ARMCHAIR RIDE FOR
SWANSEA City maintained their unbeaten Championship record this season as they defeated Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park. Andre Ayew’s first goal of the campaign along with summer signing Jamal Lowe’s maiden strike for Swansea gave Steve Cooper’s men a comfortable lead at the break following what was a commanding first half display from the visitors.
It was more of the same from the Swans after the restart, with Lowe, Morgan Gibbs-White, Ayew and Jake Bidwell all having chances.
And while they couldn’t add to their tally, victory ensured Swansea now have seven points from a possible nine so far this term, the third season in a row in which they’ve achieved that feat.
Cooper selected the same starting 11 and matchday squad as he did for the win at Preston and the goalless draw with Birmingham.
Former Swan Alex Samuel started for the hosts, although there was no place in the squad for Adebayo Akinfenwa who is continuing to recover from knee surgery.
Wycombe went into the match having conceded six times in their opening two league matches of the campaign while failing to bulge the net at the top end of the pitch.
It was telling that the Chairboys had completed 190 fewer passes than any other Championship side in their opening two games.
And the pattern of the game quickly became evident as the Swans controlled possession, with Matt Grimes seeing his free-kick punched clear by Ryan Allsop early on after Connor Roberts had been fouled.
Wycombe caused a few minor concerns on the counter attack, although the first real opening fell to Lowe who controlled Gibbs-White’s cross, although he drilled his low shot wide.
A slick move involving Roberts and Korey Smith ended with Ayew crossing from the right flank, although Dennis Adeniran got in the block.
But Swansea’s pressure soon told, and Ayew was on hand to poke home Bidwell’s inch-perfect cross to register his first goal of the campaign and give the visitors a deserved lead in Buckinghamshire.
The Ghana international very nearly doubled his side’s lead a minute later, although he was well denied by Allsop from inside the box as
Swansea oozed confidence.
The away side looked a cut above, and they should have had a second when Bidwell crossed towards Ayew and Gibbs-White at the back post, although the latter’s header was easily saved.
But Cooper’s troops did get their second of the afternoon midway through what was an impressive opening half as Ayew’s drilled cross was turned home by Lowe.
It was no more than Swansea deserved, and it was proving to be a display that will no doubt have lifted the mood of the Jack Army watching from home.
Gibbs-White continued to prove his worth, and the Wolves loanee flashed an effort just wide after the half hour mark as Swansea went in search of more goals.
The back three of Ben Cabango, Joe Rodon and Marc Guehi were afforded so much time on the ball, and it allowed Roberts and Bidwell to cause havoc further up the pitch.
Having been completely outclassed, Wycombe, to their credit, looked to end the opening half strongly, with Fred Onyedinma bending an effort well wide.
But it was normal service resumed after the break as Swansea were straight back on the front foot, with Roberts and Ayew combining on the right before the Wales international went down in the box under the challenge of Adeniran, although nothing was given by referee Geoff Eltringham.
Lowe was unable to pick out Ayew after a break from Gibbs-White before Jason McCarthy registered his side’s first shot on target on 62 minutes, although his tame free-kick was straight at Freddie Woodman.
Swansea’s intensity dropped in the final quarter, although they had no issues when it came to dealing with the brief periods of pressure Wycombe applied.
Substitute Daryl Horgan fired an overhead kick straight at Woodman before Lowe’s scuffed effort was saved by Allsop at the other end.
Bidwell and Ayew were then both off target with headers as Liam Cullen and Jay Fulton were introduced for the final stages.
And Swansea returned to South Wales with all three points and a clean sheet, which means they’ve shutout three opponents consecutively at the start of a league campaign for the first time in their history.