Bristol Rovers 3 Swansea 1

By Dai Smith

The Swans Lined up

Freestone

Jenkins Theobald Evans Sharp Howard

Mumford Phillips Reid

Williams Watkin.

Subs: Marsh, Keaveny, Moss, David Smith, Cusack.

Swansea rarely looked threatening in the opening half an hour with hopeful long balls being hoofed up to the ineffective partnership of Watkin and Williams.

Around the half hour mark Giuliano Grazioli put Rovers in front catching Roger off his line with a looping header. This was fair reward for the number of chances that Bristol had created. Rovers had a few chances to increase the lead before half time, seemingly being able to cut through our back 5 at will.

Half time conversation amongst the fans was that Cusack would have to change it around at half time as the long ball tactics employed this far were clearly not working.

The Swans however emerged from the dressing room unchanged and soon found themselves further behind. Paul Tait tucked the ball away after following up after a shot from Astafjevs that had been only parried by Roger.

After the second goal had gone in Cusack took off Phillips and replaced him with Keaveny. He had only been on a few minutes when he had a smart shot from the right hand side of the area well saved by the Rovers keeper.

It was Rovers however who were having much the best of the play and we could have easily fallen 3 behind when a speculative long shot was attempted with Freestone well off his line and completely beaten, only for it to rattle the crossbar and fall into Rogers arms.

Moss replaced the ineffective Williams on 63 mins and shortly afterwards Cusack came on to replace Watkin - to one of the biggest cheers of the night (not for Cusack's arrival but for Watkin's depature).

With Cusack leading the front line assisted by Keaveny and Moss the Swans were at last starting to look effective - carving out a number of chances and were rewarded in 80th Minute by a Moss header. The Swans piled forward in search of a (undeserved) equalizer. But were caught on the break, any hope of salvaging a point disappeared when Astafjevs drove a fierce drive to the left of Freestone into of the net.

Plus Points.

Pasties are still good at Rovers

Moss did quite well when he was on.

Keaveny had some nice touches but was too easily pushed off the ball.

Minus Points.

We need to do something about our organisation in defence NOW.

When Wood and Thomas are out we do not have the strength in depth that we would like to think we have.

If we are to continue with this 5-3-2, we really need full-backs who are prepared to take on a defender, Howard and Jenkins I'm afraid do not fit the bill.

Our best striker tonight was ....... wait for it ..... Cusack

Bristol Rovers 3 Swansea 1

BBC Online

Giuliano Grazioli headed them in front after 33 minutes and Paul Tait doubled the advantage after 52 minutes, following up after a shot from Vitalijs Astafjevs had been parried by Roger Freestone.

Substitute David Moss gave Swansea hope with an 80th-minute header but four minutes later Astafjevs settled the result with a fine right-foot finish from 15 yards.

Swansea could have no complaints. They only came to life after player-manager Nick Cusack introduced himself as a 71st minute substitute for Steve Watkin.

Bristol Rovers: Howie, Boxall, Uddin, Barrett, Challis, Carlisle, Hogg, Quinn, Astafjevs, Tait, Grazioli. Subs: Clarke, McKeever, Bryant, Gall, Richards.

Swansea: Freestone, Jenkins, Theobald, Evans, Sharp, Howard, Mumford, Phillips, Reid, Williams, Watkin. Subs: Marsh, Keaveny, Moss, David Smith, Cusack.

Referee: T Bates (Stoke on Trent).