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Swansea City 2-3 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Saturday, 6th Oct 2018 17:22

Trevoh Chalobah’s 84th minute header saw Town to their first victory of the Paul Hurst era as the Blues beat Swansea City 3-2 in a topsy-turvy game at the Liberty Stadium. A Janoi Donacien own goal put the Swans in front in the eighth minute as the home side dominated but Gwion Edwards and Freddie Sears gave Town an unlikely lead via goals in the 27th and 31st minutes. The Blues held on to their lead until the 79th minute when former loanee Bersant Celina lashed in an equaliser but Town weren’t to be denied the three points and Chalobah headed his second of the season five minutes later.

Edwards, Sears, Matthew Pennington and Andre Dozzell all started for the Blues with Jonas Knudsen, Jon Nolan, Kayden Jackson and Jordan Graham dropping to the bench having been in the XI which lost 2-0 to Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

Knudsen’s usual left-back role went to Donacien, who moved from right-back with Matthew Pennington returning after his one-match ban.

Skipper Luke Chambers and Toto Nsiala continued at the centre of the defence in front of keeper Dean Gerken.

Cole Skuse and Chalobah were in their usual deeper midfield roles with Dozzell, making his first start since the opening day of last season, coming in for Nolan ahead of them.

Edwards, facing the club where he came through the youth ranks, was on the right with Grant Ward on the left and Freddie Sears the lone striker.

Young striker Jack Lankester was on the bench for the senior side in a competitive fixture for the first time having been handed the number 36 shirt. Another academy product, left-back Bailey Clements, also made the trip to Wales but didn’t make the final 18.

Former Blues loanee Celina started for the Swans, while another of last season’s Town loan players, Cameron Carter-Vickers, was among their subs.

The home side threatened in the opening seconds, Town having lost the ball soon after kicking off. Dan James broke into the left of the box and hit a shot which Gerken blocked. Connor Roberts was unable to divert the rebound goalwards.

Town threatened for the first time in the third minute, Dozzell threading a pass through for Sears, who beat the offside trap and was in on goal. However, the ball seemed to get stuck under the former Colchester man’s feet and he was caught by Joe Rodon, who stabbed behind for a corner.

Aside from that chance - and it was a very decent opportunity - the early stages were dominated by Swansea and in the ninth minute they went in front via a Donacien own goal.

James sent a ball across the six-yard box from the left following a one-two with Celina which Oli McBurnie failed to reach. But Roberts crossed back in from the right and the ball beat Gerken off the St Lucian defender.

Ward shot from distance for Town on 10 but without significantly troubling Kristoffer Nordfeldt in the Swans goal.

Sears was subsequently sent away down the right channel and won a corner, Nsiala just failing to connect with a far-post header. Soon after, the former West Ham man broke away again but chipped his cross over the bar with his options in the box limited in any case.

On 20 the lively James again burst away behind the Blues’ backline on the left and as previously McBurnie was just unable to get a touch on his low cross.

James was giving Pennington a tough time and four minutes later he escaped again before cutting back to Celina, who fortunately for the Blues screwed his shot well wide.

It had been all Swansea but in the 27th minute Town equalised via former Swan and local boy Edwards's third goal of the season. Sears crossed superbly from the left and the winger nodded across Nordfeldt and into the net from a few yards out.


Four minutes later, the same pair combined in reverse to hand the Blues a lead which had looked hugely unlikely only moments earlier.

Sears fed Edwards on the right and broke forward into the area before flicking the Welshman’s ball into the box across Nordfeldt, although Swans skipper Van der Hoorn may have got the final touch. Nevertheless Sears celebrated and will presumably claim his first goal of the season.

Shocked Swansea went about trying to restore parity and went close in the 35th minute. Celina was sent away on the right of the box and played inside to McBurnie. The Scotland international cut past Pennington but was thwarted by Gerken who came out quickly to block his shot.

The Blues briefly found themselves under pressure but on 42 weren’t too far from a third. Edwards broke away down the right and sent the ball across the six-yard box but just too far in front of Sears.

Town ended the half with their lead still intact and with the Swans having continued to dominate possession but without creating a further chance.

The home side will have gone in scratching their heads wondering quite how they found themselves behind.

They had completely dominated the early stages and scored the early goal which ought to have seen them on the way to a comfortable half-time lead.

However, they were unable to profit from their advantage and Town twice caught them with a sucker punch with Sears and Edwards having created problems on the break all half and the Blues might even have added a third late on.

Both sides made a change at the break. Knudsen was restored to his regular left-back role for Donacien for the Blues, while the Swans swapped Kyle Naughton for Joel Asoro.

Celina blazed an early chance following a corner high and wide, then in the 50th minute Dozzell curled a freekick over after Ward had been fouled.

Sears continued to be a threat on the break for the Blues but the game quickly returned to a pattern similar to the first half with the Swans dominating possession for the most part but with Town now seeing more of the ball and probing deeper into the opposition half.

On 55 Swansea twice went close to levelling from a Celina corner on the right. Rodon headed against the bar, then Van der Hoorn nodded the rebound over. Three minutes later, the Swans switched George Byers for Leroy Fer.

Ward was inches away from adding a third for the Blues in the 59th minute. Dozzell wrong-footed a defender with a clever reverse pass, giving Ward space to break from midway inside the Swans half. Eventually the former Spurs man unleashed a 25-yard strike which flew not far past Nordfeldt’s left post.

The Welsh side went similarly close in the 63rd minute. Celina left Nsiala in his wake and played another low ball across the six-yard box from the left but once again just too far in front of McBurnie.

Swansea were beginning to up the pressure again and Van der Hoorn forced Gerken to save his flick following a corner on the right but having strayed offside. On 68 Dozzell was booked for time-wasting at a Swans freekick.

After a spell in which the Blues had begun to see more of the ball, the home side replaced Van der Hoorn with winger Barrie McKay as they moved to three at the back.

Seconds after the change Celina was played through on goal only to be thwarted by a superb sliding challenge from Chambers.

The game was becoming increasingly open and on 78 Sears broke away on the right and sent over a deep cross which the Swansea defence took several goes at clearing.

However, once they had managed to extricate it from their box and with Town having committed too many men forward, they scored the leveller via ex-Blues loanee Celina.

McKay fed Celina on halfway as the home side broke quickly and incisively and the Kosovan, who joined the Swans on a permanent basis in the summer from Manchester City, struck a powerful low effort from distance, which flew just inside Gerken’s left post.

While the Swans celebrated, Dozzell was subbed for Flynn Downes, a switch the Blues had been looking to do before the goal. Soon after the restart Chalobah was booked for a foul on Fer.

The momentum seemed to be with the Swans after the goal with their crowd now very much behind them.

However, the Blues didn’t crumble and Skuse struck a powerful effort from the edge of the box which deflected wide.

And in the 84th minute they restored their lead. Ward sent over a corner from the right and Chalobah rose highest to nod down, through a crowd of players and into the net. The on-loan Chelsea man and his team-mates celebrated his second Town goal wildly in front of the travelling Blues support.

Asoro turned a cross from the right wide, then Chambers just got ahead of McBurnie to head out for a corner as the Swans began their search for another equaliser.

Town brought Kayden Jackson on for Edwards deep in injury time before McKay shot wide with what was to prove the home side’s last attempt of the match.

The Blues might even have grabbed a late fourth, Jackson cutting back to the by-now exhausted Sears, who screwed well wide.

Not too long after, the whistle blew to a huge cheer from the Town support at the end of a long, long wait - since the Reading game in last season’s penultimate match, a winless run of 12 league games and the Carabao Cup tie at Exeter - for a victory.

The players celebrated with the fans and there was the welcome first sight of a Chambers fist pump during the Hurst era.

Having looked as if they were on their way to a defeat - and probably a heavy one at that - for most of the first half, the Blues, who always looked a threat on the break via Edwards and man of the match Sears, staged an unlikely turnaround.

They looked like they were going to hold on to their advantage in a more even second half until Celina’s goal looked to have broken their hearts once again.

However, they showed remarkable spirit as the game looked to have swung in Swansea’s direction to grab their third and finally end their wait for a win.

Whether the victory will be enough to save manager Hurst’s job remains to be seen as the season moves into the October international break, traditionally a time when club owners assess whether to change their bosses.

Town’s result and the scorelines elsewhere see the Blues stay 23rd but with a very significant millstone having been removed from their necks.

Swansea: Nordfeldt, Van der Hoorn (McKay 75), McBurnie, Celina, Carroll, James, Grimes, Rodon, Roberts, Naughton (Asoro 46), Byers (Fer 58). Unused: Mulder, Olsson, Carter-Vickers, Fulton.

Town: Gerken, Pennington, Nsiala, Chambers (c), Donacien (Knudsen 46), Skuse, Chalobah, Edwards (Jackson 90), Dozzell (Downes 80), Ward, Sears. Unused: Bialkowski, Nolan, Graham, Lankester. Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands). Att 18,810.


Photo: Pagepix



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blueboy1981 added 10:48 - Oct 7
Swn98 ........ alias Bah Humbug - Step out of it, being a miserable basket achieves nothing....... or hadn't you noticed ?
-1

IpswichT62OldBoy added 11:42 - Oct 7
I loved the fact we kept going for the win.
No parking the bus, no "dross".
Finally football we can enjoy and be proud of.
4

Swn98 added 11:59 - Oct 7
Blueboy i will ask you again will you please not mention me in your posts or are you that stupid.
-1

chopra777 added 12:00 - Oct 7
Sign up Steve McQueen. The Great Escape is about to begin.
1

dirtydingusmagee added 12:06 - Oct 7
McCarthy would have set out for a point, tried to snatch an equaliser then build a wall.If successful would have been spilling all the old guff about it being a good point against a top six club and revelling in another bore draw.At least we didnt sit on the point and managed all three.Survival this season would be acceptable this season and if we play like that in future we just may do it. COYB.The ''Mick ins '' are keen to say careful what you wish for,and just as keen to knock anything in the way of the new set up achieving anything obviously.This week they have to bite the bullet. COYB. I didnt want Hurst ,BUT im not going to gloat on failure and knock achievment.
2

Swn98 added 12:07 - Oct 7
Timmy i am making no argument about Dozzell he was protected and his great talent Nurtured until his horrific injury last year.
We will progress this season only if the nucleus of last seasons team are used plus the likes of Edwards who is a bit like Celina in and out.
To read some of the prolific lies written on here by a particular poster!!!!!!!!............ who shall remain nameless get the clue ,my posts have been generally positive.
1

Dissboyitfc added 12:24 - Oct 7
The report reads, "Whether the victory will be enough to save manager Hurst's job remains to be seen as the season moves into the October international break, traditionally a time when club owners assess whether to change their bosses"

What does TWTD's know that we don't?

Certainly feel that result has kept Hurst's job safe for now!

Breakfast on a Sunday certainly tastes better, watching highlights when we have won!

Swansea are a miserly side and have not conceded many at home, so to score 3 against them is some feat!

Not too concerned about Celima's equaliser, we were caught out with a piece of brilliance, may not have happened under MM as he would have parked the bus!!!
1

blueboy1981 added 13:02 - Oct 7
....... Dissboyitfc - granted, Celina is a very good player, knowing that, you just cannot allow that kind of space to run at a continuously retreating back line.
Easy goal for a player of his calibre - you have to close players down like him, and give them no space to operate.

Just pointing out another potentially costly inadequacy, having given an almost carbon copy goal away against Boro'.
0

blueboy1981 added 13:04 - Oct 7
Swn98 ........ only call me stupid - to my face. Anytime.

In the meantime, have some respect for other people's opinion.

You choice - to read this, or not. The above OFFER is there. Put up, nor SHUT UP.
0

blueboy1981 added 13:07 - Oct 7
......... should read:- 'or'. Just in case of confusion, which is not beyond the realms of possibility ...... !!!
-1

Swn98 added 14:25 - Oct 7
IF i were you Bluebore i would take my advice and not name me in your inane posts.
-2

Popeye added 15:09 - Oct 7
Pleased and relieved to get a win but still want Steve Bruce to take over as manager. It appears to having a reasonably good defensive record with MM we now always give teams a chance. Should have won against Birmingham but gave a two goal lead away. Need to tighten up defensively and stop changing personnel at the back!
-2

peteswindon added 16:03 - Oct 7
Well done lads, I was there yesterday a great match really enjoyed it. Ok I was in the home end with some friends who are Swansea season ticket holders so was able to do some real rubbing it into them lol What I will say was the Ipswich supporters where phenominal the singing and support was second to none, shame I wasn't in there with them. Lets hope it is now onwards and upwards. Sears looked a real handful unfortunately his finishing needs a bit of a polish. But overall a great result COYB.
4

Swn98 added 17:22 - Oct 7
Blueboy "In the meantime, have some respect for other people's opinion".Perhaps you had better start practicing what you preach!!!!!!!!!!!!............
-2

doctorbuzz added 19:30 - Oct 7
Should have been 6-3 Swansea but for poor finishing. We are in exactly the same state as last week - ie dire- with the glimmer of hope that Edwards / Sears continue to connect and Dozzell stays injury free.
2

dirtydingusmagee added 19:47 - Oct 7
McCarthy, OUT.
2

blueboy1981 added 19:47 - Oct 7
....... to the person concerned - the offer is there - understood ?

SIMPLY PUT UP - OR SHUT UP. No need to name the person, hiding behind their keyboard, most decent respectful posters will know the identity. And wouldn't need three guess's either.
-1

warktheline added 20:16 - Oct 7
Stand by my viewpoint, we are in deep trouble this season under ‘hapless Hurst'.

I fully understand @diss, been to the game, walked out totally elated seeing Town take all 3 points away from Wales ( been there myself and wouldn't by swayed by any different angle than we were ruddy outstanding, under siege, and banged in 3 ‘worldlies'👊😂)

Yesterday's game summed up on a Swansea forum, ‘we created more chances in this one game (against Ipswich) than all of our previous games combined,but somehow lost, although we did contribute to our own downfall, missed chances aside, through bad defending and a goalkeeper with ‘chocolate wrists'!

Take a look around squads in Championship and you will get ‘sweaty palms'.....Hurst plucked players from lower leagues, I've no problem with that, his ability to judge a ‘potential step up player' though, has now got to be questioned, ( he's questioned his own judgement )‘Waltersgate'!

Our present squad ( and use of it ) is lightweight and disturbing! Will Huws and Bishop be eventually lined up alongside Dozzell, and surely if so, Skuse needs replacing with an experienced strong tackling midfield leader! Such a midfield would ‘utilise' pace signed by Hurst!

At least goals would then be easier to come by, and believe me, we are gonna need them, considering our defensive frailties! Quarter of the season gone, decisions, decisions! No room for error now, sadly my faith in our current manager leaves a lot to be desired !
2

dirtydingusmagee added 20:35 - Oct 7
Warktheline,i wasnt knocking you, i agree we are in trouble and im not convinced Hurst will turn it around ,BUT in view of the fact we actually came from behind to win i feel credit should be given , it may well prove to be a fortunate result and not repeated. For too long the supporters have had little to smile about, lets savour the moment if only brief. Cant knock a win .
4

coolcat added 23:02 - Oct 7
Was at the game on Sat. Travelled up on the train from London. Initially we thought it was going to be a repeat of last Tue after Swan's 1st goal. A lone Ipswich fan shouted, 'Hurst Out'. Brought it home the seriousness of the situation. Relieved we have our first win & pleased to see the majority of the team comprised of c'ship players, esp in mf, However, we're a quarter of the way into the season. Enjoying.the win. But we're not out of the woods yet.
-1

bobble added 06:44 - Oct 8
town and the wallabies winning in the same weekend....that is so rare nowadays..
0

Swn98 added 07:13 - Oct 8
Tell you what I am going to shut up its an insult to my intelligence communicating with a melt like you.
-2

Gcon added 08:05 - Oct 8
Sounded like a good game.
Maybe this will give them the lift they so need.
Next couple of games are crucial.
1

Bergholtblue added 10:59 - Oct 8
Enjoyed the win and I hope that it is a platform from which to push on. However, I am not getting carried away as Swansea battered us and on another day could have had 6 or 7.

It didn't help that others down there with us also won.
1

warktheline added 11:50 - Oct 8
@dirty, it's all about opinions, thus ‘knocking' someone it isn't about, unless of course it's taken personally! By the way, that photo of Kevin Beattie looks grand 👍
1


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