It could not have started much better from the Swans as Lewis O’Brien’s header would put the home side in control just minutes into the contest with an earlier opener. Harry Darling doubled the lead at the midpoint of the half heading home a corner for his second goal in three games, before Josh Key’s sublime strike sent the Swansea fans into pandemonium with a three-goal lead at the break.
Plymouth huffed and puffed, but it would be Swansea who looked the more likely to add to their lead. Ji-Sung Eom and Žan Vipotnik having several chances saved by Plymouth goalkeeper Connor Hazard and will be scratching their heads at how they were not on the scoresheet.
That would be it for the scoring as the home faithful would go home happy with back-to-back home wins seeing them closer to the play-off places than the dreaded drop zone.
The Swans came into the match looking to build on the late 1-0 victory over Derby County over the weekend knowing that one more victory would all but secure their status in England’s second tier.
Eom’s late winner against Derby, his second in the last three home games, enough to give the Swans the three points in a match with few and far between chances.
50 points in recent seasons has been enough to survive in the division, and with victory against this evening’s opponents Plymouth, Alan Sheehan’s side knew victory would move them to within touching distance of safety. Nine points ahead of rivals Cardiff City holding the last relegation place of 22nd with five games remaining.
After a grueling battle against the Rams, Sheehan decided to freshen things up bringing in match-winner Eom, veteran Joe Allen, and forward Žan Vipotnik for starts with the Irishman reverting to a more familiar 4-2-3-1 formation.
Visitors Plymouth, fresh off the back of a vital 2-1 victory over Norwich on the weekend made one change themselves as they looked to pull off what would be only a second away win on the road this campaign. Darko Gyabi in for Jordan Houghton in midfield.
With a gap of five points between the Pilgrims to escape the relegation zone, points were becoming a must for Miron Muslic’s side and a good start in south Wales would be vital to the outcome of the contest.
It would be the Swans though who would start the brightest of the two sides. Enjoying the majority of the possession they would catch their opponents cold to score an opening goal with the first meaningful chance.
Brazilian winger Ronald would be fed the ball on the right-hand side before beating his marker to cross and pick out O’Brien’s late run into the penalty area. The on-loan Nottingham Forest midfielder steering a header beyond Plymouth goalkeeper Hazard powerfully into the back of the net.
Ronald would look a livewire in the opening period and came close to setting up a second as the Swans would play with pace and purpose.
The visitors after a slow start would show more ambition and would come close to coming back into the contest. Playmaker Adam Randall striking a free kick from the edge of the box but would only find Swansea goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux in fine form with a a diving save to snuff out the effort.
Ruthless in execution, the Swans would double their lead moments later. Eom with a pin-point corner picking out centre-half Harry Darling to nod home his second of the season.
Plymouth’s night would go from bad to worse as they would struggle to find a foot-hold back in the game with poor closing down allowing Swansea to score a third.
Full back Josh Key given way too much room on the right-hand side to have an eye at goal before the former Exeter man would launch a curling effort from 25-yards into the top corner past a stranded Hazard.
Plymouth would improve after the break, and after a spate of substitutions from Muslic, would come close to pulling a goal back. Midfielder Jordan Houghton, one of the replacements, heading a corner from close range straight at Vigouroux with the goal gaping.
As much as the effort would be there from the visitors Swansea though would almost be creating chances at will. O’Brien firing a deflected effort wide before captain Ben Cabango’s flicked header would go inches past the far post from the resultant corner.
Hazard would keep the score down saving brilliantly from Eom on two occasions. Franco’s picking out the South Korean on the right before his effort would be saved spectacularly one-handed by the Northern Irish international. Plymouth’s number one would then save the wide man’s snap-shot by tipping over the crossbar.
Slovenian forward Vipotnik could not quite get the better of the Plymouth keeper either as the only downside for the Swans would be that they hadn’t scored more on the night.
It wouldn’t matter, however, as Swansea would close out the game with a well-deserved three points which move Sheehan’s side to 14th position in the table.
Swansea City lineup
Lawrence Vigouroux, Josh Tymon, Josh Key (Kyle Naughton 81), Harry Darling, Ben Cabango (captain), Ronald (Florian Bianchini 76),
Ji-Sung Eom (Sam Parker 81), Gonçalo Franco (Ollie Cooper 76), Joe Allen (Jay Fulton 63), Lewis O’Brien, Žan Vipotnik.
Plymouth Argyle lineup
Conor Hazard, Kornel Szucs (Tymoteusz Puchacz 45), Nicola Katic, Julio Pleguezuelo (Victor Palsson 77), Matthew Sorinola, Adam Randell (captain) (Jordan Houghton 45), Darko Gyabi, Bali Mumba, Ryan Hardie (Frederick Issaka 65), Michael Obafemi (Callum Wright 45), Mustapha Bundu.
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
