Swansea City 1-2 Scunthorpe United
Report from the Liberty Stadium
Carling Cup second round - Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Click here for a detailed minute-by-minute analysis

The Iron progressed to round three of the Carling Cup as they saw off Swansea City in a controversial encounter at the Liberty Stadium on Tuesday night.

Scunthorpe had taken an early lead through Niall Canavan's header, on his first professional start, after a decent opening for the away team but the Swans soon came back into the match.

They were on top in the second period and got a deserved goal through substitute Stephen Dobbie ten minutes from time.

The home team had Garry Monk sent off after an incident involving Michael O'Connor just before the end of normal time.

And it was to get worse for them as Dobbie came off injured and they went down to nine men.

United were rewarded a penalty early in the second half of extra time when Alan Tate handballed Paul Hayes' effort. Gary Hooper stepped up to rifle in the spot-kick.

Then there was even more controversy towards the end as Gorka Pintado and Angel Rangel were sent off for the hosts.

United made five changes going into the game. The Iron brought in David Mirfin, Canavan, Josh Wright, Sam Togwell and Jonathan Forte for Cliff Byrne, the injured Rob Jones, Grant McCann, O'Connor and Hooper.

In goal was Joe Murphy, who was named captain, while the defence consisted of Jordan Spence, Mirfin, Canavan and Marcus Williams.

The midfield lined up with Matt Sparrow, Wright and Togwell in the centre. On the wings were Martyn Woolford and Forte. Hayes led the attack as the visitors changed to a versatile 4-5-1 formation.

The substitutes were Josh Lillis, Ian Morris, Garry Thompson, Adam Boyes, O'Connor, Byrne and Hooper.

The Iron wore their sky blue away kit for the first time this season in the game, and a small following of fans made the four-to-five hour journey from North Lincolnshire.

Manager Nigel Adkins sat in the stands with his first team coach Ian Baraclough to overview proceedings from a distance.

Forte had the first chance of the game for the visitors eight minutes in when he weaved into space down the left and sent in a low shot which was easily stopped by David Cornell.

Five minutes later, the Swans had their first opportunity when Pintado's effort was tipped onto the top of the netting by Murphy.

On the break though, the Iron forced Cornell into a point-blank stop as Wright played through Hayes, whose shot was tipped out for a corner.

United went ahead after the subsequent set-piece by Wright reached Niall Canavan, who headed home his first ever professional goal.

Shortly after, Woolford's low powerful effort from 25 yards drifted just wide of goal as Scunthorpe tried to double their lead.

Kerry Morgan could have levelled for Swansea 21 minutes in when he received the ball from Garry Monk, who cut inside and rifled a shot just over the crossbar from 30 yards.

At this point it was Scunthorpe who were having the better of it going forward and they looked most likely to add to the scoring.

The Swans had the next opening of the game on 28 minutes when Jordi Lopez fired in a low effort that Murphy saved well.

Scunthorpe were a whisker away from making it two just three minutes later, as Woolford's effort, following a superb flowing passing sequence, was tipped just wide of goal by Cornell.

It was end to end stuff, and Pintado almost levelled when he snatched at a shot, which went wide of goal after being teed up by Leon Britton.

The final chance of the half came the way of the hosts when Tate drilled a shot wide from distance after been teed up by Britton. It proved to be the last opportunity of the opening period.

Half-time substitute Dobbie almost levelled when he turned on the left-hand side of the penalty area and drilled a low shot across goal which beat Murphy but went just wide of the post. Then, shortly after, he flashed another effort wide of goal after good work by Angel Rangel.

The Swans had a shout for a penalty denied too, as the hosts claimed that Spence brought down Morgan in the penalty area. The referee was having none of it though. Nevertheless, the Swans continued to press for an equaliser and were dominating the second period.

Sparrow had the visiting team's first chance of the second half as Sparrow drilled over the crossbar.

Forte was replaced by O'Connor on 64 minutes, and the former Sheffield United man slowly left the field, much to the frustration of the home fans.

The hosts had appeared to have ran out of steam, but they had their best chance of the game so far on 75 minutes when Dobbie moved past his man and drilled in a piledriver that cannoned out of play off the top of the crossbar.

Woolford was replaced by Thompson as United seeked a fresh edge going forward.

The home team kept pushing forward and got the leveller on 78 minutes when the lively Dobbie fizzed a superb low shot beyond Murphy.

There was some controversy in the final five minutes as Monk was shown a red card for an off the ball incident involving Michael O'Connor. The two had squared up after the Iron player had been felled and, on advice from his assistant, James Linington dismissed the Swans skipper. Monk felt O'Connor had dived and had no qualms telling him that.

The visitors looked to take advantage of having an extra man, and brought Hooper on for Togwell to add another option up front - playing three v three.

He almost made an instant impact as he looked to work his way past Tate, but the experienced defender managed to stop him. There were claims for a penalty though as he didn't appear to touch the ball.

Pintado almost netted the winner for the Swans in the fourth minute of stoppage time, but Murphy made a great stop to tip wide his shot after he had beaten the offside trap. That save ensured extra time.

After a five minute break in which team talks were held, Swans substitute Gower had the first chance two minutes in, but his low drilled shot was easily stopped by Murphy.

Soon after, Thompson tried to drill an effort into the top corner, but his right-footed shot went well over the goal.

Despite being a man down, the hosts were still in the match, and Pintado was next to come close when he drilled in an effort which Murphy did well to punch out.

Dobbie came off with a rib injury soon after being accidentally kicked in them by Wright and exited down the tunnel as the Swans went down to nine men after using all their substitutes.

Despite their numerical advantage, the away team struggled to create chances in the first half of extra period. Indeed, it was the home team making them, as Gower thundered a shot over the crossbar.

The Iron started the second half well, however, and Hooper forced a save from Wright's corner with a half-volley.

Shortly after, Hayes turned on the edge of the 18-yard box and excelled down the right before striking well wide.

United were awarded a penalty in the 20th minute of extra time when Hayes' shot was blocked by the hand of Tate, to the fury of the home players and followers.

Hooper stepped up and powered his effort through the middle and well past Cornell.

The home team kept going in spite of this, and Dyer raced forward after dispossessing Willams, but Murphy was quick out to stop him.

There was another sending off for the home team moments later as Pintado was sent off for his second bookable offence within five minutes for a wild challenge on O'Connor. That put the Swans down to eight men.

Seconds after that Rangel was dismissed too, this time for an elbow on Sparrow. The home team were unbelievably down to seven men and the home fans were baying for the referee's blood.

Another player, Besian Idrazaj, limped off injured to take the hosts down to six men, and the referee would have been forced to abandon the game had the player not come back on the pitch.

The match eventually resumed, with Idrazaj on, and finished with furious fans protesting to referee Linington.

United weren't too bothered though, they were through to round three after a solid away performance.

The Iron are next in action on Saturday when they host Queens Park Rangers in the Championship.

Attendance: 7,361 (86 away).