On July 29, 2017, Birmingham City faced Swansea City in a pre-season friendly match at St Andrew’s Stadium. Swansea City emerged victorious with a 2-0 win, showcasing their readiness for the upcoming season.
Key Statistics and Analysis
- Scoreline and Goal Timings:
- Birmingham City: 0
- Swansea City: 2 (Tammy Abraham 45′, Leroy Fer 61′)
- Possession:
- Swansea City controlled possession with 58%, while Birmingham City had 42%. Swansea’s dominance in possession allowed them to control the tempo of the match and create more opportunities.
- Shots:
- Swansea City registered 12 shots, with 5 on target, demonstrating their attacking intent and efficiency. Birmingham City had 8 shots, with 3 on target, indicating their struggle to break down Swansea’s defense effectively.
- Passing Accuracy:
- Swansea displayed a passing accuracy of 84%, completing 487 passes out of 579 attempts. Birmingham had a lower passing accuracy of 76%, completing 312 passes out of 410 attempts. Swansea’s superior ball retention and distribution were key to their control of the match.
- Defensive Statistics:
- Swansea made 14 tackles compared to Birmingham’s 19, highlighting Birmingham’s efforts to disrupt Swansea’s play. Both teams committed 10 fouls, reflecting a competitive but fair contest.
- Set Pieces:
- Swansea’s goals came from open play, with Tammy Abraham scoring just before halftime and Leroy Fer adding a second in the second half. Set pieces did not play a significant role in the goals scored during this match.
- Individual Performances:
- Tammy Abraham was the standout player for Swansea City, scoring the opening goal and consistently threatening Birmingham’s defense. Leroy Fer was also crucial, adding the second goal and contributing to Swansea’s midfield dominance. For Birmingham, goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak made several key saves to keep the scoreline respectable.
- Tactical Overview:
- Swansea City employed a 4-3-3 formation, focusing on maintaining possession, controlling midfield, and utilizing the pace of their forwards. Birmingham City used a 4-4-2 formation, aiming to be solid defensively and counter-attack. Swansea’s tactical approach proved more effective, particularly in controlling the midfield.
- Disciplinary:
- The match saw three yellow cards, two for Birmingham City (Jonathan Grounds 38′, David Davis 72′) and one for Swansea City (Kyle Naughton 64′). The fouls were tactical, aimed at stopping opposition attacks.
- Corners and Offsides:
- Swansea City won 6 corners compared to Birmingham’s 3, reflecting their sustained offensive pressure. Both teams were caught offside twice, indicating disciplined defensive lines and calculated attacking movements.
Summary
Swansea City’s 2-0 victory over Birmingham City in this pre-season friendly was characterized by their control of possession, efficient passing, and effective use of attacking opportunities. Tammy Abraham’s goal just before halftime set the tone for Swansea, with Leroy Fer adding a second to secure the win.
Birmingham City showed moments of promise but struggled to consistently threaten Swansea’s well-organized defense. The match served as a valuable exercise for both teams, highlighting Swansea’s readiness for the upcoming season and areas for improvement for Birmingham.
