Ntcham Scores 5th Goal Of The Season In Swansea’s Draw Against City

Late Deeney strike earns hosts a point after Ntcham and Grimes goals.

Troy Deeney struck a last-minute equaliser as Swansea City were held to a 2-2 draw with Birmingham City.

The Swans were lacklustre early on and fell behind to Scott Hogan’s header in the 12th minute, although they soon found their rhythm and equalised through a sublime Olivier Ntcham strike.

It was Olivier Ntcham’s 5th league goal in championship, coupled with 2 assists.

A slick team move was rounded off by the returning Matt Grimes at the end of the first-half as Swansea looked on course for a fourth comeback win of the season, but Deeney rifled home in the 90th minute as the points were shared in the Midlands.

Russell Martin made three changes from the side that started Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic. Harry Darling and Ntcham came in for Armstrong Oko-Flex and Ollie Cooper while Grimes returned from suspension, with Michael Obafemi also dropping to the bench.

The opening stages lacked quality as the rain poured down in the Midlands, but, as has often been the case in recent matches, Swansea only had themselves to blame for gifting their opponents the opener.

The Blues did well to create space on their left flank, and Emmanuel Longelo crossed for Hogan who had the freedom of Swansea’s penalty area to head beyond Steven Benda from close range.

It was the fourth successive time the Swans had conceded first, and that shambolic opener set the tone as Birmingham looked hungrier and slicker having gone ahead with what was the game’s first shot on target.

Grimes put in a timely challenge to ensure Tahith Chong’s effort didn’t test Benda as the hosts brimmed with confidence following a bright start.

Swansea eventually showed signs of settling, with Ntcham and Ryan Manning looking to create openings. And they levelled proceedings in stunning fashion on the half hour mark.

Grimes picked out Manning with a quickly-taken free-kick, and the Irishman lashed against the inside of the far post from a tight angle, although Ntcham produced a real moment of quality from the rebound. The Cameroon international teed himself up before curling beyond John Ruddy from outside the box to make it 1-1.

It fully jolted the visitors into life, with the passing finally starting to look crisp as the Swans shifted the ball around the park with confidence.

Manning’s teasing cross was well cleared before Joel Piroe could only drag a shot wide following a mazy run from the halfway line.

Swansea had Benda to thank for keeping the score level though as the German reacted well to claw Luke Cundle’s goalbound touch wide from Chong’s cross. But following a much-improved spell, Martin’s men took the lead on the stroke of half-time.

A stunning team move led to Cundle feeding Joel Latibeaudiere on the right, and he picked out Grimes who coolly lifted the ball into the far corner to send the Jack Army into raptures.

It was the central midfielder’s first goal since the Championship play-off semi-final clash with Barnsley in May 2021, and one that was fully deserved following the 27-year-old’s classy return from a one-game ban.

The grim conditions played a key part in what was a cagey start to the second-half, with Darling, Nathan Wood and Juninho Bacuna all being booked as chances were at a premium.

Grimes tried his luck from distance, although his drilled effort flew just wide as Cooper replaced Cundle with half an hour left on the clock. Matty Sorinola then came on for the struggling Wood which led to Latibeaudiere dropping in to the Swans’ back three as both goalkeepers remained untroubled in the second-half.

Birmingham pushed numbers forwards in an attempt to find a leveller as Obafemi replaced Ntcham late on, and after Swansea failed to clear from a throw-in, Deeney lashed into the net from two yards out to earn the hosts a share of the spoils.

Coach Rigobert Song will heavily hope that the former celtic man, Olivier Ntcham, can keep this rich vein of form at the World Cup.