Baston on target as Swans keep up pre-season form
BORJA Baston’s first goal in nearly three years capped off a dominant pre-season win over Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.
The Spaniard last struck for the Swans at Arsenal in Bob Bradley’s first game in charge back in October 2016, but he came off the bench for the second time in as many games to cap off another solid night’s work for Steve Cooper’s side.
Jay Fulton, who netted a hat-trick in the win over Yeovil earlier in the month, previously curled home to give the Swans a deserved first-half lead, while Liam Sercombe came closest for Rovers with a free-kick from distance.
The heat unquestionably played a part in this contest, with Swansea lacking the ruthless edge and sense of urgency showcased in their previous pre-season outings.
Nevertheless, they were two up inside the final 10 minutes after Baston latched on to Oli McBurnie’s throughball before lifting a smart finish over the keeper.
Fellow substitute Joel Asoro added a third seconds before the final whistle, rounding off another satisfying day at the office for Cooper’s side, who earned their first clean sheet and a fifth win out of five for the summer.
The Swans end their schedule with a much tougher test at home to Serie A giants Atalanta on Saturday, and Cooper will no doubt be desperate to further boost his squad with a couple of new arrivals.
Swansea started confidently, winning three corner kicks in the opening 10 minutes, with McBurnie the first to threaten by snapping at a shot early on.
The Swans were dictating the early pace of this contest, and were ahead in brilliant circumstances just three minutes later, with Fulton curling home from 30 yards after being teed up by Wayne Routledge.
Fulton saw another strike from a similar distance blocked just a few moments later, while Rovers came agonisingly close to hitting back themselves, with Erwin Mulder, starting for the second game in a row, doing well to tip Sercombe’s dipping free-kick from distance over the bar.
But despite that scare, City remained on top, although Bersant Celina should have done much better after skying high over the bar inside the area, before Fulton himself hit another speculative effort high and wide.
Celina, the star of the 3-1 win over Exeter City on Saturday, was closer with his next attempt just after the break, driving just wide after a neat one-two with Routledge inside the area.
McBurnie then sent a free header narrowly over the bar, before Fulton skewed another over.
Cooper chose to make a host of changes as the game ticked over into the final half an hour, including the introduction of Baston, who came off the bench for the second time in as many games.
Despite Cooper hinting that Baston could end up staying at the Liberty Stadium this summer, the Spaniard is still expected to be moved on before the start of the season, but he did at least have a say here.
McBurnie threaded a neat ball in for the Spaniard, who showed terrific composure to lift it over Jordi van Stappershoef and into the net.
Asoro added a third at the death by tapping home, but Baston’s return to the scoresheet will be the biggest talking point for the members of the Jack Army who made their way back over the bridge.