I spent a good twenty minutes sat in front of my keyboard wondering how to start this article. The reason for my consternation is/was simply that I didn't feel I could do what I witnessed last night justice. On top of that, I watched the game in London as the minute it finished I was off to the Brixton Academy to see Soundgarden play - one of my all-time favourite bands and if you ask me, one of the best "alternative" bands in the last 30 or 40 years, so from the start the night had the potential to be very very good indeed. So, with the epic introduction suitably sidestepped, let's get on to the match itself.
It had been rumoured pre-game that the Swans would be lining up with more Spaniards in the first XI than Valencia, and so it was that SIX were selected for the club's first ever fixture against Spanish opposition - two more than the hosts. How much of that decision was tactical is debatable, but one change was forced with Jordi Amat coming in for Ashley Williams, who's picked up an ankle injury.
The game started in the manner you'd expect - the Swans tried to get comfortable and looked to retain possession, but the main talking point early on was obviously Rami's red card. Pre-match I'd mentioned one of the only players I knew anything about was Ever Banega, a tasty defensive midfielder, and serendipitously it was him who created problems for his side - his pass was blocked and then his weak header was collected by Wilfried Bony, who knocked it past Rami and looked to be in on goal. The defender couldn't resist making a challenge, and clipped the Ivorian who then went tumbling to the ground, and the referee had no hesitation in giving the centre-back his marching orders. Possibly harsh, as there was another defender coming across to cover, but you won't find any Swansea City fans complaining.
And so, with nine minutes on the clock, the Swans found themselves clear favourites to go on to win the match. With Valencia coming in on the back of their worst start to the league in 14 years they really, really could have done without that and the look of abject dismay on their players' faces when the Swans took the lead shortly afterwards says it all. They are a team bereft of confidence and they need to do something about it soon, because it simply wasn't good enough for a team like Valencia.
That's enough of that though; the Swans were well worth the three points. From the start they played expansive, patient football and Jose Canas once again dominated the midfield - ably assisted by Jonny De Guzman. OK, it's a lot easier to play against ten men but you can only play what's in front of you and it's not entirely uncommon for a team short on numbers to put in a heroic display and rescue something - not so in this case. The opener came on the break; a lovely deft touch from Bony found Pozuelo, and he in turn fed Michu who burst down the left before squaring for Bony, who'd made tracks and found space just inside the area. His powerful shot took a deflection off a despairing defender and rocketed into the net despite the flailing arms of the goalkeeper. 1-0, and the home fans were not happy, but they had worse to come.
In truth, it could and perhaps should have been both over as a contest a lot sooner, as the Swans passed up numerous good chances to put the game to bed. Nathan Dyer hooked his shot when clean through and bearing down on goal, while Bony & Michu both missed good opportunities, but while we were perhaps slightly profligate in front of goal we remained in complete control of proceedings throughout. Depending on what website you believe, we had between 65% and 68% of the possession against a team who 13 years ago contested a Champions League Final. Away. Incredible.
As it turned out, we had to wait until around the hour-mark to get the second goal which put the final nail in Valencia's coffin. Good work from Pozuelo saw him slip Michu in after some slick passing had freed up a little space, and he duly dispatched a right-footed finish past the keeper at his near post. That's two in two with his right foot - and there was me saying he didn't even know he had one!
The goal that wrapped things up neatly came four minutes later, and again it was Pozuelo who created the opportunity when his neat turn proved too cute for Banega, who fouled the Spaniard giving De Guzman a chance to test his free-kick ability. He was quickly regretting that, I'll tell you, as JDG proceeded to smash a 30 yard free-kick across goal and into the top corner. Great, great finish, and the perfect way to seal victory.
There are so many positives you can take from this match that it's almost redundant harping on about them, but for me my main hope is that Bony's performance will get some "fans" off his back. When I first saw videos of him I knew he was always liable to fall foul of the section of support who believe that unless you're sprinting around for 90 minutes, then you're no good as a footballer, but he's proving to be a bull with ballet dancer's feet - his touch in the build up to the first goal shows he's "getting his eye in" now and four goals in four European games, plus one in the league, isn't to be sniffed at, but against Liverpool I heard lots of people laying into him for, basically, being like Jason Scotland. Yeah, he was pants for us, wasn't he? Jeez.
Bony, Michu & Pozuelo seem to have a fair bit of chemistry going on between them when they're on the field together and they look like they enjoy playing alongside each other, too. I'm sure before the end of the season we'll see lots more sexy football as they continue to adjust to each other's games, and if it produces results like last nights' then Swansea City stand to have a remarkable season. We're now 5th favourites to win the Europa League, by the way...
Oh, and Soundgarden were incredible if you were wondering.
