Scunthorpe
Evans
Bradshaw
Dawson
Jackson
McGibbon
Sparrow
Wilcox
Barwick
Calvo-Garcia
Quailey
Torpey

I watched last nights game against Scunthorpe from two different perspectives , firstly I was in the Centre Stand, incidentally sitting next to Terry Evans and amongst those from the youth team (Duffy), injured (Smith) and inexplicably dropped (Lacey, my did he look a touch p****d off). I was also with a friend of mine who supports the 'mighty Iron', his words not mine you'll understand.

We travelled from Berkshire along the M4 through torrential rain and were extremely surprised that the game did not appear to be in danger. We arrived in Swansea and whilst it was a typical February evening there was less of the wind and rain evident further east. However, it was and remained very very cold. Shirt, tie and suit combinations do nothing for the body temperature.

Pre match beers in both the Builders and Potters and our ability to actually get served in both suggested to me at least that this was not going to be our largest crowd of the season. A long way to travel from Scunthorpe meant that the away following was around about 45, yes we did count them.

Scunthorpe ran out in a disgusting green ensemble, missing 5 or 6 from what is conceivably their starting XI, including their alleged danger man Beagrie ex of Everton / Bradford. My mate immediately suggested that he'd 'be happy with a point given our lineup !'

The first half was a very drab affair, the long range shot from Mumford which fizzed past the post our only real effort on goal and Freestone was not actually called to make a save I don't think. A sloppy goal to concede against what little run of play there was. How can the smallest man on the pitch score from a near post header from a corner ? Why oh why can we not defend in that situation ? Calvo Garcia was clearly very amused by the fact.

I then expected us to concede another given previous experience this season. We continued to do little offensively but did deserve to draw level when an impressive Gareth Phillips drilled the ball on an angle from about 15 yards through a crowded 6 yard box and into the net. I was actually surprised when he was credited with the goal as Brodie looked to me to get a final touch.

Second half was little better but not a lot, the rain and wind got up, but the pitch played extremely well so no excuses there. Despite Radio Humberside suggesting it was muddy and wet. Do these people watch the same game ?

Neither side really took control and it did look like both teams, at least the one wearing white, and fans were playing out the season. We're probably safe now but this was not good entertainment. Brodie had been replaced by Williams, who is clearly not fit despite having the energy to spend the entire first half running up and down the wing infront of the Centre Stand !!! Like Brodie he did little really to impress. Sidibe had a couple of good chances when a little like Paulo Wanchope he waltzed around the Scunthorpe penalty box but the lack of a right foot meant he couldn't finish the chances.

The game appeared to be drifting towards the score draw that my mate would have accepted at kick off when Scunthorpe scrambled a goal from Quaily was it and with only three minutes to go, it looked like they had the three points they need for their continued promotion push !! However, they then seemed to have a 5 minute period of madness when they appeared to get very edgy, retreating to the edge of their box and effectively saying here's the ball, come and break us down.

We forced several corners and could have scored on a couple of occasions, Sidibe and Watkin missed a couple of good chances very late on. From a corner deep into injury time that Scunthorpe hotly protested at the time, as they left the pitch and in the media afterwards had come off a Swansea player, the ball broke to one of our players who when about to shoot and with everybody apart from Roger between him and the goal a Scunthorpe player jumped in. A definite free kick. Hodges tried to do his best to line up the wall, but Mumford for once curled the ball into the top corner. Anybody would have thought we'd just knocked West Ham out of the FA Cup the way the celebration went !!!

There was no time to restart and the game was over. But another goal from a defender. Wish we had strikers as prolific as they've been over the last few games! Todd and Mumford probably got more goals than Watkin and Williams!!

Just about a fair result, neither side really deserved the three points but we would have been gutted like they were to concede a goal so late on when three points for them would have kept the pressure up on Mansfield and Hollins' Rochdale.

Roger, kicking aside, I thought he was excellent, making some good saves, dominating clearances but was a little lucky when robbed of the ball by Quaily near the corner flag as he looked to shepherd the ball out of play. Memories of that dreadful attempted clearance at Walsall last season comes to mind !!!!

Incidentally did anyone see our Assistant Manager giving big Rog a lesson on goalkeeping half way through the 2nd half, what does Nicholas know about kicking out of his hands anyway ? Worrying injury stoppage when Roger looked like he jarred his knee but he continued after a little treatment and Jason Jones went back to his warm comfortable seat in the dug-out.

Those in the East stand / Terrace who jeered the poor kicking in the second half when the wind was taking the ball into the North Bank would do well to remember where we would be without him !!! Remember that Gregg character we had on loan a couple of years ago ?

On the subject of Nicholas and Addison come to think of it, apparently giving the club ultimatums about contracts. What's all that about! They've done no better or worse than Hollins and Curtis would have done in my candid opinion so I'm not sure whether I'd have them in charge next season ! Brodie did absolutely nothing in the first half and really has done nothing to convince me that he deserves another contract next season.

The back three looked relatively solid although they are not the quickest unit I have ever seen and Mumford did give the ball away and get caught up field several times. But he does distribute the ball so well. Howard did nothing either way really to bring him to my attention other than a very strong but clean tackle in front of the North Bank. And if Stockport are interested then I too would snap Mr Palmers hand off especially if it was with enough cash to go after Stephen Evans. He's not in the Palace team is he ?

Phillips battled well, did everything that was asked of him to take his goal but he is no wing back. A place must be found for him more centrally, perhaps at the expense of the ageing Cusack, who did little for me. A squad player next season Nick rather than in the starting line up. Coates buzzed around but in my opinion is more of a wing back than either Howard or Phillips but we do need a midfield general in the Cornforth mould !!!

Sidibe looked disinterested for the majority of the game, those silver boots do nothing for him and does look like he's playing out the season in readiness for a move. Watkin battled well but did little in front of goal. He does hold the ball up and links up play with the midfield, but those midfielders do little to support him and he is not a great goal threat ! We need a twenty a season goal scorer but where are they ? Julian Alsop got his 19th goal of the season last night, now there's a thought ! He didn't score 19 for us in there seasons did he ?

It was a long and cold journey home but at least we're talking football again !!!!

A pretty drab affair which didn't come to life until the last 5 minutes by which time, a number of people had already left the ground.

On a cold but (for the most part) dry night, it was disappointing to see such a poor turn out (3085) for a team that had put a sequence of 3 wins together.

Despite that, it was great to meet up with Jannik Hansen from Copenhagen in the Builders - where he looked like one of the regulars.

Jannik took his usual spot on the North Bank just as the match was about to kick off.

Addison had resisted the temptation to stick with his winning team from Saturday - a decision I agreed with - and in came Mumford for O'Leary in the back line and Cusack for Lacey in the engine room.

From the comfort of the North Bank, the conditions looked perfect - but there was a swirling wind that when frequently accompanied by wintry showers - must have made it pretty unpleasant for the players.

There was very little constructive football from either side but it was obvious which team were determined to enhance their promotion challenge and which were playing out the season. The Scunthorpe players to a man were always first to the tackle and their set pieces, especially corners, showed an invention and movement that we rarely see from our team.

Disappointingly, it was from one of their corners that Scunthorpe rather easily took the lead on the half hour mark. It was very reminiscent of Watkin's winner against Halifax on Saturday in as much as the excellent delivery wasn't attacked by any defender. Calvo-Garcia's glancing header at the near post must have been one of his easiest goals of the season.

Swansea did attempt to get back into the game but there was no fluidity to their passing or movement. The equaliser on 40 minutes came out of the blue: a deep cross from the left wing by Howard was over-hit. As the ball sailed beyond the far post and the Swansea forwards, the groans of the crowd were changed to cheers as Gareth Phillips racing in from the right made enough ground to sweetly connect and side-foot volley the wayward cross into the net. This was a super finish given the swirling wind and the trajectory of the ball.

Half-time behind the North Bank gave us a taste of how bad the conditions were with a swirling icy wind soon chilling us to the bone. The Copenhagen Belgian was introduced to Sahara Jack before disappearing into the warmth of the Mel Nurse Bar.

The second half was definitely more promising than the first for the Swans and Sharp with a free header from a corner really should have given us the lead. Instead he lacked composure and failed to get over the ball with his head when beautifully placed.

Next it was Sidibe's turn to disappoint when he was played through one on one with their keeper. Instead of shooting, he rounded the keeper but in the process was pushed wider then he'd wanted and his shot across goal was easily dealt with by the retreating Scunthorpe defenders.

A couple of appeals for a penalty as Sidibe twice found himself on the ground in the area but these were half-hearted. Meanwhile at the other end Hodges was booked for diving in the area and Todd needlessly got booked for getting involved himself.

An error in our box produced a deja vu episode when Torpey from 6 yards out failed to control the ball and his hurried shot went sailing into the East Stand seats.

With one minute left, Scunthorpe's tenth corner of the game saw Quailey claim what looked like a winner when he forced the ball home through a crowded goal line.

But 3 minutes into injury time, a free kick was awarded to Swansea fairly centrally but 30 yards out. Up stepped Mumford who struck a beautiful right foot shot around the wall and into the top corner of the net.

Immediately from the restart the referee blew for full time.

Player ratings

Freestone 7 - made a couple of good saves again but is definitely carrying an injury. When a team scores twice from a corner questions are bound to be asked of the defence and keeper. As there is nothing left to play for this season, perhaps it's time to give Roger a chance to recuperate from his injury and give Jason Jones an extended run in the team so that he can gain some first team experience.

Phillips 7 - took his goal superbly and was involved in one or two other shots on goal. He is not a wing back though as he lacks the essential commodity for that position - pace.

Howard 6 - made some good sliding tackles especially in front of the North Bank in the first half. If the rumour that Stockport are pursuing him for £100k is true, grab the money and go after Evans from Crystal Palace.

Todd 7 - is looking a real danger when he goes up for corners but still has a little to do with his defensive heading duties. Was needlessly booked (which takes him one away from suspension by my reckoning) when the referee had already ruled in his favour.

Mumford 8 - wasted at the back and is most effective when he abandons that role and shoots at goal. Had several shots on traget but the one that counted was a gem that will last in the memory for a long time.

Sharp 6 - as someone pointed out on the guestbook this week, is doing an adequate job but you can't help feeling he is playing a level above his ability. Can't be faulted for commitment.

Brodie 5 - was substituted at half time.

Cusack 7 - didn't get forward as much as usual but did help out well with defensive duties in our box. Was extremely annoyed with the referee when he was refused a penalty when bundled over in the 2nd half - what's new?

Coates 6 - largely anonymous for me in terms of possession but did contribute to the cause in what could be described as his least favourite conditions.

Sidibe 6 - continues to disappoint. Has lost some pace and does not challenge with the same enthusiasm as was evident at the end of the year. His clinical finishing has laso deserted him. A cynic might conclude that he is protecting himself for a future move. A cynic? Moi? Non!

Watkin 7 - usual Watkin performance - lots of midfield action holding the ball up and winning free kicks - but no cutting edge when it comes to goal.

Sub: Williams for Brodie (46th minute) 6 - was useful for his long throws and flick-ons in the air. Has a stamina problem which has been evident for some time.