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Southampton’s Victor Wanyama punishes Swansea after Bony is sent off Southampton’s Victor Wanyama punishes Swansea after Bony is sent off
(about 2 hours later)
Victor Wanyama’s first Southampton goal finally ended the resistance of 10-man Swansea City. Wanyama struck with an excellent angled finish just as Swansea – who had Wilfried Bony sent off six minutes before half-time for his second bookable offence – looked like withstanding intense Saints second-half pressure. Garry Monk expects Wilfried Bony to learn from the red card that handed Southampton the initiative in a victory that took the visitors up to second in the table.
Bony saw red for the first time in English football after felling the Saints defender Maya Yoshida with a needless tackle from behind on the halfway line. The Ivorian had already been booked for catching José Fonte in mid-air after 20 minutes and, while that decision might have been slightly harsh with the striker’s focus firmly on the ball, there was no disputing the second caution. Monk’s men were on top before Bony was dismissed in the 39th minute for receiving two yellow cards, the Ivorian’s departure proving the turning point and Victor Wanyama’s goal 10 minutes from time secured the win.
Swansea had dominated proceedings until Bony’s dismissal but the red card proved the game’s turning point as Southampton took total command in the second period. They had to wait until the 80th minute for their winner, though, when Graziano Pellè fed Wanyama and his unerring finish gave Southampton their third consecutive victory and moved them above Swansea in the table. Bony was booked first for toppling José Fonte while the Saints defender was in mid-air dealing with a bouncing ball, and then saw red following a misjudged tackle on Maya Yoshida on the halfway line.
Roy Hodgson was visiting the Liberty Stadium for the first time in his capacity as England manager and there were two fascinating battles on the flanks for him to assess. Nathan Dyer was up against Ryan Bertrand and Nathaniel Clyne was marking Wayne Routledge, and the Swansea wingers enjoyed early success. Routledge sent over an excellent 12th-minute cross but Dyer was unable to make a proper connection and Bertrand cleared the danger. “There was no malice in it but it was reckless and you run the risk of receiving a second yellow when there’s a scissor motion from behind,” Monk, the Swansea manager, said. “I don’t need to tell Wilfried what he’s done. He was distraught in the dressing room after and annoyed with himself.
Swansea were calling the shots in the early stages and Gylfi Sigurdsson fired straight at Fraser Forster in the Saints goal before Routledge sent an ambitious volley wide. “He’s a good character and personality for us, but you make mistakes at times and hopefully he’ll learn from it and bounce back.”
The temperature levels rose as Bony and Fonte picked up bookings for fouls on each other and Yoshida was also cautioned for dissent after Dyer clattered into Shane Long. Monk believed the red card changed the course of the game as his side suffered a second consecutive league defeat.
Swansea almost took a 28th-minute lead when Sigurdsson slipped through Routledge and the winger, choosing to shoot with the outside of his right foot, struck the top of the crossbar. Southampton had not offered much in attack but a free-flowing move involving Dusan Tadic and Bertrand ended with Pellè scuffing a shot which Lukasz Fabianski comfortably collected at his near post. “We were so dominant in that first half. We played some great stuff and it looked as if it was only a matter of time before we were going to score,” Monk said.
But Saints were fortunate to survive when Bony met Sigurdsson’s corner and Bertrand was in the right place to clear off the line. It was Bony’s last positive involvement as he soon saw red. “We had to re-assess the situation at half-time, but the second half was always going to be difficult playing against a team who want to have the ball as well.
Southampton inevitably dominated the second period, both in terms of possession and territory, as Swansea left Sigurdsson up front on his own and retreated deeper and deeper towards their own goal. “But, until the 80th minute, they did not have a shot at our goal and it showed how well we controlled our shape.
Tadic’s deflected drive ended up on the roof of the Swansea net and Clyne crossed for Pellè to send a header straight at Fabianski on his goalline. The Serb Tadic was really starting to pose problems down Swansea’s right and his cross found the head of Pellè, whose header forced Fabianski to tip over. “Their goal was the first time we switched off.”
Pellè had an even better opportunity when substitute Steven Davis picked him out. The unmarked Italian headed wide from 10 yards but the striker redeemed himself when he sent Wanyama through for the decisive goal 10 minutes from time. Southampton’s manager, Ronald Koeman, admitted his side had to be patient after Bony’s sending-off handed them a one-man advantage. “We had to be patient to create a possibility, but we scored a great goal and that was enough for three points,” Koeman said.
“We didn’t create a lot but we had a lot of pressure and if you keep patient then you think you will score. I said at half-time the worst was 0-0 and I told the players to wait for the real moments to create.
“We didn’t do it that often but we did one or two times and it was enough.”
Koeman felt Bony’s first yellow card was harsh, but said the striker could have no dispute with the second caution and the award of a red card.
“Maybe the first one he didn’t exactly mean to make that fall and was maybe a bit unlucky,” the Dutchman said. “But the second one is definitely a yellow card.
“It was a tough game against a strong Swansea side.
“It’s nice for the fans who love the Saints to see us in second place, but as technical staff we must keep quiet. It is a fantastic start for us but it is no time to celebrate.”