By Fraser Watson
Midway through the first half at the Liberty Stadium yesterday, Clarke Odour’s corner found Mads Andersen just outside the Swansea City six yard box.
Andersen took a touch, shaped to fire at goal, only to then have the ball nicked away from him by the sliding Ben Cabango.
It turned out to be an understated moment. It was a challenge that Cabango had to get right or Barnsley would have almost certainly levelled, or at least had an opportunity to do so from the penalty spot.
It was also a moment which illustrated another assured display from the 20-year-old Wales international whose contributions proved crucial at both ends of the pitch.
It was the centre back’s looping header across goal that teed up Jamal Lowe to put Swansea 1-0 up just 75 seconds in, laying the platform for a win later sealed by Victor Adeboyejo’s own goal.
However, on a surface which made playing out from the back equivalent to footballing suicide, it was Cabango’s aerial dominance and timely interventions in defence which resonated most.
And perhaps the best measure of his performance was the sight of Barnsley’s top scorer, Cauley Woodrow, being withdrawn before the hour without having had a chance to add to his season’s tally of eight league goals.
Indeed, in his post-match press conference, Cabango’s head coach deemed it necessary to offer an impromptu explanation as to why the young centre-back didn’t start the recent clashes with Cardiff and Derby.
“Benny’s been brilliant for us, “ said Steve Cooper.
“I know he didn’t play in the last two games but we’ve tried to rotate the squad as much as we can. We’ve had nine games in a 29-day period, so nobody’s been dropped.
“He’s now getting close to being established. We have two 20-year-olds at the back (Cabango and Marc Guehi) and they are showing all aspects of what it takes to be a central defender in this league.
Ben Cabango (Swansea City)
The young Welsh defender has become an integral part of Steve Cooper’s side in recent months. With a history of developing young players, the Swans look to have another gem in their ranks.
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“It’s exciting.”
Cabango’s stock has risen steadily since a breakthrough display in the goalless South Wales derby last January, with his international bow coming against Finland in September.
As Cooper alluded to, his Swansea place is by no means cemented long term, and the nature of this congested season means rotation will occur – with Kyle Naughton (injured), Ryan Manning, and Joel Latibeaudiere (unused substitutes) all spared yesterday.
But if Cabango can continue to mature, and combine composure on the ball with the same robustness that helped nullify Barnsley’s direct approach yesterday, then the loss of Joe Rodon to Tottenham in the last transfer window may not prove the long term hammer blow it was widely deemed to be.
In fact, it’s Cabango’s “exciting” potential to follow Rodon in attracting higher level interest that may prove the main problem as time goes.
