Match Report

Video Clip of Robinson's Penalty

Finally we get the reward that our enterprising and fluent style deserves, overcoming a plucky and dangerous home side with some style. But strangely, it was also a game which planted more seeds of doubt than either of the previous two league games. These doubts being predicated mainly on the centre of our defence, which at times today looked shaky to the point of sheer panic. It would have been evident to most observers where we need to strengthen if we are to mount a serious challenge for automatic promotion. But that shouldn't detract from what was undoubtedly a stylish and thoroughly deserved victory.




The team lined up with DeVries in goal, Austin at left back (late replacement for the injured Painter), Rangel at right back, and Lawrence and Monk as the centre half pairing. Robinson and Britton were wide left and right respectively with Pratley and Bodde continuing their flowering centre midfield partnership. As expected, Scotland partnered Duffy up front.

The game began in baking hot conditions which were not to relent throughout the game. The Swans attempted to play their neat passing game from the off, but it was the home side who picked up the pace quicker in the opening exchanges. In the first minute, Lawrence made the first of a series of errors when he let in the nippy Ishmael for a pot at goal, easily saved by Devries. A few minutes later, Butler forced DeVries into a similar low save, and then on 7 minutes, a routine cross shot from Paul Hall, raiding down our left side, took out our entire defence, including the stretching keeper, allowing Butler to touch home off the far post. A routine goal giving the home side the start that our lacklustre approach deserved.



Fortunately, this sparked us into life, and within three minutes we were back on level terms. Robinson received the ball in a wide left position, cut inside his two markers and unleashed a trademark low drive on goal. The ball appeared to take a deflection before flummoxing the hapless keeper and ending up in the middle of the goal. It was a case of "make your own luck" - any low driving shot, well struck, has a chance of scoring, and Robbo is once again looking very dangerous in these positions. Suddenly our game was flowing, and Bodde and Pratley began to boss the midfield. Some excellent Swans moves followed, resulting in a Scotland shot blocked and a Robinson free kick comfortably saved.

The game was transformed now, and with our "front six" showing excellent movement and interplay it seemed only a matter of time before we would edge ahead. The reward came on 26 minutes, when Scotland this time picked up the ball in a wide left position, cutting inside and firing in a low shot. Again, there appeared to be a deflection, and this time the home side thought they had cleared it off the line - only for the linesman to give the goal. Television replays will be interesting, but the Swans players appeared in no doubt.

A minute later we nearly killed the game, when more great play from Scotland set up Britton in the area for a shot - his effort blocked. More fluent play followed - an excellent passing move involving Robbo, Pratley and Britton resulted in a Scotland shot blocked. A minute later Duffy almost cantered through from a Pratley ball, and on 32 minutes Robinson shot wide after more enterprising play from Pratley. At this point our dominance was so complete, that it came as a shock when there was a sudden riposte from the home side, who forced a series of chances in the space of a few minutes just after the half-hour. First, an optimistic lob almost caught out DeVries as he watched it sail over his head and bounce of the foot of the post - he reacted well to save the rebound. Another scare followed a minute later with a low cross which skimmed across our six-yard box with no intervention from our defence before Lawrence skied his clearance. Then from a corner a bullet header from a Walsall player was clearedbrilliantly off the line by Britton, who had to juggle the ball with his head to complete the clearance. The Swans weathered the storm and gathered themselves again - in the final moments of the half a magnificent ball from Robinson found Duffy in the area, but his effort was blocked.



There was a sense of calm among the excellent travelling contingent at half time - clearly pleased with the performance and confident a win would follow, but the first goal was clearly going to be crucial in the second half. And it was a lively start to the second period, with end-to-end attacks - Bodde created a chance for Robinson who fired over, and Britton robbed a defender in the box but failed to execute his cross effectively. For the home side, a shot from a corner was driven over the bar and another effort from Ishmael went over our bar.

Walsall would not lie down, but we were playing some lovely football in attack. On 55 minutes another exquisite ball from Robinson picked out a run across the box from Duffy, who swivelled and shot, only to see his effort blocked at close range. A minute later a cross-field pass from Bodde was chested on by Robinson to Scotland whose shot was again blocked. But Walsall continued to have a say, and Edrissa Sonko evaded Lawrence to fire in a low shot which DeVries handled well. But on 67 minutes we made the game relatively safe when a through ball sent Duffy through on goal. The striker carried the ball into the area and drew a clumsy foul from Ian Roper, who was sent off for his efforts. Robinson rattled home the penalty with ease.



The was definitely what our outstanding attacking play deserved, and we continued to press forward looking for more goals, but there was still time for some butterflies to be experienced before we closed the game out. On 69 minutes though we produced another fine move - this time a one-two between Scotland and Robinson resulting in a Robbo shot which was (like many efforts today) blocked by a defender. On 70 minutes the tiring Pratley was robbed in possession and we had to make a desperate clearance from inside our six-yard box. Shortly afterwards, Craney replaced Pratley in the centre of midfield. On 80 minutes Scotland appeared to be felled by the home the keeper, but this time we did not get the decision from the official - although curiously he did not book Scotland for any kind of dive. On 85 minutes Lawrence was robbed and once again DeVries had to make a sharp save. From the resulting corner another free header for a Walsall attacker had to be cleared off our line. In the final few moments, Sctland set up Anderson in the box and again he appeared to be fouled - but no penalty was given. In the end it was a victory well deserved, but with our defence never at any stage looking comfortable.

DeVries - 8 One flap but otherwise excellent.
Rangel - 7 the pick of a shaky defence
Austin - 6 worked hard sometimes in adversity
Monk - 6 Not a distinguished afternoon for the centre of our defence which looked exposed far too often
Lawrence - 5 Was sometimes at panic stations in the second half and seemed to visibly lose confidence as the game went on.
Britton - 7 a slow start but a terrific second half in which he terrorised the left side of the home defence; that's more like it from the little guy
Robinson - 9 (MOM) Two goals and some terrific balls played through to the strikers. A great 90-minute effort from a guy who is really maturing as a player.
Pratley - 7 Terrific for an hour, linking brilliantly with Bodde and the front two. Faded and was rightly substituted after 70 minutes. Needs to work on the fitness still.
Bodde - 8 Another stylish and cultured performance - a playmaker with real bite
Duffy - 7 Some excellent movement and drew the foul for the clinching goal; lacking some sharpness
Scotland - 8 strong on the ball and always dangerous; a great centre forward display.
Craney - 7 a tenacious 20 minutes. Injecting forward momentum into the midfield
Anderson - Only on for a few minutes - very speedy but lacks composure
O'Leary - Came on only for the last couple of minutes.

So a very satisfactory day for the most part. Three points against decent opposition, who will certainly not be whipping boys in this division and whose home record is excellent. But we did get some good fortune today - which had eluded us in the previous two league games - and the coaching team will know that it could have been a difference outcome. In particular, they will know (if they didn't already) that the centre of our defence is being stretched by any amount of pace, and needs to be strengthened. But we should also remember that our natural attacking style, which is scintillating to watch at times, will result in the opposition getting chances - hopefully in DeVries we have the man to foil them. It was notable that even when we were 3 -1 up we were still pouring forward in pursuit of more goals, clearly taking the view that attack is the best form of defence. If the reception from the travelling contingent was anything to go by, then that's the way most Swans fans would want it!


Walsall 1 Swansea City 3 - Report by Mike Thomas, Pictures Dai Smith

Just got back from the match. This isn't a full match report, but just to give you a flavour....

Weather conditions sunny and sweltering, pitch perfect, home crowd about 4k plus about 1500 travelling Jacks in great voice, first appearance of Swans' controversial blue away strip. Surpised to see Painter missing from line-up, assume he's taken a knock in training?

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