A very competitive 0-0 draw today in the rain at a miserable Landore against league leaders QPR.
With a team bolstered by first team squad members or those returning from injury, we lined up 4-5-1, with widemen Ogbeta and McFayden often pushed up alongside lone striker Kukharevych:
Nathan Broome; Sam Parker, Nathan Wood (s – Richard Faakye 72m), Kristian Pedersen (s – Filip Lissah 59m), Nathan Tjoe-A-On; Nathanael Ogbeta, Cameron Congreve, Mitchell Bates, Dan Watts, Lincoln McFayden (s – Joe Thomas 77m); Mykola Kukharevych (s – Kyrell Wilson 72m). Unused sub: Archie Matthews.
We dominated much of the early possession, although the nearest opportunity of a goal came when Murphy found himself in room at the edge of our box on 16 minutes to put a deflected shot just wide of the Swans goal. Centre forward Lloyd had a goal disallowed on 32 minutes and McFayden blazed over from a smartly taken Congreve free kick just before half-time.
We continued to create, Tjoe-A-On linking well with McFayden, Congreve and subsequently Ogbeta on the left hand side. Congreve had a point blank shot saved after the keeper spilled a Tjoe-A-On cross. Sam Parker next struck the post after another well worked Congreve and McFayden move. With less than 10 minutes left, Joe Thomas blasted wide after Kyrell Wilson had been blocked in the area. It just wouldn’t go in.
Goalkeeper Nathan Broome didn’t have a great deal to do but looked competent on crosses and the few shots Rangers mustered.
Of the first team squad members, Wood and Pedersen had steady outings, Kukharevych toiled hard but struggled to make much of an impression against a tough Rangers defence. That’s the best I’ve seen Tjoe-A-On play.
Outside of that, Dan Watts had an increasingly influential and feisty contribution in the 2nd half, Lincoln McFayden got forward well, but still has a tendency to drift offside. Cameron Congreve also showed neat touches. Sam Parker was a willing and constructive worker on the right.
QPR looked like a side that is having a decent season. On the balance of chances, we deserved a win, although Rangers were never entirely out of the game and indeed rallied late on to cause a few nervous moments in the Swans defence. We limited them to very little in the way of clear chances.
Interim manager Alan Sheehan was present. Much travelled centre forward Paul Furlong coached Rangers.