Late Piroe winner snatches all three points for Swans against the Baggies

Fighting back from going behind twice the Swans won for the second time this season by the same scoreline dramatically snatching the three points deep in stoppage time through Joel Piroe’s free kick.

A slick first half Luke Cundle effort had cancelled out Okay Yokuslu’s early opener for the visitors as the sides were locked at the break.

In an open second period then with both sides having chances, the Swans would look the more threatening but fell behind once again to Semi Ajayi’s close range finish. The spoils looked to be shared after Olivier Ntcham’s excellent finish had put the home side level for a second time. Drama though would unfold though as Piroe’s late winner would earn a deserved three points.

The win means that the Swans fine unbeaten run extends to nine games. Whilst ending up outside of the league’s play-off placings, a tenth placed finish can be looked upon as a successful campaign for Russell Martin’s side.

Now Martin will look to the summer to make one last push to tie up the expiring contracts of Ryan Manning, Joel Latibeaudiere and Kyle Naughton before looking to strengthen a squad that has shown plenty of potential for a promotion challenge next season if numbers are added.

In what will be a decisive summer period for the club, addressing the futures of both Martin and top scorer, Dutchman Joel Piroe, will be surely also a priority of new incoming chairman Andy Coleman with both manager and player having 12 months remaining on their respective deals.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for the Swans, who just two months ago had languished in 16^th place in the Championship table. A top-ten finish seemingly an unlikely conclusion to a roller-coaster of a campaign for Martin’s young side often averaging an age in the low to mid-20’s.

The Swans, to their credit. though have finished the season strong, gaining 23 points from the last 27 available providing renewed optimism that there is plenty to build upon in SA1 next season.

For their final outing of the season in front of a vocal bank holiday crowd, Martin named an unchanged team from the side that was held 1-1 at the MKM Stadium against Hull City last time out. 

Visitors West Brom knew that nothing but victory and a combination of results going their way elsewhere would be enough to leapfrog play-off contenders Sunderland and Millwall into the final top-six positions. 

Without a host of first-team regulars, the West Brom manager’s options have been limited in recent weeks. The Spaniard chose to keep faith with the same team for his side’s trip to South Wales that had kept alive hopes of an unlikely promotion push with a 2-1 win at the Hawthornes against Norwich City.

Looking to overcome a two-point deficit on their rivals Carlos Corberan’s side knew they would have to beat a Swans team unbeaten in their last four meetings with their counterparts.

In front of a sellout vocal home support, it was the Swans who started the brighter in the rain-sodden conditions fashioning a sustained spell of pressure in the West Brom half.

It would be the visitors though who would be presented with the games first chance. John Swift harried Ben Cabango off the ball in the Swans penalty area, before feeding Jed Wallace to join into the attack on the right. The midfielder’s dangerous cross just evading forward Brandon Thomas-Asante at the back post.

The Swans would start to gain momentum and fashioned a chance of their own Ryan Manning finding the run of Jamie Patterson in the penalty area before the ex-Coventry man would flash a left-footed effort across the face of the West Brom goal and just wide of the far post.

With the Swans on top, however, they would suffer a sucker punch as the visitors took the lead. 

John Swift recycling the play after the Swans defense had failed to clear their lines to square to unmarked Turkish midfielder Okay Yokuslu. The Baggies player of the year driving home a first-time finish past a helpless Andy Fisher in the Swans goal.

The visitors high press would disturb the usual high-flowing passing game of the Swans looking to slow down the play whilst in possession.

Martin’s side would hit back and find the breakthrough as the half hit its midpoint. Piroe’s darting run right of the penalty area showed invention before finding strike partner Liam Cullen. The forward’s neat first-time touch playing in on-loan Wolves midfielder Luke Cundle to slot past Alex Palmer for his second goal in as many games.

Corberan’s side would be dangerous on the counter attack and nearly formed an immediate response as they pushed forward in numbers as the game became open. The skillful Swift finding forward Karlan Grant in the penalty area to draw a low save from Fisher.

With both sides looking to take the ascendancy the Swans would come close just before the break. The impressive trio of Manning, Cundle and Piroe linking, the Dutchman’s though dragging his low effort wide of Palmer’s far post.

The Swans would come out of the traps quicker and almost took the lead from the restart as early chances would present themselves to the home side. 

West Brom, lethargic in defense, allowing the ever-industrious Cundle to find space 25-yards out to run at their backline before picking out Patterson to the left of the 18-yard box only for the forward to place his effort wide of the post. 

Uncharacteristically, Piroe would be the next guilty party. The Swans top marksman played through by Cundle but could only drag his shot wide of a grateful Palmer.

Once again though, the visitors would score with the home side on top. A rare forage forward earning the Baggies a corner with defender Semi Ajayi first to react to Wallace’s uncleared delivery to smash home from close range to put Corberan’s side back in front.

The Swans would fight back again superbly and equalised for a second time. 

Olivier Ntcham outfoxing Pieters on the edge of the penalty area to dummy a shot allowing the ball to fall onto his right foot. The Cameroon forwards powerful low drive sumptuous sailing past Palmer into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

The Swans would push for a third and would come close with both Cundle and Paterson’s powerful drives inches over the West Brom crossbar.

With the game looking like it could head either way, it would be West Brom who would be wondering how they hadn’t restored the lead minutes later. 

A fine counter attack resulting in Wallace being found on his own inside the 18-yard box. Under pressure from the recovering presence of Swans defender Ben Cabango. The Scottish international though only able though to drag his effort wide the Swansea goal after being picked out by Thomas-Asante.

Both sides would push for a decisive third goal and would come close as the game looked to be heading for a draw. There would be one more act to the match’s script, however deep in stoppage time as the Swans would snatch a dramatic winner.

Piroe so often the hero of the Jack Army bending a free kick around the West Brom wall into the back of the net after Luke Cundle had been fouled on the edge of the penalty area to snatch his side all three points.

Swansea City X1

Andy Fisher, Ryan Manning, Joel Latibeaudiere, Nathan Wood, Ben Cabango, Matt Grimes (captain), Luke Cundle, Liam Cullen (Ollie Cooper 60), Olivier Ntcham, Jamie Paterson (Kyle Naughton 72), Joel Piroe.

West Bromwich Albion X1

Alex Palmer, Darnell Furlong, Semi Ajayi, Erik Pieters (Kyle Bartley 78), Conor Townsend (captain), Jayson Molumby, Okay Yokuslu (Taylor Gardner-Hickman 62), Jed Wallace, John Swift, Karlan Grant, Brandon Thomas-Asante.

(Lead image: Swansea City FC)