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Long scores, but it’s ruled out for offside! Lovely passing from Southampton on the edge of the Swansea penalty area sets up Redmond, who then cuts the ball back to Long. The Irishman is unmarked and easily able to slot the ball into the back of the net, but the linesman’s flag is quickly raised. Southampton are all over Swansea at the moment!
Off the line by Naughton! Long breaks through the disjointed Swansea back line and heads towards the byline before slotting a low shot under the body of Fabianski. However, Naughton is there to scoop the ball away before it can roll over the line.
It’s been a good start to the second half from Southampton, who are continuing to put Swansea under plenty of pressure. Cedric has looked particularly dangerous over on the right flank and curls a great cross into the heart of the penalty area that almost finds Long, but it ends up sailing just over the head of the striker.
It’s been all Southampton thus far, but, somehow, they head into the half-time break with the scoreline still level at 0-0. Long, Redmond and Cedric were all presented with great chances to score, but each of them were unable to make Swansea pay for lacklustre defending. The visitors have seen little of the ball and have failed to cause many problems for the Southampton defence, who have enjoyed a comfortable opening 45 minutes.
And now Cedric goes close! Southampton are all over Swansea at the moment but they just can’t get the ball into the back of the net. Once again, Tadic plays an important role in the move as he tees up Cedric in front of goal, but the full-back takes far too long on the ball and is closed down by Fabianski before he’s able to unleash a shot.
What a miss by Redmond! Tadic beats Kingsley far too easily on the edge of the Swansea penalty area before whipping a low cross into the feet of Redmond, who then skips past Amat on the penalty spot. He’s completely unmarked and only has Fabianski to beat, but he somehow manages to sky his effort over the crossbar.
Great chance for Redmond! The forward flies into the right-hand side of the Swansea penalty area on a great run before unleashing a thumping shot towards goal, but it’s overhit and sails a few yards over the top of the crossbar. Long was in a great position at the far post and looks incredibly angry at Redmond for not trying to tee him up.
Big call by the referee! Long dispossesses Naughton with ease over on the left wing and plays a quick one-two with Davis before penetrating the penalty area. He tries to take on Fernandez before going down under a sliding challenge from the defender, but the referee shows the striker a yellow card for simulation instead of pointing to the spot.
Llorente and Fer link up well on the edge of the Southampto penalty area before Kingsley swings in a cross from the left wing. It’s well hit and looks set to find Barrow, but Bertrand is easily able to rise high above the Gambian before heading the ball out of the box.
It just isn’t working for Swansea, who are failing to take advantage of the small number of chances that are falling their way. Once again, Sigurdsson gets himself into a good position inside the Southampton half of the pitch only to send a looping cross sailing over the top of the crossbar and out for a goal-kick.
Davis and Bertrand link up brilliantly on the left-hand side of the Swansea box before the latter darts into the penalty area, but the full-back ends up firing a low cross off Barrow and out for a corner. The set-piece is thumped into the middle of the box, but Fabianski is there to punch it away from danger.
A pass from Clasie is cut out, allowing Swansea to break away on a quick counter-attack. Sigurdsson breaks forward and heads towards the edge of the penalty area before teeing up Barrow over on the right flank, but the winger’s attempted cut back to the Icelander is poor and is easily cut out.
It’s proving to be a difficult game for Swansea, who, bar a couple of positive attacking moves, have struggled to find a way out of their own half of the pitch. Southampton are bossing possession and are keeping their opponents begged back as they continue to put them under plenty of pressure.
Almost a chance for Llorente! Barrow twists and turns deep down the right flank before swinging a dangerous low cross into the heart of the Southampton penalty area. It bounces towards goal and almost meets Llorente in front of goal, but Fonte does wonderfully well to dive in front of the cross to stop it from finding the Spaniard.
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