Match report

Swansea 0 York 0

The final day of the season arrives with York City visiting the Vetch for their final Football League game after their relegation was confirmed following their 2-1 home defeat to Leyton Orient last week. York released eight senior players in the week and started with seven teenagers in their squad.

Swans gave Kevin Nugent a start, which for him may well be a 'swansong' with his contract expiring shortly. Lee Trundle dropped down to the bench to make way for him.

Despite starting strongly and being up against a relegated, ravaged team it didn't take long for the Swans to lose their way and by twenty minutes all our attacks were coming from balls lashed forward by the defenders.

On twenty five minutes, Paul Connor (who was carrying the weight of my first goal-scorer wager at an overgenerous 10-1), seemed to have broken the deadlock and supplied me with a nice little pick up when he lashed the ball into the roof of the net only for the 'blind' referee Tanner to blow up for absolutely nothing other than his being a yard or so offside!

By this stage Swans were all too often thumping high balls to Nugent, who after winning a few early headers was very much second best to York's one decent player, centre-half Richie Hope.

The remainder of the half was poor to say the least with neither side seeming to want to play football and no players on either side prepared to put their foot on the ball.

Swansea players were late appearing for the second half and had either fallen asleep at half time or were being warned not to repeat so many other performances this season, when they started well and looked the better side only to get worse and worse as the game wore on.

The Swans started the second half with more purpose but Nugent and Paul Connor failed to link well, and it was no surprise on sixty-minutes when Lee Trundle replaced Kevin Nugent, who received an excellent ovation with many sensing this that would be the last we'd see of Kevin Nugent as a Swansea City player.

On sixty-five minutes Izzy hit a fifty-yard ball, which dissected the York defence for Maylett to run onto, but his disappointing shot rolled past the far post.

On seventy minutes Maylett was replaced by Roberts, giving Stuart one more opportunity to prove to Kenny Jackett his quality. Maylett had once again started well, been our only realistic outlet in going forward but drifted out of the game in the second half.

On seventy-five minutes Kris O'Leary for the second time forced a diving save from 'keeper Chris Porter.

Trundle was failing to add the much-needed spark as Swans continued to struggle to find openings. Our midfield, with the exception of Leon, failed to break forward.

Earlier in the season, sides like York would have been cannon fodder to us, now we seem devoid of ideas, and not sure what system we are playing. Individual players are totally lacking in confidence.

The game drifted to an all too predictable 0-0, another disappointing display in front of an excellent crowd of 6,606. The crowd deserved better.


Freestone - 7 - The easiest afternoon he will probably ever have.
Jones - 6 - Better display, but no threat from York on the flanks.
Tate - 6 - Life made easy for him with Kris O'Leary tidying up in front.
Iriekpen - 6 - As above.
Coates - 6 - Looked better, but up against poor opposition.

Maylett - 6 - Good first half but yet again drifted out of things.
Martinez - 6 - Most of the defensive midfield work now being down by O'Leary, and should therefore get forward more.
O'Leary - 7 - Not pretty but very effective - whacked everything that came near 50 yards upfield!
Britton - 6 - Plenty of mazy runs but little threat on goal.

Nugent - 6 - Won a few early headers, but little else.
Connor - 7 - Worked hard but little understanding with neither Nugent nor Trundle today.

Subs:
Trundle - 5 - Another day when none of the tricks came off.
Roberts - 5 - Desperately disappointing in what many will fear is his last chance to impress Jackett.


So Kenny Jackett now sits down with his eight out of contract players in the first stage of his blueprint for the future. After starting so promisingly the season proved to be really disappointing on and off the field.

On the field we have a new manager who has inherited a squad that does not seem suitable for the style of play he wishes us to play, and off the field our appalling record of managerial changes continues.

We will never know the full reasons for the sacking of Brian Flynn and Kevin Reeves, but if those reasons were their unwillingness to move to the area, one question's should they have been appointed in the first place and should that issue not have been written into a contract?

After the present board's sacking of Colin Addison and Peter Nicholas, and then Brian Flynn and Kevin Reeves, they have no choice but to back Jackett to the hilt. He has not had the greatest of starts but must be provided with the playing and backroom staff he requires with as little interference from above as possible.

Here's hoping!

Swansea 0 York 0

Well it was the last game of what can only be described as a ‘strange season ’. This game we were told by Trundle would be a thank you from the players to the fans for the excellent support during the season.

No real surprises as the team lined up

Without any threat from York until this point, it was close to the 20th minute when they could have taken the lead. With back to goal Yalcin turned Izzy with ease, his shot going wide of the post. Again the shot lacked power and it did seem as if Rog had it covered.

To be fair it was an open game and so dominant were the Swans that the goal would come. Maylett & Connor had chances but the edge was missing. The rest of the half degenerated into a park pitch kick about with plenty of running but to no effect. There had been one goal however, but this had been disallowed. Connor beating the keeper from inside the area, before being given offside. A close call as he was offside for the first phase, but did seem to be onside for the second phase.
Let’s go back to the old offside rule, at least it was clearer.

Half time chat was of MoM with Maylett and O’Leary the two in the frame.

With hope that a goal would give some meaning to the game, we looked forward to the second half, which at this point had 0-0 looking all over it.

The first 15mins were a total non-event. The Swans seemed to think that a goal would finally come without any increase in effort and York happy to be still at 0-0. On the hour Trundle replaced Nugent who received a standing applause from the crowd, who I guess believe that will be his last appearance in a Swans shirt. A little bit more urgency came into the play, but it was all rushed with no end result. There were a couple of scuffles between players, but the game was in no way ever close to boiling over. O’Leary had one good shot saved by the keeper on 75mins, but apart from that the York goal was not being threatened. Trundle tried his tricks every time he got the ball, and on recollection none worked. A simple pass now and again please. On 70mins Roberts had replaced Maylett. Whilst Maylett had been on most of the attacks had been down the right. With Trundle playing on the left of the attack, the ball was going left with Roberts having next to no ball. A little bit of desperation came into the Swans play as free kicks etc were rushed to try and catch York out, but it only resulted in catching Swans players out.

So a 0-0 draw, ending a very mixed season.

On the whistle most players had time to get off the pitch before the inevitable pitch invasion. Many fans went to applaud the York fans for travelling down in support of their team. One or two did let themselves down with other gestures. There’s banter but when it comes down to it football fans understand what the York fans were going through. Just think back 12 months.

The players came into the director’s box for a short while. With some fans expecting shirts to be thrown (It had already been stated in the week that this would not happen) Kenny Jackett announced that they would be signed and auctioned. Cue friendly booing.

So back to the game and players comments

Freestone. Must have been one of the quietest games he’s ever had.

Jones. Very, very shaky

Iriekpen. Hyper active and goes for balls he shouldn’t. Doubt if that can be taken out of his game. A shame as he could be a solid player

Tate. A quiet game, which doesn’t help his concentration. Needs a high tempo game

Coates. A mixed game very solid at times but also not exerting himself

Maylett. Good first half, faded in the second.

Martinez. Again a bit like Trundle, that he does not play the simple ball often enough.

O’Leary. Very good game, although was up against a demoralised team. Still lacking fitness if midfield is to be his position. Our MoM

Britton. Whilst it might have looked as if he was having a good game, there was very little end result.

Nugent. Battled but unfortunately time has caught up.

Connor. Still unsure, as it looks as he needs to live off a strong bustling partner.

Subs

Trundle. Our opening season match report said he would delight and frustrate. Lately too much frustration. The same comment of a strong partner can be used. Let’s his own frustration get the better of him. Today there were 2 incidents when he could have been sent off. A straight arm (not quite an elbow) and a punch thrown that didn’t connect.

Roberts. Not in the game at all, due mainly to attacks going down the left.


So the last few words. 12months ago well we all know what could have been.
12 months from now will be the last at the Vetch. History in the making.
Some players will not be here to see that. To them we say thank you, whatever they have offered as players we can say they tried in their own way.

One final comment. Roger Freestone is out of contract, we make no apologies for being biased. He deserves another 12 month contract. It would be criminal if this game was to be his last, leaving a pitch anonymously without a standing ovation from fans who fully appreciate him.

We already know the importance of next season, let’s hope we have a season to remember.

We have a future we can only hope that York survive their money and ground problems as it has always been a good place to visit.

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