Match report

Swansea 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3

It was a pity that only 4,799 fans, and three bears, turned up to see this match, with the natural anticipation that it could reach the heights of last years FA Cup encounter against QPR despite our current lowly league position. Fortunately however, the Sky cameras were there, so could the Swans retain their unbeaten Sky televised record?

The now, regrettably, all too familiar one minutes silence, this time for the September 11^th tragedy, was impeccably respected once again, and with the match being televised will at least show others that respect is something football supporters down here have in abundance.

The Swans line up saw the very welcome return of James Thomas, so restoring the favoured strike partnership with Wood. Our lack of height in defence was a worry, but given our recent defensive record, could we do worse, and we were prepared to see how things panned out, and whether we could, once again, raise our overall game against higher division opposition.

From the start of this match you realised just how much we had missed the presence of James Thomas up front. His work rate is terrific, and he is constantly fighting for the ball or harassing the opposition defenders forcing them into playing the ball in a hurried fashion. It was his inability to admit defeat in the 22nd minute that led to the Swans second goal. Thomas went one on one with a defender in the Wolves area, took a knock, but retained his balance to pick the ball up right on the dead ball line. He placed a lovely pass right at the feet of Wood who stroked it home to throw the game back in the Swans favour.

With Roger making some fine low saves, and Wood and Thomas coming close at the other end, the game was providing great entertainment. Unfortunately on 34 minutes, Wolves scored their second through what was really poor defending, and we reached half time all square.

Maybe not a fairy tale end to the half, but there was a fairy tale start to the half time entertainment as Cyril conceded defeat 5-4 on a penalty shoot out with the Three Bears.

The second half saw more of the same although the pace did ease a little. Roger shone in goal with some excellent and spectacular saves, which kept us in the game at critical moments. Lacey made his season's debut in place of Reid who had faded a little in the early stages of the second half, and on 78 minutes Williams replaced Thomas, just after Wolves had stolen the lead through a superb piece of finishing by Alex Rae.

Neither substitution had a major impact on the game, although the removal of Thomas did take away our most likely match winner. A defeat in the end, but a defeat with dignity and a lot of restored pride.

Throughout the game there were 3 bookings, with two (Howard and Ince) being for severe tackles, that maybe in a 3rd Division match would have seen red. Fortunately, the referee tonight controlled things sensibly, and actually contributed to the entertainment that the game provided. I'm not so sure on the Assistant Referees and their offside interpretations these days though.

The statistics of 5 Swans shots against Wolves' 20 did not really reflect the game, as the Swans once again did raise their game to level few expected they could. Our performance tonight made a mockery of our 22nd league position, and any performances against third division opposition, which even remotely resemble tonight's effort, will see 3 points a time coming our way and us climbing steadily up the table.

Thomas has to be man of the match, but there were no criticisms of any player, despite the ongoing defensive worries. We had wondered early on just how long the Swans players could keep with the pace of the game, and to their credit, it was a lot longer than most had imagined. More of the same please.

Player Ratings

Freestone – 8 - A couple of great saves. Kept us in the game. 
Jenkins – 7 - Made a difference at right back.
O'Leary – 6 - Exposed more than once, but in fairness it was usually down to lack of numbers around him.
Evans – 6 - Torrid time with runners bearing down on him all to often, but battled throughout.
Howard – 8 - Best game in years. Lucky to get away with yellow card for two-footed lunge.
Moss – 7 - Lack of pace exposed more than once, but never gave up.
Reid – 7 - Good first half but drifted out of 2nd half.
Phillips – 8 - Did well against Ince and Rae in a fast and furious midfield battle.
Wood – 7 - Battled and ran all night but touch let him down more than once.
Cusack – 7 -Gave 100% again and his enthusiasm must surely start rubbing off on those around him.
Thomas – 9 - Great display. Scored one, made one and must of covered almost every blade of grass. 
 
Lacey - 6 - Did OK, but rarely threatened going forward.
Williams – 6 - Unable to recapture what he showed on Saturday. 

Swansea 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3

At the Globe - pub in Copenhagen - I managed to persuade the landlord to let me watch Swans v Wolves on telly in a remore corner of the pub, while most were waiting for the Newcastle v Leeds match. With a Portugese mate, we had to wait, however, for a bloke watching a local Danish match. Once the overtime in that match ran out, we were allowed to switch, and did so only a minute before the freekick. It was almost the first peiece of action we saw ... James Thomas - IMO, one of the best Swans players tomight. Great goal, great start. I unfortunately missed Cusack's early effort, but the goal made up for it.

I was surprised not to see Mumford in the line up, and not even on the bench. Have I been too absent lately? What has happned to him? Surely, he can break into a side that have performed as badly as the current squad has?

Anyway, great to see the Vetch again! And I once again felt "I should have been there!"

I was well impressed with the Swans' 1st half. I know that the stats said that the Wolves pretty much had twice as much in shots on target, had a larger percentage of ball pocession etc. But it's also what you do with the ball, and I was very impressed with the spirit of the Swans team. At the same time I thought the Wolves looked quite tame! Both their two first goals were results of poor - or should I say indecisive - defending. At both times I sat and shouted "GET IT OUT!", resulting in Wolves goals. My Portugese mate suggested that I should just shut up! :-)

Our 2nd was a great example of how you should never give up a ball. My Portugese friend thought we were lucky the ref didn't give them a freekick, as he thought Thomas (BBC Online said Cusack??) pulled the Wolves defender down. I didn't think it was that bad - "Swans tinted" glasses I gess? But great effort, and great to be 2-1 up. A shame we had to throw it away that early.

To be fair I thought that the Wolves at time showed they were the better team, but IO thought we showed great commitment, and it wouldn't have taken much luck on our side to turn it our way.

Their 3rd goal - what can we say? Blinder of a strike, and I don't blame the defender on the line for not risking his brain trying to stop the ball going in!

Good performance, a few scares and disappointments, but definately hope for Saturday!

I thought Moss was good - probably my MOM. James Thomas looks the part, and I thought Freestone looked a little shaky - although it might be his collaboration with the defence that's a little off. I'm not convinced about Reid, but thought Howard did well.

Had to laugh at some of Hollins' comments post-match, but then again, that's pretty much why I stayed to listen to the post-match comments.

Right ... good effort, no result. If they do it the other way around on Saturday, I'll be happy! :-) Result AND good effort ... then we'll have something to support our hopes for an improvement of the season so far.

Swansea 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3

A thunderbolt goal from Alex Rae proved decisive as Wolves came through a tough examination to win their Worthington Cup tie against Swansea on Wednesday night. The First Division side twice came from behind, with Nathan Blake and Ludovic Pollet cancelling out goals from James Thomas and Jamie Wood in a barnstorming first half.

There were more chances after the break but it took something special from Rae, 12 minutes from the end, for Wolves to see off their Division Three opponents.

Rae picked up a short corner on the left, before lashing a thunderbolt that Swans keeper Roger Freestone and a defender on the goalline could do little to stop.

Wolves nearly opened the scoring in the opening minute when Dean Sturridge latched onto a Paul Ince through-ball.

But veteran keeper Freestone was equal to the weak shot from the former Derby and Leicester frontman.

Sturridge had another chance moments later but Kris O'Leary managed to block the goalbound shot.

Swansea player-coach Nick Cusack also had an early chance but his header was inches too high of Michael Oakes's goal.

It was Swansea who broke the deadlock after eight minutes when Thomas, returning from a three-match injury absence, curled home a 25-yard free kick.

It took Wolves just six minutes to draw level, however, when Rae whipped in a dipping cross for Blake to loop a header over the Swans keeper to make it 1-1.

It was a particularly painful equaliser for the Vetch faithful as it came courtesy of Wales striker Blake, once a player with arch-rivals Cardiff City.

Swansea retook the lead after 22 minutes through Wood, when the ex-Manchester United youngster tapped home from close range after Cusack had laid the ball back to him.

Pollett's blunder had allowed Cusack to win the ball but the Wolves player made amends with just over half an hour on the clock, scrambling the ball home to make it 2-2.

After the break Wolves almost took the lead but Freestone saved superbly from Shaun Newton's strike.

It was a full-blooded cup tie and on the hour a late tackle from Newton on Paul Reid led to a mini fracas between the two sides, quickly quelled by the referee.

Blake almost grabbed his second goal only to see his 18-yard drive fly wide of Freestone's post, and later the striker saw a goal-bound effort well saved by Freestone.

But with 12 minutes remaining the Swansea defence went to sleep and allow Rae time and space to smash home and give Wolves the win.

Swansea: Freestone, Jenkins, O'Leary, Evans, Howard, Reid, Moss, Phillips, Wood, Thomas, Cusack. Subs: Theobald, Marsh, Keaveny, Williams, Lacey.

Wolverhampton: Oakes, Irwin, Naylor, Pollet, Butler, Ingimarsson, Rae, Ince, Newton, Blake, Sturridge. Subs: Murray, Edworthy, Miller, Proudlock, Cooper.

Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire).

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