Saints battled hard today to extend their unbeaten run to six after a forgettable goal less draw in South Wales.
MOPO’s side now can finally consider themselves all but safe. Now sitting eight points clear of the drop zone it would take a miracle for anyone to catch them.
MALA’s side however will have been disappointed not to have taken the 3 points, after having what they feel the better of the chances.
You have to be devoted to travel 175 miles and I’d like to start by congratulating all 2076 fans, how can we not be the best fans in England?
However even if we are the best fans in England, we couldn’t prevent a very shaky start from The Saints.
Both teams made moves which were easy on the eye, but it was the Swans who carried the greater threat in the opening exchanges, with Michu unable to make the most of a composed
break forward, as the Spaniard’s shot was charged down by Jos Hooiveld.
On 10 minutes, Luke Moore flung himself at a cross from Dyer on the right side, but Artur Boruc was out smartly to collect the ball, as he was again moments later when Dyer this time broke through the middle.
Pochettino’s men grew into the game, and in the 14th minute, a burst down the right from Nathaniel Clyne created the opportunity via Morgan Schneiderlin, for Jack Cork to strike form distance, but the midfielder’s rising effort was held by Michel Vorm in the home side’s goal.
After weathering another storm inside their own half, Saints took aim from range again when Steven Davis fed the ball into the path of Jay Rodriguez, who curled a high shot over the bar form the edge of the area.
A more patient approach from the visitors drew a free-kick when Adam Lallana was shoved to ground by Swansea skipper Ashley Williams on the right side of the hosts’ area.
Lambert stepped up to deliver the set piece, but his strike came back off the wall, much to the relief of Michael Laudrup’s men.
On 27, another relaxed move down the right flank saw Clyne and Davis combine once more, this time for Rodriguez, who hit a controlled volley low to Vorm’s right, where the ‘keeper was able to pounce on it without too much trouble.
A period of midfield possession for both teams followed until Lallana was brought down by Chico Flores just outside of the area. Lambert again stepped up, but his dead ball hit was expertly tipped away by Vorm who leapt across to push it over.
The resulting corner was taken by Steven Davis and pushed out to the other side where Rodriguez rescued the move to float the ball back into the danger zone. Lallana went up with Vorm to tap the ball into the empty net, but the linesman nearest to the action, ruled the goal out for a push on the Swansea goalkeeper, much to the displeasure of the Saints players.
Swansea started the better in the second half as well when sub Wayne Routledge curled a cross into Michu who just couldn’t keep his header down.
Next came Swansea’s best chance to break the deadlock Dyer played a smart one-two with Michu leaving Boruc in no mans land, luckily though Maya Yoshida was on the line to clear.
Emmanuel Mayuka came on in place of Rodriguez late on in a bid to snaffle a late winner, and with three fresh attackers on the field, Saints sensed a late opportunity to steal all three points, which nearly came when Davis picked out the underplayed Zambian, but his stab towards goal was saved by Vorm’s left foot.