Match report

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Orient 1 Swansea City 2

Report Dai Smith, Pictures Andrew Thomas

Around 750 Swans fans made the trip to Brisbane Road in glorious sunshine to take on lowly Leyton Orient.

Brian Flynn was able to keep the same line-up which had started the previous two games

The only changes came on the bench where Coates made a return.

Swans lined up in a 4-4-2 formation as follows:-

The game was played on a perfect surface and Orient started the livelier in the opening exchanges, giving the Swans defence one or two early scares. However it was the Swans who took the lead after less than 10 minutes in what was probably their first attack.

A cross from the left to the back post from Robinson was headed back across the box by Nugent and finished off with an acrobatic bicycle kick by Lee 'Magic Daps' Trundle. Orient replied almost immediately when a cross from the left was met by Alexander and needed a diving save from Freestone to maintain our advantage.

Swansea's second goal came shortly afterwards when a neat through ball from Britton sent Trundle clear. He crossed the ball from the left of the goal to the waiting Nugent on the back post to finish the easiest of chances.

The travelling Swans fans must have thought that we were in for a hatful; unfortunately things did not work out quite like that.

A clumsy challenge from behind on Trundle went unpunished (by the blind referee) and after a period of treatment on the sidelines it was decided he could play no further part.

Flynn rearranged things by introducing Coates into the midfield and using Robinson in his preferred forward role.

The game from this point was much more of an even affair and on a different day Orient may have scored two or three from the numerous chances that they had. In fact it took until stoppage time for them to make the breakthrough with a 90th minute back post header from Orient's Tate.

But it was too little too late from the O's and wasn't enough to prevent the Swans third away victory and allow me to high tail it too the Millennium Stadium in high spirits..... After I got there......... Well that's another story :-(

Player Comments

Freestone 7 made some crucial saves but can be frustrating when he refuses to distribute the ball quickly when we have so many players hungry to counter-attack
Duffy 6 Quite good performance from Duffy, but I think he may benefit from a rest.
O'Leary 8 Another very good game.
Iriekpen 7 As Above
Howard 6 Average performance
Johnrose 6 Good ball winning performance.
Britton 7 Lively game, nice through ball for second goal
Robinson 9 My man of the Match.
Wilson 5 Some dodgy set pieces from Wilson - doesn't seem to be able to clear the first defender from a corner
Nugent 7 Normal committed performance from Nuge
Trundle 8 Magic goal, he'll be sorely missed

Subs
Coates 5 Looked off the pace, lost the ball a fair bit and wasted a golden opportunity to finish of the game when clean through.

Orient 1 Swansea City 2

Soccernet Striker Lee Trundle scored his 12th goal of the season to help maintain Swansea's promotion charge with a 2-1 victory at Leyton Orient.

Brian Flynn's side found themselves 2-0 up midway through the first half and never looked like dropping the points despite a late scare.

Trundle opened the scoring with a quality finish, driving the ball into the top corner after being set up by Kevin Nugent.

And the forward returned the favour shortly after when his dangerous cross from the left wing allowed Nugent to power a header past goalkeeper Lee Harrison.

Orient attempted to fight back but failed to break down the City backline until moments before the final whistle.

Chris Tate's excellent back-post header found its way over the line despite the efforts of Roger Freestone but the visitors held on through a spell of heavy pressure in injury-time.

Leyton Orient 1 v 2 Swansea City

Evening Post

Victorious boss Brian Flynn revealed his star striker Lee Trundle could be out for two weeks after injuring his knee in the win at the Matchroom Stadium. Goals from Trundle and Kevin Nugent put Swansea ahead at the break before Chris Tate pulled a late goal back for Orient.

Flynn said: "Lee Trundle scored a goal of real quality, but it's just a shame he got injured.

"He's done damage to his knee and could be out for two weeks."

Flynn added: "I'm happy with the way we played today. I was disappointed to concede a goal so late on. It was the only down point of the afternoon.

"We needed three points after two draws. Trundle scored a goal of real quality and we controlled the game for large portions. We've had problems as regards to injuries of late and we're down to 14 or 15 professionals."

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