RAMPANT SWANS PILE PRESSURE ON CARDIFF BOSS MICK
SWANSEA City piled the pressure on Mick McCarthy as they secured an emphatic win over Cardiff City yesterday. The away side started well in Swansea, although it was Russell Martin’s men who took the lead in spectacular fashion through Jamie Paterson’s driven strike from outside the box.
The Swans made it 2-0 on the hour mark as Paterson turned provider for Joel Piroe to slot home his seventh goal of the campaign.
And Jake Bidwell notched up his second goal for the club to cap off a resounding victory for the home side, who now boast the most clean sheets in the Championship, while Cardiff have lost each of their last six league outings.
The noise was deafening early on, and the home faithful were calling for a penalty in the third minute when Curtis Nelson challenged Ethan Laird inside the box although, after taking his time to assess the situation, referee James Linington refused to point to the spot.
Fresh from scoring the winner in Wales’ triumph over Estonia last
Monday night, Kieffer Moore caused the Swans a few problems early on with his ability to hold the ball up.
Much was spoken about the clash of styles before a ball had been kicked, and Cardiff’s deliveries into the box ensured Swansea were on the back foot at times in the opening stages.
And it was from a well-worked move that the Bluebirds created a glorious chance to open the scoring as Moore threaded Ryan Giles through on goal, although the 21-year-old fired straight at Ben Hamer when well positioned to bulge the net.
In truth, McCarthy will have been pleased with the way his side started proceedings, and Joe Ralls fired a free-kick at Hamer from around 25 yards out.
Swansea enjoyed plenty of possession but did precious little with it, such was the organisation and effort of the visitors, who then saw Moore drill a low shot at Hamer after charging through on goal.
Ryan Bennett needed treatment after sustaining an injury midway through the first half, although he soldiered on as Swansea attempted to give Alex Smithies something to think about.
Martin’s men finally clicked into gear in the final third, and following a wonderful touch from Ryan Manning, Paterson delivered to Piroe, who was brilliantly denied by Smithies.
However, just seconds later Paterson collected possession in a central position around 25 yards out and
swivelled into space.
The 29-year-old saw his rasping effort hit the inside of both posts before trickling over the line.
It was the summer signing’s fourth goal of the campaign, and the 29-year-old fully enjoyed his moment in the limelight by taunting the Cardiff supporters during wild celebrations.
It prompted the Jack Army to aim chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” at McCarthy, whose side will have felt shell-shocked to find themselves behind following a positive start to proceedings.
The Swans took the opportunity to retain possession as much as possible after going 1-0 up, and their control started to frustrate Cardiff.
And after failing to strike back in the opening 45, the Bluebirds’ miserable run of not scoring in the first half of a league fixture since May 1 was extended.
The opening stages of the second half were cagey as Manning fizzed a shot over Smithies’ crossbar on 52 minutes.
But Cardiff twice went close soon after as Aden Flint’s shot was deflected before Curtis Nelson headed over from the resulting corner.
Swansea looked to take the sting out of proceedings after those warnings, and with Paterson pulling the strings, they started to create more opportunities.
Smithies did well to keep out Laird’s low driven strike before Bennett’s piledriver was just about kept out by the Cardiff goalkeeper.
But the majority of those packed into the Swansea.com Stadium were sent into raptures on the hour mark as Paterson picked out Piroe near the penalty spot, and the Dutchman took the ball down on his chest before coolly slotting beyond Smithies.
It gave the Swans the breathing space they desperately craved and left Cardiff with a mountain to climb.
Swansea’s tails were well and truly up by this point, and after Mark McGuinness just about managed to get a toe on to the ball to thwart Korey Smith, the Swans midfielder saw his glancing header sail wide.
That was the 30-year-old’s last action as he was replaced by Olivier Ntcham, while James Collins came on for Leandro Bacuna as McCarthy’s side looked for a route back into the contest.
But Swansea’s control ensured the Bluebirds’ hopes of staging a comeback were faint to say the least.
The hosts almost made it 3-0 in the 72nd minute as Bidwell shrugged off the challenge of McGuinness before teeing up substitute Ntcham, who was denied by the legs of Smithies.
But after Giles fired well over from an acute angle, the Swans made it three when Laird chased to keep a long ball in play.
The Manchester United loanee picked out Paterson, who showed remarkable composure to dink the ball to the back post which allowed Bidwell to head home from a yard out.
By this point Cardiff looked every bit a side that have not won since beating Nottingham Forest on September 12 as Rubin Colwill replaced Ciaron Brown and Ben Cabango came on for Bennett.
Laird was brilliantly denied by Flint as Swansea looked to rub salt into the already gaping Cardiff wounds, with Liam Cullen and Will Vaulks getting some late derby action off the bench.
And Swansea lapped up the acclaim of the home supporters as they rose to 17th in the table with victory, while Cardiff remain in 20th after what was undoubtedly a humiliating defeat.