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Two defensive errors gifted Northampton the three points at the Vetch, as Swansea lost their first ever Coca Cola League Two fixture. Colin Calderwood was left celebrating his second consecutive 2-0 victory at the Vetch, while Jackett will be bitterly disappointed at the individual errors that cost his side any chance of a winning start.
With a bumper crowd packed into the last-ever opening league game at the Vetch, the pre-match atmosphere was electric, with hopes high for the new season. Unfortunately, Swansea were half asleep when Willy Gueret was forced to make a great one-handed save, within the opening minute, from Scott McGleish after the first of many defensive errors. Then just two minutes later, Gueret was left stranded by a horrific Stuart Jones headed back-pass that floated across the goal. Fans watched on in horror as the ball struck the post, bounced past Garry Monk and into the path of a grateful McGleish, who finished from all of three yards.
It was a dreadful start and the fans’ impatience began to show. Only moments after conceding the opening goal, Jones found himself playing four Northampton players onside and, after another crucial intervention from debutant Gueret, the young full-back was forced to clear the ball off the line. Swansea were giving the ball away all too often, before finding themselves down to ten men for a considerable length of time, as Forbes needed stitched in a head wound.
When Adrian Forbes finally returned, the Swans began to attack the visitors for the first time. Martinez played a fantastic ball through for Paul Connor, who appeared to be chopped down in the box with only the keeper to beat – no whistle. Andy Robinson and Stuart Jones both missed half chances, before Kris O’Leary had two great chances, both of which should have hit the back of the net. Right on half time, Alan Tate saw his header cleared off the Northampton line, before a moment of madness from Willy Gueret that saw the French keeper handle outside of his box. However, Northampton couldn’t capitalise and the scoreline remained at 1-1 at half time.
Swansea began the second half much as they had finished the first – whipping the ball into the opposition box on every occasion and forging half chances left, right and centre. Paul Connor could have equalised within minutes of the restart, but spooned an effort back across goal (which sparked a goal-mouth scramble) from a Robinson corner. Robinson then went close on a couple of occasions, with one neat free-kick and another long range effort. Swansea were looking odds-on to equalise.
The turning point occurred around twenty minutes from time when Jackett decided to make a couple of substitutions, bringing on Oli for Forbes and Maylett for Martinez. Moving Britton into the centre appeared to make the midfield slightly lightweight, especially as Northampton were playing with three in the middle. The Swans found themselves overrun and, despite a couple of half-chances when Connor got himself in great positions, Northampton began to dictate the show. The visitors extended their lead, courtesy of another defensive blunder, this time from Sam Ricketts. Gueret misjudged the cross (although in fairness, there was little that could be done) and Ricketts headed into his own net under pressure from McGleish once more.
Heads dropped and the remaining period of the game was played out will little purpose from the Swansea players. Northampton did hit the bar with a looping, deflected shot, but by this stage, the game was well won and the fans awaited the final whistle.
So, not the greatest of starts for Kenny Jackett’s new look Swansea. There were far too many individual errors and the long-ball approach just wasn’t working. The substitutions were also puzzling, as Martinez had been Swansea’s driving force for much of the game, with Maylett hardly touching the ball after his arrival.
However, Jackett can take some positives from this match too. Tate and Monk did little wrong and look capable of forging a really strong partnership at this level, while Forbes chased everything up front and almost made chances for himself. Rochdale on Tuesday now becomes an important fixture.
