Rowdy visitors deliver a decidedly non-neutral performance which pushed the Swans close
Pre-match, if anyone had been asked to put some money on whether the game would be a feisty affair, they'd have had some serious doubts. The Swans have acquired a reputation as exponents of the beautiful game while St Gallen...well, they're Swiss! There are plenty of stereotypes I could lean on here, but none of those would lead you to believe that we were in for a bit of a kicking.
A nod to the pre-game stats, and we are now all aware why St Gallen are both the third lowest scorers and have the meanest defence in the Swiss Super League. They set their stall out to harass, harangue and get in the faces of their more esteemed opponents, and they did a damn fine job of it, if we're being honest.
In the first half, we really struggled to get going. Laudrup had gone with Leon and JDG at the base of the midfield, and I had some reservations about that combination's ability to withstand a physical onslaught. The diminutive duo struggled to gain a foothold in the game, and on numerous occasions St Gallen managed to break forward with intent. So it was, that in the 12th minute Dwight Tiendalli handled a cross and the visitors had a chance to put themselves ahead from the penalty spot.
A combination of a very, very poor penalty from Goran Karanovic and Gerhard Tremmel guessing the right way kept the scores level, and the Swans responded with renewed vigour in attack - Ben Davie's free-kick found Jordi Amat and somehow the ball stayed out before Pozuelo waited too long when well placed which allowed a defender to get in an excellent saving tackle. The emerging star of the show though, sadly, was Portuguese referee Duarte Gomes.
The Iberian official had doled out 16 yellows and 2 reds in his previous two domestic games, and you can see why. Erratic, officious and oft incorrect, he managed to miss Michu getting kicked in the head (studs first, I may add), which saw the Spaniard require eight minutes of treatment to a bloodied head. He'd go on to go through five shirts, such was the profuse nature of the blood flowing from his head for the remainder of the night. At one point the ref wandered over to Michu on the sidelines, before seemingly giving him a telling off. You tell him, ref... Thanks to @TheDevilWe4rsMe on Twitter I can show you the incident:
— Med 'Jack Army' Rend (@TheDevilWe4rsMe) October 4, 2013
At another point he booked Ben Davies for an excellent sliding tackle, where he clearly got the ball first, but I'm done talking about poor officiating now as no doubt the guy loves his name being mentioned and I don't want to give him the satisfaction of further reference.
We made it to half time at 0-0, and came out for the second half with a renewed sense of vigour and purpose. Seven minutes later, we were in front. Pozuelo fed Bony, and despite the ball being a touch heavy his shot across keeper Daniel Lopar (who I thought was excellent all night) squirmed through his clutches before rolling to Wayne Routledge, who had the simple task of tapping home at the back post.
It would be unfair to mention that St Gallen striker Karanovic himself was in the wars. Going for a high ball in the first half, he was absolutely clattered WWE-style by Gerhard Tremmel, and it's reported on his way down the tunnel at half time he asked what team he was playing, and whether he'd missed a penalty earlier in the match. Yes you did son! Ha. Gutted, and I'm glad I wasn't the one to break the news to him.
Substitute Keita almost managed to restore parity, taking an exquisite first touch from a high ball before attempting a lob, but sadly for the Guinean international it went just over Tremmel's bar. Some goal that would have been. On the hour mark Laudrup had replaced goal-scorer Routledge with Nathan Dyer, and ten minutes later Alvaro came on for Bony, and he almost made in immediate impact. Sprinting clear down the left, he cut inside before curling a shot just wide of the far corner. Very, very close, and that would have been a nice way to announce yourself to the Swansea faithful.
Alejandro Pozuelo was the final man replaced, with Jonjo Shelvey coming on to shore up the midfield, but Nathan Dyer was next to trouble the keeper - Ben Davies' cross from the left found the wee man at the back post, and his uncharacteristically well-struck volley unfortunately went straight into the legs of Lopar and away. More of that please, Nath! While I'm on it, Ben Davies was outstanding again last night. He's fast becoming my hero. Just putting that out there.
There was still time for St Gallen to muster another opportunity, substitute Nater's long range drive cracking the outside of Tremmel's left-hand upright and going out for a goal-kick, but by that point the Swans had successfully drawn all of the sting out of the visitor's game. The last few minutes saw the Swans finally start to knock the ball around at will, but in fairness the second half performance was vastly improved on the first. They got in their opponents faces and refused to be bullied off the ball, which was what was needed against a fired up Swiss team who had previously gone twelve games unbeaten.
The personification of this effort was Miguel Michu, bloodied and sodden, who gave his all from first to last and did well to not rise to both meaty challenges and lax officiating. It would have been very easy to retaliate somehow and earn himself a soft yellow, but he showed true professionalism and just got about his business - albeit in a very teeth-clenched manner.
Last night once again showed how much we miss Ashley Williams, but the boys did well. They did get lucky with the penalty save in the first half, but the grit and determination displayed last night should give the Swans renewed confidence heading into this weekend's game with high-flying Southampton, as well as going a long way to securing progression into the next round of the Europa League.
Top of the group, maximum points, and no goals conceded in two group games. This Europa League lark is pretty easy, isn't it?