Swansea 3 - 0 Leeds

Swansea   3 - 0   Leeds

Swansea 3-0 Leeds

By Peter Shuttleworth

Swansea City enhanced their Premier League promotion credentials as a Scott Sinclair double inspired a clinical win over rivals Leeds United.

Sinclair finished a flowing move to fire the Swans in front, converting Luke Moore's lovely back-heel.

Leeds had a penalty appeal rejected but Sinclair's 21st this season came from the spot after the impressive Nathan Dyer was brought down by Max Gradel.

Moore added a third as second-placed Swansea won their fourth in a row.

And their best league run for three years seems to be coming at a perfect time for Brendan Rodgers' men as they hunt promotion from the Championship.

Swansea's impressive home triumph in front of a record Liberty Stadium crowd of 19,309 was a statement of intent from an in-form team that hopes for a top-flight return after a 28-year absence.

Swansea dominated both territory and possession in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off and recalled striker Stephen Dobbie was a lick of paint away from scoring in successive games early on.

Dyer, arguably man of the match in his 100th Swansea appearance, jinked down the Swansea right, cut the ball back for Dobbie but the Scottish striker's close-range effort rattled Leeds keeper Kasper Schmeichel's near post.

Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers hails his 'outstanding' team

But Schmeichel could do nothing to stop Sinclair's beautifully-worked opener halfway through the first-half.

Left-back Neil Taylor burst forward, fed Sinclair and the former Chelsea winger skipped past two defenders and seemed to lose the ball.

But the ball ricocheted to Swans striker Moore whose deft back-heel fell right into Sinclair's path and Swansea's top-scorer's finish was emphatic.

The diminutive Dyer was giving Leeds left-back George McCartney a torrid time and the Swans winger, who beat Bruce for pace, stung Schmeichel's hands with a rasping, low drive.

Then from Mark Gower's resulting corner, Leeds again needed a goal-line clearance from a Dyer effort - this time Jonathan Howson was on hand to hack the ball off the line.

Ashley Williams then went close for the hosts as the Wales defender header over from another dangerous Gower corner.

Leeds, who had only lost once in their previous 20 games, had not been in the game until Davide Somma gave the hosts a warning that the Yorkshire side were still a danger in this game.

Leeds struggled to cope with Nathan Dyer as the Swans winger impressed

The recalled South African striker leapt above a statuesque Swans defence to head Neil Kilkenny's free-kick goal-wards and home keeper Dorus de Vries had to be alert to tip Somma's header onto the crossbar and over.

The Welsh team were then lucky not to concede a penalty at the end of the second-half when Robert Snodgrass' 20-yard strike hit the left arm of Swans captain Alan Tate.

But referee Phil Dowd waved away any Leeds protests despite television replays that showed Snodgrass' effort hitting defender Tate's arm.

Dowd, however, had no doubts awarding Swansea a penalty ten minutes into the second-half.

Dyer's dash into the box was curtailed by Max Gradel as the Leeds midfielder sent him crashing to the ground just inside the penalty area.

Sinclair stepped up to cooly slide in his 21st goal of the season, slipping the ball to Schmeichel's right and sending the Danish goalie the wrong way to secure the three points.

Swansea eased into cruise control as they extended their Championship best statistic of claiming an unrivalled 52 points from games in which they have taken the lead - and Gower almost added to that advantage.

But the Swans midfielder's 25-yard curling free-kick just before the hour mark cracked the bottom of Schmeichel's left-hand post.

Leeds boss Simon Grayson rues penalty appeal rejection

Moore completed the rout with his second goal in a week after the former Aston Villa striker raced onto Dobbie's beautiful reverse pass - following another Dyer burst towards the box - and Swansea's January signing dinked the ball over the on-rushing Schmeichel to score.

Substitute Sanchez Watt and Somma should have both scored a Leeds consolation - the latter firing over when put through one-on-one with Swans stopper De Vries.

But Simon Grayson's men failed to score for the first time since November and suffered their second loss in 21 league games - both, perhaps coincidentally, in south Wales following their January defeat at promotion rivals Cardiff.

Swans boss Rodgers will also be pleased with a third successive clean sheet - their 17th shut-out this season - as the Championship's top-scorers were kept at bay as their 47-year winless run in Swansea continues.

Live text and stats

 

Saturday, 26 February 2011

Npower Championship

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Time
Swansea	3-0	Leeds	FT
(HT 1-0)
Sinclair 13 Sinclair (pen) 55 Moore 72

Swansea

• 01 De Vries
• 02 Williams
• 03 Taylor
• 05 Tate
• 22 Rangel yellow card
• 12 Dyer
• 21 Sinclair
• 24 Allen
• 27 Gower
• 14 Dobbie (Britton 76)
• 19 Moore yellow card (Beattie 80)

Substitutes

• 25 Ma-Kalambay,
• 17 Serran,
• 08 Pratley,
• 11 Van der Gun,
• 29 Richards,
• 37 Britton,
• 09 Beattie

Leeds

• 01 Schmeichel
• 04 Bruce yellow card
• 20 Lichaj yellow card
• 29 McCartney yellow card (Parker 73)
• 40 O'Brien
• 07 Gradel
• 08 Kilkenny yellow card
• 14 Howson
• 10 Becchio (Watt 61)
• 23 Snodgrass (Paynter 73)
• 27 Somma

Substitutes

• 12 Higgs,
• 06 Naylor,
• 19 Parker,
• 26 Bromby,
• 09 Paynter,
• 18 Watt,
• 44 McCormack

Ref: DowdAtt: 19,309

SWANSEA

LEEDS

Possession

• Swansea 59%
• Leeds 41%

Attempts on target

• Swansea 12
• Leeds 4

Attempts off target

• Swansea 4
• Leeds 6

Corners

• Swansea 7
• Leeds 3

Fouls

• Swansea 13
• Leeds 16

• Final Result
• Full Time
• 90:00+2:20 The referee blows for the end of the match.
• 90:00+1:18 Effort from outside the penalty area by Davide Somma goes wide left of the goal.
• 90:00+0:09 Max Gradel produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the target.
• 88:44 Billy Paynter takes a shot. Save by Dorus De Vries.
• 88:05 Craig Beattie is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Ben Parker restarts play with the free kick.
• 82:20 Sanchez Watt has shot on goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
• 81:06 Corner taken by Max Gradel from the right by-line to the near post.
• 79:05 Substitution Luke Moore goes off and Craig Beattie comes on.
• 75:41 Free kick awarded for a foul by Max Gradel on Scott Sinclair. Free kick taken by Dorus De Vries.
• 75:41 Substitution Stephen Dobbie goes off and Leon Britton comes on.
• 72:37 Substitution Robert Snodgrass leaves the field to be replaced by Billy Paynter.
• 72:06 Substitution Ben Parker replaces George McCartney.
• 71:06 The assist for the goal came from Stephen Dobbie.
• 71:06 GOAL - Luke Moore:Swansea 3 - 0 Leeds Luke Moore scores a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Swansea 3-0 Leeds.
• 70:26 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Neil Kilkenny by Joe Allen. Direct free kick taken by Neil Kilkenny.
• 68:44 Scott Sinclair produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes wide left of the goal.
• 67:50 Unfair challenge on Mark Gower by George McCartney results in a free kick. Angel Rangel takes the direct free kick.
• 67:12 Free kick awarded for a foul by Luke Moore on Eric Lichaj. Neil Kilkenny crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, clearance by Alan Tate.
• 67:12 Booking Luke Moore booked.
• 65:23 Unfair challenge on Nathan Dyer by Alex Bruce results in a free kick. Mark Gower shoots direct from the free kick, save made by Kasper Schmeichel. Outswinging corner taken by Mark Gower, Luke Moore takes a shot. Kasper Schmeichel makes a comfortable save.
• 63:51 Foul by Angel Rangel on Sanchez Watt, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Neil Kilkenny.
• 63:51 Booking Angel Rangel goes into the referee's book.
• 62:41 Free kick awarded for a foul by Max Gradel on Mark Gower. Alan Tate takes the direct free kick.
• 60:42 Free kick awarded for a foul by Luciano Becchio on Mark Gower. Direct free kick taken by Mark Gower.
• 60:42 Substitution Sanchez Watt on for Luciano Becchio.
• 59:02 Davide Somma takes a shot. Save by Dorus De Vries. Inswinging corner taken by Neil Kilkenny from the left by-line, Angel Rangel makes a clearance.
• 57:50 Free kick awarded for a foul by Joe Allen on Neil Kilkenny. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Neil Kilkenny, clearance by Alan Tate.
• 56:31 Scott Sinclair takes a shot. Save made by Kasper Schmeichel.
• 55:34 Foul by Robert Snodgrass on Scott Sinclair, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Mark Gower.
• 54:32 Penalty awarded for an unfair challenge on Nathan Dyer by Max Gradel. The assist for the goal came from Nathan Dyer.
• 54:32 GOAL - Scott Sinclair:Swansea 2 - 0 Leeds Scott Sinclair scores a penalty. Swansea 2-0 Leeds.
• 52:40 Eric Lichaj is penalised for a handball. Mark Gower restarts play with the free kick.
• 51:52 Joe Allen challenges Jonathan Howson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kasper Schmeichel.
• 51:17 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alan Tate by Davide Somma. Free kick taken by Dorus De Vries.
• 50:58 Nathan Dyer takes a shot. Kasper Schmeichel makes a save.
• 49:14 Davide Somma is ruled offside. Dorus De Vries takes the indirect free kick.
• 48:05 Luke Moore is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Kasper Schmeichel.
• 47:34 George McCartney gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nathan Dyer. Free kick taken by Alan Tate.
• 47:34 Booking George McCartney shown a yellow card.
• 45:53 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nathan Dyer by George McCartney. Alan Tate restarts play with the free kick.
• 45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
• Half Time
• 45:00+2:36 The players leave the pitch at half time.
• 45:00+2:07 Andrew O'Brien fouled by Luke Moore, the ref awards a free kick. Kasper Schmeichel takes the direct free kick.
• 45:00+0:48 Foul by George McCartney on Mark Gower, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Alan Tate.
• 43:45 Max Gradel takes a shot. Blocked by Ashley Williams.
• 42:44 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Robert Snodgrass by Joe Allen. Centre by Neil Kilkenny, Davide Somma takes a shot.
• 41:20 Robert Snodgrass has an effort at goal from 20 yards. Blocked by Alan Tate. Corner taken by Neil Kilkenny from the right by-line, Headed effort from close range by Alex Bruce goes wide left of the target.
• 41:20 Booking Neil Kilkenny is cautioned.
• 38:19 Scott Sinclair is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Neil Kilkenny takes the indirect free kick.
• 35:06 Mark Gower concedes a free kick for a foul on Robert Snodgrass. Kasper Schmeichel takes the direct free kick.
• 34:36 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mark Gower by Davide Somma. Mark Gower takes the free kick.
• 33:09 Corner taken by Mark Gower from the left by-line, Ashley Williams takes a shot. Alex Bruce gets a block in. Corner taken right-footed by Mark Gower, Andrew O'Brien makes a clearance.
• 29:53 Joe Allen gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Max Gradel. Free kick taken by Kasper Schmeichel.
• 27:32 Free kick awarded for a foul by Max Gradel on Alan Tate. Direct free kick taken by Dorus De Vries.
• 26:20 Foul by Alex Bruce on Nathan Dyer, free kick awarded. Alan Tate takes the free kick.
• 26:20 Booking Alex Bruce is given a yellow card.
• 22:05 Nathan Dyer produces a drilled right-footed shot from 12 yards. Save by Kasper Schmeichel. Outswinging corner taken by Mark Gower, Nathan Dyer takes a shot. Blocked by Jonathan Howson. Corner taken right-footed by Mark Gower, clearance made by Luciano Becchio.
• 20:32 Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Gower on Neil Kilkenny. Neil Kilkenny takes the direct free kick.
• 17:57 Unfair challenge on Scott Sinclair by Eric Lichaj results in a free kick. Mark Gower crosses the ball in from the free kick.
• 17:57 Booking Eric Lichaj goes into the book.
• 16:16 Effort from outside the penalty box by Joe Allen goes wide right of the target.
• 15:40 Corner taken right-footed by Mark Gower, save made by Kasper Schmeichel.
• 15:26 Nathan Dyer takes a shot. Blocked by Neil Kilkenny.
• 14:29 Free kick awarded for a foul by Angel Rangel on Luciano Becchio. Neil Kilkenny crosses the ball in from the free kick, save made by Dorus De Vries.
• 12:50 Luke Moore provided the assist for the goal.
• 12:50 GOAL - Scott Sinclair:Swansea 1 - 0 Leeds Scott Sinclair scores a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Swansea 1-0 Leeds.
• 11:58 Free kick awarded for a foul by Luciano Becchio on Ashley Williams. Alan Tate takes the direct free kick.
• 9:59 Effort on goal by Nathan Dyer from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.
• 7:53 Foul by Ashley Williams on Luciano Becchio, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Alex Bruce.
• 6:57 Luciano Becchio produces a left-footed shot from a long way out which goes wide right of the goal.
• 5:14 Stephen Dobbie has an effort at goal from outside the area that bounces off the post. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Mark Gower, Effort from deep inside the area by Scott Sinclair misses to the left of the target.
• 1:24 Luciano Becchio fouled by Alan Tate, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by Robert Snodgrass, Ashley Williams manages to make a clearance.
• 1:09 Shot from 20 yards from Stephen Dobbie. Blocked by Jonathan Howson.
• 0:00 The referee gets the game underway.

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