Match Review: Swansea City 1 Boro 2

Boro returned to winning ways after overcoming Swansea City in South Wales.

Goals from Sam Greenwood and Sammy Silvera proved decisive in securing victory for Michael Carrick’s men.

With a seemingly endless injury list, Carrick made just the one change with Alex Bangura earning a recall. Calum Kavanagh also joined Dan Nkrumah in becoming the latest youngster to sit among the subs.

It was the home side who created the first chance of the game was Josh Key headed over the top after finding space in the box.

Bashir Humphreys was next to find space in the box for a header and he glanced one wide when he really should have hit the target.

Liam Walsh also should have done better when sent a shot wide after Jamal Lowe found space down the left and caught the Boro defence flat-footed.

Boro’s first opportunity came shortly before the half-hour when Greenwood’s turn and shot was blocked by Carl Rushworth in the Swansea goal.

When one-time Boro trialist Jamie Paterson found space on the left it took the stretched out leg of Dan Barlaser to prevent Lowe from tapping home.

Football is all about goals, though, and it was Boro who drew first blood when Matt Crooks slipped the ball through to release Greenwood who duly applied the finishing touch.

It was Boro’s best passing move of the game, moving the ball side to side, being patient, and waiting for the decisive pass and finish.

Boro started the second half on the front foot and Crooks almost found himself with an opportunity within minutes of the restart.

Crooks also almost profited from a great ball from Jones, but Rushworth came off his line to smother the ball.

And the visitors responded immediately with a quick counter that ended with a diving header from Lowe which left Seny Dieng with no chance to level the scores.

Moments later, it took a big save to keep it level when Rushworth spread himself well to deny Jones after a great ball from Crooks set him free on goal.

With 20 minutes left, Carrick made a triple change. Morgan Rogers, Sammy Silvera, and Lukas Engel were all introduced as Boro looked to find fresh inspiration to find a winning goal.

And it was a substitution that paid immediate dividends. Swansea goalkeeper Rushworth inexplicably picked up a back pass, handing Boro a free-kick just six yards from goal. Rogers took the touch and Silvera smashed the ball through the line of Swansea players on the goal-line to make it 2-1.

The strike sent the magnificent travelling fans into ecstasy as Boro returned to winning ways.

In the final minutes, Tom Glover made his league debut when Dieng was forced off through injury in the first of six added minutes.

And the Australia goalkeeper was called upon in the final of those extra minutes when he came off his line well to intercept a Swansea cross.

Boro immediately raced down the other end and Jones was denied a third goal with the final kick of the afternoon when he hit the bar.