Match Report

Swans took another step toward promotion with a hard earned three points against a resilient if somewhat negative Luton.  

Roberto Martinez seems to have had a charmed life with injuries so far this season but in recent weeks injuries to Guillem Bauza, Paul Anderson and Dennis Lawrence have tested the squad.  

After the disappointing result in the JPT Southern Area Final on Tuesday, the visit of lowly Luton seemed the ideal opportunity for the Swans to bounce back.  

Side- De Vries, Rangel, Monk, Tate, Painter, Butler, Britton, Bodde, Pratley, Robinson, Scotland.  Subs- Austin, O’Leary, McDonald, Brandy, Duffy.   

Luton set their stall out early on, leaving two strikers unsupported, defending in  numbers and closing down as soon as any Swans player was in possession.  

Swans tried to play football from the off but Luton’s approach and a weak referee in  Mr Penn conspired to make the first half very frustrating.  

Mr Penn allowed shocking early challenges from Matthew Spring and Lewis Emanuel to go unpunished, allowing each player to get away with a ticking off. Spring failed to learn the lesson and picked up a yellow card for another awful challenge, this time on Ferie Bodde.  

Swans had only 2 shots on goal in the first half, a weak effort from Ferrie Bodde and a snapshot from Andy Robinson. Both were easily dealt with by Dean Brill in the Luton goal.  

Luton offered next to nothing going forward but had the half’s best chance when Drew Talbot had a free header from 10 yards that flashed wide.  

Swans started the second half with more urgency, but Luton’s tenacity, time wasting and physical approach were still making life difficult.  

Jason Scotland went close to breaking the deadlock but was denied by a good save from Brill and whilst it was more or less one way traffic toward the Luton goal, Steve Robinson came close to providing a shock only being denied by a fine save from Dorus de Vries.  

Mr Penn missed or rather bottled a clear penalty when Darren Pratley was pushed in the area as the frustration grew and grew.

Swans were turning up the pressure minute by minute. Sol Davis, who was another who really should have been booked in the first half, hacked Tom Butler down on the hour and finally got his yellow card.  

Ten minutes later and Davis once more hacked Butler down and left  Mr Penn with no choice but to show him his second yellow card. The sending off lifted the crowd and provided further impetus to the Swans as an attacking force.

 Tom Butler went close with a dipping shot that was inches over the bar.

On 76 minutes Leon Britton limped off to be replaced by Febian Brandy and within two minutes Swans had taken the lead.

Darren Pratley hit a long cross field ball that replacement left back Alan Goodall tried to cut out. Butler got a touch in front of Goodall and left the substitute for dead. From 25 yards everyone was expecting a pass or cross but Butler hit a low right shot that seemed to catch Brill back on his heels and the ball went in off the inside of the far post. It was no more than Swans deserved.  

Down to ten men there was no way back for Luton. Kris O’Leary replaced Ferrie Bodde five minutes from time with the Dutchman looking to having picked up a shoulder injury. He went straight down the tunnel with the Doctor.  

Another scare in injury time when Angel Rangel twice pulled up holding his hamstring.  

This was our tenth consecutive home League win, something I can’t remember in 40 odd years of following the Swans. We are now an incredible 14 points clear at the top but Roberto’s good fortune with injuries seems to have well and truly come to an end.  

Ratings-  

De Vries 7 – One great save but a quiet night otherwise.
Rangel 7 – Another good display. Let’s hope his hamstring is OK.
Monk 8 – Mr Dependable. Did totally miss a free header from a corner. Funny how defenders never do things like that in their own area.
Tate 6 – Very shaky first half.
Painter 7 – Solid in defence and got forward at every opportunity.
Butler 8 – A good performance capped with a great goal.
Britton 7 – Never stop running.
Bodde 6 – A long way off his best.
Pratley 7 – Got stronger and stronger as the game went on.
Robinson 6 – Another who was well short of his best tonight.
Scotland 7 – Worked his socks off.

 Subs-

Brandy 7 – Caused panic with his pace.
O’Leary – Only on a few minutes.    

Swansea: De Vries, Tate, Painter, Monk, Rangel, Bodde (O'Leary 86), Britton (Brandy 77), Pratley, Robinson, Butler, Scotland. Subs Not Used: Austin, Duffy, MacDonald.

Goals: Butler 79. Luton: Brill, Perry, Davis, Jackson, Keane, Emanuel, Spring, Bell, Robinson (Andrew 84), Talbot (Goodall 72), Parkin (Furlong 66). Subs Not Used: Beresford, McVeigh. Sent Off: Davis (69). Booked: Spring, Davis. Att: 14,122 Ref: Andy Penn (W Midlands).

Pics  - Dai Smith