Ntcham saves Swans... but they can’t find a winner
OLIVIER Ntcham struck his fourth goal of the campaign as Swansea City earned a point against relegationthreatened Barnsley.
The Swans lacked the accuracy and precision that they have shown in abundance of late and fell behind when Claudio Gomes netted nine minutes into the second-half. But substitute Ntcham provided the hosts with a real spark and fired home a sweet leveller to set-up a tense finish.
Both sides had chances to win it, with Swansea improving late on, but the game ended all-square as Russell Martin’s side extended their unbeaten run to six matches while the Tykes edged ever closer to the drop.
Head coach Martin stuck with the same matchday squad and starting 11 from last weekend’s 2-1 win over Derby County, with Matt Grimes chalking up his 200th appearance for the club. The opening stages at the Swansea.com Stadium were lively as Joel Piroe tested goalkeeper Jack Walton in the first minute as the hosts controlled proceedings.
Barnsley looked threatening from set-pieces though. Domingos Quina and Carlton Morris asked questions of Andy Fisher and the Swans’ defence early on.
On his landmark outing, Grimes looked in serious discomfort after being clattered by Matthew Wolfe, although the skipper fought through the pain barrier to soldier on. Swans boss Martin will have pleased with his side’s dominance of the ball, although clear cut chances were at a premium, with more accuracy needed in the final third.
Poya Asbaghi’s side came close to breaking the deadlock on 27 minutes as Amine Bassi’s teasing cross was volleyed goalwards by Morris, although Fisher made the save at point-blank range.
The Swans were lacking the top levels of intensity that has provided the platform for impressive wins over the likes of Peterborough United, Cardiff City, Millwall and Derby of
late.
When they did get into promising positions, they failed to be ruthless. Jamie Paterson was well challenged as Swansea spurned a three-on-one situation before Morris failed to guide Callum Brittain’s driven cross on target at the other end.
The Swans survived a real scare just six minutes before the break as Liam Kitching headed wide from inside the six-yard box before Grimes’ strike from around 20 yards out was palmed away. And when
Michael Obafemi scuffed his shot from Paterson’s cross just before the break, the Jack Army could be forgiven for thinking it was going to be a frustrating afternoon.
Martin’s men showed more urgency early on in the second-half, although they fell behind after being caught in a mess at the back. The Yorkshire outfit won the ball high up the pitch, and Gomes showed great composure to drill through the legs of Fisher after latching on to Bassi’s pass.
Martin responded by sending on Ntcham for Jay Fulton, although frustrations in the stands grew as Swansea
remained sloppy. But the course of the game changed in the space of a minute shortly after the hour mark.
Moments after a deflected cross cannoned off Joel Latibeaudiere’s leg and on to the post, Swansea levelled. Cyrus Christie played the ball infield to Ntcham who rifled a curling effort into the far corner to make it 1-1.
It gave the home supporters huge hope following what had been a largely uninspiring display, although, Barnsley should have regained the lead, but Wolfe blazed over when well positioned to hit the target.
Ntcham gave Swansea the attacking threat they had so desperately needed though, and he was denied Walton before the goalkeeper stooped to keep out an effort from Hannes Wolf.
Barnsley continued to threaten on the break, although it was the hosts who had the clearer chances to win it late on.
Piroe, Ntcham and Obafemi were all denied in quick succession before substitute and former Swansea transfer target Cauley Woodrow volleyed over.
And Piroe could only head wide with the final play of the game which meant the points were shared ahead of Monday’s trip to Reading.