It’s often unfair to compare team mates who, whilst playing the same position, go about their jobs in a different style, but the impact that Britton had following his half time introduction for Mark Gower was so significant, that Britton and Gower’s contribution yesterday requires further analysis.
I think the difference between Gower and Britton yesterday can probably be best described in one word – precision. There’s no doubt Gower worked hard for the Swansea cause in the first half, but his passing stats on the day don’t come close to Britton’s. In the first half, Gower attempted 33 open play passes, completing 26 for a success rate of 79%. In comparison, Britton attempted 27 passes, completing each one. Again, this diminutive midfielder demonstrated just what a master of his art he is. To emphasise Britton’s ability to link his defenders with his forward players, 3% more of his passes were played into forward areas than Gower managed, and to complete the swing, Gower played 3% more backward passes than Britton. Small margins I grant you, but in the Premier League, success and failure – generally – are decided by the smallest of margins.
In fairness, defensively, Gower just pipped Britton, making one more successful tackle than his replacement and making one more interception, but I think the control that Britton delivered in that second half, when United threatened to run away with it, was clearly the reason that Rodgers made the change, and he must have been delighted with his decision the more Britton’s influence over the game grew.
Despite United picking up where they left off in the early stages of the second half, conversely, so their clear-cut chances actually fell, which was not what Sir Alex would have expected. In fact, in the first hour of the game, United had manufactured 14 shots on Michel Vorm’s goal, but in the last half hour, just two. Much of this could be put down to Britton’s introduction, as not only did he form a solid defensive triangle with Williams and Caulker, he was also able to ensure that Swansea used their limited possession more effectively, in particular when Danny Graham went close and Nathan Dyer then squandered a glorious chance when he blasted over from inside the box.
Still, despite superb performances from Allen (94.4% passing success), Britton and once again from Sigurdsson (50% of Swansea’s on target shots), ultimately, Swansea lost the game. As disappointing as that always is, and whilst it never seems sensible to celebrate a defeat, the facts of the game were that Swansea came up against the reigning champions, with the biggest incentive of their season, requiring them to score an absolute hatful of goals. And Swansea, whilst sometimes getting over-run denied them that haul of goals that the entire red half of Manchester demanded. Not conceding in the second 45 minutes, when traditionally, United have blitzed teams and blown them away – particularly in the closing stages – was a magnificent achievement for a Swansea defence led superbly by Williams and ably assisted by Caulker and the resolute and hardworking Taylor and Rangel. To draw that second half nil – nil, when United would have been desperate to have won it four or five nil, ranks, in my opinion, as one of the real high points of this superb début Premier League season by Swansea.
All that remains for Swansea now in this outstanding début season in the top flight, is Liverpool at home and Brendan Rodgers and his team certainly have nothing to fear there, such has been the inconsistency this season of the one time football giants.
