1. Freestone
2. Jenkins
3. Howard
4. Cusack
5. Todd
6. Romo
7. Coates
8. Phillips
9. Sidibe
10. Watkin #
11. Roberts @

12. Mazzina
13. Appleby @46
14. Williams #76
15. Jones
16. De-Vulgt

    ---

 Oxford

1. McCaldon
2. Stockley
3. Guyett
4. Bolland
5. Hatswell
6. Ricketts
7. Beauchamp
8. Savage
9. Brooks
10. Scott
11. Thomas

    ---

12. Knight
13. Richardson
14. Gray
15. Tait
16. Folland

A crowd of 5,501 (lucky i decided to go really, there would have been 5,000 there otherwise!) saw a fairly evenly matched contest between two mediocre sides who, on this showing, won't be setting the division on fire this term, however, with the solid swans back line and the battling workmanlike rate of the oxford side, won't be on the end of too many thrashings either.

Chances were few and far between in this rather dull encounter with Oxford having the best one with a one on one with Freestone, the poor finish going wide. The highlight of the game was a turn by Sidebe on the edge of the penalty area which left 3 defenders standing but he just didn't have the finish to match.

The Swans back 4 of Howard, Jenkins, Cussack & Todd played well, both Howard & Jenks were very impressive. We shouldn't concede too many this term, but we didn't really look like scoring against a well organised Oxford side. We STILL need a striker, we haven't got a proven scorer. Sidebe looks a good raw talent but for a man of his size he's poor in the air, only winning 3 headers all game. He looks good with his feet, a tricky customer with a good turn of speed. John Williams, in my opinion was a poor acquisition, he was never a striker when he was with us the first time around and the proof was shown yesterday when he came on as a sub and we had a break. Ball at his feet he constantly looked around for someone to give the ball to instead of going for goal. Romo had a very poor game, his distribution was poor and it was a great surprise that he wasn't substituted. I suppose expectations were high after a 3-1 away win but it all depends on whether this division has improved since we departed its shores as to how successful a season it's going to be. My own thoughts are that we won't concede too many goals, but we're unlikely to score in abundance. A bit like our championship winning year there last time...here's hoping!!

One last point, the away support for a first away game of the season with not too far a distance to travel was pathetic. There must have only been about 150 Oxford fans there.

(1) Roger - 6 - not the standard of kicking we'd expect although didn't really have to make a save.

(2) Jenkins - 6 + 1/2- sound defending although rarely troubled. Might make the position his own if he continues to impress. He's definitely better there than midfield. Didn't get forward very well but still, neither did Watkin !

(3) Howard 6 + 1/2 - similar to Jenkins. Nothing special to add in the way some left backs do except a decent snap shot. Needs to give more in attack although better to wait for when Bound and Smith come back.

(4) Cusack - 6 - sometimes he frustrates me and this game was one of them. He stood around doing nothing as Todd was nearly booked for a foul. Roger came sprinting over and had a chat with the ref which kept the "orange" (it was, honest !) card in the ref's pocket. Not a captain but did well as could be expected out of position and a good squad member.

(5) Todd - 5 - he slipped to much and nearly cost us a goal or two similar to Jaap Stam faced by Owen in the Charity Shield. Not a good game for the young man but he's got a great future ahead.

(6) Romo - 3 - Completely anonymous in the 1st half and useless when he got the ball in the 2nd. With Mazzina impressing in pre-season and Romo playing so badly, why the HELL didn't Hollins change them ? Bottled out of every tackle....even the ones on his favour !

(7) Coates - 6 - Did little and needs to produce. He's not a youngster anymore and offers nothing to the game that any left footed player in the Club could.

(8) Phillips - 9 - great effort and rewards were a well deserved Man of the Match award. Strong in the tackle without Martin Thomas' usual fouls. If he continues like this, he won't be with us for long. He'll be sold quicker than Lewis sold the Club's minibus.

(9) Sidibe - 7 - Ran and ran for 90 mins. Not too clever in the air but what would you expect if you'd just signed someone from Mumbles Rangers ?? Quicker with his feet and a lovely turn should have resulted in a goal but his second touch gave the keeper too much of a chance to close him down. Probably better than Alsop.

(10) Watkin - 4 - awful, useless and that's being a little over kid to him. He's got to be more ruthless and stop passing sideways or looking backwards when he's got the ball. Could learn a thing or two from Dean Saunders about turning his man !

(11) Roberts - 6 - rather quiet for him although extremely difficult when you haven't got the ball. He might have been injured which might explain him being subbed. One or two turn and runs that nobody in the Club can do any more.

(12) Appleby - 5 - Looked unfit and slow. Not sharpe and didn't do anything constructive. Shouts of Richie, Richie, Richie, Richie Appleby did nothing to get him going even though he was on the pitch for 45 minutes.

(13) Williams - 6 - Put himself about a bit and had a chance when 1 on 1 with the keeper. Instead of getting his head down and going for goal he sh*t himself and looked around for support. Not one for the future but at least he gave 100% and passed the ball to players in white (unlike Romo).

Swansea City 0 v 0 Oxford United

Swansea City made a bright start against an Oxford side that went down from the second division with them last season but failed to make the breakthrough over 90 minutes.

Gareth Phillips came close to giving them a first minute lead with a 25 yard effort that flew just over the bar.

Chris Todd was also too high with an angled drive from a David Romo free-kick and a cross by Stuart Roberts was palmed away by Oxford goalkeeper Ian McCaldon.

But the Swans then ran out of steam and Joe Beauchump set up Andy Scott, whose shot on the turn beat Roger Freestone but was ruled out for offside.

Scott was just wide with a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area after he robbed Todd and Dave Savage was too high from thirty yards.

Swansea new-boy Mamady Sidebe had a shot well held by McCalden after good work by Todd, Michael Howard and Romo as the Swans swept forward again late in the half.

Half time

McCaldon came out smartly to smother a shot from Sidibe in the opening moments of the second half and a shot by Howard, that was deflected by Sam Stockley, wrong footed McCaldon and the keeper did well to make a reflex stop at the foot of the post.

The second half became increasingly scrappy and referee Lee Cable booked five players, four of them in a nine-minute spell.

Chances became few and far between for both sides as the game developed into a midfield battle played in the middle third of the pitch but the Swans were grateful for a great tackle by Todd on Stockley as the Oxford man burst into the penalty area.