It’s happy Hour for Swans but Chris is cross at spot error
UNLIKE the rest of us, Swansea seem to be enjoying 2021 so far as they go gliding on in two competitions winning more friends and admirers.
This thumping victory not only put them into the FA Cup fifth round for the third time in four seasons, it extended their unbeaten run to seven games, of which they have won six.
New recruit Conor Hourihane, their loan signing from Aston Villa, did not get on the scoresheet but his poise and class was as influential as anyone as Forest were comfortably despatched.
Two goals from young striker Liam Cullen were backed by two more from skipper Matt Grimes and a late addition by substitute
Ollie Cooper – his first for the club.
Forest did manage to get themselves back into the tie when Anthony Knockaert made it 2-1 at the start of the second half but the belief drained from every pore after a harsh penalty call went against them and Grimes made it 3-1 from the spot.
Referee Kevin Friend gave a penalty after Ryan Manning went down under a soft challenge from Forest captain Joe Worral.
“The pivotal part of the game in what was our best period having got back to 2-1 was the penalty,” said Forest boss Chris Hughton.
“The ref makes a dreadful decision, one where I was quite confident from where I was that it wasn’t a penalty. I’ve seen it again and it isn’t – and of course it changes the game.
“The lad’s gone down. I don’t like to use the word diving but from the angles I’ve seen there’s no contact.
The lad drags his leg a little bit and it’s certainly simulation.”
Hughton was right to be unimpressed with the decision, but any manager whose team lose 5-1 after making 10 changes from the game before loses sympathy.
Forest were awful for
45 minutes, by which time they were 2-0 down. Cullen poached his first and then Grimes thumped home a tremendous shot. Grimes’ penalty made it
3-1 before Cullen pocketed a second goal and youngster Cooper grabbed his first goal in only his second appearance.
No wonder his namesake – head coach Steve – looked pleased as the addition of Hourihane looks like clever business for a club intent on returning to the Premier League as well as enjoying a cup run.
The Swansea boss said: “I thought he was excellent, he’s been so impressive since he walked through the door and that wasn’t so long ago.
“You can see he’s a real focused, professional individual who is not only going to bring what he possesses but he wants to buy into what we’re trying to do.
“That’s always the best way to be.”
Woodman 7; Latibeaudiere
7, Bennett 8, Guehi 7 (Bidwell (65th) 6); Roberts 7 (Garrick (75th) 6), Grimes 7 (Fulton (65th) 6), Hourihane 7 (Cooper
(65th) 7), Dhanda 7, Manning 7; Routledge 6 (Lowe (20th) 6), Cullen 8
NOTTINGHAM FOREST: Smith 5; Jenkinson 5, Worrall 6, Figueiredo 5, Bong 6 (Blackett (75th) 5); Mbe Soh 6, Bachirou 5 (Guerrero (46th) 6); Lolley 7, Freeman 4 (Cafu (46th) 6), Knockaert 7 (Mighten (75th) 5); Taylor 5
STAR MAN: Liam Cullen
REF: K Friend