|
|
| Rusty Chris Jones' penalty in first half injury-time proved decisive as Neath, fresh from a 6-1 aggregate defeat to Kjetil Rekdal's Aalesund team, shocked Wales' first Premier League team. Ryan Harley, keen to impress Swansea after a loan spell, handled in his area to concede the penalty that cost his team the match. German trialist keeper Torston Stuckmann didn't even have a number on his jersey and was powerless to stop Jones' effort, which was scored against the run of play. The honour guard that Neath graciously provided to welcome Swansea, sporting their new orange kit for the first time, was a nice touch, but Neath had a point to prove – they had ex Swans keen to prove their worth to their former employers. Neath's best player, Lee Trundle, lasted just over an hour, but was not as influential as he had been against the Norwegians. A first half chip was dealt with by Stuckmann and a forty yard effort with the keeper off his line went just wide. Neath's fans love him and he is revered by Swansea fans too for his devoted service to that club. He received a good ovation from both when he was substituted with 25 minutes left. Despite not dictating play as he had in the first half against Aalesund, once again he provided the quality for Neath with Jones out to impress too. Danny Graham had most of Swansea's best chances in the first half, but like Luke Moore in the second half, the sharpness in front of goal was lacking. The visitors rang in the changes at half-time as Brendan Rogers looks to build sharpness and match fitness rapidly – no sooner was this match over than the Swans rushed off to Port Talbot for another game. Most of the Swans' best moments came in the first half, courtesy of last season's Player of the Season, Nathan Dyer. A mazy run down the right flank illustrated the difference in quality as he eluded three defenders before cutting into the penalty area only for a strong penalty appeal against Kai Edwards to be turned turned down. Another similar run carved a path through Neath's defence before releasing Graham, who finally beat Neath keeper, Lee Kendall, only for his goal to be chalked off, rightly, for off-side. Further efforts produced corners or went just wide. Harley had a double effort the also ended up going wide. Dyer was the best player on view, so what did he make of it and his own performance, Rusty, I felt,” Dyer said. “Not too good at all, but it was just about getting fitness today, I thought, so that's what we tried to improve on.” Ambitions Dyer was impressed with Neath, but pointed out that their season had already begun. “I thought they did well,” he said. “They've been back a while, so they've been back playing quite a bit, so it was good for them to play against us. I'm just glad to get a 45 minute run out and get my fitness up.” Dyer believes that Swansea's achievement of reaching the Premier League is very important for Welsh football. “Brilliant you know,” you he said. “Very proud to be there at a historical moment and we are the first Welsh team to get to the Premiership. Everybody said Cardiff were a bigger side than us. We proved it's not always the bigger side, with the best players. Swansea done brilliantly with the players and the gaffer.” So what are his ambitions both for himself and Swansea? “Stay up in the Premiership,” he said. “We just want survival. We want to play there as long as we can.” So has promotion whetted his appetite for European football? “I think that's a bit far off. We're just coming up you know. I don't think there's anybody that's done that that's just gone up, so we're just about getting to the Premiership and being up. It's a different league, you know; we've got the best players in the world that play in there, so to ask for that is a bit too much in our first season, so I know and we know that we're going to have to finish in a decent position in the table.” And does he spare a thought for Cardiff City, that Swansea's promotion will inspire the Bluebirds to push for promotion and make it two Welsh teams in the top flight? “I'm not too sure,” Dyer said. “I'm not too bothered about what they're doing to be honest with you. I'm at Swansea and that's what I'm concentrating on.” |
