Windy day, early finish, log fire, looking forward to the match.
Stupid challenge from Tanaka gives Swansea early opportunity and they take advantage of the fact that we just dont mark and we're 1-0 down.
We're not playing too badly otherwise and Dan James looks hugely threatening takes a lovely through ball from Tanaka and James, utterly selfless sets up Solomon and some players would have fluffed that but 1 all with Solomon showing quality to put it away.
Tanaka and Rothwell not looking anything special but you feel they can create at any time and we're looking a bit more solid at back then Struijk, far too far upfield concedes possession on halfway line, Byram left for dead and nothing Meslier can do to deal with deflection and we're 2-1 down going into half time.
I'd forgotten Piroe was playing he was so anonymous, for first goal he made no effort to get into box, maybe expecting a pull back, but really has to be doing a bit more, but Aaronson stayed on his feet for most of match which is an improvement, Bogle bombing forwards and we're on the front foot.
Dan James again, carbon copy, great pass from Bogle, away down the right, low pass into 6 yard box, this time Piroe's there....not on the end of the ball but enough to force defender into turning it into his own net.
We've looked vulnerable to crosses from the left but Swansea not putting those chances away and then when Struijk launches perfect balll for Sam Byram to break offside trip and Solomon again in place to tap in this time from left side and cleverly into roof of net, showing his value a good signing for us this season.
3-2, Swansea still getting some chances from the left and finally they take one, striker getting better then er of both Rodon and Struijk, the latter of whom I thought was really poor defensively tonight.
It's full time and they've equalised, but we have six minutes left, the commentators have used every hyperbole known to man who then have to step up to hyperbole+ James brilliant pass again for Gnonto to neatly tuck it away......was it ever in doubt?
Summing up, we looked really vulnerable to crosses from left, Piroe has to contribute a bit more in my book, Joseph looks out of sorts, but James was wonderful. he had a brilliant season last year and proving just as good this year and if Solomon stays fit then we have real threats from these 2, BUT we have 3 great crosses into the box and out striker wasn't on any of them, that is a little worry for me.
But, can you argue with being top?
So far, we're bang on track.
Thoughts from today
posted 3 days, 14 hours ago
comment by The heart of Farkeness (U19827)
posted 4 hours, 16 minutes ago
Is this the first time this season we have won three in a row?
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Only won 2 in a row.
posted 3 days, 12 hours ago
Pretty good game for such crap conditions.
Very happy with Solomon getting two, he looked fit today.
James was a threat all game, just a shame the ball for Piroe was selfishly scored by the defender.
Tanaka besides the first goal was everywhere and I don't think it should have been a free kick for the goal anyway.
Ref didn't seem to want to book anyone that actually made a bookable offence. The foul on James was very deliberate and a yellow minimum.
Good game ,good result, top of the league.
posted 3 days, 12 hours ago
Shouldn't*
Also I didn't think Piroe had a bad game, did some good work.
posted 3 days, 12 hours ago
Forget the shouldn't* 😊
posted 3 days, 4 hours ago
According to the commentators, Swansea couldn't score goals, so no issue there? - Almost famous last words.
Really happy with the character and resolve of the team and the 3 points return.
My issue is that Swansea made a game of it, and as a result our defence in particular looked quite vulnerable.
If we get back to the PL, we will need a few changes as all the teams above us play decent football, definitely better than Swansea.
posted 3 days, 3 hours ago
comment by LIW 100 Points, champions, Lose two games only (U8453)
posted 12 hours, 49 minutes ago
I dont this critism of his style.
Always goes for the win ( bar west brom A and Norwich in play offs)
90% of teams, are putting 10 men behind the ball.
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Yes - good to see a team have more possession and more passes than us for a change yet we beat them in the shots stats and touches in the box. Plus the one stat that counted!
If teams come at us then James, Solomon and Gnonto have a field day.
Technically James had three great assists although the own goal one doesn’t count in the stats. He had a great game apart from his wayward shooting.
posted 3 days, 2 hours ago
We are where we should be - Top of the league, we arent going to win everygame easily and yesterday we made it hard for ourselves because imo too many players had off days, this doesnt make them bad players its just the way the game is sometimes.
Bogle - thought his distribution at times was poor,
Byram - didnt have his best game but its hard playing on the wrong foot at times and will be good to get Firpo back.
Pascal was poor but hes entitled to one bad game now and then as hes been excellent all season.
Rodon excellent defender but cant play why oh why does he turn back when a simple pass to the full back is all thats needed.
Aaronson - i like him he puts a shift in but hes not my kind of player and wasnt at his best yesterday but in the sum of things he fits in what the manager requires.
Top of the league after 16 games and we have had key players out all this time, hopefully in a couple of weeks all will be back apart from Gruev and Gray and we could easily go on a 10/11 winning run, still think we will win the league comfortably am i looking forward to the PL not really but thats another story, Cooper sacked yesterday next season the Farke out brigade will want a new manager every six weeks.
posted 3 days ago
… Pascal not his best defensively Don (for their second especially) but did pick two great passes out for the first and the winner.
posted 2 days, 23 hours ago
Very happy to get the 3 points but boy do we make it hard on ourselves. Our defending was awful yesterday but thankfully so was theirs and our attacking options are better than theirs. At 3-2 we fell into our terrible habit of trying to sit on a 1 goal lead, dropping further and further back, inviting pressure and conceding in the last minute. Thank heavens we managed to create a winner in added time.
posted 2 days, 22 hours ago
"hopefully in a couple of weeks all will be back apart from Gruev and Gray"
Think it will be more than a few weeks for Gray Don....