City 2 Swansea 1
After an unexpected 3 points away at Hull I was hopeful, but not confident, of another good result against Swansea, currently riding high in second place in the Championship. In fact City got off to a great start with a goal inside 5 minutes. As befits a biblical time of the year a miracle occurred, indeed two! We scored from a corner – and with a header!
I should explain that technically the right wing corner was initially cleared but immediately returned to the near post where Berner stood unmarked. The ball had no pace on it but a free header from 3 yards out must be a goal even if the ball is semi-blocked and doesn't quite make the back of the net! My companion remarked that it would be ironic if, having waited for probably world record time to score from a corner, we scored another in the same game. Just read on!
Swansea got back in the game with 11 minutes gone when some classy interpassing down our right flank left Scott Sinclair, the Chelsea loanee, with a clear sight of goal from just outside the box. He duly buried his shot in the bottom right-hand corner of Weale's net…..
It took City some time to recover from this as the Swans played a fluent passing game mainly in and around our box. It was noticeable that when Swansea lost possession they harried us into giving the ball away but we tended to watch them play the ball about. We now saw why the Swans are where they are in the league but City hung in there and restricted Swansea to the occasional cross and the odd shot from distance.
Just before halftime we took an undeserved lead, inevitably from a corner. Gallagher's initial effort was also partially cleared as with the first goal but the return ball found Morrison dead centre eight yards out. He should have scored but De Vries parried his header only for Vassell to scramble the loose ball over the line. Many parallels with the first goal including the fact that the ball barely reached the back of the net. Anyway we trooped off at the interval with our tails up.
Sven clearly had words with the team at half time along the lines of ' I'm fed up with seeing the opposition win every 50-50 ball and nearly all the 60-40s as well so be more competitive or I'll replace the lot of you in the transfer window.'
Even Gallagher was inspired by Sven's rhetoric and his pretend efforts to head high balls, whilst still ineffective were definitely more convincing. We might have increased our lead with minutes of the restart but King headed a left-wing cross just wide. Most of us expected more goals in the second half but chances were at a premium. Vassell, who had a good game as a lone striker, almost got clear, shot early and forced De Vries into a fine save.
Strangely enough the best chance of the half, after 77 minutes, fell to the Swans who did little of menace either before or after. A through ball saw Sinclair in on the keeper down the inside left channel. Credit to Weale who for once was quick off his line but Sinclair got there first and poked the ball past him. Unfortunately for the striker he poked the ball past the far post as well!
There were no further moments of danger for either side and thus City took three points that they just deserved on the balance of play overall. Our Man of the Match had to be Berner who frequently drew roars of 'Bruno, Bruno' from an approving crowd. I was never sure why Sven thought we needed a left back and hope he has the good sense to keep Berner on the books and in the team.
I am also unhappy at the possible departure of Morrison, a whole-hearted player whose presence at corners and partnership with Hobbs adds much to the side. What a pity he's not a few inches taller!
City: Weale, Naughton, Morrison, Hobbs, Berner, Gallagher, KIng, Wellens, Abe, Dyer (Oakley 84), Vassell (Waghorn 84)
Swansea: De Vries, Williams, Monk, Rangel, Cotterill, Pratley, Sinclair, Augustien (Allen 72), Gower (Dyer 75), Richards, Easter (Beattie 67)
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation