Barnsley 1-1 Swansea City, Saturday 19th October 2019

‘Daniel Stendel’s red and white army’

Welcome to ...

The King is Dead.  Long live the King.  Yes, life after Daniel was…alright actually.  Despite nothing but doom and gloom pre-match (and I wasn’t even talking), things on the pitch appeared vaguely rosy.  We changed formation, had a go, and somehow didn’t take the lead despite two chances on a plate for McGeehan – but at least he gets in those positions, ghosting in unseen.

Heading to Oakwell...spirits low after the Stendel debacle.

Yes, tactically, we looked much better.  Interim coach Murray (remember, they’re all interim) went with a back 3, which made sense if you’ve seen the gaps between our centre halves this season.  Perversely, this meant no place for Mads; good enough in a 2, but not in a 3.  Diaby was back for his debut (for me).  He’s a unit, dwarfing Cavare.  Sibbick was back there too, along with Halme.  This was great for Cavare, who could now stand on the halfway line with his hands on his hips, which he duly did – apart from when he launched his throws, deep into the box.  Why’ve we not been using this tactic sooner?  It wreaked carnage from the off, one in the 1^st minute reaching Cauley, whose volley was superbly saved. 

The teams meet and greet.

Another welcome addition, and one of whom I’m expecting (hoping?) better things of this season…it was the return of Kenny Dougall to defensive-mid.  Now, I was very critical last season, as he disappeared in games we needed him (Charlton away) and had nowt to do when we didn’t (crushing inferior opposition at home).  But in a higher division, where we’ll be under the cosh a fair bit, a half decent defensive midfielder is priceless.  And he came in like he’d never been away, breaking down move after move from the Swans.

The 1st of the season's minute's silence / applause.

Indeed, we perhaps should have had this game won before Swansea started venturing towards our goal.  McGeehan cleared the bar from 6 yards on the rebound from a save from Cauley; then, in the second half, an intelligent header across goal from Chaplin had Mowatt swinging and missing before McGeehan repeated his earlier feat and cleared the bar again from close in.  It was left to Mowatt to show how it should be done, later equalising in cool fashion, side-footing it home having seen the gap to his bottom left.  You can’t teach composure.

Looking towards the away end.

By now Swansea were leading.  And if our earlier failures were predictable, so was Swansea taking the lead.  The writing had been on the wall in a mad 5 minute spell, where Collins saved a point-blank header, a one-on-one…before saving a close range blast that rebounded up in the air for their forward to react before our defence (I mentioned the inevitability of it all.)  The Oakwell faithful burst into a spontaneous round of applause, which must have surprised Swansea somewhat, but it turned out to be in tribute to the fan who died of a heart attack at the Derby match.  Swansea just happened to score in that very minute.  Good timing, lads.  

The East Stand v Swansea.

Before then, the Swans had barely shown any attacking premise.  Were we looking more solid cos we were organised?  Or cos Swansea simply lacked the offensive nouse of Brentford and Dirty Leeds, who ripped us apart at will? Problies a bit of both, but I doubt Swansea will be anywhere near the play-off position they currently hold by season’s end.  Will we finish the bottom place we now currently occupy?

Very probably. 

Onwards and…downwards!

*** Collins.  I know.  We were the better team and the keeper gets MOTM, but he pulled off 3 amazing saves and never put a foot wrong.  Sponsors’ MOTM. 
** Dougall.  Broke down so many opposition moves.
* Mowatt.  Kept probing and rescued a point.

Londontykes' MOTM: TBA

The Ponty v Swansea (cheers Slacki!)

Despatches: 

I had a party to go to in the north-east on Saturday nite, so I took Friday off, trained it up and hired a car.  How much?  Tickets bought Tuesday, £140 return on the train…while 3 days car hire was about £80 (plus £40 petrol).  Think of the places I could go for £140 return from London….
Oh, and welcome back Diaby (and his chant, the words of which still escaped me).  And special mention to Nozzer who called for Chaplin to be dragged off a minute before he set up the equaliser.

Drink du jour: Coca-Cola is it.

Away: 734  

The Damage:
£3 prog
£5 season review 2018-19
= £8

The Tunes:
BBC 6Music (Huey Morgan, Gilles Petersen, Craig Charles)

Ponty panorama

The teams line up in front of the Main Stand.

The Main Stand.

My train from Durham.  As I like it.  (It didn't last.)

Welcome to the (real) north!