FA Cup third round: Swansea City 2-0 Morecambe - Charlie Patino and Jerry Yates strike
- Published
- comments
FA Cup: Swansea City 2-0 Morecambe - watch highlights
New Swansea City head coach Luke Williams started his tenure with a home win over League Two Morecambe to reach the FA Cup fourth round.
Having only been unveiled by the Swans a little more than 24 hours earlier, the former Notts County boss had to be patient as his much-changed Championship side searched for a way through against opponents 49 places below them in the English Football League.
The hosts dominated possession and eventually led early in the second half as Charlie Patino volleyed in from Sam Parker's cross.
Jerry Yates sealed Swansea's victory in the 87th minute with a crisp first-time finish from the edge of the penalty area.
Williams had barely had a chance to settle into his new role, having only taken his first training session on Friday morning before his appointment was officially confirmed that afternoon.
Given his limited time to work with the players - and the fact Williams' first line-up showed 11 changes from the New Year's Day win over West Bromwich Albion in the Championship - it was perhaps understandable this was a somewhat patchy opening performance.
But there was still enough in the Swans' display to suggest the club's supporters can look forward to a return to the fabled 'Swansea Way' under Williams.
A significant factor in the club's recruitment of the 43-year-old was the style of play he had implemented at Notts County, the kind of free-flowing and possession-based approach which has become synonymous with the Swans since Roberto Martinez took charge back in 2007.
That ethos had disappeared under Michael Duff - whose short and unsuccessful reign was ended last month - but Williams was eager to re-establish it immediately.
The hosts enjoyed as much as 80% possession in the first half, but created few real scoring opportunities, the best of which saw Patino's header superbly clawed over the bar by Morecambe keeper Adam Smith.
Swansea were sharper after the break and led two minutes into the second half as Parker's inswinging cross from the right found Patino, who volleyed past Smith from close range.
The game reverted to a familiar pattern soon afterwards, with the home side controlling possession, but posing little danger in the final third - until Yates seized on a loose clearance to fire a fine left-footed finish into the bottom corner.