Swans v Bristol City | Vital Football

Swans v Bristol City

The remaining two crunch matches left are being played on Sat 18 July 15:00, and Wed 22 July 19:45. Last 7 results in brackets:

(WWDWLLW) Cardiff v (LWLLWLW) Middlesboro (a), v (LDWLLLL) Hull (h)

(LDDWLWW) Millwall v (LLLWLLD) QPR (a), v (LLWDDLD) Huddersfield (h)

(WLDWWLD) Swansea v (LLLLWWD) Bristol City ((h), v (DLLWDWL) Reading (a)

Favourites Cardiff have the easier run in but anything can happen in this unpredictable division.
The ex-Cardiff Manager Neil Warnock is now at Middlesboro, he took over on Tues 23 June when Woodgate was dismissed after defeat to the Swans. Perhaps he will have a big influence on the match. He is a specialist on rescuing ailing clubs and has a good record in the Championship. He has won 3 and lost 3 of his 6 matches in charge there.
 
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Bristol City Interim Head Coach Dean Holden wants his side to take their game to the Swans.
Both teams could theoretically still catch up with Cardiff City in the race for the play-offs, though Wednesday’s 1-1 home draw with Stoke City means that outcome is more difficult for the Robins.
They are five points off sixth place heading into their penultimate game of the campaign, with the Swans two places and two points ahead.
“No matter what other teams do, we will focus on ourselves. There’s still plenty to play for, for sure, and we want to finish the season with six points.
We’ll concentrate on getting our performance right and hopefully finish the season with six points for a number of reasons: mainly to get the supporters excited about next season. There’s a quick turnaround so that’s our aim.
Everyone has their own motivations and ultimately it’s about professional pride. We have top professionals at the football club and a lot of work has gone in behind the scenes to make sure the culture is right and that we have good professionals.
I’ve spoken to the players after the Stoke game to make sure they’re are back on it, ready for this game against Swansea. It’s not about going there and seeing how we get on, it’s about getting on the front foot and trying to win the game.”
Ashley Williams (suspension) and Benik Afobe (illegible against Stoke) are back in contention for this match.
 
The teams:

Swansea City: Erwin Mulder; Ben Cabango, Mike van der Hoorn, Marc Guehi; Connor Roberts, Jay Fulton, Matt Grimes (captain), Jake Bidwell; Conor Gallagher, Andre Ayew; Rhian Brewster.
Substitutes: Josh Gould, Tivonge Rushesha, Aldo Kalulu, Jordon Garrick, Nathan Dyer, Wayne Routledge, Bersant Celina, Yan Dhanda, Liam Cullen.

Bristol City: Daniel Bentley, Jake Hunt, Jay Dasilva, Korey Smith (captain), Jamie Paterson, Nahki Wells, Andreas Weimann, Tomas Kalas, Zak Vyner, Ashley Williams, Benik Afobe.
Substitutes: Adam Nagy, Famara Diedhiou, Callum O'Dowda, Marley Watkins, Niclas Eliasson, Tommy Rowe, Pedro Pereira, Joe Wollacott, Kasey Palmer.
 
Swans 1 - Robins 0
Boro 1 - Cardiff 3
QPR 4 - Millwall 3
All we could do was win and we did that. Unfortunately the Bluebirds beat Neil Warnock‘s Middlesboro to give them a 3 point lead over us in the table, as we leapfrog Millwall into 7th spot.
It’s unlikely that they’ll slip up at home to the division’s whipping boys Hull next Wednesday, but for us let’s get the 3 points away at Reading anyway, just in case.
 
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Steve Cooper:
“I thought it was a really good game - two teams playing to win. We took a little bit in the first half to settle down, but once we did I thought we played some excellent football.
We played through the lines, looked a real threat, particularly with Jake Bidwell and Connor Roberts, and I really liked the look of us.
I thought the goal was coming, and I'm pleased for Connor Roberts, he gets in the box enough.
Second half, we were penned in a little bit, and I don't know if it was a penalty or not, but it was a bit of a lifeline when it hit the post. I thought we managed their numerous attacking players really well. I don't think Erwin has had a major save to make. We were good for it."

Dean Holden:
"The game is won and lost on fine margins. We had a big chance first half with a header, then the goal they scored we have to defend better.
Then the game swings on the penalty miss. He has scored big penalties before and it's gone off the inside of the post. Who knows what would have happened if we had put that away.
I have a lot of respect for Steve and the way he sets his team up, but we have come here with a plan and at times they couldn't get near us.
It's just about the final end product that wins and loses the game. Although we have had lots of efforts on goal, we probably didn't work the goalkeeper enough."
 
Match Stats:
Swans 1 - B. City 0
Possession: 43% - 57%
Shots: 17 - 14
On target: 7 - 1
Corners: 2 - 8
Fouls: 8 - 11
Cards: 0 - 0
Ref: Darren Bond 4/10
 
Overall not a bad performance. At first I thought we were starting to look like us from a few games ago - before the back 3 switch as we were slow and void of ideas. We picked things up towards the latter part of the first half and took the lead at a good time. 2nd half we started again like early part of the first, slow to get going and clumsy to concede a pen. Luckily for us he missed it and we picked up again.
 
“referee Darren Bond deemed that Ben Cabango had pulled down substitute Diedhiou - who had only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds - in the area as a cross came in”
It didn’t look like a penalty to me after watching the re-run. If anything a foul on Cabango, jostling for the ball and floored by Diedhiou, who also tried to handle the ball on his way down falling on top of Cabango.
What do you think?
 
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