Whittaker hat-trick ends decade-long Swansea City hoodoo

Morgan Whittaker scored a hat-trick in Swansea City’s 4-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle in the Carabao Cup this week, ending a long wait for any Swansea player to claim the match ball.

The Swans began well, with Jake Bidwell whipping in a dangerous delivery for Kyle Joseph to meet. His effort was goalwards, but it was blocked well.

Russell Martin lined up with two debutants, including the opening goal scorer Daniel Williams.

The ball was laid off well to the 20-year-old, who drilled low to beat Callum Burton in a poor showing from the Pilgrims’ shot-stopper.

Whittaker threatened early on with tame efforts, one before Williams’ strike heading over the bar, the other just flicking into Burton’s hands after an excellent diagonal ball from the scorer.

Plymouth began to make inroads on Swansea’s goal from Ryan Broom’s dangerous crosses, which were dealt with regularly by Swans defender Brandon Cooper.

From the other side though, a ball was curled into the back post that Rhys Shirley. The substitute simply couldn’t miss, tapping it past Ben Hamer for his first senior goal.

16 minutes later, the hosts made the breakthrough once more. Williams, who must have impressed Russell Martin thoroughly, slid in Whittaker. The20-year-old cut inside on his left foot, firing a precise shot into the back of the net from 25 yards.

What followed, was simply an outstanding piece of individual play from Jamal Lowe.

The former Wigan Athletic man has had quite a poor start to this campaign, but his bursting run down the Plymouth left caused trouble beyond reckoning.

He was swarmed by five players in dark green as he looked to shoot but unselfishly squared to Whittaker who finished consummately past Burton.

Ethan Laird came on after his outstanding performance against Bristol City in a more advanced role due to Plymouth’s tiredness and was deadly in setting up Whittaker’s third.

His dribbling down the right-hand side freed space for the former Derby County man, who toe-poked home after beating a tired Argyle defender in the box.

The significance of this goal is huge for Swansea fans, as they haven’t seen a player score a hat-trick in over 10 years.

It may be a significantly less important fixture now, but Whittaker is the first since Scott Sinclair in the 2011 play-off final to bag a trio in a single match.

Even the legends of recent Swans past, such as Andre Ayew, Michu, Wilfried Bony, Bafetimbi Gomis and Fernando Llorente never managed such a feat.

Manager Russell Martin was beaming with pride after the result.

“I am really pleased with the result and so much that we saw. We had a little spell for 15 minutes in the second half where we got a bit slow and sloppy, we did not take enough care and it led to their goal.

“So I was frustrated with that, and I still am, but the way the guys then wrestled back control was excellent.

“That’s the beauty of having the ball and dominating the ball. The opposition get very tired towards the end, and it opened up.”

Swansea will take on former manager Graham Potter, and his new side Brighton & Hove Albion, in the third round of the Carabao Cup in the week commencing 20th September.

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