The Continuing Rise of Swansea City

[mcthomas70]

Following Swansea City's promotion to the Premier League, Brendan Rodgers left his post to take up the managerial role at Liverpool. With the very popular Northern Irishman moving to Merseyside the Swansea board yet again had the task of appointing a new manager. Names such as Ian Holloway and Michael Laudrup were mentioned as possible replacements. However Huw Jenkins took a risk of handing the job to 41 year old Matthew Thomas into the hot seat for Swansea's Premier League debut.

 

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August - New Faces Arrive

With all the hype surrounding the the impending Premier League bow against Blackburn, a number of new faces arrived at the Liberty Stadium. Following the departure of former number one goalkeeper Dorus de Vries to Wolves, Dutch international number two Michel Vorm arrived from Utrecht for a fee of ?1.5million. Striker Danny Graham joined for record fee of ?3.5million from Watford having been the leading scorer in the Championship the previous season.

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Steven Caulker joined on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur and former Swan Federico Bessone joined on a free. Despite repeated attmepts to sign Middlesbrough forwards Marvin Emnes, Swansea eventually swooped for the Dutchman's strike partner Leroy Lita in deal worth ?1.8million. The final addition came in the shape of former QPR and Newcastle winger Wayne Routledge.

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Pre-season saw the Swans win five of their seven matches, drawing the other two which included a 3-0 win over Everton which saw a debut goal for Steven Caulker and a strike from Stephen Dobbie.
Premier League Kick-Off

Barclays Premier League
Swansea City 2-1 Blackburn Rovers​

The manager gave a league debut to Michel Vorm and recalled Stephen Dobbie and Andrea Orlandi into the starting XI while Graham, Routledge and Rory Donnelly were on the bench.Swansea made the best start after MArk Gower rifled in a 30 yard free-kick to open the Welsh side's account. Yakubu equalised 10 minutes before half-time on his Blackburn debut and the sides went in level at 1-1. Nine minutes into the second half and Scott Sinclair was brought down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Leon Britton stepped up but blazed it over the bar. Rovers continued to frustrate the Swans but with seventy-six minutes on the clock substitute Danny Graham broke past Scott Dann and buried it beyond Robinson to give Matthew Thomas a winning start to his competitive debut as manager.

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Barclays Premier League
Chelsea 0-0 Swansea City​

Following his match winner against Blackburn Danny Graham was handed his first full start in place of Andrea Orlandi. Wayne Routledge also made his Swansea bow as a second half substitute.Stephen Dobbie put in a man of the match display in a game dominated by the visitors. The Scot had a number of chances blocked and thumped the post as Swansea collected their first away point of the season.One highlight was the return of midfielder Ferrie Bodde who was brought on as a second half substitute for his first taste of first team football since 2010.

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League Cup Second Round
Sheffield Utd 1-1 Swansea City
Sheffield Utd win 3-2 on penalties​

Thomas made six changes for the clash at Bramall Lane. Fede Bessone, Steven Caulker and youngster Curtis Obeng made their debuts at the back. Joe Allen was included for the first time since his transfer saga linking him with a move to Liverpool and Andrea Orlandi was recalled into the side. Irishman Rory Donnelly also made his first start.The Swans struggled with a much changed side but take the lead half way through the first half when Marcus Williams headed into his own net after attempting to clear a Mark Gower corner.Ched Evans equalised eight minutes after half-time and it remained level so the match went to penalties. Misses from Gower, Orlandi and Caulker saw the Swans out at the first hurdle in the first domestic cup competition.

Barclays Premier League
Swansea City 2-1 Manchester City​

The final match of the month saw big spending Manchester City visit South Wales. Graham, Sinclair and Routledge were all included in the starting line-up while Orlandi and Britton headed the midfield. Neil Taylor was brought in after bessone was ruled out with an injury picked up against Sheffield United.
Twenty-four minutes in and Wayne Routledge finally broke his Premier League duck as his shot clipped in off the post after being played through by Orlandi. Carlos Tevez had been set to leave Manchester City in the summer but it was his twenty-five yard thunderbolt that brought the Eastlands side level shortly after the break.
Thomas threw on Caulker for Ashley Williams for his Swansea debut and Bodde and Dobbie came on as the hosts looked to secure another three points. Leon Britton saw a shot cannon off the post but it was Danny Graham who was the hero again as he ran on to Sinclair's through ball to round Joe Hart and send the Liberty into orbit.

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August
2wins, 1 draw, 1 defeat
Points: 7
League position: 5th
Top goalscorer: Danny Graham (2 goals)​

 

[mcthomas70]

September - Unbeatable

Barclays Premier League
Sunderland 1-4 Swansea City​

Nathan Dyer returned to the starting line-up in place of Wayne Routledge. Joe Allen took Britton's place in the midfield and Kemy Agustien made his first start of the season with Gower dropping to the bench.
It was another dominating display from the Swans as they swept away Martin O'Neil's side and they were ahead on the stroke of half-time when Stephen Dobbie's drive from the edge of the area flew into the net. Danny Graham doubled the lead from the spot after Dobbie was fouled by Titus Bramble. Sunderland were back in the game straight from the kick-off as a long ball beat the Swansea defence and Kieran Richardson scored to restore some hope. The match was settled ten minutes from time as Dyer broke down the right and squared for Rory Donnelly who only had to tap into an empty net. And the young Irishman was on the scoreboard again after he and Dyer linked up again to put gloss to the scoreline.

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Barclays Premier League
Wigan Athletic 2-4 Swansea City​

After his two goals against Sunderland Rory Donnelly was handed his first Premier League start, demoting Danny Graham to the bench. Andrea Orlandi was called into the side to replace Joe Allen and Fede Bessone took his place at left back.
Donnelly repaid his manager's faith as he opened the scoring when he tucked home Scott Sinclair's delightful through pass. Wigan were level five minutes later when Ben Watson broke into the area and beat Michel Vorm. Swansea were back in front just after the half hour as Dobbie set Dyer away who squared for Donnelly to make it 2-1. Dobbie made it 3-1 as he met Bessone's left wing cross which was saved by Ali Al-Habsi but the Scot scored from the rebound. And the points were safe when Rangel's cross eluded the entire Wigan defence and Sinclair was there to tap in from three yards. Wigan managed a consolation when James McCarthy slotted home.

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September
2 Wins
Points: 13
League position: 2nd
Top goalscorer: Donnelly (4 goals)​

 

[mcthomas70]

October - Heading for the top

Barclays Premier League
Swansea City 2-0 Aston Villa​

A slight knock for Scott Sinclair meant Wayne Routledge took his place in the side, Donnelly remained in the starting XI and Kemy Agustien moved into midfield.However, the Dutchman's involvement in this game last just fifteen minutes as he was sent off for a horror tackle on Stiliyan Petrov. The manager sacrificed Stephen Dobbie so Orlandi could fill the gap in midfield. The game was very even despite Villa's numerical advantage. It took until the sixty-ninth minute for a goal as Ashley Williams headed in Mark Gower's free-kick. And it was Gower who sealed the points as he cut in from the left and curled a shot superbly into the top corner.

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Barclays Premier League
Everton 1-4 Swansea City​

Scott Sinclair returned but Routledge remained in the side at the expense of Nathan Dyer. Britton took Agustien's place in midfield, while Neil Taylor regained his starting place from Fede Bessone and Steven Caulker made his Premier League debut in place of Ashley Williams.
The Swans were off to a flying start as just three minutes in Stephen Dobbie managed to dribble round Sylvain Distin and slot past Tim Howard to give Matthew Thomas' side the lead. Rory Donnelly scored his fifth goal of the season when he let fly from the edge of the area to double the advantage just before the quarter hour. Denis Stracqualursi replied almost immediately as he latched onto Steven Pienaar's cross. Swansea captain Gary Monk scored his first goal of the season as he headed in Mark Gower's corner. The result was put beyond doubt on seventy minutes when Routledge fed Dobbie who finished low into the left bottom corner.

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Barclays Premier League
Swansea City 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur​

Swansea City stretched their winning run to six games as they dismantled a struggling Tottenham side at the Liberty Stadium. Thomas named an unchanged side for the first time this season.
Stephen Dobbie continued his good form when he found himself with the goal at his mercy after Tottenham made a hash of Scott Sinclair's cross and the Scot converted to give the Swans the lead after thirty minutes. Gary Monk made it two in two for him as he again got onto the end of a corner by Mark Gower to double Swansea's lead in firsthalf stoppage time. Record signing Danny Graham completed the victory when he curled a left-footed shot round Brad Friedel.

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Barclays Premier League
Bolton Wanderers 1-4 Swansea City​

Four wins from four saw Swansea top of the Premier League as they outclassed Bolton. The manager made three changes with Donnelly replacing Danny Graham as the lone striker, Orlandi took the place of Stephen Dobbie and Ferrie Bodde continued his return by starting ahead of Gower.
Andrea Orlandi got the visitors off to the best possible start when he struck a 25 yard shot into the top right corner. Gretar Steinsson put an OG next to his name as he headed Ashley Williams' goal bound header into his own net. Dedryck Boyata pulled one back for Bolton before William's got his goal as he tapped in Andrea Orlandi's free-kick. Swansea had to play all of the second half with ten men as Angel Rangel was dismissed for two bookable offences just before the halfway point. However, this made no difference as Rory Donnelly scored for the sixth time this season as he drilled a shot into the far corner just two minutes from time.

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October
4 wins
Points: 25
League Position: 1st
Top goalscorer: Rory Donnelly (6 goals)​