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Match Report


Saturday, 16th January 2010
Swansea City 1-0 Leicester City

Swansea City 1-0 Leicester City
Match Report by Nigel Gigg

A Gorka Pintado first half goal was the highlight as Swans produced a hard working performance to secure three points and climb to the dizzy heights of  4th in the Coca Cola Championship.

 

Paulo Sousa made a few changes to the side after the prolonged break caused by the recent cold weather.

 

Swans first League game of 2010 brought the return visit of Leicester City. Swans lost to Leicester on the first day of the season by two goals to one and suffered a similar score line in the recent FA cup game. On both occasions Swans seemed to have been muscled out of the game after leading at half time.

 

No Swans game seems complete these days without a Paulo surprise and today’s saw Ashley Williams starting on the bench.

 

The game didn’t have the brightest of starts. Heavy drizzle turned to heavy rain and both sets of defences were on top early on.

 

The games first chance fell to Matt Fryatt who somehow lost Garry Monk and found himself unmarked at the far post. Thankfully he miscued with the goal at his mercy.

 

The game settled down with Leicester seemingly content to sit back, soak up pressure and try to catch Swans on the break.

 

Neither keeper had anything to do aside from taking the odd goal kick.

 

Swans had a couple of long range efforts from Darren Pratley and Joe Allen but neither threatened the goal.

 

It looked nailed on that Swans would fail to score in the first half yet again until the 31st minute when Swans produced a move of sheer class.

 

Darren Pratley slid a defence spltting pass to Nathan Dyer out wide on the right. The winger’s inch perfect near post cross was met by Gorka Pintado who made no mistake from 8 yards out to put the Swans ahead.

 

You would have expected Leicester’s game plan to change immediately. However, they continued to sit back and soak up pressure and Swans dominated possession up to half time without troubling Chris Weale in the Foxes goal.

 

So, Swans went in at half time ahead for the first time this season in a League game at the Liberty.  

 

Swans were almost caught cold at the start of the second half but Leicester spurned a couple of half chances.

 

Gorka Pintado had a couple of chances both from David Coterrill crosses. The first he couldn’t quite get his head to, the second was a gilt edged chance that he should have scored from.

 

Leicester made a double substitution that almost paid immediate dividends with a strong case for a penalty turned aside by referee Mr Graham.

 

Swans were starting to look a little shaky at the back and Darren Pratley and Alan Tate both made poor errors that again Leicester failed to capitalise on.

 

With Leicester looking more and more dangerous Paulo Sousa bought on Albert Serran to play deep in midfield with Leon Britton at the expense of Joe Allen.

 

Leicester made their last substitution with Dany N’Guessan, who must love playing against us having scored the winner in both this seasons previous encounters, replacing Lloyd Dyer.

 

N’Guessan was soon into the action. A Leicester move down the right saw Martin Waghorn hit a cross/shot that had Dorus de Vries diving full length to keep out. N’Guessan coming in at the far post had an open goal at his mercy but incredibly shot straight back across goal into the arms of Dorus de Vries.

 

With nerves on edge, Paulo Sousa tightened things up even further with Ashley Willaims replacing Fede Bessone and Craig Beattie coming on for Gorka Pintado.

 

Swans saw out the last 15 minutes without too much trouble but going forward it seemed only four players in Cotterill, Dyer, Pratley and Beattie ever crossed the half way line.

 

So, three magnificent points and Paolo Sousa once more shows his winning mentality. At times it may not be attack minded by nobody can deny it’s effectiveness with Swans fourt in the Championship.

 

Ratings-

 

De Vries 7 – Fairly easy day.

 

Rangel 7 – Quiet game, defended well.

Tate 7 – One dreadful error but solid otherwise.

Monk 6 – Some uncharacteristic slip ups.

Bessone 7 – Another decent shift.

 

Dyer 7 – Constant threat down either flank.

Pratley 7 – Back approaching something like his best.

Britton 8 – Just about shaded man of the match for me for his work rate.  

Allen 6 – Not quite firing at the moment.

 

Pintado 7 – Usual 100% effort but for once capped with a goal.

 

Subs-

 

Serran 6 – Did a job sitting deep and tidying up. Went off injured in injury time.

Williams  7 – Surprise omission. Did well late on.

Beattie 6 – Lacked any sort of support late on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swansea City 1-0 Leicester City
Match Report by Nigel Gigg

A Gorka Pintado first half goal was the highlight as Swans produced a hard working performance to secure three points and climb to the dizzy heights of  4th in the Coca Cola Championship.

 

Paulo Sousa made a few changes to the side after the prolonged break caused by the recent cold weather.

 

Swans first League game of 2010 brought the return visit of Leicester City. Swans lost to Leicester on the first day of the season by two goals to one and suffered a similar score line in the recent FA cup game. On both occasions Swans seemed to have been muscled out of the game after leading at half time.

 

No Swans game seems complete these days without a Paulo surprise and today’s saw Ashley Williams starting on the bench.

 

The game didn’t have the brightest of starts. Heavy drizzle turned to heavy rain and both sets of defences were on top early on.

 

The games first chance fell to Matt Fryatt who somehow lost Garry Monk and found himself unmarked at the far post. Thankfully he miscued with the goal at his mercy.

 

The game settled down with Leicester seemingly content to sit back, soak up pressure and try to catch Swans on the break.

 

Neither keeper had anything to do aside from taking the odd goal kick.

 

Swans had a couple of long range efforts from Darren Pratley and Joe Allen but neither threatened the goal.

 

It looked nailed on that Swans would fail to score in the first half yet again until the 31st minute when Swans produced a move of sheer class.

 

Darren Pratley slid a defence spltting pass to Nathan Dyer out wide on the right. The winger’s inch perfect near post cross was met by Gorka Pintado who made no mistake from 8 yards out to put the Swans ahead.

 

You would have expected Leicester’s game plan to change immediately. However, they continued to sit back and soak up pressure and Swans dominated possession up to half time without troubling Chris Weale in the Foxes goal.

 

So, Swans went in at half time ahead for the first time this season in a League game at the Liberty.  

 

Swans were almost caught cold at the start of the second half but Leicester spurned a couple of half chances.

 

Gorka Pintado had a couple of chances both from David Coterrill crosses. The first he couldn’t quite get his head to, the second was a gilt edged chance that he should have scored from.

 

Leicester made a double substitution that almost paid immediate dividends with a strong case for a penalty turned aside by referee Mr Graham.

 

Swans were starting to look a little shaky at the back and Darren Pratley and Alan Tate both made poor errors that again Leicester failed to capitalise on.

 

With Leicester looking more and more dangerous Paulo Sousa bought on Albert Serran to play deep in midfield with Leon Britton at the expense of Joe Allen.

 

Leicester made their last substitution with Dany N’Guessan, who must love playing against us having scored the winner in both this seasons previous encounters, replacing Lloyd Dyer.

 

N’Guessan was soon into the action. A Leicester move down the right saw Martin Waghorn hit a cross/shot that had Dorus de Vries diving full length to keep out. N’Guessan coming in at the far post had an open goal at his mercy but incredibly shot straight back across goal into the arms of Dorus de Vries.

 

With nerves on edge, Paulo Sousa tightened things up even further with Ashley Willaims replacing Fede Bessone and Craig Beattie coming on for Gorka Pintado.

 

Swans saw out the last 15 minutes without too much trouble but going forward it seemed only four players in Cotterill, Dyer, Pratley and Beattie ever crossed the half way line.

 

So, three magnificent points and Paolo Sousa once more shows his winning mentality. At times it may not be attack minded by nobody can deny it’s effectiveness with Swans fourt in the Championship.

 

Ratings-

 

De Vries 7 – Fairly easy day.

 

Rangel 7 – Quiet game, defended well.

Tate 7 – One dreadful error but solid otherwise.

Monk 6 – Some uncharacteristic slip ups.

Bessone 7 – Another decent shift.

 

Dyer 7 – Constant threat down either flank.

Pratley 7 – Back approaching something like his best.

Britton 8 – Just about shaded man of the match for me for his work rate.  

Allen 6 – Not quite firing at the moment.

 

Pintado 7 – Usual 100% effort but for once capped with a goal.

 

Subs-

 

Serran 6 – Did a job sitting deep and tidying up. Went off injured in injury time.

Williams  7 – Surprise omission. Did well late on.

Beattie 6 – Lacked any sort of support late on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swansea City 1-0 Leicester City
Match Report by Western Mail

GORKA PINTADO’S first goal in 10 months was enough to secure a vital three points for Swansea City as they edged out play-off rivals Leicester in a tense affair at the Liberty Stadium.

In a game of few chances, Spanish striker Pintado was on hand to cooly volley home a first-half winner as Paulo Sousa’s men gained sweet revenge for previous league and cup defeats this season.

With both teams failing to make the most of the precious few chances they created in a nervy second half, it was to prove the decisive moment as the Welshman moved up to fourth in the Championship table.

Considering both teams are flying high in the play-offs, this always promised to be an entertaining affair.

And, with some nice moves at either end, that proved to be the case in a lively opening 15 minutes.

While the Swans had some good efforts from long-range, Darren Pratley and Fede Bessone shooting just over, the best chance fell to the Foxes as Andy King flicked on Paul Gallagher’s cross.

But, with Dorus de Vries stranded, Matty Fryatt couldn’t keep his effort on target.

But, as has been the case in their two previous encounters, Swansea soon started to take control.

And, just like the two previous games, it wasn’t long before they took the lead.

It was a goal of some class too as Pintado finally found the net for the first time in nine games.

Pratley released Nathan Dyer down the right and, as the winger clipped in a delicate cross from the by-line, ‘El Toro’ was perfectly placed to volley home from six yards.

Having lost from winning positions in the last two encounters, the Swans continued to push forwards for the all-important second goal.

But, with Pratley curling his effort narrowly wide in the 41st minute, they had to settle for a one-goal lead at half-time.

Unsurprisingly, Leicester came out for the second half intent on putting their hosts’ lead under pressure.

With some sloppy Swans passes gifting them opportunities, they started to look increasingly dangerous.

Chances though, remained few and far between. And, when one did come, it fell to Pintado only for the Spaniard to scuff his effort over after good work from David Cotterill.

The Foxes finally got the opening the deserved in the 74th minute when some clever passing put substitute Martyn Waghorn through in the box.

But, after a superb save from de Vries presented Danny N’Guessan with an open goal, the winger side-footed his effort straight back at the grateful Dutchman.

Despite plenty of late pressure, it was to prove the last real chance of note for Nigel Pearson's men.

And, even with substitute Albert Serran hobbling off to leave them down to 10 men, Pintado’s goal was enough as the Swans held on for a crucial win.

SWANSEA CITY: De Vries, Rangel, Tate, Monk (capt), Bessone (Williams 78); Britton, Allen (Serran 73), Pratley; Cotterill, Dyer; Pintado (Beattie 78).

Subs not used: Cornell, Butler, Gower, Trundle.

LEICESTER CITY: Weale, Morrison, Brown, Hobbs, McGivern; Oakley (capt), King, Dyer (N’Guessan 72); Gallagher, Kermorgant (Waghorn 60), Fryatt (Howard 60).

Subs not used: Neilson, Logan, Wellens, Powell.

Referee: Fred Graham (Essex)

Attendance: 15,037


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