In a game played in treacherous conditions, the Swans would be the better side to take the game by the scruff of the neck and gain a vital three points for the second game running at home.
Cullen would be the hero using his predatory striking instinct to bury Harry Darling’s flicked header after a searching Matt Grimes goal was sent in the box following a set-piece scenario.
Darling himself should have found his way onto the score sheet missing several opportunities as aerially the Swans would dominate. One goal, however, would be enough as a resolute defensive performance earned a rare clean sheet to send the home side up on place to 16th in the table.
Coming into the game it would be the late show for the Swans once again on Friday night, this time at Coventry where Alan Sheehan’s sickness-ravaged side picked up a valuable point on their travels.
Cullen’s stoppage-time free-kick ending up being enough to earn a share of the spoils in the 2-2 draw and would be the fourth time in seven games the Swans had picked up crucial points in added time.
The Swans had shown more resilience than in the crushing defeat to Southampton on Boxing Day and took the lead early with Liam Walsh’s first goal for the club. Haji Wright and Ellis Simms finishes had seemingly given the Sky-Blues all three points, but once again the response would have given Sheehan heart ahead of today’s match-up with the West Midlanders.
Sheehan today would have to do without wing-back Josh Key once more with the former Exeter man likely to face a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. Still without fellow defender, Newcastle loanee Harrison Ashby, centre back Darling would again continue as a makeshift full back.
The Swans would show two changes, welcoming back into the side goal scorer Cullen and forward Jamal Lowe, with Yannick Bolasie and Sam Parker making way.
Having come into the match off the back of an impressive 1-0 victory over Leeds United, the playoff chasing visitors would come into the game full of confidence.
Ten points picked up out of the last 15 had sent the Baggies into fifth place in the Championship table with manager Carlos Corberan keen to continue their recent good form by replicating his side’s 3-2 victory in the reverse fixture back in August.
The Spaniard would make two changes with ex-Swan Kyle Bartley coming back into defence and Tom Fellows replacing injured club captain Jed Wallace.
On a rain-drenched start to the New Year in South Wales, it would be a stop-started opening with both sides struggling to gain a foothold on the game in the poor conditions.
The Swans would be dealt an early blow losing in-form midfielder Walsh to an injury collected off the ball. A blow to the unlucky former Everton trainee, whose time at the club has been blighted by time on the treatment table.
The visitors, despite having less of the ball would have the games first notable moment. Stand-in captain Conor Townsend foraged forward to join the attack on the left-hand side of the penalty area by Friday’s matchwinner Grady Diangana before crashing an effort high and wide of Carl Rushworth’s goal.
Visiting goalkeeper Alex Palmer would then be called into action for the first time in the match as the half hit a mid-point. Lowe getting the better of his marker on the left before sending a teasing cross towards the back post. Arriving late Darling would get his head to the cross but would lack power to test the 27-year-old former academy product.
With Lowe finding joy drifting into pockets, it would be the Jamaican who would be the provider once again. A neat run and cut back finding Jay Fulton on the edge of the area. The midfielder, however, after taking a touch would drag his effort wide of the post.
With chances few and far between in a first half riddled with errors, the Baggies would come close next. Top scorer Brandon Thomas-Asante peeling away from his marker from a Jayson Molumby through ball to have clear daylight to form a shot in the penalty area. Rushworth up to the test would gather the tame effort cleanly to the satisfaction of a previously subdued home faithful.
In truth, there would not be much for the Jack Army to get excited about with no fault for effort like in previous games, but there would be a lack of tempo, width and invention to unlock a stubborn West Brom backline. The Baggies with the second-best defensive record in the league resolute as they would hinder the home side’s progress.
The Swans would look to start the second-half with purpose to their play. Substitute Charlie Patino found space on the right before picking out Jamie Paterson on the corner of the six-yard box. The forward’s acrobatic effort though would be well blocked by Bartley in the right place at the right time.
The on-loan Arsenal playmaker would then fashion a chance for Darling. A neat set-piece delivery would be pin-point for the imposing defender, but his header would only find the arms of a grateful Palmer.
With the Swans firmly on top after a spell of pressure, they would then break the deadlock. A long ball from half-way by Matt Grimes after a corner would be headed on by Darling into the box finding Cullen who would make no mistake with the finish for his second goal in as many games.
Pushing for a second goal it would be the Wales attacker who would come close again. A pot shot from 20-yards taking a wicked deflection off a West Brom defender and ending inches wide of Palmer’s right-hand post.
After a spate of substitutions from both sides as an energy-sapping contest reached its final fifteen minutes, West Brom would have their best spell of possession of the match, but the Swans defense would stand resolute with several important blocks and tackles protecting Rushworth who would be at the large a bystander of the game.
With the visitors pushing more men forward there would be more gaps appearing at the other end of the field for the Swans to exploit. Josh Tymon came close to sealing the points with a curling effort from 20 yards clattering the angle of the goal and then Darling once more found himself free in a set-piece situation to head straight at Palmer.
It would not matter though as the Swans would hold firm to gather their second win in a row at home to start the New Year on a high.
Swansea City X1
Carl Rushworth, Harry Darling, Josh Tymon, Ben Cabango, Bashir Humphreys, Matt Grimes (captain), Jay Fulton (Joe Allen 73), Liam Walsh (Charlie Patino 9), Liam Cullen, Jamal Lowe (Yannick Bolasie 84), Jamie Paterson (Jerry Yates 73).
West Bromwich Albion X1
Alex Palmer, Darnell Furlong, Kyle Barley (Semi Ajayi63), Cedric Kipre (Nathaniel Chalobah 63), Conor Townsend (captain), Okay Yokuslu (Erik Pieters 79), Alex Mowatt, Tom Fellows, Jayson Molumby (Pipa75), Grady Diangana (Adam Reach 63), Brandon Thomas-Asante.
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
Discover more from Swansea Bay News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
