Despite making nine changes to their starting line-up, stand-in captain Nathan Dyer put the visitors ahead at half-time and a second-half goal glut from Tom Carroll, Mo Barrow, a brace from Bafetimbi Gomis and one from Wayne Routledge ensured Max Power and Callum Stockton’s efforts counted for nothing.
Tranmere 2-6 Swansea
FA Cup Third Round
Prenton Park
Saturday 3 January 2015
Winners receive £67,500
Without Wilfried Bony, Ki Sung-Yueng and the suspended Jonjo Shelvey, changes were inevitable for the Premier League outfit, yet it hardly seemed to affect Garry Monk’s side.
Gomis shot high and wide with just minutes on the clock, before seeing a second effort tipped over superbly by Owain Fon Williams. The striker almost turned provider when Jay Fulton chested down his cross, only to mis-kick the ball completely.
The Swans eventually found a way through, however, as Dyer cut in from the left and let fly.
That effort was well blocked by Marcus Holness but the ball bounced back out to Dyer who made no mistake at the second time of asking.
With 81 places separating the two sides in the Football League pyramid, you could be forgiven for thinking that Dyer’s effort might all but bring an end to the tie, but the hosts responded well with Danny Holmes coming close from long range.
Max Power forced a save from Gerhard Tremmel, before a mix-up in the visitors’ penalty area had Tranmere heads in hands.
With the ball falling between Josh Thompson and Marc Laird, a mis-communication between the two caused neither to act and Monk’s side cleared the ball.
Swansea were on the ropes and would have been delighted when referee Paul Tierney brought an end to the opening period – but they did not struggle in the second half!
Just minutes after the restart, Barrow yet again proved too tricky for the hosts to handle and found Tom Carroll who nipped around two defenders to double his side’s lead.
The lively Barrow eventually got a deserved goal of his own when Gomis found space on the right and crossed low. Barrow was unmarked and simply had to tap home.
Any hopes of a SuperWhite Army comeback seemed dashed when Cole Stockton’s effort rebounded back off the post and could not be scrambled in, but Tranmere did get one back in bizarre fashion as Tremmel’s clearance hit Power and looped in to offer the hosts a glimmer of hope.
Yet it was not long before Gomis slotted home his first, and although Stockton nodded home with just minutes left on the clock, substitute Routledge once again extended the Swans’ lead to three.
Gomis had the final say with his second and the Welsh side's sixth, as Swansea secured their progression in emphatic style.
Tranmere Rovers (5-3-2): Owain Fon Williams; Danny Holmes, Max Power, Michael Ihiekwe, Marcus Holness, Marc Laird; Cole Stockton, Janoi Donacien, Steve Jennings; Shamir Fenelon, Josh Thompson.
Subs: Jake Kirby for Thompson 56, Abdulai Baggie on Fenelon 71
Subs not used: Peter Brezovan, Liam Ridehalgh, James Rowe, Chris Shuker, Guy Madjo.
Booked: Holmes, Power
Goals: Power 70, Stockton 83
Swansea City (4-4-2): Gerhard Tremmel; Dwight Tiendalli, Jordi Amat, Kyle Bartley, Ashley Richards; Marvin Emnes, Tom Carroll, Jay Fulton, Nathan Dyer; Bafetimbi Gomis, Mo Barrow.
Subs: Adam King for Fulton 71, Wayne Routledge for Dyer 77
Subs not used: Lukas Fabianski, Liam Sheppherd, Leon Britton, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Fedrico Fernandez.
Booked: Fulton, Bartley, Tiendalli
Goals: Dyer 35, Carroll 49, Barrow 58, Gomis 77, 90, Routledge 86
Referee: Paul Tierney.
Attendance: 10,007.
Watch highlights of the game at Prenton Park
