Welsh Players Christmas-New Year matches 2010-11 (Championship, Part 4)

Swansea City
Neil Taylor had a mixed Christmas, starting off as a substitute and winning back his place in the starting line-up… only to suffer an ankle injury after two starts.
Sheff Utd A 1-0 (bench)
QPR A 4-0 (bench, on 20)
Barnsley H 1-0 (played all)
Reading H 1-0 (starts, off 28)
Leicester A 2-1 (out, ankle)

Ashley Williams continued to set new records for number of consecutive starts by an outfield player at Swansea City. Luckily the yellow card was his second of the season rather than his fifth.
Sheff Utd A 1-0 (played all)
QPR A 4-0 (Y conc pen 62, played all)
Barnsley H 1-0 (played all)
Reading H 1-0 (played all)
Leicester A 2-1 (played all)

Joe Allen remained a very important part of the Swansea City team, starting three matches and making appearances from the bench in the other two.
Sheff Utd A 1-0 (played all)
QPR A 4-0 (played all)
Barnsley H 1-0 (bench, on 63)
Reading H 1-0 (played all)
Leicester A 2-1 (bench, on 72)

I’m not sure why David Cotterill needed a rest for the match about Queen’s Park Rangers but I bet manager Brendan Roberts really regrets leaving him out.
Sheff Utd A 1-0 (bench, on 66)
QPR A 4-0 (rested)
Barnsley H 1-0 (Y 92, played all)
Reading H 1-0 (bench)
Leicester A 2-1 (played all)
Jermaine Easter slowly worked his way into Swansea’s starting line-up and was rewarded with a first goal – his first league goal of the season.
Sheff Utd A 1-0 (bench, on 45)
QPR A 4-0 (bench, on 71)
Barnsley H 1-0 (starts, G1 27, off 63)
Reading H 1-0 (bench, on 71)
Leicester A 2-1 (starts, off 67)

Lee Lucas made his second appearance of the season in a matchday squad.
Sheff Utd A 1-0 (unselected)
QPR A 4-0 (unselected)
Barnsley H 1-0 (unselected)
Reading H 1-0 (unselected)
Leicester A 2-1 (bench)

Jazz Richards made his first league appearance of the season in the match against Leicester. He played 90 minutes, something he’d previously only done against Peterborough United in the Carling Cup.
Sheff Utd A 1-0 (unselected)
QPR A 4-0 (unselected)
Barnsley H 1-0 (unselected)
Reading H 1-0 (unselected)
Leicester A 2-1 (played all)

David Cornell, Danny Alfei, Joe Walsh, Kerry Morgan and Casey Thomas did not add to their appearances in Swansea squads.

Watford
Jonathan Bond hasn’t been on Watford’s bench for months.

Championship Results 30th November 2010 (Part 1)

Cardiff City 3-1 Norwich City
Cardiff moved to the top of the table with victory over Norwich, who remain in the play-off places despite the defeat. It wasn’t Cardiff’s best performance and Norwich were actually quite unlucky but you know what they say about Champions. Play badly if you must but make sure you still win!
Craig Bellamy didn’t get any goals or assists against his former club Norwich but he played a bit part in Cardiff’s win. He was replaced by Jason Koumas after 71 minutes. Darcy Blake was on the bench again which must be a bit depressing – he only lost his place after getting a very dubious red card. Adam Matthews and Aaron Wildig were also among the substitutes.
Andrew Crofts was on the losing side.

Crystal Palace 0-3 Swansea City
It probably wasn’t a surprise exactly to see promotion hopefuls Swansea beat Crystal Palace but considering they have only one three away games this season – their last three – it was still a good result. Swansea are now unbeaten in six matches and haven’t conceded a goal for over seven hours. They play Cardiff next week. Oh dear.
Andy Dorman played the full match for Palace with Lewis Price on the bench.
Ashley Williams equalled a Swansea City record when he became the third outfield player to make a his 106th consecutive league starts. Neil Taylor and Joe Allen also played 90 minutes. Joe in particular was excellent throughout and scored the winning goal. Joe Walsh was on the bench for the first time this season in the League. David Cotterill and Daniel Alfei were also among the substitutes

Carling Cup Results 24th August 2010 Part 5

Tranmere Rovers 1-3 Swansea City
Tranmere made a great start to the match, going 1-0 up after 22 minutes and hanging on well into the second half. It looked like the League One side might actually do it. But the equaliser finally arrived and Swansea took the lead in the very next minute. Then, just to make the score look more respectable, Swansea got a third.
Kayleden Brown wasn’t in the squad for this match. Maybe West Brom don’t want him cup-tied.
Joe Allen (who nearly marked his first start of the season with a goal) and joined Ashley Williams in the starting line-up for this match. There was also first Swansea starts for Casey Thomas and new signing Neil Taylor. David Cornell, Jazz Richards and Joe Walsh were among the unused substitutes.

Watford 1-2 Notts County
Notts County have been famous for their giant-killings recently. Wigan Athletic were their victims last year, this time another w-team, Watford, followed. Admittedly Wigan was funnier given they are in the Premier League and County were then in League Two but it stopped being so funny after Wigan beat Arsenal. Funny that.) Watford have made a good start in the Championship this season and dominated this match but Notts County were the team able to take their chances.
Ben Davies got his first Notts County goal of the season from a free kick just after half-time and they hung on for another twenty-one minutes before doubling their lead. Watford got a goal back not long after that but they were unable to add to their tally and League One Notts County advance to the next round.
Watford played a substitute goalkeeper in this match but it wasn’t Jonathan Bond. Not unless he’s changed his name by deed poll. And his squad number.

Swansea City win FAW Youth Cup

Swansea City have just won the FAW Youth Cup.

The team included goalkeeper Rhys Wilson, defenders Daniel Alfei, Matthew Whatley and Joe Walsh, midfielders Jordan Smith, Kurtis March and Lee Lucas, and unused substitutes Ashley Elsey and Sam Rose-Miles. I would assume striker Gwion Evans is Welsh too.
Runners-up Wrexham also had some Welshmen in their ranks. In fact, I’ve probably missed out one or two. Daniel Ward, Leon Clowes, Jordan Kane and Max Penk are certainly Welsh or at least eligible to play for Wales.

Wales v Northern Ireland (under-19 friendly)

I meant to post the squad ages ago but I'm useless so I didn't. The match was played on Wednesday but the result isn't on the FA Wales site yet. So I don't know what the result was but I'm sure Wales won ;)

WALES v NORTHERN IRELAND
The revised squad for the unofficial Under 19 friendly against Northern Ireland at Lileshall on Wednesday has been named.
Revised Wales squad:
Connor Roberts (Everton), Joseph Perry (Cheltenham Town), Daniel Alfei (Swansea City), Alex Evans (Cardiff City), Joe Walsh (Swansea City), Tom Bender (Colchester United), Jake Maceneaney (Burnley), Aynsley Mcdonald (Rushden & Diamonds), Jonathan Evans (Accrington Stanley), Lee Lucas (Swansea City), Jon Meades (Cardiff City), Jay Gibbs (Tranmere Rovers), Billy Bodin (Swindon Town), Kieron Freeman (Nottingham Forest), Josh Dawkin (Norwich City), Jonathan Williams (Crystal Palace), Kayelden Brown (West Bromwich Albion), Shane Williams (Unattached).
Stand by players:
Jonathan Bond (Watford), Daniel Ward (Wrexham), Max Penk (Wrexham), Emyr Huws (Manchester City), Thomas Lopes Da Silva (Swansea City). James Loveridge (Swansea City), Richard Peniket (Fulham).

Championship Results 16th February Part 2

Nottingham Forest 1-0 Sheffield United
Robert Earnshaw’s fourth-minute goal wasn’t just the winning goal. It was also the striker’s 150th league goal. Congratulations to Rob and I hope he got lots of big applause when he was substituted late on. Chris Gunter showed he’s an attacking threat as well as a good defender – and hopefully this is the start of another run of clean sheets for the right back. Sheffield United’s Ched Evans came off the bench after 78 minutes.

Peterborough United 3-1 Ipswich Town
If Peterborough can survive, that would really be something but you can’t say they’re not going the right way about it. Another win – and it was against the team they want to send into the bottom three in their place. The winning goal was a powerful header from Craig Morgan.

Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Swansea City
You know, maybe Plymouth will escape too. Okay the chances of them both escaping doesn’t look very likely at all but there’s nothing like a great escape in football. Fulham did it, Brighton did it (one of my first football memories), it does happen.
Carl Fletcher had a starring role in the best moment of the match, where the unpopular referee got a ball in the face and Carl called for a replacement. And his football was at least equal to his wit – it was another solid performance in central defence.
Ashley Richards made a surprise start for Swansea – his first I believe although it seems I must now call him Jazz Richards which will make things easier given that Swansea have another Ashley in the squad.
Ashley Williams was the only other Welshman in the starting line-up. Joe Allen was a late substitute but David Cotterill, who scored yet another spectacular goal for Swansea in their last match, was left on the bench alongside substitute keeper David Cornell. I really don’t understand Paolo Sousa’s selection methods but let’s look at the positives, maybe David Cornell will get a start soon.
David, Daniel Alfei, Joe Walsh, Matty Collins and Chad Bond all played as Swansea Reserves beat Bristol City Reserves 2-1.