the Carlisle defence, but Paul Arnison just got a toe on the ball as the Scot was sent sprawling.

If that was unfortunate, Swansea’s next attack summed up Duffy’s luck in front of goal this season.

Leon Britton got the bounce of the ball to sprint away from his marker Zigor Aranalde and his cross found Duffy perfectly placed to sweep home his first goal of a frustrating campaign.

But the ball got stuck under Duffy’s feet and Carlisle breathed easily again.



Two minutes later the visitors bared their teeth for the first time when Arnison was allowed enough freedom down Swansea’s left to provide Martinez with sleepless nights.

Arnison’s cross was matched by the quality of Jeff Smith’s run across the near post and his flick seemed destined for the net until Dorus de Vries stuck out a foot.

Scotland skewed wide from 20 yards and Garry Monk saw a header diverted onto the post, though the centre-back was penalised for pushing, but the contest was starting to take the pattern of previous home games against Forest and Doncaster.


There was plenty of endeavour and movement, but that all-important goal proved elusive.

Carlisle were as resilient as Martinez had predicted and careful not to over-commit men forward, though when they did they hinted that there could be some reward at the end of it.

As another goalless half drew to a close, Swansea’s anxiety reached new levels.

Robinson advanced to unleash a powerful effort which Westwood parried, Scotland’s follow-up blocked by the head of Arnison.



Britton’s twinkle toes then dazzled two Carlisle defenders, but his cross-shot had too much venom for Duffy to reach at the far post.

But the best opening fell in first-half injury time when Allen did brilliantly to pick out an unmarked Duffy from eight yards out.

At the tail end of last season, when Duffy found the net five times in as many games, the Scot’s header would have flown in, but this time Westwood stretched his fingertips to take the ball over the bar.

How costly that missed chance was became quickly apparent when Carlisle struck within two minutes of the restart.



Monk’s clearing header squirmed across the box and hit an unsuspecting Britton, who was unable to recover in time to stop Smith sneaking in with the goal at his mercy.

When Smith crashed to earth, Britton must have feared a red card, but referee Clive Penton showed leniency to brandish only a yellow.

However, substitute Danny Graham handed Swansea the ultimate punishment when he coolly stroked home the penalty as de Vries went the other way.



The dimming of Swansea’s bright start was symbolised by the loss of Allen, who was the victim of a heavy tackle and limped off to be replaced by Tommy Butler near the hour mark.

And Carlisle were not content just to sit on their lead, Graham admonishing himself for failing to snatch his second after a dreadful mix-up between Monk and Dennis Lawrence from Westwood’s goal-kick.

Martinez had to act and he responded by sending on Anderson for Kevin Austin and changing the formation with a three-man defence and asking his subs to raid down the flanks.

The move almost paid instant dividends when Butler swung over a corner to the penalty spot and Lawrence climbed highest, but again Westwood was equal to the challenge.

Swans’ hopes were fading fast, but that late double whammy restored faith and lifted them into the top half of the table. It was just about deserved.



Swansea City 2 Carlisle 1 - Report by Mike Thomas, Pictures Andrew Thomas

I thought the boys put in an excellent performance last night and showed great patience and resilience after underservedly going one down.

Something that annoyed me intensely was the impatience of a certain section of the so called Swans supporters who were only too willing to get on the players' backs because they didn't perceive them to be playing 'directly' enough when chasing the game, especially directing abuse against Pratley and Robbo. A message for these morons - this is the way most games at the Liberty will pan out this season. You need to be patient. Sometimes we'll break them down, hopefully most times, and sometimes we won't. If you want to see us really rip teams apart, you'll have to go to the away games.

Teams will come to Swansea to shut up shop against us, and if we gift them a goal start like we did last night, they will do it in spades. It's no good hitting long hopeful balls forward when they've got ten men behind the ball, we need to retain possession and keep probing like we did last night. Excellent substitutions by Roberto, too, bringing on Butler and Anderson to look for ways to get behind them down the flanks.

My player ratings:
De Vries 7.5 - not too much to do, but rock solid when he came under pressure late in the game.
Rangel 6.5 - got skinned a few times early on, but came into his own when given more licence to attack in the second half as Carlisle sat back.
Monk 8.5 - back to his best, led the line superbly well, read the game well, uncompromising in the air and on the ground.
Lawrence 7 - after his recent poor form, he needed to put in this solid display. Got much tighter to his man last night - coaching last week?
Austin 7 - often found himself exposed when given possession with players bearing down on him, but never embarrassed us. Did a lot of fruitless overlapping with no return ball from Robbo. Solid and reliable as always.
Britton 6.5 - frustrating mixture of brilliance on the ball in approach play in the last third, but as usual not delivering the final killer pass or shot. Except once - lovely work to put a little chip right on Duffy's head eight yards out for 'certain' goal which Scotsman put straight at keeper.
Allen 7 - very energetic and mature display from the youngster until he got crocked by 'studs up' tackle early in second half. Always eager and avilable to take a short pass and move ball on intelligently. A great prospect.
Pratley 6.5 - tremendous workrate, but a lot of it seems to little purpose as he tracks sideways and backwards. Also guilty of more stray passing than normal. I'd like Roberto to coach him to be a little more direct and take the occasional forward run. No shooting, apart from one volley outside the area which hit the corner flag.
Robbo 7 - Carlisle had done their homework and he was double-marked out of the game throughout the first half. Became far more involved when Anderson came on as left wing back and really got going in the last quarter, cutting inside with purpose. Great shot which the keeper spilled, leading to Duffy's equaliser. A high score for someone who did little? Yes, but what he did was immeasurably important - he was the man who made things happen goalwise (again). He'd be the first name on my teamsheet every time at the moment.
Scotland 7.5 - great unselfish performance of targetman play, took a hell of a kicking but just got on with it, held the ball up really well and tried to bring others into play every time.
Duffy 6.5 - missed two absolute sitters in the first half, but finally got his name on the scoresheet, which did wonders for his confidence. If you want a masterclass in how a striker should move, just stop watching the ball and follow his off-the-ball running instead for a minute. Ghosts off the marker and makes space for himself beautifully, just can't pop them into the net at the moment.
Subs:

Butler 7 - I'm not a big fan, but he did well last night, more direct than usual and probed well down the right, making half chances against a packed defence.
Anderson 7.5 - little opportunity to shine, but caused problems every time he had the ball, and also released Robbo to be more direct down the middle. Great cut inside and shot for the winner - priceless.

I was really chuffed when we got our just rewards by playing patient and intelligent football against a brick wall defence, and as I said before, despite the hostile reaction of one section of the crowd - you lot can stay at home, boys, we don't need your sort of 'support'. See you at Cheltenham. Swansea: De Vries, Austin (Anderson 70), Lawrence, Monk, Rangel, Britton, Pratley, Robinson, Allen (Butler 59), Scotland (Feeney 90), Duffy.
Subs Not Used: Knight, O'Leary.
Booked: Britton.
Goals: Duffy 81, Robinson 83.
Carlisle: Westwood, Raven, Aranalde, Livesey, Arnison, Bridge-Wilkinson, Lumsdon, Thirlwell (Graham 7), Smith, Garner (Murphy 73), Gall (Carlton 85).
Subs Not Used: Howarth, Hackney.
Booked: Lumsdon, Carlton.
Goals: Graham 48 pen.
Att: 11,354
Ref: Clive Penton (Sussex).

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