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FA Cup | Fifth Round Replays
Feb 27, 2018 at 8.05pm UK
 
Sheffield Wednesday logo

2-0

Ayew (55'), Dyer (80')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Live Commentary: Swansea City 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday - as it happened

Relive Swansea City's 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup with Sports Mole's text commentary.
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Swansea City had the chance to book their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in more than five decades when Sheffield Wednesday travelled to the Liberty Stadium for a fifth-round replay.

The Premier League side won the match 2-0, with goals from substitute Jordan Ayew and Nathan Dyer doing the damage in the second period.

The Swans will play host to either Tottenham Hotspur or Rochdale in the last eight of the competition.

Find out how the match played out with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.


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Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the FA Cup fifth-round replay between Swansea City and Sheffield Wednesday. These two sides played out a 0-0 draw in the original fixture and tonight go head to head for the right to play either Rochdale or Spurs in the next round.

Kickoff is just under an hour away, but we've got plenty of build-up to bring you before then, starting with tonight's starting XIs.

SWANSEA XI: Nordfeldt, Roberts, Van der Hoorne, Fernandez, Bartley, Clucas, Sung-Yueng, Carroll, Dyer, Routledge, Abraham

Subs: Mulder, Naughton, Olsson, Britton, James, Narsingh, Ayew


WEDNESDAY XI: Dawson, Hunt, Vanacio, Loovens, Pudil, Boyd, Jones, Butterfield, Reach, Rhodes, Joao

Subs: Wildsmith, Fox, Palmer, Nuhiu, Baker, Pelupessy, Abdi


Let's start with the hosts Swansea, who have made four changes from the side which lost 4-1 to Brighton in the Premier League last time out.

Tammy Abraham leads the attack for the Swans, with Carroll, Dyer and Routledge providing support from the midfield. The big news as far as the hosts are concerned is the return of key man Leon Britton to the bench, having been passed fit ahead of kickoff.

Manager Carlos Carvalhal had several injuries to contend with against his former club tonight, with Renato Sanches and Angel Rangel out. Wilfried Bony and Leroy Fer are long-term absentees, while Andre Ayew and Andy King are both cup-tied.

For Sheffield Wednesday, it's five changes from the side which lost 4-2 to Aston Villa at the weekend, including the return of striker Jordan Rhodes to their starting XI.

Wednesday have struggled with a monster injury list all season, but they're also boosted by the return of the fit-again Liam Palmer on the bench tonight. Joost van Aken and Fernando Forestieri were passed unfit, as were Barry Bannan, Marco Matias and Gary Hooper.

It's time to scrutinise both team's form heading into the match now, and we'll start with hosts Swansea.

Here's a fun stat to start us off. Swansea are the first team to be taken to replays in the third, fourth AND fifth round of the FA Cup since 2007.



Despite battling relegation this season and losing to Brighton at the weekend, they head into this match in decent form, especially at home, where they have won five successive games in all competitions for the first time since September 2010. They last time they won six in a row was 2007.

Their revival under Carlos Carvalhal has been well documented. They have gone from looking like relegation certainties to a team with a fighting chance of avoiding the drop since the Portuguese coach left Wednesday to take the hotseat in Wales.

Carlos Carvalhal arrives for the Premier League game between Swansea City and Liverpool on January 22, 2018© SilverHub


Regarding the Swans' recent FA Cup form, they have won five of their last six replays at the Liberty Stadium with two of those wins coming this season against Wolves and Notts County, the latter being an 8-1 landslide victory.

A nice touch by the hosts tonight. They're offering free tea and coffee to help fans keep warm on this freezing night in Wales.



Swansea have found goals hard to come by of late, having scored just two in their last three games.

Tammy Abraham is the key man for them this evening. He has been directly involved in six goals in his last five starts at the Liberty Stadium in all competitions, racking up four goals and two assists. Sure, two of those goals and a pair of those assists came in the rout against Notts County, but they all count.

Tammy Abraham represents England Under-19s against Japan Under-19s on November 15, 2015© SilverHub


Let's take a look at Wednesday's form, and there are some stats their supporters should be aware of which won't make pleasant reading.

The Owls have won only two of their last 17 away games in all competitions and racked up just two goals in their last six, a pair of strikes in a 4-2 reverse against in-form Aston Villa last weekend.

They have been eliminated from five of their last seven FA Cup replays played away from home, bowing out most recently to MK Dons in January 2013.

That said, Wednesday's form against Swansea has been impressive. They're unbeaten in the last four matches against tonight's opponents, although their last two meetings before this month's goalless draw - coming in 2008 and 2010 - have ended in stalemate.

Wednesday haven't defeated top-flight opposition in this competition since their 1993 semi-final victory over local rivals Sheffield United. That's a dismal run of 18 games - six draws and a whopping 12 losses.

Atdhe Nuhiu has been the Owls most influential player in the FA Cup so far this season. He's been directly involved in four goals, but starts the evening on the bench.

Let's take a look at both sides' route to the fifth round. Swansea were taken to draws by Championship table-toppers Wolves and Notts County before seeing off each of the at the second attempt, thumping the latter 8-1 on this ground.

Wednesday saw off League Two outfit Carlisle United in the third round before seeing off Reading 3-1 in an all-Championship affair at Hillsborough.

Interestingly, the last time Wednesday defeated Reading in the FA Cup was in 1966, and that year they went on to reach the final of the competition!

SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Both sides have key players missing this evening, but it should be a close contest between two teams who will be keen to inject some positivity into an otherwise difficult campaign. Swansea have the better record in recent matches, if you conveniently ignore last weekend's disaster at Brighton, and I think they have enough quality to edge out Wednesday thanks to the home advantage. I'm going with 1-0 to the Swans and Abraham on the scoresheet.

Let's see what the managers had to say ahead of kickoff...

CARLOS CARVALHAL: "The game against Brighton does not have any negative impact on the team - zero. This game is completely different from Brighton. This is a cup game. We will try to win and then we will focus on West Ham." (via BBC Sport)

JOS LUHUKAY: "We must not see it as a normal competition game. When I looked at Swansea last Saturday they did not have any luck and lost 4-1 against Brighton, so they also have the chance to do the job better than last Saturday. We 100% want to come to the next round, but we are not at home where our fans give us more energy and motivation, but the motivation must come from the inside. We must have a lot of passion to come to the next round. It will be 90 minutes of hard work and it will be very strong and heavy, but it is not easy to get to the last eight teams in the cup."

Just minutes to go until kickoff now, so here's a reminder of our starting XIs...



And Wednesday's...



The two sets of players are heading out of the tunnel now, ready to face the action on a freezing evening in Wales. Both teams are looking to bounce back from weekend defeats tonight, but only one can redeem themselves on the night.

KICKOFF! Sheffield Wednesday get us underway, kicking from left to right in the first period. Which of these two sides will be taking on Spurs or Rochdale in the next round? Stay tuned to find out.

Federico Fernandez gives away a soft foul deep in the Swansea half right from kickoff. Adam Reach attempts to send it towards the back post, but it's a weak cross that the Swans' defence easily clears.

Daniel Pudil gives away the game's first corner under pressure from Dyer. Carroll plays it short and eventually swings a cross into the penalty area, which skims off Bartley's head and sails over the crossbar.

Good defending by Pudil prevents Abraham from getting a shot away inside the penalty area. The Owls defender tracked back and dispossessed the striker just as he was about to pull the trigger. Swansea look keen to get forward to attack the opposition at every opportunity.

Abraham attempts to release Roberts along the right flank, but David Jones anticipates his run, gets his body in the way and shepherds the ball out for a goalkick. Strong defending there.

Half-chance for the visitors as Boyd and Reach exchange passes on the left channel before the latter floats a cross into the box towards Joao. He goes for acrobatics, but misses the ball entirely, allowing the Swans defence to clear its lines.

Both sides have asked questions of their opponents in the opening stages of this game, but the closest we've come to a chance is Kyle Bartley's header early on.

Swansea are moving the ball around well enough, although there has been a lot of sideways passing from them, and still no shots on target. That said, Wednesday are yet to test Kristoffer Nordfeldt between the home sticks and aren't seeing as much of the ball.

Ki picks out Roberts deep in the final third. He's in acres of space and has time to swing a decent cross into the penalty area, with plenty of height on it. Cameron Dawson races off his line and confidently collects.

Wednesday prod away at that Swansea defence, with Adam Reach, Lucas Joao and Jordan Rhodes exchanging passes well in the danger zone, but the latter is crowded out just as Butterfield's through-pass is slipped towards his feet. Good closing down from the Swansea defence.

CHANCE! Swansea play a clever free kick short to Ki, who finds a way through on the left channel and plays a cross into the centre of the box. Abraham goes in for the header, but the ball deflects behind for a Swans corner, which goes begging.

Clucas does well to carve out space for himself near the left corner flag. He squeezes a cross into the six-yard box, but Dyer can't quite get his head to it.

Good pressure from Abraham, who chases a backpass right back to Dawson and gives him a nervy moment as he hoofs clear. That's what this game has lacked so far - players who are willing to show initiative and get in behind the opposition's defence.

Dyer crosses into the penalty area towards Clucas, who slips, but still manages to get his head to the ball. His diving header is straight at Dawson, but it wouldn't have counted if it had gone in, since the referee awarded a foul against Clucas moments after he made contact.

Reach uses his pace to put Swansea under some pressure on that right flank, but Mike van der Hoorn comes flying in with a bone-crunching challenge and steals the ball from his feet. What a great, well-timed slide tackle. Seriously, that was textbook.

Both sides have been overly cautious tonight, afraid to commit men forward.There's been lots of pressing, but no probing and too many sideways passes. In all honesty, it hasn't been a cracker so far.

CHANCE! Nordfeldt is called into action twice in the space of a minute, first denying Butterfield from a tight angle before reacting quickly to thwart Rhodes on the follow-up. Good goalkeeping. Swansea go on the break when play restarts and win a corner at the other end.

CHANCE! A lovely ball over the top from Carroll finds Clucas in the box, with his back for goal. He goes for an acrobatic overhead kick which drops just wide. Although Clucas did well to connect with that, he should have take it down, as he could have squared a pass to Abraham in a goalscoring position.

This game has opened up these past few minutes, but it really needs a goal to liven it up.

CHANCE! Wednesday create a chance on the break as Joao latches onto a swift counter, running between two defenders before shooting. Nordfeldt had to get down quickly to smother the ball, but Joao directed his shot too close to the keeper.

Dawson does well to beat Dyer to a through-ball sliding in to collect. Jack Hunt is down injured and may have to come off.

SUBSTITUTION: Confirmation of that injury: Hunt has come off and has been replaced by Liam Palmer. Wednesday have more squad players in the treatment room than match fit!

Ki tanks his way through a sea of players and pulls the trigger, the Korean's effort bobbling just wide.

Better from Swansea as Roberts plays in a good cross from over on the right, into the penalty areas just as Abraham arrives. The striker gets half a yard on his marker and attempts to take it on the volley, but slips as he connects and scuffs his effort. Unlucky.

Pudil ploughs into Abraham and takes him clean out, giving away a Swansea free kick in the Wednesday half. He was very, very lucky to avoid a booking there, as that was a blatant foul.

There will be one minute of stoppage time to play.

Poor effort by Abraham, who did everything right until he pulled the trigger. Pudil forces the striker wide, over on the left, but the Swansea man uses his skill to dance away from his marker and gets a sight at goal. He shoots, but blazes his effort into the stand.

HALF TIME: Swansea City 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday

The half-time whistle sounds and it's goalless here at the Liberty Stadium. Swansea have dominated possession, but Wednesday have created the better chances.

The Swans claimed 67% of the possession in the first half, with Wednesday on 33%. It's six shots on target for the hosts, compared to five for the visitors. However, the Owls have had two on target and Swansea zero.

That double save from Nordfeldt to deny Butterfield and Rhodes is as close as we've come to a goal all night. Swansea have shown sparks of creativity through Dyer and Abraham, but they need to be more clinical in the first third.

What changes can we expect in the second half? Atdhe Nuhiu is almost certain to come on off the bench for the visitors. He has been directly involved in four goals in the FA Cup so far this season, and would certainly prove a handful for the Swans' defence.

For Swansea, Leon Britton would be a smart addition to the midfield as the experience and discipline he would bring is vital in these situations. The Swans need a leader to step up and help get them organised.

Just a reminder that tonight will go to extra time and penalties if it stays this way. These two sides were inseparable at Hillsborough earlier this month, and they're looking that way again tonight.

KICKOFF! Swansea get the match back underway, and they're made two changes at the break. Olsson and Ayew come on for Ki and Routledge - good to see the home side make a positive, attacking switch-up.

Ayew and Dyer link up well on the left, powering down the wing at pace. The former releases the latter and he attempts to play a low pass across the face of goal, but it's straight at Dawson, who goes to ground to smother the ball.

Swansea are looking more direct with Ayew in their side. They clearly don't want extra time and penalties, given that they have a vital Premier League clash with West Ham coming up this weekend.

Glenn Loovens does well to hold off Dyer and guide the ball out for a goalkick. Swansea appeal for a corner, but the ball went out of play off their man.

Wednesday are sitting deeper in the second half and soaking up the early pressure. Ayew threads a pass through to Abraham, but the Owls defence snares him in the offside trap. I get the impression the visitors are biding their time to hit their hosts with a counter.

GOAL! Swansea City 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday (Jordan Ayew)

There's the goal this game so sorely needs, and it's Jordan Ayew, who has only been on the pitch for 10 minutes who gets it. The Ghanaian finds himself in the right place at the right time to tuck home the rebound after Carroll's curling strike from outside the area comes back off the post.

Abraham is looking far more effective in the final third with Ayew to play off. He desperately needed support in the first period, and the Ghanaian's pace and creativity are just the things to provide it.

Wednesday have a pop from a free kick from 25 yards out, with Rhodes clearing the wall but failing to conjure enough power to trouble Nordfeldt in the Swansea goal.

There's almost a golden opportunity for the visitors as Joao shakes off his marker and attempts to shoot across the face of goal. The ball rebounds off Reach and could have gone anywhere, but the flag goes up for a foul by Rhodes before Wednesday can make the pressure count.

This sounds like a good omen for the hosts...



Ayew is at the heart of another Swansea attack. He drifts over to the left and attempts to take the ball around Reach and dance into the box, but the Wednesday man gets the better of him and hoofs the ball clear.

BOOKING! The first yellow card of the night goes to Rhodes for a rash challenge on Olsson, who he completely poleaxes while missing the ball. Clumsy.

SUBSTITUTION: Butterfield is withdrawn and Wednesday throw on more firepower in the shape of Atdhe Nuhiu. The Owls are playing with a three-man attack now.

The Owls have lost momentum since the first half, while Swansea have gained it since the introduction of Ayew. Will the arrival of Nuhiu have a similar effect for the visitors? He's playing up top with Rhodes and Joao at the moment.

Good passing movement from the Swans as they zip the ball around in the Wednesday half. Dyer plays a low pass long, searching for Abraham, but Loovens slides in and makes a smart interception.

A Swansea break grinds to a halt as Ayew draws a foul from Loovens. The resulting free kick is played long, but Dawson makes a routine catch. Moments later, Reach has a pop at the other end, dragging his shot well wide of the target.

Swansea have made their Premier League quality count in the second half and they look in control of this match. Wednesday actually look nervous and prone to errors when they have the ball in the opposition's half. I can't see them getting back into this one. Not playing like this anyway.

Pudil plays a decent cross into the centre of the penalty area and Kyle Bartley is a fraction of an inch from latching onto it in the six-yard box. The Wednesday man's touch is slightly too heavy and the ball gets away from him.

Wednesday are struggling to break the Swans down. What they need to do is go route-one and ping some crosses into those three big strikers they have up front.

GOAL! Swansea City 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday (Nathan Dyer)

Swansea double their lead through Nathan Dyer, who meets Abraham's cross at the back post with a low strike that goes through Dawson's legs and into the bottom corner. You have to fancy the Premier League side to see this one out now.

SUBSTITUTIONS: It's one change apiece, with Wednesday throwing on Abdi for Rhodes, and Swansea swapping Britton for Dyer.

This game has gone flat these past few minutes. Wednesday seem to have accepted their fate and Swansea are playing with the complacency of a team who feel it's job done.

Palmer tries to add some spark to Wednesday in the closing stages, going on a run along the left flank and playing a cross into the box, but it's a simple catch for Nordfeldt.

Good work by Ayew on the edge of the box, as he twists and turns before letting fly. His low strike is dealt with easily by Dawson.

There will be a minimum of three minutes of stoppage time to play.

FULL TIME: Swansea City 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday

Swansea have booked their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in over five decades. Jordan Ayew and Nathan Dyer found the net in the second half, and it's fair to say they deserve it after raising their game in the second half. A home clash with either Tottenham Hotspur or Rochdale awaits them in the next round.

That's all we have time for at the Liberty Stadium, but stick with Sports Mole for all of the fallout from this match and check back for live coverage of this week's other FA Cup ties. Thanks for reading.

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Carlos Carvalhal watches on during the FA Cup game between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Swansea City on January 6, 2018
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