ALL THE ACTION AS SWANS HELD BY LEEDS UTD
SWANSEA CITY 2 LEEDS UNITED 2
Oli McBurnie grabbed a superb brace against his former club but Swansea City were pegged back twice in a thrilling Liberty Stadium encounter.
The hosts, vastly improved from a timid showing at Birmingham, bossed long periods and were rewarded with McBurnie’s finish from a lovely team move and later a header.
But Kemar Roofe equalised once for the visitors with a tap-in near the end of the first half, before former Swan Pablo Hernandez denied his old club all three points.
Swansea will feel aggrieved even though they maintain their unbeaten record and ended Leeds’ 100% run under Marcelo Bielsa. There was so much energy about this display, and it was only in the final 20 minutes or so as those levels dipped that the visitors exerted any real control on proceedings.
McBurnie and Connor Roberts were among those to excel for Graham Potter’s men as they again served up notice of what they hope to build here.
The dejected looks on the faces of those in white told the story at fulltime, but this was a display to serve up further hope and pride in this young side.
There were two changes from the hard-earned draw at Birmingham with club captain Fer installed for his first start since February to add some ballast in midfield as Tom Carroll dropped to the bench.
The other change saw Kyle Naughton come in for Joel Asoro, as Roberts was moved forward onto the right wing.
Swansea had struggled with the intensity and physicality of Birmingham’s pressing game on Friday night, but there was far more authority about them during the opening stages here.
Joe Rodon signalled some early intent with a surging run out of defence, before McBurnie robbed Luke Ayling to lead to a half chance snatched at by Roberts.
Martin Olsson soon curled an effort over and Swansea were firmly on the front foot against a side who have been the talk of the Championship so far this term.
Leeds’ pressing game has been much-vaunted, but Swansea had a real energy about them and caused the visitors real discomfort.
Roberts was lively up and down the flank, McBurnie a workaholic outlet, while Fer added some welcome muscle in the middle.
Rodon headed into the ground and over the bar after good work by Roberts and McBurnie had won a corner.
The young centre-back then strode out and fed McBurnie, with the Scotland international fooling Ayling to spark a counter that came to nothing.
But Swansea’s next counter would produce a superb team goal in the 24th minute.
There appeared little threat as Leeds had the ball some 35 yards from the Swansea goal, but when the ball was moved infield to Kalvin Phillips the hosts pounced.
Fer and McBurnie converged on the midfielder, with the Dutchman emerging with the ball and moving it swiftly to his partner in crime.
The ball was sent wide to Barrie McKay who drove forward and infield where he picked out Celina’s overlapping run. The Kosovo international nonchalantly rolled the ball to his left, where McBurnie surged onto it and slid the ball into the bottom corner against the club he had once represented at youth level.
Bielsa wasted little time changing things, Phillips was withdrawn for Lewis Baker, although it was Swansea to threaten next as McBurnie picked off a loose pass and Celina drove forward to flash the ball wide with a left-footed effort.
It took until the 36th minute for Leeds to threaten; Gaetano Berardi heading wastefully wide from a pinpoint Barry Douglas cross.
At the other end Fer roved forward and nice interplay ended with Celina guiding an audacious chip over the angle of bar and post.
But Leeds had just started to establish a foothold and they levelled when Swansea momentarily switched off as they took a quick free-kick.
Olsson was left isolated as Jamie Shackleton went outside the Sweden international and delivered a tap-in on a plate for Kemar Roofe.
It was the first goal Swansea had conceded in 247 minutes and it was harsh on the hosts, who started to lose their way a little in the final minutes before the interval.
The second-half saw little let-up in the tempo. McKay played a lovely reverse pass in behind to find Olsson, but the full-back could not control his flick over keeper.
But just two minutes later the fullback helped restore the lead as he motored to the left byline and his cross was brilliantly headed across goal and over Bailey Peacock-Farrell by McBurnie.
It sparked an extended spell of Swansea pressure as they swarmed all over Leeds.
McKay’s half-volley – after more excellent work by the tireless Roberts – nearly extended the lead five minutes before the hour. Leeds were limited to counter-attacks, and McBurnie nearly had a hat-trick as McKay teed him up for a low strike which was tipped round the post.
As the final 20 minutes arrived Leeds began to press a little more but created little until one costly slip allowed Patrick Bamford to roll Mike van der Hoorn and his cross was tucked in by Hernandez against his former club.
The final stages were frantic, and Celina came so close to winning it only to be denied by Peacock-Farrell.