Big calls pay off... fab Freddie... and lucky kit... but it’s only half-time in tie
SWANSEA City take a 1-0 advantage going into the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final clash with Barnsley on Saturday.
Here are the key talking points to emerge from the first leg victory at Oakwell...
BOLD CALLS REAP HUGE REWARDS
KYLE Naughton and Ben Cabango were chosen ahead of Connor Roberts and Ryan Bennett in Swansea’s back four.
And those bold calls from Steve Cooper paid dividends as the incoming pair produced monumental displays to play their part in what was a magnificent defensive effort from the Swans in Yorkshire.
Cabango ended the game with an astonishing total of 10 clearances - five more than the next best performer Jay Fulton in that category.
He and partner in crime Marc Guehi were rock solid at the heart of Swansea’s defence while the more experienced Naughton and Jake Bidwell expertly marshalled things from the full-back berths.
It speaks volumes that Guehi and Cabango – who are both just 20 years of age – hit such high standards to nullify the threat of notoriously tricky customers such as Daryl Dike and Cauley Woodrow.
“Marc and Ben, two 20-year-olds at the back, in a game like that, I thought they were excellent,” said Cooper.
“They’ve got a great role model in Ryan Bennett in how he speaks to them and talks through his experiences as well.
“They did really well, and it’s a good effort from the boys.”
FAB FREDDIE
FREDDIE Woodman scooped the Championship’s Golden Glove award having kept 20 clean sheets during the regular season.
And he kept yet another shutout against Barnsley – his third against the Tykes this season – to ensure Swansea returned to south Wales with a slender lead over Valerien Ismael’s side.
In truth, the Newcastle United loanee was rarely troubled in the first half thanks largely to the aforementioned defensive efforts of the visitors at Oakwell.
But he was far busier in the second half where he made a stunning save to keep out Callum Brittain’s effort while his alertness to clear danger was vital on numerous occasions.
The 24-year-old’s decision making was impeccable throughout, and many fans have had their say on the intriguing debate over whether it was the Englishman’s best performance in a Swansea shirt.
“I think first and foremost, all he’ll be focused on is keeping another clean sheet on Saturday,” said Cooper when asked about the goalkeeper’s display.
“He won’t be standing still on his performance, that’s for sure, but he did play well tonight.
“I thought his positional play was good and his decision making with the ball was good.
“But there’s no time to think too much about it, it’s time to look forward.
“All of his attention like everybody else will be on keeping a clean sheet on Saturday.”
THE BRENTFORD REMINDER
AT the midway stage of the semifinals, Swansea find themselves in an identical position to which they were in just shy of a year ago.
Ayew struck gold to give Swansea a 1-0 lead over Brentford in last season’s play-off semi-finals, although Cooper’s men lost the second leg 3-1 at Griffin Park to miss out on a trip to
Wembley.
This time around, you feel the Swans are in a stronger position given that they will have the boost of playing in front of 3,000 passionate supporters on Saturday rather than playing away from home in the second leg.
However, nothing can be taken for granted. Cooper knows that only too well.
“We’ve been here before,” said the head coach.
“It will be good to have a conversation with the players in the week, talk openly and ask them what their views are.
“Not just the ones who were here last year but others who’ve done it [won promotion via the play-offs], like Conor Hourihane who’s done it with his previous clubs, including Barnsley.
“The difference is we were away last year [in the second leg] and this year we’re at home, supporters are going to be in the stadium, so that comes into the mix as well.”
A SURPRISING RECORD
THE Swans’ away kit received mixed reviews when it was released ahead of the 2020/21 season.
And those who had concerns over the garish strip must have been fearing the worst when Swansea slumped to a 2-0 Carabao Cup loss at Newport County in their season opener when wearing the kit for the first time.
However, their form in the lively turquoise and raspberry number since that grim afternoon at Rodney Parade makes for phenomenal reading.
When you include Monday night’s triumph over Barnsley, Swansea have played 12 Championship fixtures in their away strip throughout this season.
They have won nine of those matches while they drew the other three, meaning they have never lost a league game when donning their flamboyant second kit.
If the Swansea players look a little chunkier than usual on Saturday, it could well be that they’ve opted to slip their white home shirts over the seemingly lucky away tops...