Tuesday 16th August 2022
Swansea.com Stadium
19:45

SWA Swansea

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MIL Millwall

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16th August
Michael Obafemi goal Millwall

Swansea City conceded two own goals in stoppage time to draw with Millwall and miss out on recording back-to-back wins at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Ryan Manning had given the hosts the perfect start when he found the far corner after just 52 seconds, before Michael Obafemi quickly doubled the lead with his first goal of the new season.

However, Ben Cabango put through his own net shortly after the end of regular time, before Nathan Wood also sent the ball past Andy Fisher under pressure from Tyler Burey.

Russell Martin had made three changes from the win at Bloomfield Road, bringing in Joe Allen – making a first start since rejoining the club – Olivier Ntcham and Nathan Wood for Jay Fulton, Matty Sorinola and Cabango respectively.

After a minute’s applause in memory of former Swansea midfielder Lenny Johnrose, scorer of one of the most important goals in this club’s history, the hosts enjoyed a dream start.

Millwall failed to clear a bobbling ball and Ntcham flicked the ball on for Manning to fire an angle volley back across goal and into the far corner of the net after just 52 seconds.

It should have been 2-0 inside four minutes. Ntcham cutting back onto his right foot to fire a curling strike that Bartosz Bialkowski could only palm into Joel Latibeaudiere’s path, but the wing-back but could keep his effort down and lofted the ball agonisingly over the bar.

Ryan Manning celebration Millwall

Ntcham was proving an absolute menace and he nearly produced a magical assist and his wonderful reverse pass was met by Obafemi, but just without the sufficient power to beat Bialkowski.

However, Millwall then went close to a goal of their own, George Honeyman cracking an effort against the bar from the edge of the area with the outside of his right foot.

The Swans did not spurn their next chance. Kyle Naughton carried the ball forward and fed Obafemi’s clever run off his man. The striker still had plenty to do, but he turned this way and that before dispatching a low strike into the bottom corner.

However, there was a blow for the Swans when a full-blooded shoulder charge by Murray Wallace as he contested a loose ball with Latibeaudiere leaving the defender unable to continue and having to be taking off on a stretcher after prolonged treatment to his shoulder. Sorinola was his replacement.

The hosts were soon back on the front foot, Harry Darling forcing Bialkowski into a save low to his right, while Nathan Wood recovered well from a misjudgement to block Benik Afobe’s strike behind for a corner.

Darling had a header saved by Bialkowski from an incorrectly awarded corner just past the half-hour mark, before Naughton had a strike blocked after a lovely exchange between the defender and Manning.

Michael Obafemi cele Millwall

Millwall’s frustrations were clear to see, with Burey and Billy Mitchell booked for poor challenges on Matt Grimes and Manning respectively.

The Swans still led by two at the break but Fisher, who had been a bystander for long periods of the opening half, did have a save to make early in the second period as he tipped over Mitchell’s deflected shot.

Piroe was off target from distance after another purposeful thrust from Ntcham, and the Dutchman also sent an effort wide after a lovely raking pass from Fisher had found him in acres of space.

Allen was the next to try his luck, forcing Bialkowski to tip over a rising left-footed drive from 20 yards, before the Millwall keeper denied a potential goal of the season contender after a magnificent exchange involving Grimes, Piroe, Allen and Obafemi ended with Ntcham seeing an effort pushed away for a corner.

Swansea kept looking for a third to kill the game off, Sorinola being denied by a block after substitute Jay Fulton’s deflected strike had landed at his feet.

Millwall responded in search of a way back into the contest, and they had a penalty appeal for handball waved away before Cabango made a magnificent block to deny George Saville's goalbound effort.

Lions' substitute Andreas Voglsammer almost pulled one back with five minutes to go, racing on to a through ball to loft the ball over the advancing Fisher, only to see it land on top of the crossbar.

But there was more drama to come after Cabango turned a cross into his own net and Wood also put through his own goal as he battled for a deep cross.

Swansea City: Andy Fisher; Nathan Wood, Kyle Naughton, Harry Darling; Joel Latibeaudiere (Matty Sorinola 20), Joe Allen (Jay Fulton 67), Matt Grimes (captain), Ryan Manning (Ben Cabango 75); Olivier Ntcham (Cameron Congreve 76), Joel Piroe, Michael Obafemi.

Unused Substitutes: Steven Benda, Liam Cullen, Ollie Cooper.

Millwall: Bartosz Biakowski, Danny McNamara, Murray Wallace, Jake Cooper (captain) (Shaun Hutchinson 64), Benik Afobe, Billy Mitchell (Andreas Voglsammer 75), Scott Malone, Tyler Burey, Charlie Cresswell (Ryan Leonard 64), Jamie Shackleton (George Saville 64), George Honeyman.

Unused Substitutes: George Long, George Evans, Isaac Olaofe.

Referee: Gavin Ward

Attendance: 16,068

Read our Free Match Day Programme for Swansea City v Millwall | 2022-23 | Championship

Read the in-depth interview with Harry Darling as the defender talks out about his stunning debut goal at Rotherham, why he was so keen to link up with Russell Martin again, and what it’s like living away from home for the first time.