Match Report

Swans produced a magnificent second half performance and a solitary goal from a sweetly struck free kick from Jordi Gomez was enough to secure the all important win.

Roberto Martinez game of bluff and double bluff had many fans panicking as to the side he would put out against our bitterest rivals. As it turned out he played probably the strongest side he could with Jason Scotland, Tom Butler and Mark Gower all returning. Jordi Gomez whose appearances as substitute have been getting better and better was given his chance ahead of Darren Pratley.

Cardiff made three changes from last Saturday and started with leading scorer Ross Mc Cormack on the bench.

Side- de Vries, Rangel, Monk, Williams, Bessone, Gower, Britton, Bodde, Gomez, Butler, Scotland. Subs- Krysiak, Tate, Serran, Tudur Jones, Orlandi, Brandy, Pintado.

With a tremendous atmosphere inside the ground, several players seemed to suffer with nerves early on and Cardiff had much the better of the early exchanges.

As early as the 3rd minute Paul Parry put a deep cross to the far post and Steve McPhail found himself up against Leon Britton. Leon was never going to beat McPhail in the air but did enough to put the Cardiff midfielder under pressure and his header went well over.

The Swans crowd certainly didn’t need lifting but Joe Ledley managed to do exactly that with an absolutely dreadful challenge on Leon Britton, much as he had stated he was going to do. Thankfully, he failed in his aim of putting Leon out of the game but earned himself a yellow card.

Jordi Gomez came close with a left foot shot that Peter Enckelman in the Cardiff goal did well to turn around the post. However, this was against the run of play as Cardiff continued to dominate.

Cardiff were harrying Swans out of their stride and we were unable to get the ball on the ground or retain possession for any length of time.

There was further problems for Swans from a Joe Ledley free kick. Dorus de Vries really should have come for the cross and Roger Johnson rose high above Ashley Williams but headed over.

Dorus redeemed himself with an excellent save from Jay Boothroyd after an excellent Cardiff move that cut the Swansea defence to ribbons.

After around half an hour Swans seemed to settle into the game and get the upper hand. Cardiff no longer seemed able to disrupt Swans possession and at last the ball was finding feet.

On the stroke of half time, Jason Scotland for the first time in the game got away from Darren Purse and fired a low right foot shot that Enckelman saved with his feet. The ball ballooned up and luckily for Enckelman ended up on the roof of the net.

The stale mate at half time was probably more of a relief to Roberto Martinez than Dave Jones but Swans improved showing in the last 15 minutes of the half was encouraging.

At half time Cardiff’s leading scorer Ross McCormack replaced the ineffective Eddie Johnson.

Swans started the second half looking the more confident and Jason Scotland had a penalty appeal turned down by Mr Wiley despite the howls of all the Swans fans around the ground.

On 55 minutes Mark Gower was brought down just outside the box by Steven McPhail who was walking a tight rope after a first half yellow card and a string of poor challenges.

Jordi Gomez hammered the free kick low and hard, it took a deflection off Gavin Rae in the wall, who seemed to have turned his back on the shot. Peter Enckelman got a hand to the ball but the terrific pace on it was too much for him and the ball nestled in the top corner of the net. The celebrations around three sides of the ground were just amazing. Every knows the League is the priority but going 1-0 up against Cardiff is special, whatever competition it is.

A few minutes later and Mark Gower went down after crossing the ball. He was not challenged and seemed to have tweaked something. He was carried off to be replaced by Gorka Pintado.

The substitution saw Swans go to 4-4-2 with Jordi Gomez replacing Mark Gower on the right of midfield.

Steven McPhail produced yet another poor challenge, this time on Jordi Gomez. Mr Wiley called McPhail and captain Darren Purse over for a long lecture leaving nobody in any doubt this was his final warning.

Five minutes later and McPhail yet again dived in on Gomez leaving Mr Wiley with his easiest decision of the night, a second yellow and red card.

With Cardiff down to ten and Swans already dominant the result should not have been in doubt. However, Swans twice needed the linesman’s offside flag to deny Cardiff.

Gorka Pintado had a chance with a header but headed straight into the arms of Enckelman.

Swans were in total control by now and Cardiff became more and more desperate and several Cardiff players lost their discipline. There were further yellow cards brandished to Cardiff players and Ross McCormack was lucky his wasn’t red for a dreadful lunge yet again on Jordi Gomez.

You may have expected a final onslaught by Cardiff on the Swansea goal but it was Swans who looked the more likely scorers with Gorka Pintado having another golden opportunity that he spurned. Thankfully, it barely mattered and Mr Wiley’s final whistle saw joyous scenes with 16,500 beaming faces lighting up the night sky.

Ratings-

De Vries 7 – More good than bad tonight.

Rangel 8 – Another great showing.
Monk 8 – Dealt with whatever Cardiff could throw at him.
Williams 7 – Started shakily but excellent second half.
Bessone 7 – Kept Paul Parry quiet all night.

Gower 7 – Some lovely touches.
Britton 9 – Outstanding.
Bodde 7 – Solid as a rock and not a single bad challenge.
Gomez 8 – Pushed Leon for MOM.
Butler 7 – Decent game but reluctant to take on the full back.

Scotland 7 – Finally did receive some more support.

Subs-

Pintado 7 – Spurned a couple of chances.
Brandy 7 – Only given 5 minutes but his pace caused Cardiff problems.

Would you like your match report printed here? Email it to the site straight after the match.
Click here to return to the main page.