1. Freestone
2. Price &
3. De Vulgt
4. O'Leary
5. Bound
6. Romo
7. Jenkins #
8. Lacey @
9. Verschave
10. Savarese
11. Roberts

    ---

12. Mounty
13. Watkin @ 78
14. Fabiano # 45
15. Cusack & 56
16. Keegan

 Luton Town

1. Ovendale
2. Helin
3. Stirling
4. Boyce
5. Dryden
6. Taylor
7. Mansell
8. Spring
9. Rowland
10. George
11. Douglas

    ---

12. Abbey
13. Thomson
14. Locke
15. Breitenfelder
16. Fotiadis

A little while back I said that following the Swans was never dull but I wasn't prepared for the emotional rollercoaster ride at Luton today.

The concensus before the game was that the defence was weakened by absentees so there were likely to be goals and, most of all it was crucial not to gift an early goal. So it was with some disbelief to see us 2 down after nine minutes - and all our own work.

It also pains me to report Roger as the culprit for goal 1. A Luton centre had rebounded and was slowly falling to ground about ten yards out. Mansell and O'Leary were beneath it when Rog decided he could get it. He couldn't. It bounced again and the Luton player got a half knee to it. It bounced very slowly into the now unguarded net.

The second was a simple far post corner which was allowed to fall to shin height. I don't believe Douglas reached it ahead of De Vulgt - more it bounced off his leg and into the net. What a nightmare!

Apart from these two aberrations, Swansea were quietly taking control of the match. The ball was being stroked around nicely and Roberts, Savarese and Verschave were creating problems for a mobile but slow witted Luton defence. It wasn't long before a cross came to Savarese who'd slipped his marker and the ball flew goalward.

Our view was obscured by a pillar and a couple of players so it took a little while to realise that the goalie hadn't got to it and we were back in the game. The home crowd (the first noisy one of the season for me) was hushed and the sound of "Come on City" rang around the ground from the 500 odd away fans.

The pattern of Swansea domination continued throughout the first half against, what looked a very poor Luton side. Chances were relatively few but we looked sharp. And with a better rub of the ball might have nicked a second. Reasonable optimism at half time mixed with concern that our defence was still fragile. Fabiano came on for Jenkins at half time to play on the right. This may have left us a bit lopsided with Jason Price on the left. Three at the back now with DeVulgt, Bound and O'Leary.

On 51 minutes a long Luton ball fell to George (?). Bound retreated in front of him, and retreated, and retreated. By this time, O'leary had got back to cover but George got in a shot which rebounded for Mansell to score easily. Surely that was it. Luton confidence was back up. But we continued to play the better football and one of the best Swansea goals I've ever seen was about to raise our hopes once again.

By now Price had departed (unseen) to be replaced by Cusack (Why?) and we were playing 3-5-2. A fabulous ball out of defence by Bound (?) down the left saw a race between Verschave and two big Luton defenders. Verschave got there just ahead and moved the ball infield (a la Gazza vs Scotland, Wembley, Euro 96). He twisted between the two defenders to race infield and collect his own pass, took the ball cleanly outside a third defender before shooting hard. The goalkeeper could only parry the shot to where three Swansea players were waiting to drill the ball into the empty net.

Sheer ecstasy. We're back in it. But it was not to be. We were clearly lopsided at the back. Watkin was now on for Lacey in a 3-4-3 formation and the gap for midfield to cover was too much. Luton scored a cracking fourth goal on a predictable breakout. But we still looked as if we could score and we did. A goal mouth scuffle gradually homed in on the six yard box. It looked like 5 Swansea players involved with a series of agonising swipes before a boot stuck out and prodded it home. Savarese again.

So again our hopes are raised but this time it was just two minutes before they were dashed again. Another sloppy goal with our defence failing to deal with an attack down our left. We couldn't get it clear and it eventually fell to George who clipped a weak shot just inside the far post.

This was one step too far. The players found it as difficult as the fans to raise themselves yet again and Luton finished the more dangerous. A very dejected set of away supporters slunk from the ground at full time to ponder what on earth could be drawn from such a bizarre match.

With the suspensions and injuries affecting team selection, today’s team was Freestone, Price O’Leary Bound and De Vulgt in defence, a midfield of Roberts Jenkins Romo & Lacey, with Savarese & Verchave up front. It was our first visit to Luton for a while and had forgotten what a total mishmash of a ground it is. Pillars blocking a clear view of the pitch at every turn, seats bolted to the old terrace with no legroom and twisted seatbacks that only a six year old would find the slightest bit comfortable. All this for 14 pounds.

The game was played in winter sunshine with an estimated 350-400 travelling fans in the 7000 crowd for what was Joe Kinnear first home game as manager after 2 wins on their travels.

How to start the report of the match? The only descriptive way is that the team must still have been crossing the Severn Bridge as Luton took a 2-0 lead inside the first 10 minutes, through totally inept defending. It was obvious that Luton would be up for it, and they proved it by being faster and stronger then us in the opening exchanges. We stood and watched as they controlled everything. After such a start it just seemed a nightmare, but surprisingly we started to get back into the game with Savarese getting the first on 18mins.

The rest of the half was fairly even, with no real threats on goal, but if anything we were getting stronger and not needing the half time break, as we were just about shading the proceedings. Douglas their no 9 was spoken to by the ref after charging in twice on Bound in aerial challenges but surprisingly no card.

Half time saw Jenkins being replaced by Fabiano, with Price moving from right back to left midfield. Again bad defending let in Luton for a third not long into the second half. We were 3-1 down to a team in the same league situation as us, but again as like many teams in this division they were nothing to speak about, but they did show experience when it was needed.

Gio pulled another back when Verchave twisted and turned on the edge of the box looking for an opening, finally his shot was parried by Ovendale the loose ball being met by Gio hitting firmly into an empty net.

Again we had pulled ourselves back into the game, but 5mins later AGAIN bad defending allowed a one on one with Rog who saved with his legs, but the rebound was returned firmly into the net. 4-2 and the nightmare continued. But that silver light shone again as in a goalmouth scramble Gio tapped in completing his well deserved hat-trick, which could have come earlier when he tried to lob the keeper from inside the box when the low alternative to either side could have gone in.

Could we actually get something from this game. These thoughts lasted only 2mins when again poor defending allowed George to turn well inside the area and firing across Rog into the far corner. 5-3. We could even then have pulled another back when Roberts cutting in at an acute angle from the right took the option of blasting high for the far post which narrowly missed but a better option could have been along the floor as Gio and a defender were closing in and either touch would have resulted in a goal.

In summary some thoughts. The team lacked cohesion and pattern and although we showed commitment we are far too lightweight and lack the total team support play needed to stand any chance of the drop. Players to often found themselves isolated with no real options, there were too many hurried patterns of play.

In the first half Romo, O’Leary, Jenkins and Price were the players who caught the eye. We don’t know if Price was injured before being replaced by Cusack, but was not involved as much in the second half as he was again being played out of position on the left. Watkin also replaced Lacey very late on .

Verchave showed some promise as did Fabiano to a lesser extent when he come on for the second half. With Smith out, our central pairing were too similar in style, solid blockers. We were also missing our full back pairing resulting in again players playing out of position and not really understanding their role. They all showed true commitment and no player can be criticised for their effort to the cause.

On this showing, although we showed grit in clawing ourselves back into the game, the truth is we lack the experienced players who when the time is needed can settle the team and control the pace of the game.

This was a must win if not at the very least a must not lose game, but with other results going against us, we now need to win half of our remaining games to survive. A very tall order.

What can happen?

John Hollins to be replaced, and another manager giving a short term boost as Kinnear seems to have done to Luton. Maybe a strong motivator like Dave Bassett. Whether this is, or is not the answer, we all know it is not going to happen as with the club up for sale, this is a costly scenario.

Will all our players get fit & others stay clear of suspension to give selection options. Again will this be the answer, as it has not been up to now.

Will the fairy godmother grant us our wish of 2 experienced loan midfielders.

The answer lies somewhere in our belief of the Easter Bunny & the Tooth Fairy.

Lots of questions but no answers. The clock is ticking.

Was the third division as bad as we can remember. If it is then think on. We will be back there without half of the current team

Oh well that’s life.

At least we were back in Coventry by 6.00

having just returned from the luton game i have to say if this was walsall or reading we probably couldn't complain but luton were absolutley shocking today!..yes and we got hammered 5 gifted goals gave them the points, we spent large percentage of the game in their half and they were there for the taking..i'm lost for words.

freestone...howler of a claim for their first goal,looked unsure all game and exposed to the point of shooting practice for their forwards.

price...threatened most of the first half with his runs but died off second half

de-vulgt..at fault for their second goal "lost his man" otherwise as much as you could expect from a young player.

bound..dominant in the air but exposed for pace and dreadful passing..made the whole defence look wobbly.

o'leary..same as bound but more creative with his passing

roberts...always a threat

lacey... no presence at all should have come off

romo... covered for lacy and some good telling passes.

jenkins..good first half but looked predictable.

saverese..worked his socks of and got what he deserved

verschave...got better as the game went on lovely flick over their defender to put saverese in.

Fabiano....has to start from now.

cusack..did make a impact in the centre of midfield when he came on.

watkin...did well but unsure of his role when he came on.

all in all we should have scored five and let in zero... missed smith big time today.

Being on the wrong end of an 8 goal thriller is little consolation when it leaves second division status hanging by a thread. And our strike force, often stylish and effective today, must be left wondering what they have to do to compensate for our defensive failings. Luton are bouyed up by Kinnear fever, and now seem confident of avaoiding the drop, but rarely will they meet such a generous reargaurd, and a repeat fixture next season in the basement division remains a real possibility.

It was an exotic sounding Swans team that took to the field, with Savarese partnered by Verschave up front. The midfield four was Roberts (left side), Romo, Lacey and Price (right side) with the makeshift back four of Bound, O'Leary, Jenkins and DeVulgt. About 400 - 500 Jacks populated the away end, making plenty of noise throughout, and generally matching the sizeable home crowd for vocal support. A noble effort, as we were hemmed into the pitiful away end, with a terrible view, no leg-room, and surrounded by jobsworth sterwards who were insistent on us sitting in our cramped seats, while happy to let the home fans stand on theirs!

The opening exhanges signalled the intentions of both sides, with attacking being the main priority from the first whistle. The Swans had the first strike on goal, with Price hitting an optimistic shot high and wide. But after only 2 minutes we gifted the home side their opener, with O'Leary failing to connect properly with his attempted clearing header, and skying the ball towards Luton's Lee Mansell, who headed home after Freestone missed the ball with his attempted punch. Not a distinguished opening for our back four, who nearly conceded again a couple of minutes later when Freestone made a good save at the feat of Liam George, But our back four offered up an other sacrificial offering to the Kinnear-god two minutes later, when they allowed a routine corner to fly across the six yard box, and Stuart Douglas to arrive unmarked at the far post to divert the ball home.

Our world was caving in, and a real pasting seemed on the cards. But the team rallied well, passing the ball around competently in midfield and pressing forward through the darting runs of Roberts and Vershcave. On 12 minutes Roberts appeared to be brought down in the box, but the referee waved play on. But shortly after, our enterprise brought some deserved reward when Savarese rose to head home a Price free kick, giving us a precious lifeline. For the remainder of the first half, we had the edge - Savarese was a continous thorn in the Luton side, and one tenacious run from him almost set up Roberts. The home side's response was a vicious free kick from Spring, which deflected straight into Freestone's arms when it could have gone anywhere. But we spent the half time interval genuinely feeling that a point was the least we could expect from this encounter.

The second half began in similar vein, with both sides committed to all out attack. Lacey had a decent effort for us, and then Roger dropped a corner at the other end, almost allowing the home side to sneak a third. Then Fabiano, on for the injured Jenkins, produced s sublime piece of skill on the right side to beat two players and drive the ball across the face of the goal, with no-one able to convert. The home side responded with another speedy attack down our left side, through the nimble Liam George. Bound blocked his initial attempt, but the rebound found its way to Mansell, who chipped the ball into the open goal. This took the wind out of our sails, and it could have been worse a minute later when another prod forward from midfield set Stuart Douglas through, with O'Leary again beaten for pace, but this time the Luton striker contrived to poke the ball wide. At this point Price gave way for Cusack in an attempt to incerase our attacking options.

The Swans did not give up and on 60 minutes some great work from Roberts saw him curl in a lovely ball which Verschave met at the near post, only to fail to divert his touch past Ovendale in the Luton goal. But the breakthrough came just a couple of minutes later - some great skill from Verschave took him past two defenders and his fierce shot was parried by Ovendale into the path of Savarese, who knocked the rebounf into an open goal. The Jacks went wild, sensing that a point was a real possibility, and a minute later Savarese was through again, this time hitting his shot straight at the keeper when he might have done better.

But again our defence managed to throw it away for us. Firstly, Helin stole in to drive a shot against our cross bar, and then Luton again raided unopposed, this time down our right side. Freestone stopped the initial shot, but Rowland was there to slot home the rebound and restore the 2 goal cushion, again prompting the home crowd into another burst of singing.

But we weren't beaten yet - Romo curled an excellent free kick just over on 75 minutes, and shortly afterwards a goalmouth scramble from a corner saw Savarese sweep home another lifeline goal for us. This time, however, the talk behind the goal was about how long it would take for us to gift them another goal, and true enough, within a minute the talented Liam George had turned Bound in the area and struck home a sweet low shot into the corner.

We still had time for another couple of raids, and Roberts almost brought us a fourth with an excellent run and shot in injury time, but at the final whistle we found ourselves lamenting a disappointing and perhaps decisive result that we had very much brought upon ourselves. The team's efforts brought them a deserved ovation from the Swans fans at the end, but they will know that it could have been very different, and the early lapses ultimately cost them dear.

Player ratings
Freestone - 6 Some good saves, but too much flapping
DeVulgt - 5 cruelly exposed today, but plenty of time to learn
O'Leary - 5 No, John, he is NOT international class
Bound - 6 The most solid of our back four, despite the inexplicable barracking he got from some Jacks behind the goal.
Jenkins - 6 A decent half before injury took him out of the game.
Roberts - 7 A handful for them throughout the game, and some dangerous crosses in the second half.
Romo- 6 Some good attacking play, battled hard, but not enough overall influence.
Lacey - 6 A committed effort from Damien, who will perhaps mature next season into the finished article
Price - 6 Another effort of commitment and drive, but without the end product
Verschave - 9 A really great all round effort; some good skill and real battling qualties. Looked dangerous.
Savarese - 9 The perfect striker's performance. Three well taken goals and always a handful.

Fabiano (For Jenkins) - 7 Impressive; showed some great skill and crossing ability.
Cusack (for Price) - 7 Had a very committed and influential 20 minutes.
Waktin (for Lacey) Not on long enough to make an impression.

Another devastatingly disappopinting outcome that left us ruing our luck and our missed chances; but most of all regretting our over-generous defending. This puts us in the last chance saloon now, as most of our relegation rivals seem to be putting runs together. If our short trip to Northampton and our longer trip to Bury are to be worthwhile in any way at all, then nothing less than wins against Notts County and Reading will do. Our only hope - that our inter-contintential contingent, who showed some real quality today, can produce the goods for us in bucket-loads over the next couple of weeks. If they don't, then its Hartlepool and Torquay

If only the sunshine at the match on Saturday could provide enough "rays" of hope for both teams to avoid the dreaded drop to the kick and run basement of football they call the 3rd division.

Despite the poor defensive qualities of both teams, those of us who remember the good old days of lower division football where 6, 7 and 8 goal thrillers were a common occurance, could not fail to be impressed by 2 teams who were willing to just go for it.

When you consider the amount of 0-0 draws there are today in relegation struggle battles, it is encouraging to see teams defend with attack and not worry too much about the consequences.

As a Town fan, I am no doubt biased in saying that a 2 goal difference between the teams on Saturday was a fair reflection and I forsee many more high scoring Luton games before end of the season. Lutons strategy since Kinnears taking of the helm, and realising the defensive frailties, is to keep attacking throughout the 90 minutes. Whether this will keep us up, we will have to wait and see, but its definitely the right approach for us.

As for Swansea, they too have a potentially potent strike force, but need to decide if attack is really how they see themselves staying up. If it is, then their central defenders will need to start passing the ball out of defence rather than the long ball out to the flanks for someone to run onto.

I believe that one of these teams will stay up this year because there are many other teams just outside the relegation zone that are currently in freefall at present and by the time they realise they have to fight, it will be too late.