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The old adage is that football is a game of two halves, and this was never a more pertinent assessment than today. For the first forty-five minutes, we played some of the best football we have seen in a long time. There were very few examples of the long high ball, and we really did play an excellent passing game for the whole period.

The impact that a fit, and committed Jason Smith made to the team was incredible, and with his determination, and presence, the defensive weaknesses that we have experienced all season to date, looked to have been cured. They were a very organised unit, and were very well supported by all the team, including Watkin and Thomas, who were regularly seen bolstering the defensive effort.

Smith was an absolute giant winning almost everything in the air with confidence, and being particularly calm on the floor. O'Leary seemed to know his place, and despite his captain's armband, it was Smith who was controlling matters at the back.

There were some excellent moves down the flanks with Evans and Jenkins creating the overlap on a few occasions. There was one instance when Evans took the ball to the defender, and had the confidence to tap the ball past him, and beat him for pace, not something that we have seen too often recently.

Rochdale have some very tall players, particularly Connor and Platt up front, and in central defence. No doubt this had influenced the decision to play it simple and on the floor, and it worked. Rochdale were a competent side without doubt, but looked vulnerable when attacked, and as we continued to take the game to them, we always looked in with a serious chance of taking all the points in this one.

Our breakthrough came just on the half hour when Thomas latched onto a cross from the left, and his left foot volley left Neil Edwards with no hope of stopping us taking the lead. This was just reward for the Swans for a very good first half effort, especially as we benefited very little from any 50/50 decisions by the referee.

Just before half time a reckless tackle on Jason Smith by Platt saw the Rochdale striker hit the dressing room a few minutes before his colleagues took the half time break, and in the mayhem that followed the tackle, Freestone and Mumford made their way into the referee's book, along with Oliver. Half time maybe calmed down what could have developed into a more physical game.

It was difficult to really fault the effort or performance of any of the players in the first half, although Mumford looks as if he will take a few more games and a bit of work during the week to get back to his excellent form of last year. Michael Howard had an excellent half, and Watkin during that period had showed some nice turns, although his first touch was a little on the heavy side on times.

The midfield had not been over-run in any way, and the whole team had an air of improvement and confidence about it.

With the second half to look forward to and Rochdale on ten men, the crowd's anticipation of a three pointer was high.

Then the second half arrived, and we were a different team. We started playing it long and high, the slick passing game seemed to have been abandoned, and we allowed Rochdale to get back into, and eventually take control of a game that from the start of the second half they would not have been in had we continued our first half form.

We had a few chances, but failed to capitalise on them, or our one-man advantage, and as the game wore on, there was always the threat of an equaliser. This came on 70 minutes with a blistering shot into the top left hand corner of Roger's goal by Connor.

Suddenly we were in danger of facing an uphill battle to even retain the point that we had at that time. Moss had replaced Lacey on 67 minutes, and then Keaveny came on for Phillips on 80 minutes as we chased the winner.

What we lack in situations like this is an aggressive attacking partnership, where both players are hungry for the goal. Thomas certainly is, but he is alone. Far too often Watkin avoids challenges with opposition players, and too often he looks to distribute the ball when he needs to take the game to the other team in their own penalty area.

This is repeated every time he plays, and was the biggest disappointment of the second half, drawing shouts of discontent from men in the East Stand who have seen more than few seasons of football between them. They have a lot of players over the years to compare him with; he did not fare well shall we say. He obviously has footballing skill, and I have no doubt that the whole crowd would be ecstatic if he started to fight for the game, and scored or created some chances from close range.

We had a couple of chances to win it at the end, but only one called for a good save by Edwards to keep the scoreline level. Keaveny, Thomas and Watkin could all have claimed the three points for us, but it was not to be.

The result was a big disappointment today, but the first half performance was very encouraging. No-one played the second half with the same fervour, and if Flynn can build on the players' stamina to sustain the style and concentration they displayed for 45 minutes, we will climb away from where we are.

We have had some tough games recently. Look at the top 6 teams in the division, and you are looking at our recent fixture list. This was a game of two halves, and let us hope that the season is as well. Someone warned us recently to look out for Mr Flynn's quote about defeats becoming draws and draws becoming wins. Well if it happens I don't think that we will be too worried, and at least he's following his plan so far.

Player ratings:

Freestone - 7 - One shot on goal all game to deal with and it had to be a screamer into the top corner.
Evans - 7 - A couple of great runs forward in the 1st half.
O'Leary – 6 - Still a long way short of his best but confidence seems to be returning slowly.
Smith - 9 - What a difference he made. Does anyone still think he should go to reduce the wage bill?
Howard - 8 - Excellent game defending and going forward.
Phillips - 6 - Solid game, helped out by extra body in midfield.
Lacey - 6 - Good 1st half, fairly anonymous in the 2nd half.
Mumford - 6 - Great to see him back. Certainly not at his best but his class has been missed.
Jenkins - 7 - Battled throughout giving 100% but he never looks comfortable in left wing position.
Thomas - 7 -Took his goal well but missed a relatively easy change in the 2nd half that could have settled matters. 
Watkin – 5 - Better touch than most, but lack of awareness and appetite in front of goal told yet again. 
 
Subs
Moss - 5 - Never really involved. 
Keaveny – 6 - Happy to run at defenders and prepared to try things.

Swansea 1 Rochdale 1

Report by Gary Martin

This was a big improvement on previous performances and we actually looked dangerous when we attacked down the wings (at least half a dozen times in the 1st half).

With a bit of luck we could have had all 3 points although I'm not sure that a team 1-0 and 1 player up for 45 minutes really deserves to when they let the 10 men come back.

Their goal was unstoppable - but the pressure they put us under for 10 minutes leading up to it - probably was.

I thought Jenkins and Phillips featured well in midfield and would have preferred to see them occupying the central slots instead of the wide ones. Perhaps this would have lessened the pressure?

The defence looked much better organised and Jason Smith did lots of talking to aid this.

Roger held his back once or twice which is worrying and I suspect we are going to be without him for a spell before too long.

They had a couple of giants in the team which didn't make easy for us at either end of the field, but we still managed to create some good openings.

The team must build on the last 2 draws when we visit Oxford next week, or it will be back to square one.

I'm predicting a 0-0.

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Swansea: Freestone, Evans, O'Leary, Howard, Jason Smith, Jenkins, Mumford, Phillips, Lacey, Thomas, Watkin. Subs: Keaveney, David Smith, Marsh, Moss, Du-Vulgt.

Rochdale: Edwards, Evans, Griffiths, Doughty, Jobson, Flitcroft, Oliver, Simson, Bishop Platt, Connor. Subs: Gilks, Hodges, Townson, McCourt, Macaulay.