Swansea City v Bolton | Vital Football

Swansea City v Bolton

KevinE

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Next up then is Bolton Wanderers, a game we really should be winning as they're a struggling side. We've come unstuck before in games like this, particularly Ipswich at home but surely we should be too strong for Bolton?

Our away form has dropped lately so hopefully we can get another win at the Liberty. Playoffs beyond our reach now surely as we're dropping points against sides around us. Top half should be a minimum though.
 
Last 6 League Games Form Guide:

Swans WDLWLL W2 D1 L3 F7 A10 Pts7
Bolton DLLWLL W1 D1 L4 F4 A11 Pts4

Not pretty reading at all, both teams poor defensively, both can’t score many goals, our record is just slightly better.
But Bolton are certs for relegation, we are not....... so far. A wake up call I think.
Bolton will have been busy all week practising the high press..
We will have been busy all week practising passing sideways and back.
 
A 25 yard wonder strike from McKay in the 15th minute, his first goal for the Swans since signing from Forest, was enough to give us the points in the reverse fixture last November.
Ameobi hit the bar and shot wide when well placed but we held on for the win, our first in six away games.
Potter’s comments after the game:
“One-nil victories show a bit about the team in terms of character.
Second half it became a bit more scrappy, we couldn't control things at all. The home team's responding, good spirit from them, and then we have to try and weather the storm and be resilient.
You need a bit of luck, of course, which we probably had today but overall delighted."
 
A setback for captain Fer and he’s out for a few more weeks with his hamstring injury.
Looks as if we play the same side that got outplayed by lowly Wednesday last week then.
 
A setback for captain Fer and he’s out for a few more weeks with his hamstring injury.
Looks as if we play the same side that got outplayed by lowly Wednesday last week then.
Probably although I'd like to see Routledge back in and starting.

McBurnie also needs to step up as he's been anonymous lately. We seem to be playing better at home lately and Bolton should be a comfortable win for us but this is the swans so who knows.
 
Match Statistics Swans v Bolton:
Possession 78% - 22%
Shots 29 - 5
Shots on target 11 - 3
Corners 6 - 1
Fouls 9 - 15
 
It was a frustrating afternoon as we struggled to break down a resolute Bolton defence. With a high percentage of possession and the advantage of two Bolton players sent off we should have taken the lead earlier, but Bolton players were fighting for their lives and had to be admired.
Their goalkeeper in particular kept them in the game with a string of fine saves including a penalty shot from McBurnie in the 35th minute after Noone brought down Dyer in the box, McBurnie’s second miss of five this season.
Just before half time Noone was sent off for a second booking.
In the 56th minute Nordfelt made a fine save from Connell, and looked more solid than of late.
Wheaten was given a straight red in the 73rd minute after bringing down Routledge who was free on goal.
Finally in the 80th minute McBurnie broke the deadlock against Bolton’s eight outfield players assisted by Baker-Richardson
Celina sealed the win in the 92nd minute after a fine run by James.
 
I've seen a fair share of criticism of the performance and how it took so long to break them down but if we had put the penalty away we'd have been 1 up a lot earlier.

Like Shearer said on match of the day last night, whoever you play, trying to get through 10 men behind the ball is difficult. That was us in the premier League and it got us a 0-0 draw against spurs under Clement.

We did eventually but we did make hard work of it. There was a lack of movement to shift them out of position and once again the tempo of our play is rather slow.

But regardless, 3 points is 3 points so no complaints from me.