1. Freestone
2. De Vulgt
3. Howard
4. O'Leary
5. Bound
6. Todd
7. Phillips @
8. Coates
9. Cusack
10. Sidibe #
11. Williams

12. Appleby #64
13. Romo @46
14. Mumford
15. Cole
16. Keegan

    ---

 Brighton

1. Kuipers
2. Watson #
3. Crosby
4. Pitcher
5. Rogers
6. Steele
7. Jones
8. Lehmann
9. Melton
10. Wicks
11. Pethick

    ---

12. Virgo #45
13. Packham
14. Marney
15. Wilkinson
16. Hammond

MANAGER Colin Addison was right when he chose not to pick out any individual for special praise afterwards.

A fine display from all involved in the light of recent events.

AT least Tony Petty's arrival in South-West Wales has been good for something.

Swansea City last night responded to the dramatic events of last week with their best performance of the season and defeat was not deserved.

United by the body blow dealt to the playing squad by the club's controversial new chairman, Colin Addison's side produced a committed and at times very accomplished display against Second Division pacesetters Brighton.

And not only were the team inspired, the support they received was magnificent - from an impressive crowd of 2,851 for an LDV Vans Trophy first-round tie.

The last time Vetch Field was as noisy was April 2000, when nearly 11,000 packed in to see Swansea seal promotion to Division Two.

A vociferous opening was to be expected, of course, because of the feelings stirred up by Petty, the protest march beforehand and the rally calls issued by Addison and his players in the build-up to last night's game.

But the volume levels remained high throughout after Swansea took an early lead and proceeded to outplay their more fancied opponents.

The tone had been set before kick-off as the players continued in the same vein in which they had left off at Southend.

On Saturday, just four of the 14 yellow away shirts taken to Roots Hall made it back again after the players' impromptu gesture to fans at the final whistle.

After taking the field last night, the starting 11 joined in a chain of arms to salute the home support.

The Vetch faithful responded with a resounding cry of ‘We want Petty out' - a chant which was repeated at the end and every few minutes during play.

Even the songs on the Tannoy before the game and at half-time — such as ‘This town ain't big enough for the both of us' and ‘I'm still standing' — were more than a little pointed.

If Petty does, as he says he will, choose to return to the city, you get the impression that the reception he receives will be more hurricane than storm.

Last night Swansea so nearly lifted a little bit of the gloom currently hanging over the club by upsetting the odds — albeit in a much-maligned competition against an under-strength Brighton side.

The emotion was almost tangible when Jonathan Coates put the home side ahead after just nine minutes.

Big Frenchman Mamady Sidibe had made a nuisance of himself down the left before Coates took over and fed Michael Howard.

Rather than playing in a deep cross, the young wing-back slipped the ball back into Coates's path just outside the box.A neat first touch saw off Matthew Wicks's lunge and the 26-year-old midfielder clipped the ball into the net for his fourth goal of the season.

Coates, accompanied by most of his team-mates, raced to the North Bank in celebration and sent a buzz round the ground.

After the sweet goal, the home side produced some attractive stuff up until half-time and deserved to extend their advantage.

Instead, after Matthew Bound and John Williams were foiled by Dutch keeper Michael Kuipers and Coates had stubbed a shot when clean through, they went in level.

In injury-time, another Swansea charge was repelled and Brighton broke away smartly.

Robbie Pethick centred from the right and German striker Dirk Lehmann swooped to nod past the flat-footed Roger Freestone.

Yet again, Swansea's leaky defence had been undone by a header, a problem which must be addressed.

The second period was less spectacular.

Bound's testing header was deflected wide before midfielder Richie Appleby came closest to winning it for Swansea.

On as a striker in place of Sidibe who needed 12 stitches in an ankle wound, he smacked the bar from 18 yards after Howard's alertness at a free-kick had put him through.

Swansea faded a little towards the end and were let off when Lehmann spooned over an open goal with 11 minutes left.

But just as extra-time loomed, Lee Steele did find the empty net after Freestone had tipped Wicks's shot onto the crossbar.

Another disappointing result for Addison was sealed, though he will be pleased it did not come in the league.

And he can take great heart from a fine display — one which was produced, as they will all have to be from now on, without the player-of-the campaign to date Stuart Roberts.

Indirectly, the new chairman had a hand in what was good about last night.