FISHER IS SPOT ON AND THEN NTCHAM STEPS UP
OLIVIER Ntcham struck three minutes from time as Swansea City earned their first win of the season at Blackpool. Russell Martin’s men bossed the opening half at Bloomfield Road and saw Michael Obafemi, Joel Piroe, Matt Grimes, Ben Cabango and Jay Fulton all have chances.
But they had Andy Fisher to thank for keeping out Jerry Yates’ spot-kick early on in the second-half after Harry Darling had fouled Marvin Ekpiteta.
The Tangerines improved in the second-half and both sides had chances to win it, and substitute Ntcham settled the contest in the 87th minute after a break from Obafemi as Swansea clinched only their second ever away win at Blackpool.
Jamie Paterson missed out through injury as Martin made five changes to the side that was dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Oxford United four days earlier.
Cabango was handed his first league start of the campaign while
Ryan Manning kept his place following an impressive showing against Oxford.
The game was fast-paced from the outset, and shortly after Theo Corbeanu drilled wide in the opening stages, Piroe saw his deflected strike loop over Dan Grimshaw’s crossbar. It set the tone for what was an entertaining start in blistering heat.
But having conceded three horror goals against Blackburn Rovers last weekend, Swansea were very nearly the creators of their own downfall again as Jay Fulton lost possession just outside his own box, but Fisher was on hand to tip Josh Bowler’s close range effort on to the post.
Martin will no doubt have been pleased with his side’s start though, and Obafemi was denied by Grimshaw with a shot from the edge of the area.
The Swans went even closer soon after following a high press by the lively Manning, but Matt Grimes’ rasping effort went inches over.
The captain then produced a sub
lime ball over the top to send Obafemi through on goal, although the striker - who was flagged offside - was denied by Grimshaw.
Such was Swansea’s control, Michael Appleton’s men rarely threatened.
And the visitors created another opening 10 minutes before the break as Manning’s corner was met by Cabango whose bullet header flew wide.
Piroe then fired straight at Grimshaw before Fulton was brilliantly challenged by Marvin Ekpiteta just when he looked destined to bulge the net as Martin’s side continued to dominate, but they couldn’t find an opener as the score remained goalless at half-time.
They looked to show the same intent after the restart, and Grimes’ deflected strike was just about gathered by Grimshaw.
But Blackpool were given a golden chance to go ahead five minutes into the second-half as Darling brought down Kenny Dougall in the box. Time for a hero.
Fisher went the right way and kept out Yates’ spot-kick with his legs to ensure the game remained level.
It represented something of a wobbly spell for the Swans as Blackpool pressed with far more aggression than they did in the opening 45.
Bowler fired straight at Fisher in what was a better spell for the Tangerines, and Martin responded by sending on Ntcham for Fulton.
Following a largely uneventful spell, Swansea carved out a glorious opening from a set-piece when Cabango headed back across goal, but Obafemi couldn’t hit the target from close range.
Darling then unleashed a piledriver that sailed just over as the
Swans found their groove again, with Cameron Congreve replacing Sorinola as the game approached the 80-minute mark.
A mistake at the back almost gifted Blackpool a winner, although Bowler lashed well over before being denied by Fisher.
And the Swansea faithful got the moment they had craved as Obafemi raced through on goal late on and unselfishly squared to Ntcham to tapped into an empty net to send the Jack Army into raptures with what could prove to be a win that truly kickstarts Swansea’s campaign.