Goal-crazy match gives Bradley his first Swansea win
What might have been the most calamitous day yet for the Swansea City manager Bob Bradley ended as a day to remember.
With 15 minutes remaining of this topsy-turvy affair, Swansea found themselves on course to win for only the second time this season. With seven minutes left, Bradley was staring down the barrel of defeat after three Palace goals in eight minutes. Then, two stoppage-time goals from Fernando Llorente once again changed the course of the contest and duly gifted the American his first win since taking over from Francesco Guidolin.
It was Swansea’s first League success since the opening day of the season and a sixth successive defeat for Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace. There were nine goals – seven in the second half – and the lead changed hands four times. So many numbers with which to juggle, but only one result that mattered.
And when the sides left the field, it was Bradley who was smiling and Pardew who was left to lament another desperate day for the wounded Eagles.
Bradley said: “I have been on both sides of games like that, so I understand how Palace feel. As far as we are concerned, it was a huge victory and one which the group thoroughly deserves. However, when I see the deflection off Jack Cork’s head, there is a moment when you think we just need some luck to turn things around. In the end the character of the players shone through and I am very happy for them.
“It has been a difficult season and a lot of things have not bounced the right way for us. But we still show up every day with a great mentality and I couldn’t be happier for the group.”
In comparison to what unfolded in the second half, the first half was relatively tame. Wilfried Zaha rolled away from Neil Taylor to give Palace the lead in the 19th minute and Gylfi Sigurdsson equalised with a sublime free-kick nine minutes from the interval.
Thereafter, the game went goalcrazy, with Swansea taking a 3-1 lead courtesy of two goals in as many minutes from the Dutch midfielder Leroy Fer. His first, in the 66th minute, followed a downward header from substitute Llorente. His second saw Fer pounce to score after Jordi Amat had flicked on another threatening freekick from the irrepressible Sigurdsson.
To their credit, and with Pardew fresh from a touchline exchange with Swansea coach Paul Williams, Palace gave themselves a glimmer of hope when James Tomkins diverted the ball past Fabianski after Scott Dann had met Yohan Cabaye’s far-post corner.
Pardew had barely finished celebrating when Zaha’s cross struck Cork and looped over Fabianski into the far corner. A point at last for Pardew.
Well, it might have been. However, another corner from Cabaye saw Dann head the ball into the path of Christian Benteke, who lashed it home off the post. It was 4-3 to Palace.
Swansea set sail for the Palace goal. They were desperate times. Finally, after one or two near-misses, the equaliser came a minute into seven minutes of stoppage time. Sigurdsson’s 20-yard strike was heading for the corner when Llorente stuck out a foot and beat Wayne Hennessey from four yards. Then, two minutes later, those Swansea fans who had remained in their seats got their just reward.
Somehow, Palace failed to clear at the far post and Llorente composed himself and found the back of the net. Cue absolute pandemonium in the Swansea technical zone.
“I see the win as a turning point in so many ways,” said Bradley. “Sometimes you feel like you need something crazy and maybe today can be that moment.
“Having said that, we cannot take the good part without looking a little deeper. After all, you won’t win matches like that every day. The players will get a day off and we will continue to work hard to become a better, more complete team.”
Bradley took time out to lavish praise on Llorente, who has had anything but
an easy time since his arrival from Seville, in the summer.
“Fernando was brought to this club as an experienced striker and so much has been written badly about him. The start to his season was up and down. He arrived here coming off one or two injuries and then there was a change of manager. He has also been in and out of training because of a few knocks.
“We didn’t leave him out recently as a punishment, but we felt he needed to work hard to reach a level. From that moment he has worked very hard and today he got his reward.”
Pardew found it difficult to mask his confusion and dismay. “It was an astonishing game, but if we can’t defend at 4-3 with a few minutes left I’m afraid that’s not good enough. I need to look at that and possibly make changes.
“My players gave everything in terms of commitment, but at this level you can’t concede goals like that. It is something we are going to have to address quickly. I think I’ve got a good team and I need to get them motivated ahead of next week’s game against Southampton.”