Saturday August 20, 2011 Day 2 Finished The Liberty Stadium

  1. Swansea held by Wigan at home

    Swansea held by Wigan at home

    Swansea were held to a goalless draw by Wigan in their first Premier League match at the Liberty Stadium. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Swansea City
    • Wigan Athletic
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only)
    • 90+3' The full time whistle blows. That's the end of the game.
    • 90' We'll have three minutes of stoppage time.
    • 89' Diame receives the ball following some substantial Wigan pressure. The midfielder elects to shoot from distance. It sails a long way wide. Poor.
    • 88' The corner is sent to the near post where Figueroa meets it. The defender flicks it on towards the far post but nobody can get on the end of it.
    • 87' Stam sends in a fantastic ball that rolls across the edge of the penalty area. Moses, who is carrying the injury, can't quite get there. It's put away for a corner.
    • 86' Dobbie again does well cutting in from the right before getting to the edge of the penalty area. Sinclair looks like the better option but the substitute opts to shoot and fires straight into the arms of Al Habsi.
    • 84' McCarthur commits a foul on the edge of the penalty area. That’s a number of fouls he’s made since coming on.
    • 83' Danny Graham is replaced by Leroy Lita.
    • 82' Dobbie cuts in from the right and unleashes an effort on goal from 25 yards. The ball moves from left to right but is saved by Al Habsi, who is down well to his right.
    • 81' Leroy Lita is warming up on the touchline. It looks like he'll be the third and final change for the hosts.
    • 79' Moses is really struggling at the minute. He's holding his left thigh and has signalled the bench a number of times.
    • 78' Dobbie looks to go down the right flank but is stopped a number of times before finally losing possession. He's not quite got the pace of Routledge.
    • 77' Moses is booked for a number of fouls followed by not getting back the full 10 yards on the Swansea free kick. Pointless.
    • 76' Stephen Dobbie replaces Wayne Routledge.
    • 75' The penalty came after Gomez latches onto the ball following Moses hitting the crossbar. The midfielder flicked the ball into the box before being brought down by Williams.
    • 74' SAVED PENALTY!! Vorm goes the right way, diving low to his right, and beats Watson's penalty away.
    • 73' PENALTY TO WIGAN!!
    • 73' CROSSBAR!! Moses gets lucky with a slight deflection and bursts through on goal before crashing an effort off the bar.
    • 72' Agustien’s corner is hit far too deep. Rodallega is back on the edge of his box and collects before advancing up the field.
    • 71' Hugo Rodallega replaces Di Santo for the visitors.
    • 70' POST!! Wigan are stepping it up a little now. Gomez takes a touch with his right as he advances on goal before half-volleying with his left foot. The ball flies over the head of Vorm but cannons back off the post.
    • 69' CHANCE!! Moses does superbly well to trick his way past two defenders on the left before baring down on goal. His shot is sent straight at Vorm.
    • 68' Watson's corner is sent in to a good area but it's cleared for a corner by Caulker.
    • 67' The game has opened up slightly. Wigan are enjoying a small spell of possession. Figueroa gets forward and wins a corner.
    • 66' Gomez exchanges a number of neat passes with Diame before crossing from the left towards Di Santo. The cross is probing but Di Santo can’t quite climb high enough to get on the end of it.
    • 65' James McCarthur does come on, and replaces former Hamilton team mate James McCarthy.
    • 64' Di Santo gives away possession in the centre of the park, allowing Graham to go one-on-one with Boyce. The striker looks to nutmeg the defender, but Boyce does well to clear.
    • 63' Agustien’s free kick is sent to the far post. Caulker looks to try and beat Diame but the defender does enough to see the ball away.
    • 62' Wigan clear their lines following a Swansea free kick. It looks like James McCarthur is warming up on the touchline.
    • 61' CHANCE!! Just wide. Routledge bursts through the Wigan half and gets to the edge of the penalty area. Graham pulls the defender away with a neat run, allowing Routledge to shoot. It’s beaten Al Habsi but misses the post by a few inches.
    • 60' McCarthy's corner is dangerous. The whistle blows though as Figueroa is penalised for a foul in the box.
    • 59' Moses receives the ball on the left and, after ignoring the run made by Diame, elects to shoot from a tough angle. It takes a deflection on its way out of play.
    • 58' As a whole, the players have struggled hitting the ball cleanly today. Agustien’s shot from 30 yards is poor, too. It flies wide.
    • 57' Dyer again sends in a probing cross from the right. The Wigan defence stand firm though, and clear their lines. They’ve looked pretty solid today.
    • 56' Wigan look to break through Di Santo. The ball is shifted into the centre where McCarthy and Watson exchange a number of passes. Swansea re-group and the attack breaks down.
    • 54' CHANCE!! Goal mouth scramble. Dyer gets down the right and crosses. It's deflected to the edge of the box where Rangel shoots. It hits Graham before finally being cleared from the six yard box.
    • 53' It's all very messy at the moment. Both teams are giving the ball away quite cheaply.
    • 51' Wild. Sinclair cuts in from the left, yet again, and has an effort from teh edge of the penalty area. It goes for a throw-in.
    • 50' Great work from Sinclair, who cuts in from the left and skips past a number of challenges. The striker looks to play a one-two on the edge of the area but is brought down by Boyce. Promising area.
    • 49' The atmosphere in the stadium has changed quite considerably. It was like a party during the first half, but it’s eerily quiet for the moment.
    • 48' Diame receives the ball following Moses’ flick. The midfielder bursts forward and shoots from 25 yards. It rolls wide. He didn’t catch it well at all.
    • 47' Moses gets past Rangel down the left but runs out of ideas, so elects to come back and play the ball to Figueroa. The attack breaks down as the defender lumps the ball forward.
    • 46' The second half is under way. Swansea kick off.
    • 45+3' Phil Dowd blows his whistle. That's the end of the first half!!
    • 45' We'll have three minutes of stoppage time.
    • 44' CHANCE!! Moses picks out Gomez who finds some space in between the right-back and the centre-half. Gomez shoots first time from 12 yards but it flies straight at Vorm.
    • 43' The Swans have struggled to get in behind their opponents so far, despite their possession. The visitors, although disappointing in midfield and up front, have defended pretty solidly.
    • 42' Moses shows a bit of promise as he flies down the left and shakes off Agustien’s challenge before cutting inside and having a go from the angle. The run was good, but the finish was dismal. It dribbles wide. Interestingly, Victor Moses embarked on more dribbles than any other player in the Premier League on the opening weekend.
    • 41' Moses comes short to receive the corner before crossing to the far post. Williams does well under pressure to send the ball out for a second corner. Good defending!
    • 40' Di Santo latches onto a long ball and does well down the right to win a corner. Wigan's first of the match.
    • 39' There is a real lack of fluency throughout the Wigan team. There is absolutely no cohesion between the midfield and Di Santo.
    • 38' Ronnie Stam does come on for the injured Alcaraz.
    • 37' Taylor overlaps down the left and is found by Britton. Watson recovers well after losing his man and makes an excellent sliding challenge – winning a goal kick.
    • 36' Alcaraz is receiving treatment on the sideline. Ronnie Stam is warming up. Britton has a speculative effort that sails over the bar.
    • 35' Swansea are bombarding the Wigan area with crosses as everybody has stayed up following the corner. Very good pressure, this!
    • 34' How has that gone through everyone? The corner is hit into the six yard box, but drifts through everyone before Figueroa clears for another corner.
    • 33' Sinclair intercepts a pass before finding Routledge in the box. The winger crosses with his right when he really should have gone with his left. It’s sent out for a corner.
    • 32' The Swans have stepped it up a gear. Wigan look shaky at the back and the hosts are pushing forward. They’re having a lot of joy down the right.
    • 31' Penalty?? NO!! Sinclair is brought down in the box, but the whistle has already gone for offside. It took a while for the crowd to realise.
    • 30' Taylor gets down the wing, following some good play, and crosses. McCarthy is covering well to clear for a corner.
    • 29' The hosts are playing to a very high pace. They’re moving the ball quickly and are looking to catch Wigan out of position. Every free kick they have had has been taken immediately.
    • 28' Agustein steals the ball off McCarthy and plays the ball out wide for Rangel to bomb on. Nice work.
    • 27' High boot from Alcaraz. It should be a foul, but Phil Dowd seems happy with it. The crowd aren't, however!!
    • 25' Gomez is booked. Taylor receives the ball on the left touchline before flicking it past his man and being brought down.
    • 24' Incidently, Vorm made the most saves of any goalkeeper in the opening matches (11), but still conceded four goals.
    • 23' Positive keeping from Vorm who races off his line to gather a bouncing ball. Good keeping.
    • 22 The Swans continue to pass the ball around, looking for a gap. But Wigan have 11 men behind the ball and there’s not a lot on.
    • 21' Wigan continue to give away possession. In all fairness, they haven’t seen a lot of the ball and are being put under pressure whenever they do have it, but it’s pretty ugly stuff.
    • 20' Di Santo shows some lovely footwork to break free of his marker. The striker produces a quite magnificent turn but the second touch is too firm and the ball is cleared. Promising, though!
    • 19' Routledge gives the ball away and allows Moses to burst down the left flank. The Wigan striker runs out of ideas and out of pitch as the ball rolls out for a goal kick. Poor.
    • 18' McCarthy is booked after losing the ball and attempting to chase Routledge back. The Wigan man pulls Routledge down and goes into the book.
    • 17' Rangel and Dyer link well down the left before the former's pass into the feet of Sinclair is misplaced.
    • 16' Williams' touch is poor as he faces his own goal. Di Santo looks to take advantage but the defender recovers well to give the ball to the keeper. Just.
    • 15' Half-chance for the hosts. Graham gets in behind his man and latches on to the end of Routledge's cross but his header is poor and skims wide from a difficult angle.
    • 14' It's been a very quiet start from the visitors. Di Santo has touched the ball just once and it was a little lay-off.
    • 13' There is a break in play as Alcaraz is down. He looks in some discomfort.
    • 12' Taylor bursts through from full-back and looks to find Graham, but the defender loses control of the ball on the edge of the box and it runs through to the keeper.
    • 11' Great feet from Diame. The midfielder skips past a couple of challenges before bursting towards the Swansea penalty area. His shoot is poor though, and it rolls into the hands of Vorm.
    • 10' Wigan look to be in a promising as Moses flies down the wing before running out of options and playing the ball backwards. They attempt to go long but the ball rolls out for a goal kick.
    • 9' CHANCE!! Swansea continue the attack as Routledge latches onto Graham's cross/shot before feeding Sinclair on the edge of the box. The striker cuts in from the left and has an effort on goal from 18 yards. It flies wide.
    • 8' Agustien gets down the right and shift the ball into the centre into the path of Rangel who plays a one-two with Routledge but Caldwell is across to cut the ball out.
    • 7' Rangel looks to have sold Agustien short when Diame bursts towards the ball. The Swansea player shields the ball well and draws in the foul.
    • 6' The atmosphere around the Liberty is electric. The home fans are really enjoying themselves as their team pass the ball around smartly.
    • 5' Dyer nearly plays his side into trouble when dropping deep as he nearly allows Moses to pinch the ball off him. The striker would have only had one defender to beat had he got through...
    • 4' Great start from the hosts. Wigan are really struggling to get a touch on the ball.
    • 3' CHANCE!! Dyer gets down the wing and crosses. The ball isn't cleared and falls to the feet of Graham who is 8 yards from goal. The striker's shot is hits straight at Al Habsi.
    • 2' Taylor does well with his first touch. The Swansea man tricks his way past two players before before being fouled.
    • 1' The referee blows the whistle to start the game. There is a massive roar around the stadium. Wigan kick off.
    • 14:59 The players are out on the pitch. Kick off is just moments away!
    • 14:56 The atmosphere is charged within the Liberty as a packed crowd gets ready to welcome the players into the arena for the first home game of the season.
    • 14:53 Wigan are unbeaten in their last five PL matches. If they avoid defeat today it will be their outright second-longest ever run without a PL defeat –after a nine-match streak from August to November 2005.
    • 14:50 Swansea have not kept a clean sheet in their last 18 top flight matches, since a 0-0 draw at Coventry City on January 22, 1983.
    • 14:49 The Latics won one of three PL visits to promoted teams last season – 3-1 at Blackpool in April. They also drew 2-2 at both West Brom and Newcastle.
    • 14:47 Wigan have won their opening PL away match of the season in each of the last two years – 2-0 at Aston Villa (2009) and 1-0 at Tottenham (2010). In each of these seasons they failed to go on and win any more than four away matches in the whole season.
    • 14:45 If they avoid defeat today they will be the first Championship playoff winners to go unbeaten in their opening two PL matches in three years – since Hull City won one and drew one of their first two matches in 2008-09.
    • 14:41 This will be the first Premier League fixture to be hosted outside of England. Swansea last hosted a top-flight fixture in May 1983, when they lost 3-0 to Nottingham Forest on the final day of the season. They ended the season second from bottom and were relegated.
    • 14:38 Wigan have not won in their last four league visits to Swansea, since a 6-1 victory in April 1991.
    • 14:35 The two sides last met in a league match in Swansea 11 years ago. They drew 0-0 on the opening day of the season with both teams in the third tier of the English football league.
    • 14:33 Most recently the two teams faced each other last October – Wigan winning 2-0 at home in the Carling Cup fourth round. Goals from Mauro Boselli and Ben Watson (pen) sealed victory at the DW Stadium.
    • 14:30 So, before kick-off, he’s a few cheeky match facts for you. Impress your friends, if that’s what you’re into. - This will be the first ever top-flight game between the two teams. There has never been a league match between the two higher than the third tier of English football.
    • 14:28 The teams are in. They are as follows - Swansea: Vorm, Rangel, Caulker, Williams, Taylor, Agustien, Britton, Routledge, Dyer, Sinclair, Graham – SUBS – Moreira, Tate, Dobbie, Lita, Moore, Allen, Gower /// Wigan: Al Habsi, Boyce, Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa, Diame, Watson, Gomez, McCarthy, Moses, Di Santo – SUBS – Pollitt, Thomas, McArthur, Sammon, Jones, Rodallega, Stam
    • 14:23 It seems fitting, then, that Martinez should be the first visiting manager to take a side to the Liberty Stadium for a top-flight game.
    • 14:22 A lot has changed since then. Martinez has gone from midfielder to manager, and for the two years he was at the helm of the Welsh club he got them playing a brand of football which took them into the Championship. The success during his first stint as a manager turned heads which prompted Wigan’s chairman Dave Whelan, who brought him to the club during his playing days, to offer him the manager’s job.
    • 14:21 It was eight years ago, with captain Roberto Martinez bossing the midfield, Swansea City survived relegation from the Football League with a last-day victory over Hull City.
    • 14:16 Good afternoon and welcome to our LIVE commentary of Swansea City's first home match of the Premier League season as they take on Wigan Athletic at the Liberty Stadium.

  • Summary

    • 88' The corner is sent to the near post where Figueroa meets it. The defender flicks it on towards the far post but nobody can get on the end of it.
    • 86' Dobbie again does well cutting in from the right before getting to the edge of the penalty area. Sinclair looks like the better option but the substitute opts to shoot and fires straight into the arms of Al Habsi.
    • 82' Dobbie cuts in from the right and unleashes an effort on goal from 25 yards. The ball moves from left to right but is saved by Al Habsi, who is down well to his right.
    • 74' SAVED PENALTY!! Vorm goes the right way, diving low to his right, and beats Watson's penalty away.
    • 73' PENALTY TO WIGAN!!
    • 73' CROSSBAR!! Moses gets lucky with a slight deflection and bursts through on goal before crashing an effort off the bar.
    • 70' POST!! Wigan are stepping it up a little now. Gomez takes a touch with his right as he advances on goal before half-volleying with his left foot. The ball flies over the head of Vorm but cannons back off the post.
    • 69' CHANCE!! Moses does superbly well to trick his way past two defenders on the left before baring down on goal. His shot is sent straight at Vorm.
    • 61' CHANCE!! Just wide. Routledge bursts through the Wigan half and gets to the edge of the penalty area. Graham pulls the defender away with a neat run, allowing Routledge to shoot. It’s beaten Al Habsi but misses the post by a few inches.
    • 59' Moses receives the ball on the left and, after ignoring the run made by Diame, elects to shoot from a tough angle. It takes a deflection on its way out of play.
    • 54' CHANCE!! Goal mouth scramble. Dyer gets down the right and crosses. It's deflected to the edge of the box where Rangel shoots. It hits Graham before finally being cleared from the six yard box.
    • 50' Great work from Sinclair, who cuts in from the left and skips past a number of challenges. The striker looks to play a one-two on the edge of the area but is brought down by Boyce. Promising area.
    • 44' CHANCE!! Moses picks out Gomez who finds some space in between the right-back and the centre-half. Gomez shoots first time from 12 yards but it flies straight at Vorm.
    • 42' Moses shows a bit of promise as he flies down the left and shakes off Agustien’s challenge before cutting inside and having a go from the angle. The run was good, but the finish was dismal. It dribbles wide. Interestingly, Victor Moses embarked on more dribbles than any other player in the Premier League on the opening weekend.
    • 36' Alcaraz is receiving treatment on the sideline. Ronnie Stam is warming up. Britton has a speculative effort that sails over the bar.
    • 31' Penalty?? NO!! Sinclair is brought down in the box, but the whistle has already gone for offside. It took a while for the crowd to realise.
    • 20' Di Santo shows some lovely footwork to break free of his marker. The striker produces a quite magnificent turn but the second touch is too firm and the ball is cleared. Promising, though!
    • 15' Half-chance for the hosts. Graham gets in behind his man and latches on to the end of Routledge's cross but his header is poor and skims wide from a difficult angle.
    • 9' CHANCE!! Swansea continue the attack as Routledge latches onto Graham's cross/shot before feeding Sinclair on the edge of the box. The striker cuts in from the left and has an effort on goal from 18 yards. It flies wide.
    • 3' CHANCE!! Dyer gets down the wing and crosses. The ball isn't cleared and falls to the feet of Graham who is 8 yards from goal. The striker's shot is hits straight at Al Habsi.
    • 14:28 The teams are in. They are as follows - Swansea: Vorm, Rangel, Caulker, Williams, Taylor, Agustien, Britton, Routledge, Dyer, Sinclair, Graham – SUBS – Moreira, Tate, Dobbie, Lita, Moore, Allen, Gower /// Wigan: Al Habsi, Boyce, Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa, Diame, Watson, Gomez, McCarthy, Moses, Di Santo – SUBS – Pollitt, Thomas, McArthur, Sammon, Jones, Rodallega, Stam

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      - -
      Substitution Out75′ - -
      - -
      Substitution Out75′ - -
      - -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out85′ - -
      Subs
      Substitution In85′ - -
      Substitution In75′ - -
      Substitution In75′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      - -
      Substitution Out37′ - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      - -
      - -
      Yellow Card - -
      Yellow Card Substitution Out65′ - -
      Yellow Card 10 -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out70′ - -
      Subs
      Substitution In70′ - -
      Substitution In65′ - -
      Substitution In37′ - -