Mulder mystery as Swans keep dominant Blues at bay
SWANSEA’S keeper sounded like he had stepped straight out of the X-Files and quite how Birmingham failed to win was a curious case indeed. Starting his first match for Swansea, Erwin Mulder’s clean sheet sealed a point his side barely deserved. Garry Monk’s team should have gained a first victory of the season but encountered a keeper in fine form and paid the price for sloppy finishing. Graham Potter continues to pick up results against the odds. After grinding out two wins from two despite frustrations in the transfer market, Swansea’s boss made the second-half tweaks that stemmed the Birmingham tide. Stats can lie but the numbers at half-time told the truth of this contest. Despite claiming just 33 per cent possession, Birmingham had 14 attempts to Swansea’s one. Monk’s men rattled in, stole away, and went for goal, time and again. Their energy was immense. Birmingham’s first chance came 13 minutes in when Omar Bogle scuffed a finish. More followed quickly and frequently. Shortly after Bogle got a fuller connection to a shot from 25 yards that flew just wide. Then Jacques Maghoma looked to have slotted home but the ball dribbled inches past the post. Birmingham had the ball in the net in the 21st minute when Michael Morrison nodded in the rebound after Mulder had saved Harlee Dean’s header. But the offside flag was raised. Mulder then reacted swiftly to save from Lukas Jutkiewicz when the Birmingham striker hit hard having been put through, and he produced an even better save to Dean’s driven header from Jota’s wicked free-kick. Jota was a threat from open play soon after, drifting in off the right wing and slipping in Jutkiewicz, who turned sharply but hooked his finish wide. Based on this evidence, Swansea’s prolonged pursuits of Ryan Woods and Muhamed Besic need to reach a swift and satisfactory conclusion. Potter’s team did find some agency after the break when Leroy Fer entered after an hour. Monk’s side should have won it with 10 minutes left. Sent on seconds earlier, Che Adams was put clear by Jota’s chip but he lashed over.