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Match report


Saturday, November 22, 2003
Swansea City 1 Darlington 0

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Swansea City 1 Darlington 0

Nigel Gigg


The last week has been something of a disaster. I returned home from Moscow last Sunday with sciatica. After a brilliant trip I was in agony for the flight home and have spent 95% of the time since flat on my back. I watched the Swans' poor display at Northampton lying on my back in my living room, and Wales' biggest game for 50 years I watched flat on my back in bed, while my family made the trip to Cardiff without me.

Today unable to get to the Vetch, I was able to sit on the couch at home listening to Swansea Sound, and the match report has been compiled after discussion with my wife, Anne, and my daughters Becky and Sophie, who I have come to rely on to keep me in touch with the outside world in the last week.

After my own traumatic week and a terribly disappointing week for Welsh football, 3 points today was a must.

Swansea said goodbye to Mark Wilson, who returned to Middlesborough after his loan spell, and Lenny Johnrose replaced him in midfield, also Kevin Nugent, after a poor game at Northampton, was replaced by Daniel Nardiello.


Freestone
Duffy Tate Iriekpen Howard
Durkan Britton Johnrose Robinson
Trundle Nardiello

Subs: Nugent, O'Leary, Thomas, Williams, Coates


Darlington seemed ideal opponents at this time – without a manager with an appalling away record, and no wins in the last 10 games.

Swansea looked the better side from the start, and Leon Britton had the games first shot in the first minute.

Darlington appeared to have come looking for a point and flooded the midfield with bodies. Andy Robinson, after a poor game at Northampton, battled hard in midfield and helped Swans just about gain control. Johnrose was having his usual quick effective game, and Leon Britton seemed back approaching something like his best. However, Nardiello and Trundle again seemed to have little understanding between them.

The defence had an easy time of it with Michael Howard; no doubt grateful Darlington didn't have a player of the quality of Josh Low.

After Trundle, Britton and Nardiello all spurned chances Swansea eventually took the lead on forty-one minutes when a corner from Kieron Durkan found its way to Leon Britton, and his cross found Lee Trundle 10 yards out from goal, and his left foot overhead kick gave Darlington's keeper no chance.

Swansea were no doubt grateful to be 1-0 up, but their dominance really should have seen the game over and done with at that stage.

Shortly after half-time Jonathan Coates replaced Kieron Durkan, which it seemed would do little to increase Swansea's attacking options. Daniel Nardiello really looked anything other than Premiership quality, and was eventually replaced by Kevin Nugent.

Swansea eventually seemed to run out of ideas and ended up holding on and relying on a great save from Roger to keep their 1-0 lead intact.

An all-important 3 points, but a below par performance.

Freestone – 7 – Very quiet but a great save late on
Duffy – 5 – Still to recapture form of earlier in the season
Tate – 7 – Not his best game but developing a good understanding with Izzy
Iriekpen – 7 – Tidy. His signature to a new contract will be a welcome boost.
Howard – 7 – Much better performance but will be looking ever his shoulder with Hylton shortly to return from injury

Durkan – 6 – A few good crosses but little else.
Britton – 8 – MOM, and back approaching his best.
Johnrose – 7 – Quiet, but effective.
Robinson – 7 – Full of energy.

Trundle – 7 – Received PFA player of the month award prior to game and scored yet again
Nardiello – 5 – Continues to disappoint

SUBS:
Coates – 6 – Didn't do much wrong, but offers us very little going forward
Nugent – 6 – Improvement on Nardiello, but failed to provided us with that much needed spark
O'Leary – Not on long enough.


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