Match report

Swansea City v Bristol Rovers

“Almost every man wastes part of his life attempting to display qualities which he doesn't possess” (Dr Samuel Johnson 1709 – 1784).

Isn't it great when you get a new book for Christmas and find a quote that is so apt to the ninety minutes of football that 5,370 (that's the full crowd of 5,879 less the happy 509 fans that travelled from Bristol) watched this afternoon? With the exception of very few, that was a dire performance in anyone's eyes, and I for one wish that I'd stayed at home and read through the remaining pages of the book. Not the best Boxing Day that we've ever had was it.

At this rate, the Famous Five is in very serious danger of becoming the Fab Four, or even the Three Degrees, as I am sure that I was not the only one in the crowd today who felt that they were looking at the straw that was about to break their own camel's back.

Losing a game is one thing, but never looking like winning it, and playing so badly throughout is stretching the fans' patience to the limits. To draw an excellent crowd to such an unattractive fixture gave the Swans the chance to maybe put in a performance that would draw a few of the holiday converts back to the Vetch to see another good display, but that was always going to be just one Christmas wish too many.

The other straws in this story, the ones that we have been clutching to throughout our matches with the top teams, have also wilted now that we have proved that we can lose to the best and the worst. Bristol arrived at the Vetch on an 8 game losing run, and played against us with all the confidence of a side on an 8 match winning steak. Why are teams assessing us so quickly and realising that we are there for the taking? Is there a team in the division that would fear playing us at the moment?

So to the line up:

With the exception that we never raised our game to the levels of the first half performance against Orient, it was pretty much a replica. The game moves from end to end for the first half hour, we allow them to score a fairly simple goal, we feel defeated, and the fans have to endure a further hour of torment.

Rather than go through the painful reconstruction of the games lowlights, let's just ask a few questions, and make a few observations.

Howard and Evans at full back were abysmal for the full duration. We had Jenkins and promising youngster Stuart Jones on the bench. Both should have come on to replace the aforementioned, but instead made their appearances at the expense of O'Leary and Mumford.

True O'Leary was having a poor game, and Mumford was again struggling to find any form, but our main problems in defence, and for that matter, attack, were stemming from the flanks, and with Jenkins and Jones now used elsewhere, we knew we were going to be stuck with Evans and Howard for the rest of the game. What an encouraging thought.

Just to put some timescales on things here for a minute, Jenkins was first on to replace Mumford, on 60 minutes, and as was the case at Exeter recently, even though Mumford had taken a knock, his performance warranted substitution anyway. As mentioned earlier, we would have preferred a different player to depart, but when you have over 50% of the team also up for the eviction vote, it's a tough call from the bench I guess. O'Leary went off, to be replaced by Jones, throwing his captains armband to Reid, on 64 minutes, and later on 82 minutes, Reid himself went off, replaced by Stiens, and threw the armband to Jenkins. This was proving to be a better game than the football, and it's a pity that we weren't allowed more substitutions so we could start guessing, 'who gets the black band next'.

By the time Stiens came on Kevin Johns must have wondering why on earth the Grand Theatre don't have a performance on Boxing Day, because if you're going to be part of a pantomime, you might as well get paid for it, and be surrounded by people who know what they and those around them are supposed to be doing.

This continues to be the problem, lack of anticipation and understanding, and it has unfortunately, but inevitably we guess, been exacerbated by the arrival of Tate, Britton and Richards. Of those three today, we thought Britton was the more consistent, although Tate continues to have to mop up for inadequate defensive qualities around him, which doers deflect from what should be his own role in that part of the field. Richards suffers the same fate as Thomas up front in terms of quality of service, although he was not in today's game in the same way as against Shrewsbury. What is clear though is that NONE of the players around this quartet are reading the game at all, and everything is reactionary.

For heaven's sake Mr Flynn, give Alan Tate the black band now and let him keep it for the rest of the season, as it is he that is left to organise a set of defenders that must leave him as speechless as his team captain alongside him is throughout the game.

Silence must be a part of the regime, as the noise coming from the dug out will deafen no one. The occasional hand clapping by Reeves and Curtis to 'encourage' the boys is hardly working.

There was more noise coming from our mate John Picton in the Centre Stand as he slapped his leg with his one good arm. He must have wondered why he made the journey. A recent accident and operation left him in a lot of pain, but not this much. I have not read any other reports but hopefully Clive Hughes and his boys made the right choice, and got rid of a bit more turkey in front of the fire.

After the dire first forty five minutes today, we had hoped that the game of two halves had been reversed, but there we go again……on the second day of Christmas etc., etc., etc.

Leadership is not just about on the field, but from the sidelines, from the boardroom, and we seem to have no one in any of those areas who is going to grab hold of anything to sort this out. We have brought in some great loan players, but they won't turn this around on their own, they are youngsters, and we have well paid experienced professionals who are having a laugh as far as we can see.

As conditions worsened in the second period, the distribution by all players deteriorated, and even Tate and Britton were left wanting in this department. Tate's judgement even was slipping on occasions, but how many people does he have to think for.

Wood did little, and his control saw him lose the ball in situations where he was under no threat.

We seem to have no game plan. Stiens deserves a longer run out than 10/15 minutes, but generally the substitutions, as seems to have been the case in recent games, were not well thought out.

We had more shots at goal than Bristol Rovers, but our accuracy was not good, and the statistics that show seven as being saved do not paint a true picture.

These are desperate times, and if the statistics that someone who has a bad experience tells fourteen others, then there will be a lot of people out there pleased that they decided to suffer the latest wave of Christmas TV Soaps rather than stand in the cold rain watching this match.

The number of fans who did turn up proves that there are still people out there that will come to support, but please – there must be something there to draw them, something to look forward to, something to enjoy. It takes a lot of good money to sit through 23 performances at the Vetch, especially if you are not the only one in the family to enjoy this suffering, and after 12 so far this season in the league, I for one have started to look more closely at my CDs 'wants' list. At least that way I'm pretty sure to be able to get something I want, and able enjoy over and over. Call me fair weather if you like, I can take that much easier than performances like this.

Looking at the results in the Conference today, if the unthinkable, but ever more likely was to occur, don't you just get the feeling that we'd be just the same down there. Let's hope that we have lost our perceived invincibility cloak through us being a 'big' club. We are not, and are facing the stark realities of the next 5 months of football as being the last in the league for some years to come.

A lot of our players put in a considerable amount of effort during a game, but it is not channelled in any direction, and even at this level, that just isn't enough. Huff and puff will get us nowhere.

Player ratings:

• Freestone - 5 - Still a long way of the form he showed 2/3 years ago, but he can't be held responsible for conceding a single goal in each of the last 3 games.
• Evans - 3 - Looking more and more like a League of Wales player playing out of his depth. Again today he and Woods had absolutely no understanding.
• Tate - 6 - Must wonder why he agreed to stay until the end of the season. We don't deserve him. The quicker Flynn gives him the captain's armband the better. He has to direct the play out of defence while O'Leary stands at his side pointing or arguing with colleagues.
• Howard - 3 -Woeful. His cross into the back of the East terrace summed up his day.

• Wood – 3- Has the first touch of a hippopotamus. All too often took the wrong option and abysmal in front of goal, again.
• Mumford - 5 - Looked slow and didn't appear to cope with conditions. 
• Britton - 7 - Displayed lovely touches again and made a few mazy runs. Those around stand and watch instead of trying to anticipate what he's trying to do.
• Reid - 4 - Gave the ball away far too often. I had too check to see if he was wearing a blindfold at times.

• Richards - 4 - Probably wished he'd stayed in Blackburn for cold turkey sandwiches. Poor game, lacked composure. 
• Thomas - 5 - Confidence seems to have taken a dent after weeks left languishing on the wing. Never gave up. 

• Jenkins - 4 - Was he any more likely to score or create something than Mumford was? Huffed and puffed but never any influence.
• Jones - 6 - Amazed that Flynn doesn't start this lad at right back.
• Steins - 5 - Similar routine, throw this lad on with 15 - 20 minutes to go when we're one down. Looked a little better today than in the last two cameo roles.  

Any one up for a Happy New year?

Swansea City v Bristol Rovers

Football is a game of two teams trying to beat each other while trying to entertain. Today was a day when neither was in evidence. We as supporters can, in the short term, put up with lack of entertainment, as long as we come away from the ground with something, however small. I don't know where I am going with this, but I have just completed a 150 mile journey each one as depressing as any I have made over the many years of supporting the Swans. My head is numb so let's get to the game, or what I can remember of it.

Another atrocious rainy day. The team yet again had changes with O'Leary replacing Theobold, Richards instead of Watkin and Mumford in for Phillips. At 12.30 it was very sparse on the North Bank but by kick off had swelled to the second highest gate of the season 5,879, including around 300 from Rovers.

The opening 10mins was spent with both teams giving the ball away cheaply, with at least one pattern of play that numbered 6 consecutive give away balls. If anything we were slightly on top, mainly due to being the home side. Both teams showed lack of skill as most moves lacked cohesion.

A couple of half chances fell our way but nothing really to raise the hopes of the crowd who were in early full voice. After much of the sparing a real chance came when a deep cross from the right was met on the corner of the six yard box by Britton whose diving header was blocked for a corner. This spurred the crowd, but not for the first time this season it was short lived as again we fell to a breakaway goal. A cross from the Rovers right went across the inside edge of the area missing three desperate lunges to clear, finding Tait who turned it back across goal just inside the post. This was Rovers' first clear cut attempt on goal and from which they grew in stature, or could it be more a case of a few heads dropping for the Swans.

The second half was met with a monsoon as players struggled to do the basics, in fact a bad pass from Howard let in Rovers only for Tate to get in a last gasp tackle. Tate had rescued us on that occasion but soon he nearly cost us a goal. A deep cross has Tate ducking to let it over his head only for the ball to reach Allen who managed to hit it back across goal missing the far post.

A massive let off. There were a couple of shouts for penalties as Thomas went down in the area, but also Tate clearly manhandled a Rovers player on the 18yard line with the referee waving play on. With the Swans looking more and more desperate it looked as if the breakthrough had arrived when after a period of pressure the ball found Britton in mid area with a clear shot on goal. With the crowd ready to shout goal he slipped allowing the keeper to block. Changes saw Jenkins replace Mumford, Stuart Jones replace O'Leary and Steins replace Reid. There were frantic attempts to gain something from the game but as with most of today's play came to nothing.

Players comments

Not individually but general thoughts, as all players put in effort today in difficult conditions.

• Evans had a total stinker and could do nothing right
• Richards flattered to deceive. Needs to get involved more.
• Howard continued to move forward finding acres of space but was totally ignored as play got bogged down in midfield.
• Communication, communication, communication. We must be the quietest team in the league. No encouragement, no calls for the ball, and no warnings of an approaching player.
• Many times I have commented football is a simply game. Why when morale is low do we try and play the killer ball. It's easy, pass to your own player look for the return ball support each other.
• Players are not comfortable on the ball they will either hoof it upfield or play to a player under more pressure.
• Thomas & Wood started this season as a good central partnership. They are both bustling players who can live off each other in the area. Wood is wasted on the wing as he lacks pace.
• We are crying out for a midfield playmaker.
• The referee had a very poor game and seemed to want to be the main man on display. Emphasised by his dramatics when Thomas went down in the box. He blew his whistle and took an age to point for a goal kick.

Brian Flynn started his role with "lets change defeats into draws", well you don't achieve that with a 4-3-3 formation with players out of position. We have now lost 1-0 to 3 of the divisions lowest teams, two at home. The alarm bells are ringing. If its what is needed I will accept a 4-5-1 formation with everyone throwing their bodies on the line.

Getting back to where this report started. There are many defining moments in life, they can change everything. Whilst football is only a game it affects many people lives not just the 90 mins of a game. Today was one of those moments. The moment that ball hit the net, my heart sank to the tip of my toes. Everything was in slow motion as the realization that Conference football beckoned. That moment stood still as memories of twice going out of business came flooding back. Standing on the terraces at Rochdale when we lost 1-0 and had to beg for re-election. Many, many memories, but that's all they are, today is about looking at the league table, and seeing us staring up at the football world, not a nice sight. The glimmer of light has all but extinguished.

That's depressing
Tomorrow is another day will these thoughts fade.
See you at Lincoln