Match report

Swansea City 1 Carlisle 2

Report by The Famous Five

A gorgeous day, a big crowd, another debutant, and a match that exceeded the 'must win' category by some distance, brought Carlisle to the Vetch for a game that could prove very significant in the after season analysis.

With several of the new black away shirts on display in the crowd, the team lined up as follows:

The game proved to be a fairly mundane affair throughout with little by way of incident to excite the large crowd of almost 6,000. The return of Johnrose to midfield had been much awaited, but he proved to be a little out of sorts compared to his performances prior to his injury. In fact the mid field performance overall today was below the standard that has become expected, with Martinez probably making more errors in this game than in all his previous outings. Britton continued to run and run, and worked hard, but he seems on occasions to want to take the ball that little bit too far, and the moment is lost.

It is easy to be critical after a very disappointing defeat, but this was a game that we never really looked like winning. Although we had enough chances to take all points, we played poorly, and lacked any conviction in our approach. The hype before this game had geared the crowd up for 90 minutes of vocal support, but the players did not seem to share the same understanding of its importance.

Maylett on the right showed some touches, but was generally not involved in the game the way we would have expected. He seems to have been signed as a winger, as had Durkan, but the current interpretation of a wingers role must vary significantly from that which the likes of the late Brian Evans, or Ronnie Rees, understood, and certainly different from how Stuart Roberts assumes the position. We put over very few crosses today, at least when Nugent and Watkin were on the field, and despite both having poor games, some extra service would not have gone amiss.

Hylton looked off the pace today as well, and generally the team looked lethargic, which is the last thing we needed.

Cutler made one excellent fingertip save in the first half, which should have acted as a wake up to the Swans that Carlisle were capable of scoring and actually winning this game, but even after several more alarm calls, the performance continued at the same pace and standard.

The referee was proving to be the sort who enjoyed the limelight, but whose decision making was frustrating for the players and the crowd. It constantly infuriates us that officials can smirk at players who question their judgement; they are certainly a breed apart who are slowly becoming dictators, as opposed to controllers, in this game.

Half time arrived with yet another 45 minutes having passed without a goal, and a fourth consecutive 0– 0 result on the cards. Out came the Ice Babes, who performed to the North Bank with their usual routine. They looked about as co-ordinated as our attack, but had the music, and the sense to watch what people around them were doing, to try and stay in time.

This was followed buy little Chris, one of today's mascots, taking two full runs from the half way line in his attempt to breach Cyril's goal keeping defences, only for his tired legs to miss the ball both times. He did dribble the ball past Cyril though, a skill that our attacking players should have stayed on the field to admire.

The second half began where the first had ended, with no players changes, and we were subjected to a continued display of mediocrity.

Thomas replaced Watkin on the hour, and if nothing else looked a little more alert and keen to get involved in player challenges. He should have scored with his first touch almost, but his confidence in front of goal is non-existent still. Williams replaced Nugent on 67 minutes, with the departing players having achieved nothing throughout the game.

Williams was no improvement, and we have most certainly shifted our critical area from midfield to attack. We do not expect Premiership performances, but these players are still professionals who spend their weeks training and talking tactics before taking the field each Saturday. Sometimes you wonder what they actually do in training around game plans and player understandings.

There were a couple of times when some nice first touch balls were played but generally it was totally lacking in tactical awareness, and as the game progressed you always feared the worse.

When the worse actually arrived it was certainly an incident that took many people by surprise but reaction a little later, and the Assistant Referee's reluctance to run the line in front of the North Bank where advertising hoarding were being thrown about, held play up for 10 minutes. A ball played into the Swans area, seemed to be headed away by Lee Jenkins, only for the referee to red card him immediately and award a penalty for deliberate hand ball. There did not appear to be any appeal from Carlisle. The penalty, on 70 minutes, was taken, scored, and then se-spotted by the referee for Carlisle's Farrell to have to score a second time, we guess due to someone entering the penalty area before the ball had been kicked.

After match comment seems to suggest that both the Referee and the assistant (who was on the wrong side of the field to have a clear view), got the decision totally wrong, and whilst Jenkins' red card may be over turned, what can be done about the points we have lost as a result?

This was Cutlers first experience of picking the ball out of the net since he arrived at Swansea, an act he would replicate 18 minutes later when a mistake by Tate saw McGill claim all three points for Carlisle. A late consolation goal by Williams from close range gave some feint hope of us sneaking a point at the death but it was not to be.

A fan close to us in the East Stand, whose admiration of our style of play at present is only matched by his longing for the return of Ryan Casey, argued that you don't need good footballers to survive in the 3rd division, just people who can hoof a ball 50 yards into the opponents half. Well we've tried all ways, and we are now firmly at the foot of the table once again, having managed to lose all the ground we had gained up until approximately 5 matches ago.

A very depressing end to a depressing match, and with the matches remaining now numbering 9, and 27 points to play for, the one prediction that Brian Flynn seems to have got right so far is that this will go to the wire. Most fans would be relieved if the fight went that far.

Player ratings:

Cutler – 6 – one great save, one mistake, but not at fault for either goal.
Jenkins – 5 – Unlucky to be sent off, but failed to get down the line.
O'Leary – 5 – Covered up well a couple of times, but still looks too slow and distribution poor
Tate – 6 – Over confidence led to their second goal.
Hylton – 5 – Desperate lack of a right foot sees him work himself into corners from which he can't escape
Britton – 6 – Tried to do too much too often despite high work rate.
Martinez – 5 – worst game since he arrived. More mistakes than in all previous games put together.
Maylett – 5 – A couple of nice touches, but not as involved or as wide as he should have been.
Johnrose – 5 – Clearly off the pace and did not work well with Hylton down the left
Watkin – 3 – no threat and little commitment. 12 months since last Vetch goal, could be 12 yrs before his next
Nugent – 3 – A faded shadow of the player who eventually earned a contract from us.
Thomas – 4 – A higher work rate than other attackers, but still sadly off the boil.
Williams – 3 – A passenger, will not throw himself at the game or the ball.

One shot on goal by John Williams from the edge of the 6 yard box, saw his effort just miss us in the 7th row of the East Stand, proving again that there is just no hiding place from our attackers – except in front of the goal mouth of course.

Swansea City 1 Carlisle 2

Report by Clive Hughes

It's five hours since the final whistle, but the anger and numbness hasn't gone, any less time and this report could not have been written. It all started so well, a bright sunny spring day, a game that promised so much, hopefully giving us a win that could put our destiny in our hands.

Not for the first time this season we saw a new face in the team, Brad Maylett on a months loan from Burnley, joining Johnrose and Jenkins as changes to the line up.

With the crowd in good voice, the game got off to a very quiet start, with nerves seeming to get the better of the players. Maylett was soon in the action with a shot that went over the bar. The Swans were struggling to get their act together as Carlisle seemed to be finding acres of space especially down our left. Without using pace they made 3 or 4 good attempts on goal without being hindered. Luckily for us their shooting was woeful. One excellent low down save from Cutler did prevent a certain goal. The first half display from both teams was dreadful, and showed no resemblance to the importance of the game to both teams. There was the usual prompting from Martinez and the work rate of Britton, but we were not playing as a team. A very mediocre first half came to an end at 0-0 with Carlisle having the better of the exchanges, but neither side had shown enough to deserve the lead, although as the away side Carlisle could take more heart from the scorline, with the Swans only offering long high balls forward which were dealt with easily by the Carlisle defence.

Surely the second half could not be as bad. As is the norm, Cutler came out early before the rest of the team. Carlisle made one change at half time but the Swans kept the same formation even though it was plainly obvious that a change was needed. The game carried on where it left off in the first half with 0-0 written all over it, which was particularly frustrating as we knew the team could perform better than this. On 60mins Thomas came on to replace Watkin who had not produced anything of note On 70mins Williams replaced Nugent who as with Watkin had not threatened the defence. What had been a very boring affair sprang to life for all the wrong reasons five minutes later. A Carlisle corner was cleared only to see the ball, put back into the six yard box. This again seemed to be cleared only for the referee to blow his whistle.

He seemed to be the only person who had seen anything, adjudging Jenkins to have handled. After being surrounded by the whole team he walked to his linesman, who seemed not to have seen anything, but the penalty decision stood. More drama as after the ball hitting the net, the referee decided on a re-take due to encroachment. The second attempt also finding the net. The Swans could have been level within minutes as Thomas/Maylett found room inside the box only for Glennon to save. The game was held up for over 5mins as there seemed to be a threat of a pitch invasion from the North Bank., with Carlisle refusing to take a corner until things were under control. With the Swans only showing a bit more urgency disaster as Carlisle got their second. Under no pressure Tate got caught with the ball allowing a cross ball to the edge of the area giving Green an easy shot on goal with only Cutler to beat. This resulted in a mass exodus as the game was gone. 6 minutes of added time did allow the Swans attempts on goal. This was the only real time we had threatened. The consolation goal did come with the ball being bundled over the line by Williams (announced) but later given to Thomas. We did have to further chances but it was not to be.

On the field thought

• Cutler, had very little to do, but did come out to the edge of the area to clear and missed the ball completely.
• Jenkins, battled well without impressing.
• Tate, not the same player without Smith. Did show skill by turning two players inside our half, but then wasted with a bad pass. Again showed lack of urgency when row Z was needed.
• O'Leary. Solid game but positioning was suspect on occasions.
• Hylton, shows skill but too often is closed down before clearing the ball. Lack of options when going forward.
• Martinez, prompted and controlled, but again wasted many forward balls.
• Britton, again full of running, but no end result as keeps the ball when better options are available.
• Johnrose, very quiet first half, more into the game the second, but didn't stamp his authority.
• Maylett, bright start, faded badly. Didn't attack the full back enough.
• Nugent, not a good display, failed to win anything in the air.
• Watkin, way off the pace of the game was not involved.
• Thomas, more running than Watkin, but lacks conviction.
• Williams, offered nothing, skied 3 chances.

Off field comments

• Wrong line up by Flynn. Nugent & Watkin cannot work as a twin strike force.
• For such an important game, the team did not perform.
• The crowd 'incident'. What was always destined to be a tense game, it was very strange to see it a police free game.
• The game was held up for 6mins, but in that time there was not one announcement over the PA system requesting calm.
• While the referee was consulting the linesman, the NB decided to break into a chorus of 'the referee's a ******'. Is this how they try to get him to change his mind?
• There were further problems outside near the away car park at the Council Buildings.
• The referee was very fussy, and then lost it totally after the penalty decision.
• A good but disapointing crowd of 5848 as a crowd of 7,000 was expected.

9 games to go. Which team will show up for these games? We have added pressure by this result and must get things right before Tuesday.

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