Huddersfield unable to break down Swansea despite Jordan Ayew dismissal

Huddersfield have not become so high and mighty that they can look down their nose at a Premier League point, yet they must feel frustrated with this one, because they know that another two seemed tantalisingly attainable. David Wagner’s team had almost a full match in which to convert numerical supremacy into victory after Jordan Ayew was sent off in the 11th minute, but they wound up banging their heads against the brick wall that was erected by Swansea’s 10 remaining players.

The teams remain level on points in the table, precariously placed above the relegation zone. The contest here changed when Ayew was dismissed for fouling Jonathan Hogg near the half-way line. His lunging challenge looked reckless rather than spiteful but given that he ended up planting his studs into his opponent’s knee, the referee, Michael Oliver, had to order him off. Swansea had to redefine their mission and switched immediately into survival mode. The 10 men barely left their half for the remainder of the match, and by full-time Huddersfield had 28 shots to Swansea’s zero.

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