Life as a goalkeeper can be difficult, especially when every minor error is scrutinised to the highest degree.
However, when you are responsible for guiding your team through a pivotal game, then you are the player of the match, the genius, the hero. That’s what Swansea City keeper Remy Mitchell did last night.
The Swans needed penalties to help them defeat Cardiff Met in Landore on Wednesday night to book themselves a place in the Nathaniel MG Cup Final. While Mitchell is happy to go through, he knows work needs to be done ahead of the final at Jenner Park.
“We didn’t cover ourselves in glory with the performance, but we got the clean sheet which meant all we needed to do was win on penalties or score a goal. We couldn’t find that goal, but we’re delighted we got through penalties in the end.
“If we are going to win the final, we are going to have to up our level from tonight. We all know tonight wasn’t our best performance. We’ve got a lot to work on, but the result fortunately went our way, and now we’re in the final and that’s the most important thing.”
Looking at the game, there was a stark contrast between both the Swans and the Archers.
The Cymru Premier outfit had a major physical advantage and towered over their opponents at times.
But this is a young and hungry Swansea team filled with bags of talent. While sometimes they did get suckered into the Met plan, they used their pace and guile to get past them, something Mitchell was pleased about.
“We wanted to stick to our gameplan and not make it a physical game. We always want to play the Swansea Way, keep it on the floor and create chances. At times we did allow it to become a physical game, which is what Met wanted, but we rose to the challenge, and we came through it in the end.”
Of course, people will look at the keeper’s penalty antics and bestow upon him the title of match winner. However, in the second half, he made a key save off the line to keep the scores level.
Mitchell wasn’t aware whether the ball had crossed the white line but knew how important that save was.
“It definitely seemed very close to going over the line. It was one of those ones where you’re waiting for the linesman to maybe give it, because I didn’t really know if it had gone over the line or not, but I’m pretty sure it didn’t go over the line and that’s all that matters.”
A goalless 90 minutes led to penalties, and you get a sense around Landore that everyone, from the players to the fans, was nervous.
Mitchell, on the other hand, seemed to be the calmest man in the ground. He saved from Eliot Evans, before diving low to deny Tom Vincent and seal Swansea’s spot in the final.
“There’s not really anything we do pre-game, because we expect to win the game in 90 minutes and penalties is a last resort. As a goalkeeper, you’ve got to gamble a little bit, look at the tells of a player, and just guess the right way.
“It’s a great feeling to save the one at the end. Being a goalkeeper, whenever you save a penalty, it’s always a good feeling.”
Swansea City will face either TNS or Guilsfield in the Nathaniel MG Cup Final. The final will take place at Jenner Park on Saturday January 20th, with kick off at 17:15.
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