Swansea

Pic: Theo equalises. Courtesy Daily Mail

When you get out passed, out thought, out fought and still manage to donate all the opposition’s goals, is the time to appreciate the fact that “Houston. We have a problem.”

Sure the absence of Mikel emphasized the degree of the problem whilst certainly proving that we aren’t just a one man side. Robin did his bit to keep the rumour going though with a really well taken goal following AA’s astute through ball. This regrettably was the last we were to see of AA as an attacking force. But at least that was an improvement on Theo’s first half performance. Is it me or has he lost a yard or two? He latched on to Johan’s through ball easily enough when he scored in the second half, but overall, was just as lethargic as his recent displays. If this is his strategy for getting an improved contract perhaps Mum/Dad/girlfriend had better have a not so quiet word.

Between Robin and Theo’s goals we had managed to go 2-1 down. At the time the penalty awarded looked stone cold, so no complaints that the ref crooked us. Later replays suggest that maybe it wasn’t a penalty but for AW to say that it was a bad decision ( that’s he of “I didn’t see it” fame) really is a load of tosh. When the defenders don’t complain, and they’re a lot closer, one feels that perhaps the ref got it right. If only all our “stone cold” ones were correctly called.

The second Swansea goal really was a disgrace. AA and Aaron combined to screw it up with our defence all going the wrong way: the space left could have seen a Mac truck turn full circle. Even then, had Kos not ducked, perhaps he could have cleared.

With the equaliser arriving as it did, making us the first side to score twice there, with lots of time for us to get the winner it was like a bucket of icy water to see a school boy error from Thierry, shortly followed by its goalkeeping equivalent from Chesney for Swansea’s winner mere seconds after.

Our efforts to get another equaliser were doomed. The best of the chances fell to the BFG who miskicked from 4 yards. Why did it have to drop at his feet? TR and TW had wild and woolly efforts so the result was a well deserved win for the Swans I fear.

Next up our dearly beloved friends from Mancunia. Maybe we’ll see if it’s arrogance that costs us points against the lesser lights. For sure, if we go into this game with a coast through mentality, we’ll see our Arse and all.