Swansea celebrate centenary in fitting style

Swansea 5 Bradford 0:Swansea City reclaimed their glory in the only way possible. Thrust into the Goliath role by Bradford City's remarkable appearance at Wembley, Michael Laudrup's team responded with a romantic though ruthless tale of their own to lift the first major honour in the club's history in their centenary year. League Two's David did not even draw his sling.

The inaugural Capital One Cup final proved the stuff of nightmares for a Bradford team that have illuminated the competition and stirred the emotions. The heaviest defeat in a League Cup final represented a sad end, though Bradford’s 32,000 travelling support stubbornly refused to wallow and roared themselves hoarse until the last.

Phil Parkinson’s team, 11th in League Two, were soundly beaten and passed out of contention before half-time. They were also reduced to 10 men with more than half an hour to play when their goalkeeper, Matt Duke, so often the penalty shootout hero en route to the final, was sent off for a professional foul on Jonathan De Guzman.

For Swansea, The Levellers’ song that played after the final whistle said it all; What a Beautiful Day.

The playing philosophy that has revived a club that came close to elimination from the Football League a decade ago and flourished under Roberto Martinez, Brendan Rodgers and now the enduring legend that is Laudrup, held firm.

Their joyous support could not have wished for a finer performance, patient, solid and clinical throughout, and the celebrations began the moment the excellent Nathan Dyer scored Swansea’s third goal after 47 minutes.

Few openings

The Premier League side were composed from the first whistle, although they had created few openings until Bradford ventured forward for the first time and discovered why containment was always their best policy when they were undone on the counter-attack.

Garry Thompson’s cross from the right was cleared by Swansea and they instantly broke through Wayne Routledge. He released Michu, who produced a devastating display of instinctive finishing and movement all game, and though Duke parried the Spaniard’s low shot, the ball broke for Dyer to slide in and convert.

The script Bradford had feared was unfolding early.

Laudrup had made one surprising call with his team selection, switching Ki Sung-yueng from midfield into central defence with Chico Flores injured.

Ki handled the aerial threat of James Hanson superbly and Bradford were unable to exert any pressure in the Swansea half as the vast playing surface forced them too deep while undermining their threat at set pieces. Indeed, the only set pieces they really had were goal-kicks, such was Swansea’s control of a game in which they enjoyed 76 per cent possession.

Parkinson’s men had to get to half-time and regroup without conceding a second goal but it arrived from the La Liga combination of Pablo Hernandez and Michu.

Hernandez threaded a pass into the area through the legs of Bradford’s captain, Gary Jones, and Swansea’s talisman threaded a shot into the bottom corner through the legs of Carl McHugh for his 19th goal of the season.

Seconds after the restart Ki released Dyer down the right. He exchanged passes with Routledge, cut inside the Bradford substitute Andrew Davies and produced an emphatic finish beyond Duke.

Red card

The Bradford goalkeeper was then shown a straight red card by the referee, Kevin Friend, for tripping De Guzman at the end of a flowing Swansea move.

The penalty itself was delayed by several minutes as Dyer and De Guzman argued over who should take the spot-kick. Professionalism ruled over the prospect of Dyer claiming the first League Cup final hat-trick and De Guzman found the bottom corner from 12 yards. The incensed midfielder hugged the goalscorer by way of an apology but was substituted by Laudrup with 12 minutes remaining.

The replacement goalkeeper, Jon McLaughlin, denied Michu a fifth but after Bradford fans celebrated their first corner on 86 minutes and first shot on 88, the rout was completed when De Guzman turned in Angel Rangel’s right-wing cross.

The punishment was cruel on Bradford but Swansea showed their class after the League Two side had collected their runners-up medals by forming a guard of honour on the Wembley pitch.

Europe awaits Swansea and, in a perfect illustration of the gulf on and off the pitch, it is Dagenham Redbridge awaiting Bradford on Wednesday.