Away day glory for the first time since last November – Gazza beamed in the post game presser: ‘It feels sweet to win away but the manner of the win was pleasing’. Indeed, Boro produced an attractive and clinical display versus a Swansea side whose injury troubles were exacerbated notably by an assiduous Adam Johnson. Johnno collected the first of Boro’s treble – a rifled effort from an impossible angle far on the left edge of the penalty area; Marvin Emnes had another spectacular finish for the second – his blast reached inside the top corner past Dorus De Vries in a flash from 20 plus yards; and Tuncay, the anti-Gerrard by electing to play for country instead of club, glanced home a header off a set piece after arriving as a substitute for the lively Emnes.
The Swans edged Boro in most major areas – 53% possession, 15 total shots – but it didn’t seem there was terribly much for Danny Coyne and the rest of the back line to do. The physicality that many expected us to be deficient of was on display again…more of a Birmingham approach, less Wolves, defensive-centric, that gets you promoted too. And it may have to be the foundation if we are to expect no more new players coming in, despite occasional rumblings to the contrary. It’s the propensity for late sales, Robert Huth rumours to Fulham/Stoke continue apace, that don’t have time for replacing that should be of greatest concern. We dallied after the Luke Young sale, Catts was sold, not replaced, then flogged to Steve Bruce again 12 months later, this time to the Mackems! AV said it best in a nod to Stocktongate: at least he can finally play for his home club.
Cheers to Smoggy Chris for providing a feed of live BBC Radio Tees coverage from Ali Brownlee and Gary Gill at the ubiquitous justin.tv – for reasons unknown this will be an option exclusively for away fixtures, and that’s good enough for us
Janet
11 months ago
Swansea is an ugly, lovely town and was apparently crap in this match!