Match report

After the shambolic events of last Saturday, Swansea would have been glad to return to action for a game against Bury. However, the events of last Saturday continue to haunt Swansea with the sending offs of Robinson and Monk and the yellow card for Martinez meaning all three were suspended for today to add to the already suspended O'Leary and Connor.

Much debate about the line-up and Kenny Jackett had obviously given a great deal of thought to his team for today's game. He bought in two loan signings in the week, Ijah Anderson from Bristol Rovers and Marc Goodfellow from Bristol City. Both made the starting line-up and were joined by Gary Fiskin making his first start at the Vetch. Izzy Iriekpen failed to recover from injury and surprisingly, with three midfield players suspended, still no start for Leon Britton.

Side- Gueret, Ricketts, Tate, Austin, Anderson, Forbes, Gurney, Fiskin, Goodfellow, Nugent, Trundle. Subs- Murphy, Jones, Corbisiero, Britton, Pritchard.

Bury came into the game on a run of one defeat in 9 games and would be looking to take advantage of Swansea's enforced changes.

Everybody expected a slow start from Swansea and the new players bedded in, but no, on just three minutes Trundle was given space in the box to turn and cross and found Nugent on the edge of the six-yard box. Nugent made no mistake, burying his shot past Andy Marriot in the Bury goal.

After a dream start Kenny Jackett would have hoped for a period of consolidation instead Bury hit straight back. Alan Tate lost a challenge in the centre circle. The ball was fed through to Bury's David Nugent who was closely marked by Kevin Austin. Austin gave Nugent the opportunity to move toward the edge of the box and failed to get a challenge in. Nugent took the opportunity to strike a shot that just evaded the outstretched arm of Willy and found the corner of the goal. It was a poor goal to give away, but there was worse to follow.

On six minutes Austin was beaten in an aerial challenge on the edge of the box by the lanky Chris Porter. The ball ballooned in the air and Dwayne Morris reacted quickest and fired a right-footed volley, which beat Willy on his near post. The obvious defender to have covered Morris was Anderson who seemed guilty of ballwatching.

For the next fifteen minutes or so Swansea failed to get a hold of the midfield and both Gurney and Fiskin were guilty of losing possession all too often. On a rare meaningful attack, Nugent headed wide at the far post.

After about twenty minutes of play Swansea finally started putting some moves together and play some decent football. Anderson in defence started to get forward and Goodfellow, despite looking lightweight, managed a couple of good touches.

Swans were just about shading things and had efforts on goal from Forbes and Trundle. Bury, for their part, being 2-1 up were content to sit back and let Swansea come at them, no doubt hoping to catch Swansea on the break.

At the back Swansea's problems were all coming on the left hand side with Anderson often out of position and his lack of understanding with Kevin Austin causing us difficulties.

Half time arrived with Swans 2-1 down and whilst having had the majority of possession the quality of Swansea's play had been poor. Apart from our defensive frailties the midfield had been shocking with Fiskin in particular having a torrid time and even Gurney often trying to do too much. Loan signing Marc Goodfellow had been starved of the ball and had failed to make much of an impression.

At half time Kenny Jackett must have contemplated any number of tactical and personnel changes. He opted to take off the ineffective Gary Fiskin for Stuart Jones. Jones went to centre half alongside Alan Tate with Kevin Austin going to left back and Ijah Anderson moving up to midfield. Adrian Forbes was also pushed up alongside Trundle and Nugent in a 4-3-3 formation.

Within a minute of the restart Lee Trundle almost grabbed an outrageous goal after another superb turn and volley which flashed just over the bar.

Jackett's half time talk had certainly geed the players up as Swansea upped the tempo, however, the disjointed nature of our play continued as did the gifting away of possession.

With twenty minutes of the second half gone Leon Britton got his chance replacing Adrian Forbes who once again could count himself unlucky to be the man to make way.

Swans continued to have the majority of possession but were making little impression on the Bury goal. As the weather deteriorated so did our football.

With fifteen minutes remaining, a fiercely struck freekick from Lee Trundle was spilled by Marriot but no Swans player was within yards of the ball and three defenders shepherded the ball back to Marriot.

With five minutes left Bury killed off the game. Alan Tate, as Austin had done in the first half failed to get an early challenge in on David Nugent. He let Nugent run across the edge of the box and then pulled his shirt in full view of the referee. Brian Barry- Murphy floated the freekick over the wall and into the corner of the goal.

Swans had a couple of half chances but they never looked likely to get back into the game now.

Ratings-

Gueret - 6 - Perhaps could have done better with two of the goals.
Ricketts - 6 - Better second half than first and helped out in attack at every opportunity second half.
Tate - 6 - Good game other than 2 or 3 mistakes. Unfortunately 2 of those mistakes led to goals.
Austin - 5 - Awful first half, much improved second half.
Anderson - 4 - Looked out of his depth at full back. Slightly better in midfield role.
Forbes - 5 - Never stopped trying despite things not going his way.
Gurney -6 - Gave away possession too often first half.
Fiskin - 4 - Never looked comfortable and did himself no favours today.
Goodfellow - 5 - Sent in some excellent corners but didn't impose himself on the game.
Nugent - 6 - Won most aerial challenges first half and took his goal well. Faded and tired second half and probably should have been substituted.
Trundle - 6 - Provided 90% of the quality on show but to little effect today.

Subs
Jones - 7 - Didn't put a foot wrong. Man of the Match despite playing only 45 minutes.
Britton - 5 - Failed to make much of an impression.

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