BYERS A HIT FOR SELLING SWANS
GRAHAM POTTER was delighted with the maturity his Swansea side showed to grind out a victory over Millwall following a disastrous transfer window.
The Welsh side moved up to 11th in the Championship thanks to a first senior goal by George Byers. The 22-year-old fired home a rebound after his initial shot was blocked to give the Swans the lead two minutes before halftime.
Potter said: “It’s been a big week. Then you look at the age of the players, the stage of their careers, they’re just starting.
“To have that responsibility and to be the home team that has to find the answers against a team that’s got good players – and can beat you on their day no problem – from that perspective it’s really pleasing.”
Millwall remain just two places and four points away from the relegation zone, and manager Neil Harris was disappointed with the way they conceded from a set play.
He said: “I would never expect my team to concede from a set-play at Swansea, I have to be frank about it.
“The goal was another freak one where it bounced up off the ground and into the roof of the net. You need a bit more fortune in that situation, and we didn’t get it.”
Matchday began with a protest from the Swansea supporters against the club’s American owners following their disastrous transfer window and subsequent resignation of chairman Huw Jenkins after 17 years at the helm. Jefferson Montero, Wilfried Bony and Tom Carroll all departed, and it could have been worse if deadline day deals to see Leroy Fer and Dan James exit the club had gone through.
Wales international James returned to the side for the first time since his botched transfer to Leeds, but there was no place for in-form striker Oli McBurnie who had been ill.
Another new face in the starting XI was Byers, who almost gave the Swans an early lead when he received a cut-back from Declan John on the edge of the box, but Jordan Archer was equal to his effort.
The Lions goalkeeper sprang into action again to keep the scores level after a spell of pressure from Harris’ side.
But Potter’s men got their noses in-front in the 43rd minute thanks to Byers’ first senior goal. The midfielder had a right-footed shot blocked after pouncing on a loose ball, but he made no mistake with his left as his drive was deflected off the ground and in for a 1-0 lead.
Millwall responded by searching for an equaliser in their bid to move clear of the relegation places. First Mahlon Romeo’s low drive was saved at the near post by Erwin Mulder, before Jed Wallace sent a fierce volley just over the crossbar.
Swansea were living dangerously and Millwall almost grabbed a late equaliser when Shaun Hutchinson flicked a corner towards the back post, but Jake Cooper arrived a fraction too late.