1. Freestone
2. Jones S
3. Howard
4. Bound
5. Smith
6. Romo
7. Watkin
8. Savarese
9. Price
10. Cusack
11. Casey @

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12. Mounty
13. Jenkins @87
14. Roberts
15. O'Leary
16. Lacey

 Walsall

1. Walker
2. Brightwell
3. Tillson
4. Bukran
5. Bennett
6. Matias
7. Wrack
8. Roper
9. Angell
10. Byfield
11. Aranalde

    ---

12. Embersom
13. Eklund
14. Keates
15. Gadsby
16. Leitao

This was the match that saw some from the list enjoy their hospitality comp prizes. A word of thanks to Dave Jones and Dianne Griffiths of the Commercial Department who couldn't have made us more welcome.

The pitch was perfect and bathed in Winter sunshine for this bottom v top clash. John Hollins made just one neforced change from the side that started against Wycombe last Saturday. There were only 3 questions for him from the pre match sponors meeting (all from our little party) and he answered all of them fully and well. More of this on the list later.

We had a dreadful start when Smith made a hash of a backward header to Roger which fell invitingly for Angell who finished well. Smith did himself no favours by shouting at Steve Jones for not tracking Angell's run - as the fault was 100% his.

Even in the East Stand after only 4 minutes of play we had the impatient moaners - "sort it out Hollins or get out". I will never understand our supporters!!

Swansea gradually battled back into the game and although Price on the right was proving ineffective, both Howard and Casey linked well on the left and it was from byline crosses that we looked likely to get back into the game.

Casey looked very lively and delivered a wicked cross when under off balance and under severe pressure from his marker which deserved better than the fleeting opportunity as it passed across the goalmouth.

More good work down the left was our best chance, and so it proved - but it was Romo who provided the deep cross behind their back four that saw Savarese first to react to the dangerous cross - a well taken goal sliding in with an outstretched right leg.

Walsall retook the lead a few minutes later but the goalbound ball was unnecessarily helped into the net by a player in an off-side position - and so it was ruled out. Smith and Bound had their hands full with the fast and tricky Byfield while Bukran appeared to have the freedom of midfield at times to spray passes at will. One of these caught Boundy at full stretch and his abortive back header was lucky not to meet the same fate as befell Smith's.

Second half they treatened to overwhelm us with total control for the first 10 minutes, but despite all this, Freestone had no saves to make.

Once we'd weathered this storm, the battling qualities took over. Price for whom nothing was going right, was within seconds of being subbed by Roberts (on the touchline changed ready for the next deadball). But a bizarre shot/bit of luck saw us take the lead. A Steve Jones cross- cum-shot was played between Watkin and their keeper. Both thought that that each other would make contact - but actiually neither did and the ball rolled into the net.

Substitution cancelled and it was rolled up sleeve time in which Cusack was outstanding assisted by Howard (who had been faultless throughout) and Steve Jones.

Walsall made it easier for us by taking off their most threatening player (Darren Byfield) and with 10 minutes or so left Watkin made it 3-1.

There was still time for some drama when Walsall were awarded a soft penalty. Jones under pressure in his area running back, headed behind for a corner and then obstructed his challenger with his body. Despite Jones protests that he'd won the ball, the last minute penalty award stood.

Roger dived to his rigt to bring off a magnificent save to keep the staus quo. His reaction afterwards showed that the spirit in the team is once again burning brightly after a period in the umbra.

We must follow this win up with another against Brentford on Saturday if we are to break away from the bottom 4. We beat Stoke back in October only to follow it with a 0-0 draw days later at home to lowly Swindon. Let's not take our eye off the ball after this excellent win.

Ratings:
Roger 8 - for his outstanding penalty save - he had little else to do.
Jonah 8 - improved as the game progressed - back to his tigerish best
Howard 9 - faultless - would have been my man of the match
Smith 7 - found Byfield and Angella handful
Bound 7 - found Byfield and Angella handful
Price 6 - only really got into the game when he was about to be subbed
Romo 7 - best game for a while and didn't fade in the latter stages
Casey 8 - confidence improving with his match fitness
Cusack 9 - MOM - awesome last 30 minutes - he was everywhere winning tackles and headers
Savarese 8 - excellently taken goal and made more of nuisance of himself. Obviously a deeply religious man as he took great delight in chasing the ref after Roger's penalty save to point heavenward. I assume he was telling him that God knew that wasn't a penalty and that's whythey didn't score. Cracker Gio.
Watkin 8 - had a hand in 2 goals and as usual, held up the ball

Sub: Jenks - only on for 3 minutes in place of Casey

What a Christmas present, great, super fantastic result. Yes a great result, but as bad as things have been let’s not get carried away with one result, never mind how welcome it is.

On a cold raw winters day the crowd of 5700, boosted by about 250 from Walsall, gave up their lunch for a 1.00pm. start. Swans played 4 4 2 with Romo Cusack Price & Casey in midfield and Savarese and Watkin the front two.

The early start did not benefit the Swans who were very sluggish to start and gifted Walsall an early goal. Smith? heading to his right and slightly behind, straight into the path of Angell, who slid it beyond the advancing Freestone. Lots of looks and arm waving trying to apportion blame. Walsall dominated the first 20 mins and although not threatening our goal, always looked capable of adding to their goal with Angell and Byfield linking well. Our midfield was non existent and were totally overrun.

With the crowd getting restless we equalised against the run of play with Romo winning a tackle on the left with their full back and putting in a curving cross which beat the goalkeeper and was put away by the following in Saverese. The rest of the half was played out in a stop start fashion due to the whistle happy ref, who would not let the game flow. 1-1 at half time in what was a poor half, but at least we were holding one of the leading pack. Was it that Walsall thought they only had to turn up to win? Only time would tell.

As at Wycombe we came out for the second half in a much more positive frame of mind. Walsall were now being matched in effort at least, but no clear cut chances by either side. On 56 minutes Steve Jones, who was coming more and more into our attacking game, put in pass/goal attempt towards the near post and with Watkin going for it with their keeper managed to somehow find the net. We deserved a bit of luck for the improved second half showing. This stirred the Swans into greater effort and we moved up a gear determined to hold out for the win. Even better was to come when on 75 mins a long pass from Steve Jones on the right found Watkin coming in at the far post heading in for our 3rd. We had forgotten what it was like to be in the lead but now we were 2 up and actually believing we were going to win as Walsall were not now in the game. The players were now winning balls that in the first half went to Walsall and some of the backs to the wall defending of last season had returned with both Casey and Romo tackling and Cusack having his best period for a long time getting in timely clearances. The only downside was Price did not seem a shadow of his former self. The effort seems to have gone out of his game. He is either carrying an injury, or is unfit as he looks to have put on weight, and is now lacking pace and confidence.

With only two minutes to go Steve Jones seemed to have won the race with Wrack and headed the ball back to Rog, but with the Walsall player falling over in the tackle the ref pointed to the spot. It was an unbelievable decision, and with the ground in uproar the pressure seemed to get to the Walsall player, allowing Wales’ No 1 to save.

The main thoughts are that in the first half our midfield four were too lightweight , and didn’t have a recognized ball winner. All four were passengers as Walsall dictated play.

Second half we played as a unit, but before the second goal Stu Roberts was ready to come on. As soon as the goal went in he was given his tracksuit back and never joined the fray. Question? Who was he going to replace? as his workrate would only have benefited the team then as well as giving more attacking options. The only sub used was Jenkins replacing Casey for the last few minutes. <> Hopefully this result coming on the back of our much improved display in the second half at Wycombe could be signs that at least we are starting to fight back at last. Please Mr Hollins take the opportunity to strengthen the team as however pleasurable this win is, now is the time to be positive. Let’s move away from the bottom now, not in late April or early May.

A very welcome Christmas present of three points for a battling and hard working Swans team against a strong Walsall side. True, it was a dour game played on an embarrassment of a pitch against a surprisingly disappointing opposition, but that does not detract from the sterling work done by the team to earn themselves a much needed win. The side returned to a more familiar 4-4-2 formation, with Watkin returning to partner Savarese up front, and the midfield made up of Romo and Cusack in the centre, and Casey and Price on the left and right wings respectively. The usual suspects made up the defence.

It was an untidy start to the game, which set the tone for the rest of the match. The first incident was the first goal - a hopeful Walsall punt up-field deceived Smith, who sent a back header into the path of the on-rushing Brett Angell, who slid the ball clinically past Freestone to give the visitors a gift of a lead after only three minutes. The Swans responded well to this setback, and began to probe the visiting defence down the left side, with Casey particularly effective, and revelling in the space he was being given. But chances were very hard to come by, with a header over the bar from Steve Jones our only effort of note. But the visitors were equally ineffective, perhaps not taking us sufficiently seriously given the gap in league status and form; and they were punished for their complacency when the Swans strung together an excellent move, quite out of character with the game, after 20 minutes. Some neat interplay between Romo and Casey saw the Frenchman set on a neat run down our left - he brilliantly deceived his marker by flipping the ball over his head, before sending over an inch perfect low cross for Savarese to slot home from close range. A goal of real quality, finished well by a striker with a genuine eye for goal...would Walter have converted such a chance? Who knows, but I suspect not.

The visitors were clearly rattled by this, but they nearly restored their lead when some good work on their right led to a low cross which Angell blasted wide. There followed a period when Walsall's effective midfield passing continuously exposed the Swans down both flanks, with Howard and Jones both feeling that they should have more support from the midfield. Down our right side, in particular, Jones was left isolated, with Smith having to come across to cover from centre half. This was a defensive failing which clearly was remedied at half time, as we defended after the break in much greater numbers. The visitors thought they had restored their lead when they had the ball in the net on the half hour, but the goal was correctly ruled out for offside - a piece of good fortune which was well overdue after some of the dubious decisions experienced at Wycombe last week. The half ended as it had began - a ragged and shapeless affair played on a rutted pitch which made fluent passing football almost an impossibility - perhaps this goes some way to explaining our poor home form this season - if a poor pitch is a great leveller, then perhaps this applied in games like Oxford and Port Vale (?).

The second half served up much better fayre all round. The Swans were fired up, sensing victory, but it was the visitors that nearly scored on two occasions early in the half, with Matias and the dangerous Byfield missing decent chances. But the Swans were pressing forward with more vigour now, and looked dangerous through the midfield promptings of Romo, and the adventurous forward running of Steve Jones, who found himself in good crossing positions on several occasions. Price, however, was looking particularly ineffective, as both his control and his dribbling skills were letting him down badly on the difficult surface. On the 56th minute, Stuart Roberts was stripped and ready to come on, when we were awarded a free kick on our left side. We used our familiar tactic of floating the ball to the far past towards the head of the on-running Jones - to his credit he got a firm connection on the ball and sent it spinning towards goal. Watkin tried to turn the ball home, and in doing so, deceived the keeper, and a delighted home crowd saw the ball fall weakly into the net. A bit of luck, but no more than our efforts deserved. Stu Roberts' track suit went back on, and he was not seen again.

We could have extended our lead on the hour when Price played Watkin through, but he delayed his shot and lost the chance. Ian Roper headed over the bar from a corner for the visitors, before the Swans sent their fans into ecstasy by extending their lead, when a great ball in from Romo was headed in at the far post by Watkin. There was time for a few scares in the home defence as Walsall pressed forward, but their efforts seemed strangely half hearted, and would have amounted to nothing had not Steve Jones pulled down Wrack in the area with two minutes left, to concede a penalty, rightly given by referee Mr Leake. But this was to be our day, confirmed as Roger made an excellent diving savings from Bennett's spot kick. Great celebrations followed the final whistle - was this the turning point? Well, we'll see!

Freestone - 8 A good all round performance
Jones - 8 Solid, and a good supporter of the attack
Howard - 7 A steady show
Bound - 8 Played a captain's part in the defence
Smith - 7 One bad mistake but otherwise a good game
Price - 5 A poor game; lacked influence and control and failed to support his back four. A couple of good through balls.
Casey - 7 A good opening half; faded after the break
Cusack - 6 Kept them motoring, whilst having a fairly quiet game himself
Romo - 8 The best performance we have seen from him - some good skill and influential passing; clearly a better player at home
Watkin - 7 Gave them some problems and scored a good goal
Savarese - 7 A good all round centre forward performance
Jenkins (for Casey) 6 - Shored up the midfield for the last few minutes.