Match report

Swansea City 4 Scunthorpe 2 - Gary Martin

No surprise that the crowd was the lowest of the season - given recent results, the weather and the rugby international kicking off at 4pm (Isn't it time the egg-chasers started shifting their matches to Friday nights?)

Good to see Curtis on the pitch during the warm up talking to the players - but I had hoped we'd seen the last of that ridiculous huddle before KO. To me it's just a gimmick that's outlived its novelty value. Bonding and geeing up should be done long before the 30 seconds prior to KO.

Curt picked his own team by returning Roger in goal and picking players in their proper positions. The team did not have the lop-sided look we've become accustomed to and was all the better for it.

Despite all that, we still fell behind to a soft goal. A couple of slips, tangles and Scunthorpe worked the ball out to the right in classic rugby style leaving Howard the choice of which of two to pick up.

There was still some work for Scunny to do but a few fortunate ricochets saw them bury the ball from a scramble 2 yards out.

It was only a matter of minutes before scapegoats were hunted out by 'some' of the crowd - and surprise surprise - it was Mike Howard who was chosen - again!

The booing, jeering and ironic cheering when he did well was countered by cries of "shut up you idiots" from some of the more fair-minded fans.

Can't say this had any effects on these 'fans' cos it's amazing what you can do for £11 these days. Hurl abuse at anyone you care to; the odd Paki chant; and a bit of missile throwing too if the fancy takes you.

Back to the game - Swans got back into the game with what looked like a fortunate penalty decision (from 70 yards away) but there was nothing fortunate about the way Robinson despatched it (see pic below).

HT summary around me was that it seemed like a typical end of season game with neither team looking as if they had anything to play for.

Swans took the lead early in the second half when good work by Roberts and Byrne combining at pace down the right saw Byrne cross for Nugent to throw his head at it - and although he didn't make the best of contacts - the direction was good enough to beat their goalie.

The 3rd goal was a tap in which could have gone to Trundle or Connor but it was Connor who managed the last touch to toe poke the scramble home.

The 4th goal was the pick for me (discounting the pen) when Trudle who had come on for the lively Nugent fed a pass to Connor that saw him one on one with their keeper. He kept good control, rounded the diving keeper and slotted the ball home.

The game died a bit and Scunthorpe got a scrambled goal themselves - although the crowd thought the ref had disallowed it for an earlier infringement. Even the mild-mannered Curtis seemd agitated with the linesman for allowing the referee to give it.

Whether this was an untypical performance from a Brian Laws side - devoid of any passion or real aggression - or whether it was down to an improved midfield performance from the Swans - is debatable. The half- time pundits may have got it spot on.

Have we now turned the corner with this result, or is it another false dawn?

The good news is we only have to wait until Tuesday to find out!

Ratings:
Roger - 7 back to his old self and some good throw outs

Byrne - 7 had a good game
Tate - 8 usual steady Eddie
Jones - 7 did well partnering Tate
Howard - 7 a good game despite the one-eyers having pre-marked him
with 4

Roberts - 7 looking fitter and did a fair bit of defensive work as well as
being an attacking threat
Martinez - 7 slowish start but spread some very good balls around as
the game went on
Britton - 7 ran fopr the 90. Still a bit lightweight in the challenge but we
are not going to do anything about that
Robinson - 7 held the left flank well and gave good balance to the team

Nugent - 8 worked really hard and was taken off BEFORE he tired this
time
Connor - 9 edged MoM fofr his 2 goals. Needs time top gel with his
teammates but looks to have ability in the air and on the ground. More
of a Torpey-type than an Alsop.

Subs:
Coates - 7 stood in well at left back
Trundle - 7 no shots - looked a little selfish today - more of a team
player (under orders?)
Maylett 7 - one or two flashes of his best

Swansea City 4 Scunthorpe 2 - Nigel Gigg

Alan Curtis took charge of team affairs today after the shock departure of Brian Flynn on Thursday.

Brian Flynn is the latest name to join the long list of ex-Swansea managers. Our record of retaining managers is appalling and whilst many would have hoped the present board would act as a steadying influence, they jettisoned Colin Addison/Peter Nicholas and just eighteen months later are showing the door to Brian Flynn and Kevin Reeves.

Rumours have been rife regarding Flynn's departure, but his reluctance to move to the area, the players perceived lack of fitness, and the lack of fight in some of our players I am sure played its part.

What we need now is a new manager who will be in situ for at least three years, and have the chance to build "his team", and get this club into Division Two as a minimum.

Alan Curtis's starting line-up showed no shocks with Kevin Nugent and Paul Connor up front, however Lee Trundle made a welcome return to the bench. One big surprise was the inclusion of Karl Connolly who returned from injury and joined Trundle on the bench, some five weeks after having a slight knock that was due to keep him out of the Tranmere cup game!

Scunthorpe featured former Swan Steve Torpey and the former Everton winger Peter Beagrie started on the bench.

Side:

On twenty-five minutes a calamitous mix-up between Stuart Jones and Alan Tate led to Swansea going behind against the run of play. The ball ballooned off Tate/Jones to the right of goal where Howard found himself with two men to mark; Cleveland Taylor fired home with the aid of a fortunate ricochet.

Swansea levelled things on thirty-five minutes when Stuart Roberts crossed from the right and Paul Conner was pushed to the floor at the far post. Andy Robinson gave the goalkeeper Tom Evans no chance with a powerfully struck penalty.

The goal lifted the Swans and they pressed up to half time without creating any real opportunities.

Swansea scored with two minutes of the restart. Roberto Martinez took a free kick in the centre circle quickly. He found Leon Britton who played a perfect through ball to Stuart Roberts. His inch perfect cross found the head of Kevin Nugent who buried the ball into the far corner of the net.

Alan Curtis's half-time talk was obviously inspirational. Swans has upped the pace of the game and seemed to show the desire and passion all too lacking of late.

Lee Trundle replaced Kevin Nugent on fifty-five minutes, and within a minute of coming on almost scored but his shot was saved and fell to the feet of Connor who tapped in from two yards, his first goal since signing.

On seventy minutes Britton fed Trundle whose inch perfect pass released Paul Connor. He rounded the keeper and hit a left foot shot home for the fourth.

Perhaps the sunshine, now shining on the Vetch, reminded the players of August/September when we seemed to score four week-in-week-out.

Poor defending at a corner gifted Scunthorpe a goal back but Swansea then held out without any further problems.

Today was a real game of two halves. The side looked lethargic and ill at ease on the first half, but composed and making the best of the difficult conditions in the second.

On the plus side, Martinez and Britton were back approaching their best in midfield, and Lee Trundle and Paul Connor already looked to have an excellent understanding.


Freestone - 7 - For the most part kicked well into a difficult wind. At fault for the second goal but at 4-1 up at the time it didn't really matter.

Byrne - 6 - Never seems to want the ball from Roger. Almost lost his cool at one stage.
Tate - 8 - Commanding, once again.
S. Jones - 7 - At fault for first goal but otherwise did very well.
Howard - 7 - Much improved.

Roberts - 6 - Not in it first half - caused problems for them in the second.
Britton - 8 - A real thorn in their side throughout.
Martinez - 7 - Got better and better, and by the end was controlling the midfield.
Robinson - 7 - Tireless.

Nugent - 7 - Worked his socks off and took his goal well.
Connor - 8 - Excellent home debut, linked really well with Trundle.

Subs:
Trundle - 7 - Added spark for us in the second half, although (unsurprisingly) didn't look match fit.
Coates - 6 - Slotted in well at left back.
Maylett - 6 - One great run.

Lots of great match pictures from Gary Martin now online

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