Five of the best | League Cup memories
As Swansea City get set to lock horns with Birmingham City in the first Round of the Carabao Cup, we delve into the history books to pick-out some of the Swan’s most memorable victories in the League Cup in years gone by.
Bradford City 0-5 Swansea City
League Cup final | February 24, 2013
There could only really be one place to start.
On a historic afternoon at Wembley, Michael Laudrup’s Swansea City swept aside Bradford City 5-0 to lift the League Cup and claim the first major trophy in the club’s history.
More than 40,000 Swansea supporters made the journey to Wembley, with the final coming in the club’s Centenary season. And the Swans produced a performance to match the occasion.
Nathan Dyer opened the scoring after 16 minutes before Michu doubled the advantage shortly before half-time.
Dyer added his second just two minutes after the restart, before Jonathan de Guzman converted from the penalty spot after Bradford goalkeeper Matt Duke was dismissed. De Guzman then completed the rout in stoppage time to make it 5-0.
It was a record-breaking scoreline, surpassing Manchester United’s 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic in the 2006 final as the biggest winning margin in League Cup final history.
Most importantly, though, it ended Swansea’s wait for a major trophy after 101 years of trying and the club became the first Welsh club to lift the League Cup, while the victory also secured qualification for the Europa League.
It was the perfect ending to Swansea’s Centenary year, and one of the greatest days in the club’s history.
Tottenham Hotspur 1-3 Swansea City
League Cup second-round replay | September 6, 1978
Long before Wembley glory, John Toshack’s Swansea side produced one of the club’s most famous cup giant-killings.
The Swans were then a Third Division side when they were drawn against First Division Tottenham Hotspur, who had just signed Argentine World Cup winners Ossie Ardiles and Ricardo Villa.
The first meeting at the Vetch Field ended 2-2, meaning a replay was required at White Hart Lane. Spurs were overwhelming favourites to progress, but Toshack’s side had other ideas.
The player-manager opened the scoring in the 18th minute, heading home a Nigel Stevenson corner. Jeremy Charles then doubled the advantage before half-time, leaving the top-flight hosts stunned. Villa pulled one back in the 65th minute, but Swansea refused to buckle.
Alan Curtis struck late on to seal a famous 3-1 victory and send the Swans into the third round. The result remains one of the defining victories of the Toshack era and, remarkably, was Swansea’s only competitive victory at White Hart Lane. The Swans would go on to win promotion to the Second Division at the end of the season.
Swansea City 3-1 Cardiff City
League Cup first-round second leg | September 3, 1985
There are few things better than a derby victory - but overturning a first-leg deficit to knock your biggest rivals out of a cup competition made this even sweeter.
Swansea travelled to Ninian Park for the first leg and suffered a 2-1 defeat, with Brian Flynn scoring a late winner for Cardiff. The Bluebirds then took the lead again in the second leg at the Vetch Field, leaving Swansea facing a huge task if they were to progress.
But John Bond’s side produced a sensational comeback. Colin Randell pulled one back shortly before half-time before scoring again just five minutes after the restart to level the tie on aggregate. And the turnaround was completed in the 55th minute when Colin Pascoe found the net to put Swansea 3-1 ahead on the night and 4-3 up on aggregate.
The Swans held on to complete a memorable derby comeback and progress to the second round.
Liverpool 1-3 Swansea City
League Cup fourth round | October 31, 2012
The 2012-13 League Cup campaign provided some of the most memorable victories in Swansea’s modern history, and the trip to Anfield was where the run really caught fire.
Liverpool were the holders of the competition, while Swansea were still establishing themselves as a Premier League club. But Michael Laudrup’s side produced a majestic performance to send the holders - under the guidance of former Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers - crashing out.
Chico Flores gave Swansea the lead with a powerful header from Jonathan de Guzman’s corner, before Nathan Dyer doubled the advantage after a superb counter-attack.
Luis Suarez pulled one back to set up a tense finish, but the Swans held their nerve. Jonathan de Guzman restored the two-goal advantage late on to complete a famous 3-1 victory.
The result sent Swansea into the League Cup quarter-finals for the first time in the club’s history and what would prove to be a crucial step on the road to Wembley.
Swansea City 3-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
League Cup first round | August 11, 2009
To give the list representation from the period between the Toshack era and the 2013 triumph, Paulo Sousa’s first League Cup game as Swansea boss earns its place.
Brighton arrived at the Liberty Stadium in August 2009 looking to surpass the third round that they’d reached the previous season, but it was Swansea who made a perfect start to their cup campaign.
Garry Monk opened the scoring with a close-range header after Alan Tate’s effort had struck the post. Stephen Dobbie then announced himself to the Swansea supporters with two goals on his debut for the club.
The Scottish forward doubled the advantage in the 60th minute before completing his brace late on, chipping the Brighton goalkeeper before calmly finishing into an empty net.
It was Swansea’s first victory under new manager Sousa and gave the club a comfortable passage into the second round. He would go on to guide the Swans to their highest league finish in 27 years, narrowly missing out on the play-offs by a single point.