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Match Report

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Tuesday, 11th August 2009 Swansea City 3-0 Brighton

Swansea City 3-0 Brighton Match Report by Nigel Gigg , Match Pictures by Dai Smith More Match Pictures HERE It’s been a traumatic few months at the Liberty and everyone was looking forward to the season kicking off under the new ‘Sousa dynasty’. Things didn’t go exactly to plan with a disappointing defeat on Saturday at Leicester. But tonight gave the Swans the chance to kick start their season against League One opponents, and they didn’t disappoint with a comfortable 3-0 win with new boy Stephen Dobbie netting twice.   International calls and injuries had ravaged the squad and both the starting line up and bench had a few surprises. Matty Collins made a rare start and their were places on the bench for youngsters Kerry Morgan, Jamie Grimes and Chad Bond and the welcome return from injury of Marcos Painter.    Side- de Vries, Collins, Monk, Tate, Bessone, Dyer, Britton, Lopez, Gower, Orlandi, Dobbie. Subs- Rangel, Painter, Bauza, Morgan, Grimes, Pintado, Bond.   Swans started brightly and it was pleasing to see once more the spreading of the ball around the field. A change of Manager perhaps but still the free flowing football, or so it seems.   Garry Monk had the first clear opportunity of the game meeting a Mark Gower corner with his head, but from just 8 yards out and unchallenged he failed to get a decent connection and his header sailed over the bar.   Dyer created a great chance for Mark Gower after a terrific run and cross but Gower, with time and space, fired high wide and not very handsomely from 20 yards. New season same old problem in front of goal for the Swans winger.   It was all Swansea in the opening exchanges and the gulf in class was huge between the two sides. Brighton resorted to trying to outmuscle the Swans by both fair means and foul. Nathan Dyer in particular looked on song and it wasn’t long before his full back Jake Wright was booked after several poor challenges.   From the resultant free kick Swans took the lead. Andrea Orlandi fired a shot from fully 35 yards that Michael Kuipers in the Brighton goal couldn’t hold. Alan Tate followed up and his header came back off the post before deflecting back off the keeper to Garry Monk who headed into the net. It wasn’t the prettiest of goals but a goal that hopefully will kick start our season.   Stephen Dobbie almost doubled Swans lead after being put through by an excellent ball from Andrea Orlandi but the Scottish striker’s shot flew just wide of the post.   Nathan Dyer continued to cause Brighton and full back Wright all sorts of problems. After pulling Dyer down for the umpteenth time referee Mr Scott really should have shown Wright a red card. Instead he chose to give the full back a long lecture with Brighton’s captain called to the referee to witness the final, final warning.   On 37 minutes an intricate move down the Swans right involving Stephen Dobbie put Nathan Dyer away. The speedy winger burst into the box and with Kuipers racing off his line Dyer lifted the ball over the keepers dive into the path of Gower at the far post. With the goal at his mercy and the keeper stranded, somehow Gower managed to get the ball stuck under his feet and the chance was gone. It really was an absolute sitter and I’m afraid Gower’s nightmare in front of goal continues.   Swans really deserved more than the one goal lead they had at half time but Gower’s profligacy in front of goal and Mr Scott’s leniency had kept Brighton in the game.   Brighton made a couple of changes at half time with the hapless Wright being replaced. Swans took a while to reassert their authority in the second half. Just ten minutes into the half Jordi Lopez was replaced by Guillem Bauza. The change saw Orlandi drop back deeper in midfield with Bauza replacing Orlandi just behind Dobbie.   Swans almost got their second when Mark Gower put Stephen Dobbie through on goal with an excellent pass. The striker was only denied by an excellent save by Kuipers. Just a minute later, however, Dobbie was to have his goal.   An excellent Swans move saw Andrea Orlandi race down the left. His deep cross was met by Stephen Dobbie whose goal-bound header was again well saved by Kuipers. The keeper couldn’t hold onto the ball and Stephen Dobbie showed a real strikers instinct following up and prodding the ball into the net.   Immediately Paulo Souza replaced Matty Collins with Angel Rangel.   Garry Monk missed another great chance as Brighton again went to sleep at a corner. It really wasn’t much of a contest. Swans looked far superior in every department.   Kerry Morgan replaced Mark Gower after 72 minutes.   There was a worrying few minutes late on when Stephen Dobbie went down holding his left leg. After lengthy treatment on and off the field he was able to come back on and indeed he was to finish things off rather nicely.   With the game deep into injury time Dobbie received the ball deep inside the Brighton area. He expertly lifted the ball over Kuipers before rounding the keeper and tapping in. Who needs Jason Scotland?   Ratings   de Vries 7 – Had virtually nothing to do.   Collins 6 – Did Ok but when Angel Rangel came on it was all too apparent the gulf in class between the two. Monk 8 – Defended superbly and scored a rare goal. Tate 7 – Strange to see him back in the centre of defence. Let nobody down. Bessone 8 – If rumours of his impending departure are to be believed he may just have given Paulo Sousa second thoughts.  Superb going forward first half and never beaten in defence.   Dyer 9 – Man of the match. A real livewire tonight. His full back will be having nightmares remembering the grilling he was given. Britton 8 – Controlled the midfield. Lopez 8 – Solid as a rock. Does the simple things well. Gower 7 – Approach play was quite good. After his dreadful miss he seemed to have lost confidence.   Orlandi 8 – Excellent in the forward midfield role.   Dobbie 9 -  Worked his socks off and deserved his brace.   Subs-   Bauza 7 – Another whose place is apparently at risk. A livewire for 30 minutes but control lets him down too often. Rangel 8 – Made such a difference to us going forward. Morgan 7 – A few nice touches.    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.