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Player ratings and comments
Swansea City 0 Cambridge 2
Nigel Gigg
After 2 disappointing home performances a change to get back to winning ways. However, Cambridge were to be no pushovers. They boasted the best away record in Division 3 (with Hull).
The news prior to the match went from bad to worse. Trundle, despite being fairly confident on playing on Saturday, remained on the sidelines were he was joined by Andy Robinson. Robbo had a poor game up front on Saturday, but he has been a revelation in midfield and was sure to be missed tonight.
The news of Smudger's enforced retirement was another blow. He has been a terrific servant to the club and I feel sure all Swans fans will wish him well. We have not seen the best of Smudger for a couple of years, but a fit Jason Smith would have been a massive bonus to us at the moment.
The final bit of bad news was Kris O'Leary's late withdrawal with a back injury.
So Coates came in to start in midfield, Lenny dropped back to centre-half and young Mark Pritchard started up front. Kieron Durkan came back into contention with a place on the bench.
Freestone- Jenkins, Iriekpen, Johnrose, Howard- Maylett, Britton, Wilson, Coates, -Nugent, Pritchard, Subs- Murphy, Jones (S), Jones (R), Martinez, Durkan.
As many were still coming in Swans were one behind. An innocuous looking through ball found our back line at sea and the lanky Kitson racing through from wide right. Roger seemed to come off his line when perhaps he should have stayed back. He seemed to have gambled on Kitson not being able to chip him. Memories of John Byrne's 7 second goal against us a few years ago came flooding back.
Swansea responded well to the early goal and for the next 15 minutes or so attacked in waves with Maylett and Pritchard going close. Coates found himself with a free header but headed straight into the grateful keeper's arms.
Although Cambridge came back in the latter stages of the first half, Swans had much the better of things, although we were becoming more and more predictable as the half went on with Maylett, who never really looked 100% fit, getting more and more of the ball. Sadly he never really got the better of his full back. On the left we offered no threat whatsoever, with Coates and Howard seemingly taking it in turn to give the ball away.
Just before half-time Maylett went done and was stretchered off appearing to be holding his hamstring. Durkan replaced him on the right wing.
The second half Swans started OK but got worse and worse. Durkan offered no threat from the right other than one or two crosses, Wilson was again little more than a passenger and Howard and Coates on the left now had the opportunity to impress infront of the North Bank. The result was all too obvious and Coates substitution easily bought the biggest cheer of the night. His confidence at the moment appears at rock bottom and whilst the crowds reaction towards him is not pleasant to see it is hardly surprising.
Going forward, Leon buzzed around, Durkan tried to cross early every time and was never willing, or perhaps able, to try to go past his full back. Wilson and Martinez ( after he replaced the hapless Coates) looked to hit the ball from centre midfield onto the head of Nugent. For his part Nugent battled throughout but there was, not surprisingly, very little understanding between him and Pritchard. Pritchard had started well but by the second half was hardly involved.
Cambridge finished the game on 58 minutes when the excellent Kitson waltzed around Izzy before stabbing the goal passed Roger.
We continued to huff and puff and the only real opportunities where a near own goal off the back of a Cambridge defender and a Cambridge handball in the area in injury-time which the referee missed.
By full time the ground probably had no more than 2,500 hardy souls left. What a difference to just a month or so ago when Trundle milked the standing ovation week after week.
Freestone 6 – One good save to prevent Kitson's hat-trick but little else to commend.
Jenkins 6 – Started well, but went from bad to worse as game went on.
Iriekpen 6- Had done well until Kitson waltzed around him for the second.
Johnrose 6 – Did OK as makeshift centre-half.
Howard 5 – Poor throughout but in fairness looked to get forward all night unlike Jenks on the right.
Maylett 6 – Never looked fit and unable to get passed full back.
Britton 7 – Never stopped and by the end was our only threat.
Wilson 5- Just not doing the business at the moment.
Coates 4 – Awful game. Confidence appears shot to pieces. If the jury was out on his resigning I would
just hope it wasn't made up of 12 good men from the North Bank or he'd be making his way to the gallows this morning.
Nugent 5 – Difficult job with ball pumped up to him from half way line with only support a young lad lacking in inches.
Pritchard 6- Started really well but drifted right out of things.
Subs
Durkan 4 – All too often does nothing other than one or two quality crosses from too deep. Another to hold Coatsey's hand in the gallows?
Martinez 5 – Seems a shadow of the player he was 8 weeks ago. A midfield with him, Wilson and Leon seems all to overcrowded.
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