An error from goalkeeper Roger Freestone prevented Swansea from claiming a morale-boosting draw against former European Cup champions Steaua Bucharest on Thursday.

Nick Cusack's side often struggled to gain possession against the slick passing of the Romanians, but a combination of gritty defending and poor finishing from Steaua kept the game goalless.

Jason Smith had the home side's best effort of the first half with a header, while Freestone pulled off a fine save from Claudio Raducanu who was always a threat alongside George Ogagaru.

Steaua had the ball in the net twice in the second half only for the referee's assistant to flag for offside each time. Then Daniel Oprita should have scored after Freestone spilled a shot, only to blaze over the crossbar.

With the game heading for a draw, Steaua record signing Adrian Neaga pounced to score after Freestone fumbled a deep cross.

Swansea City 0 Steaua Bucharest 1 - Western Mail

Swans are flattered despite hard work

NICK CUSACK praised the endeavour shown by his Swansea City players last night despite seeing them outplayed and outclassed by Romanian giants Steaua Bucharest.

There was no food on sale at the Vetch Field and precious little creativity for the home supporters to feast their eyes on as Swansea, now just eight days from the start of the new season, showed plenty of industry but not enough ingenuity.

While the former European Cup holders played some sumptuous football - earning applause from the Swans' spectators - Cusack's side looked shapeless and, though operating with wing-backs, struggled to find width.

But, with only one major warmup game left (away to Woking on Monday) for last-minute assessments, the player-coach insists his side will be ready to face Rushden & Diamonds on August 10.

"That will be the acid test and I believe we will have prepared well for it," said Cu-sack.

"I'm not going to panic after losing 1-0 to a top European side like Steaua.

"We didn't create a great deal of chances, but you have to look at the standard of opposition.

"I know that supporters like to see lots of goalmouth action, but it is difficult to get at teams with such ability.

"I was pleased with the players - they stuck to their task and showed lots of endeavour.

"As a pre-season exercise it was useful and a good experience for the lads to play against a side of that calibre."

Cusack again played his strongest side, with defender David Theobald replacing Terry Evans who is ill and Jamie Wood in for John Williams being the only changes to the side which started last Friday's 2-0 defeat against Crystal Palace.

Sadly, the chances were fewer and farther between than they were against the First Division side and the 2,576-strong crowd had to wait an agonising 28 minutes before either team mustered a strike on goal.

It fell to Romania international Claudiu Raducana and he should have done better from 18 yards when he collected Sorin Paraschiv's square ball and proceeded to skew his effort wide of the left-hand post.

Moments later Swansea were on the attack, striker Jamie Wood testing Steaua goalkeeper Eugen Nae's reflexes when he headed James Thomas's cross towards goal.

Nae's opposite number, Roger Freestone, then produced a marvellous fingertip save to divert Raducana's goal-bound effort round his right-hand post.

Swansea were twice let off the hook during some frantic goal-mouth action in the 36th minute.

First, Raducana cleverly rounded defender David Theobald before striking the underside of the bar and then defender George Ogararu saw his follow-up header rebound off an upright.

Steaua twice found the net within 10 minutes of the restart but both "goals" were dubiously ruled off-side.

First, Raducana converted Ogararu's shot from three yards and then midfielder Lita buried Dumitru's in-swinging cross.

Swansea created few noteworthy opportunities, but at least they were continuing to resist the Romanians' advances.

Quite how Steaua failed to score earlier than they did was a mystery, substitute Adrian Neaga guilty of wasting a particularly fine chance in the 80th minute when he blasted a five-yard effort high over Free-stone's crossbar.

The wall finally crumbled when the veteran goalkeeper made a rare mistake in the 87th minute.

Marian Aliuta swung in a deep cross from the right which Freestone let slip from his grasp, allowing Neaga to snatch the winner.

In the dying moments, substitute Steve Watkin produced a lame effort following a mazy run while Andrew Mumford - who had earlier been substituted but came back on when Jason Smith had a dead leg - tested Steaua goalkeeper Eugen Nae with a well-struck free kick.

Swansea: Freestone, Jenkins, D Smith (Howard 53), O'Leary, J Smith (Mumford 88), Theobald, Mumford (Phillips 57), Murphy, Thomas (Watkin 59), Reid (Cusack 74), Wood (Williams 59).

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