Match report

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Oxford 3 Swansea City 0

Match report by Family Gigg - Pictures supplied by Andrew Thomas

Bank holiday Monday arrives, but the forecast of baking sunshine fails to materialise for the 150-mile trip to Oxford.

After a nice pub lunch, we arrive at the wasteland behind the Oxford Science Park, also known as the Kassam Stadium, for a 'top of the table clash'. Makes me think of the words of Roger Evans's song....'Take me to the Vetch Field, way down by the sea'. 'Take me to the Kassam Stadium 4 miles outside Oxford behind the Business Park' ..... Doesn't quite work does it.

Not quite a 6 pointer at this stage of the season, but important all the same for both teams. Swans handed a debut to Izzy Iriekpen at centre-half with Stuart Jones moving to full back and Lee Jenkins dropping down to the subs bench. Andy Robinson started in place of the injured Roberto Martinez.

Oxford featured 2 former Swans giants ( physical that is) in Julian Alsop and Matthew Bound.

Line up:

Swans continued to push forward at every opportunity and seemed to be getting the better of the midfield. On 8 minutes, after great work from Andy Robinson, the ball was threaded through to Trundle who had his back to goal. As we have come to expect, he turned brilliantly and his left foot chip/shot was only just over the bar.

Oxford had their first real shot after 18 minutes when Alsop shot over from 30 yards plus. On 36 minutes, tragedy struck when Johnrose, who had totally dominated the midfield, pulled up holding his hamstring. Coates came on to replace him, with Robinson moving to central midfield. Johnrose up until that stage had won just about every midfield challenge and he was having a major influence on the game.

After 45 minutes of near-total dominance, Oxford almost took the lead when a goal-bound header from Alsop from only 6 yards was well saved by Brian Murphy at the near post.

Half time arrived and Swansea had had their best first half performance away from home we've seen in many a long day. However, the champagne moment of the half came off the field. Following a wayward shot by Oxford, the ball cleared the bar and the little fence behind the goal bounced over a couple of cars and fell into the arms of a grateful lad of about 11 years age. He put the ball under his arm and ran away from the ground at great speed with the cheers of the Swans fans behind him.

The ball boys positioned outside the ground turned up 15 seconds or so later with their hands on their hips, wondering where the hell the ball had gone.

Within 2 minutes of the restart another scare after a mix up in the Swans defence saw Oxford midfielder Brown flash a shot over from just 8 yards.

Predictably, the game had opened up and chances were falling to both teams. Swans were still the more creative with Brad Maylett, Britton and Robinson all making chances for Trundle. On 65 minutes, a free kick from the left found Stuart Jones and his header was saved on the line with the keeper wedging the ball up against the post.

On 78 minutes, Lee Jenkins replaced Leon Hylton, most probably to put a fresh pair of legs at left back as this was the only area from which we had had any serious threat all afternoon. A surprise all the same as we had kept a clean sheet up until that stage.

The game was turned on its head on 85 minutes when Kris O'Leary gave away yet another needless penalty. The ball and the Oxford player were heading towards the corner flag on the angle of the box . O'Leary dived in, taking the legs of the attacker. Crosby made no mistake from the spot which gave Murphy no chance.

A minute later and a Swans attack was stopped in its tracks by an interception from the referee which wrong-footed the entire Swans team. The ball was played through to Alsop but appeared to have been overhit and was Murphy's to claim. However, he hesitated, allowing Alsop to get to the ball first and toepoke it passed him.

Swans immediately gave the ball away from the kick-off but a through-ball from Alsop was 25 yards from any Oxford player. Murphy came out to clear but realised the ball was outside the area, he waited for Stuart Jones to knock the ball back to him inside the box. Murphy instead of retreating, decided to stay on the edge of the box, far to close to Jones. Jones duly headed to Murphy but managed to beat him and both watched in horror as the ball ran towards the goal. Oxford's Mark Rawle eventually caught up with play and tapped the ball into an empty net with Jones and Murphy beginning what could be a long inquest.

With the game going into injury time the players and the fans seemed shell-shocked, how on earth could we be 3-0 down in a game we had dominated.

So our terrific winning run comes to an end. The 3-0 score-line was certainly no reflection on a super performance, but Kris O'Leary for the second time in two away games gave a totally needless penalty. At Cheltenham there was time for a terrific fight back, but today there was only time for the ref to set up a second before the comedy classic, courtesy of Murphy and Jones.

Finally, just a word for the travelling fans who once again were fantastic in both numbers and their vocal support.

• Murphy – 6 – Did well until the last five minutes when he really let himself down.
• Jones – 6 – Mix-up for third goal spoiled a good performance.
• Hylton – 7 – His substitution was a bit of a mystery.
• Iriekpen – 7 – Good debut against an awkward striker in Alsop.
• O'Leary – 6 – Must learn to think in the box.
• Britton – 9 – Outstanding.
• Johnrose – 9 – Superb performance and totally dominated the midfield before injury.
• Robinson – 9 – Did really well, firstly on the left, and later in the centre of midfield. Always a threat.
• Maylett – 8 – Ran at people all afternoon and a constant threat.
• Trundle – 6 – Not his day. Every opportunity seemed to fall onto his right foot.
• Nugent – 7 – Never stopped trying. Neither his nor anyone else's day though.
  Subs
• Coates – 5 – Not really got fully involved in the game.
• Jenkins – 5 – Didn't make much of a difference.

Today was the toughest test yet of our rejuvenated team. Oxford one of the bookies favourites had got off to an unbeaten start of two wins and one draw. A travelling support of 1416 boosted the crowd to 6725



With Martinez out injured a change had to be made but newly signed Izzy Iriekpen was expected to be on the bench but to everyone's surprise started the game.

Although we were taking more and more command of the game, we weren't hurting Oxfords defensive unit. As much as we limited Oxford, they were equally keeping us outside their area. On occasions we didn't help ourselves by overplaying as we did dominate midfield. Without many chances on goal there was one attempt of note when Trundle was inside the box to the right of the six yard angle and with both Nugent and Robinson waiting to pounce on a pass across the six yard box, decided to go for the glory shot with an attempted curler into the far corner. Needless to say the chance was gone. That basically summed up the first half, a lot of promise without much to show for it. Five minutes from half time came what could have been the turning point as Johnrose pulled up holding the back of his leg. He knew straight away that he would not play any further part in the game as it looked like a hamstring problem and he was immediately replaced by Coates. So half time came with a 0-0 scoreline but with plenty of positives with Jones and Iriekpen playing well. Oh and by the way Oxford did have a couple of half chances, with Alsop hitting the post.

The team came out a good five minutes earlier than Oxford to do some warm up exercises. The second half again saw the Swans taking early control with Maylett having numerous runs turning the Oxford defence inside out. But as with the first half there was no real threat at the end. Britton also had a couple of mazy runs but again the final pass was not there. We did have a nearly goal when a deep cross from the left found Jones coming in at the far post with a header which the keeper saved by actually holding the ball against the post. After an exiting mid period where play was end to end the game looked as if it would end 0-0. How wrong could we be? On 85mins the game turned. With an Oxford player running away from goal and heading out of the area towards the wing O'Leary decided on a lunging tackle. From the far end it looked dubious but there was no need for the red mist. No mistake with the penalty and we were down 1-0 after hardly a threat on goal. Jenkins replaced Hylton. The heads did drop a little but we did mount an attack to try and salvage a point. With the team pushing forward and near the edge of the Oxford area Britton tried a cross-field pass which hit the ref and allowed Oxford a breakaway. With the ball seemingly safely covered by O'Leary and Murphy coming out to collect, neither took command allowing Alsop to nip in and put the ball into an empty net. Disaster from a game where we had a comfortable point. Things got worse a minute later where in a similar area Murphy came out but with Jones under pressure headed back only to see his header sail over Murphy yet again to be put into an empty net. From such a composed showing the team had fallen apart in the last 5 mins.



So what can we take from the game.



As we said Jones and Iriekpen showed promise, Robinson had a good game, Johnrose ruled before his injury.

Maylett can destroy defences but there was nothing at the end of all his effort.

In our report for the Bury game we said that Trundle was going to be exciting and exasperating well today we saw more of the later, where he always went for glory instead of using team-mates.


The negatives.


Hylton had a very poor game not closing his man down and offered very little going forward.

Murphy had very little to do but for those crazy 5 minutes showed his lack of experience in not controlling and bossing his area.


The score-line flattered Oxford, but it could be the jolt we needed, as we were starting to believe our own press.


We have a good basis this season. More hard work must be done so that we take the right options in attack and not overplay. For different reasons last season we said that football is a simple game, do the right things well. This season the same thoughts, we are making openings, we must take them.


On the bench was a hobbling Robbie Martinez. Good to see that through his pain he still took it to support the team.


One final comment Bound and Alsop were given stick by the fans with Alsop giving hand gesture to the away fans near the end. This was missed by the officials.

Alsop was announced MoM by the sponsors much to the disgust of some fans next to us. With Alsop what you see is what you get. To be fair he lost very little in the air and his direction has improved from his time at the Vetch


One further final comment we are sure Kris O'Leary will get flack again today, His overall performance does not merit it as yet again we had an inexperienced defence who had not played together before.

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