Jason is star as Wolves feel bite
By Western Mail
There will even be those who claim this was a one-off result, a victory indicative of nothing.
And then there are those who were there.
They are the ones who saw Swansea produce a performance that saw substance and style flow in equal measures, who saw Jason Scotland offer the type of game that gives great optimism for the rest of the campaign.
And, as Molineux manager Mick McCarthy admitted afterwards, they are also the ones who know that full-strength or not, there would have been little difference in Wolves’ return against Swans in such full flight.
Surprisingly, it took a little bit of convincing to get manager Roberto Martinez to start contemplating the performance as up there with one of the best under his charge.
But that wasn’t to say he wasn’t aware that his team had met one of the best sides this division has to offer and then sent them back to the Midlands with little but admiration gained from the game thanks to a Scotland brace either side of half-time that added to Jordi Gomez’s 25-second opener.
Had the Reading defeat of last weekend not been still fresh in minds, then this victory would no doubt sparked dreamy talk of top-six finishes.
But sadly for Swansea the manner in which the three points were gained will probably mean less and less of his opponents take up their manager’s “come and have a go if you think you’re good enough” challenges.
Disappointed by the directness of the division, Martinez used his pre-game press-call to ask whether sides were afraid to play football in the Championship given the huge promotion stakes.
Wolves were clearly fearless in that sense, prepared to pass and play, even with the changes made due to absentees.
But they were simply bettered by the hosts, suggesting any scouts will be rushing back to their respective clubs telling bosses to keep it tight, to stifle and settle for draws.
And, of course, they will be mentioning the fact that a certain Jason Scotland will have to be kept quiet.
Because, although Swansea are anything but a one-man team, there can be little doubt that when Scotland shines, so do Swansea.
“It’s probably the first time he’s really set the tempo this season,” said Martinez, who had actually axed the Trinidad international from his squad for the midweek game at Preston before recalling him.
“We all know the ability and the magic he’s got, but we also need him to set the standard of the team in the role he plays – to see him do that from the first minute is very pleasing.
“He looked strong every time he had the ball and showed that little bit of magic that shows the confidence is there.
“He looked sharp from the first second and the attitude he showed after not being involved at Preston was pleasing – now he has to take this performance and use it to move on to a different level because we all know when he is on top of his game, the team is a better team.”
Of that there is no doubt. Sluggish in recent weeks, poor at Reading, it looked like Preston’s proverbial boot up the backside for the striker worked a treat.
It wasn’t just the goals, his hold-up play and line-leading brought Swansea’s midfield into the game and left Wolves wanting.
But, having only found the net once before this weekend, the goals were more than welcome.
Truth be told, he could have had more than just his 41st and 57th-minute efforts.
But so too could have Swansea, in complete control of this game bar for a 15-minute period in the first half. That spell of Wolves ascendancy had only come after they had already fallen behind, Gomez the beneficiary of Scotland’s work out wide less than a minute in, sweeping home the ball from the edge of the area.
It meant Carl Ikeme, a surprising replacement for Wales’ Wayne Henenssey in the Wolves goal, became the first visiting player to touch the ball simply by picking it out of the net.
But the Wolves threat was clear with Andy Keogh looking sharp, David Jones also a handful in the centre of the park and they equalised after coming through their initial shock, Keogh feeding off David Edwards’ slipped pass.
But Swansea’s defence held firm soon after, soaked up the pressure adequately and provided the platform for a surge on the Wolves goal.
Had an offside Gomez not got what looked the slightest of touches to Mark Gower’s curling effort at the far post then the second would have come earlier.
But Scotland, having earlier hit the bar from two yards out, then received Gomez’s flick pass with gusto to put Swansea back in front, before pulling something special out of his bag of tricks 12 minutes after the interval.
Performing a Cruyff turn on Edwards, Scotland surprisingly was given an invite to run towards goal, an invite he accepted before devastatingly drilling home from the white of the penalty area.
Chances were missed to make it more, but Swansea’s point was already made.
And, those in gold aside, there was only one person disappointed at the final whistle.
“When I brought Jason off he was upset,” admitted Martinez, who had an angry Soca Warrior on his hands when he replaced him with 18 minutes to go.
“But I like that. When I’ve taken him off in games where he hasn’t scored he’s looked delighted so I’m getting the right response. Because he can be a big player in this division – the biggest challenge for him is to be himself again.
“If he’s not sharp, not confident, not enjoying his football it wouldn’t make a difference whether we were in the Championship or any level, he would struggle to be effective. But when he’s positive and on top of his game like this he can do it at any level.