Lowe’s on a high after getting off the mark in Swans win
SWANSEA CITY..................2 FOREST GREEN ROVERS.1
JAMAL Lowe netted his first goal for Swansea City who ended their mini pre-season campaign with a 2-1 win over Forest Green Rovers.
Lowe struck after just nine minutes to put the Swans ahead at the Liberty Stadium before Yan Dhanda doubled his side’s advantage on 28 minutes.
Kane Wilson pulled a goal back for the visitors who made a real fist of things.
But Swansea held on to claim victory ahead of their first competitive match of the 2020/21 campaign in the Carabao Cup against Newport County this weekend.
The hosts were without a number of first-team stars including Connor Roberts, Ben Cabango, Bersant Celina and Marc Guehi due to the international break.
And it meant Cooper had to name a makeshift side to face the League Two outfit at the Liberty Stadium.
Freddie Woodman – who signed a fresh loan deal with the club in August – made his first appearance at SA1 since the 1-0 defeat to Leeds United.
New recruits Lowe, Morgan Gibbs-White and Korey Smith were all handed their home debuts, while Andre Ayew was named as captain, with Matt Grimes starting on the bench.
It meant Jay Fulton, Joe Rodon and Kyle Naughton operated as a back three, with Wayne Routledge and Jake Bidwell being deployed as wing-backs.
Joel Asoro and Kristoffer Peterson were listed among the replacements, although there was no place in the squad for Declan John or Barrie McKay.
Swansea started on the front foot, winning numerous corners as they put the visitors under pressure, although it was Matty Stevens who fired just wide inside seven minutes for the away side.
However, two of Swansea’s summer recruits combined superbly just two minutes later as Smith’s through ball found Lowe on the left, and the former Wigan man ghosted beyond Dan Sweeney before slotting beyond Luke McGee to net his first goal for the club. It was a slick move that ended with a composed finish, one that will no doubt give fans plenty of hope that Lowe can fire in a hatful of goals during the upcoming campaign.
And that strike set the tone for the majority of the half, with Swansea seeing plenty of possession while they attempted to be brave when going forward.
Dhanda was a real live-wire in the No.10 role, although he was well off target with a free-kick on 18 minutes.
Nicky Cadden then struck a freekick into the Swansea wall with what was a rare opening for Forest Green at the other end.
But Swansea doubled their lead just before the half hour mark as Lowe won possession before laying off to Gibbs-White whose through ball set Dhanda free, and the former Liverpool man coolly slotted stroked it beyond McGee.
Despite only being a friendly, there was still some spice to proceedings, with Ebou Adams earning a ticking off from referee Dean John after a challenge on GibbsWhite. To their credit, Rovers improved and pulled a goal back nine minutes before the break after Wilson lashed beyond Woodman from the back post.
Dhanda fired over again late on in the half as Swansea led 2-1 at the break, with Cooper sending on Steven Benda – who helped Swindon Town win the League Two title last term – for the second half, with Woodman making way.
Bidwell then created the best chance of the second half, although his cross saw Ayew head to Lowe, who could only guide his own effort straight at substitute goalkeeper Lewis Thomas.
But the scoreline remained the same as Steve Cooper’s men signed off their shortened summer schedule with a victory.
Swansea City: Woodman (Benda 46); Fulton, Rodon, Naughton (C Evans 70); Routledge (Rushesha 61), Smith, Gibbs-White (Williams 70), Bidwell; Dhanda (Peterson 70), Ayew (C) (Grimes70), Lowe (Asoro 70). Sub not used: Garrick.