DHANDA DELIVERS

Potter subs are just magic

NEW Swansea manager Graham Potter proved he has the magic touch in his first game in charge after inspiring his side to victory at Sheffield United.

The Swans are hoping Potter can work some of the wizardry that saw him take the Swedish league by storm as they look to bounce back to the Premier League following relegation.

And with his side trailing 1-0 with half an hour to go courtesy of George Baldock’s side-foot opener, it looked as though he was going to be given a rude awakening to Championship football.

However, the former Southampton defender made two substitutions that turned the game on its head.

First he brought on Jefferson Montero, who caused havoc down the left.

And after the Swans had levelled through Oli McBurnie, Montero’s cross was turned home by fellow sub and new signing Yan Dhanda who became an instant hero, scoring with his first touch seconds after coming on.

It brought to an end a thrilling second half that for large parts looked to be going the home side’s way until Potter’s inspired changes gave the

Swans the spark they needed.

Both sides lacked sharpness in their passing in the heat and the game was in real need of inspiration after a drab first half.

Swansea’s new signing Barrie McKay tried to provide it eight minutes into the second half when he took advantage of a wayward pass from John Egan.

The midfielder raced to the edge of the Blades area and found Joel Asoro in space but the winger’s shot was blocked.

Bersant Celina then followed suit with a similarly misplaced pass that presented United new-boy David McGoldrick with the best chance of the game so far but, with clear sight of goal, he pulled his effort wide from the edge of the box on 58 minutes.

If McGoldrick’s miss was bad, John Lundstram’s was even worse when, just 60 seconds later, he linked up with McGoldrick and was sent clean through inside the area but could not even find the target as he sliced his effort wide.

The game’s opening goal finally arrived in the 62nd minute, Enda Stevens’ pull-back towards the penalty spot being tucked away by Baldock.

But the Swans were level nine minutes later, a neat one-two in the Blades area between McBurnie and McKay creating space for the former to fire home. The introduction of Montero proved key and his cross four minutes from time fell kindly for Dhanda (left) to grab the winner.