Special K stuns the Swans

STEFFEN THOMAS

KESHI ANDERSON struck late to earn Blackpool a point and end Swansea’s run of four straight home wins.

Joel Piroe put the Swans ahead in the first half with his 11th goal of the season. But the Seasiders dominated after the interval.

Swansea’s Ethan Laird had two penalty appeals turned down as he was barged off the ball twice.

And manager Russell Martin was left extremely frustrated by the referee.

He said: “We should have had two penalties which would have changed the game.

“But I don’t want to come out here and blame the referee because we conceded a really poor goal and that’s on us not him.

“I don’t know what Ethan needs to do to get a penalty. It was the same against Bournemouth.”

Swansea enjoyed most of the possession in the first-half and took the lead after 35 minutes when a wicked volley from Piroe found the back of the net from 25-yards. But after the interval Blackpool dominated as Swansea struggled to get hold of the ball.

With four minutes left Anderson’s shot beat Ben Hamer, and he then came close to scoring the winner, but his volley was cleared off the line by Ryan Manning.

Blackpool manager Neil Critchley said: “You know what you are going to face when you come to Swansea.

“They play a unique brand of football and are the best footballing team in the division. I think over the course of 95 minutes we were deserved of a point.”

SWANSEA: Hamer 7; Cabango 7, Naughton 7, Manning 7; Laird 6, Grimes 7, Downes 6, Bidwell 6; Ntcham 7 (Smith 75, 6), Paterson 7; Piroe 8 (Obafemi 71, 6). Subs not used: Benda, Cullen, Latibeaudiere, Walsh, Williams.

BLACKPOOL: Grimshaw 6; Lawrence-gabriel 6, Sterling 7, Ekpiteta 7, Husband 7, James 6; Mitchell 6 (Bowler 66, 5), Connolly 6 (Dale 81, 5), Wintle 7, Anderson 7; Yates 5 (Lavery 71, 6).

Subs not used: Moore, Dougall, Madine, Gretarsson.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Joel Piroe: The Dutchman – his 25-yard volley the moment of the match.

REFEREE: Keith Stroud 7.