Match report

Swansea City 3 Cambridge 0 - Match Report by Nigel Gigg - Pictures supplied by Andrew Thomas

After a 100% return over Easter, Kenny Jackett surprisingly rang the changes. Sam Ricketts returned to the starting line up after his 2 games for Wales in the last 7 days and replaced the unlucky Andy Gurney. Kevin McLeod who was so influential at Cheltenham in his 30-minute substitute appearance, replaced Andy Robinson on the left and the change of formation from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 gave Leon Britton a rare start in place of Paul Connor.

Cambridge included Welsh International Iwan Roberts and on loan Tess Bramble in attack.

Side – Gueret, Rickets, Monk, Iriekpen, Austin, Britton, Martinez, O’Leary, McLeod, Thorpe, Trundle.

Subs- Gurney, Bean, Robinson, Connor, Forbes.

Swans started brightly but it was obvious Cambridge had not come to roll over and die as they showed plenty of resolve in the opening stages. Swans were having difficulty finding space in attack and all too often the final ball was either headed clear or hoofed forward by the Cambridge defenders.

It took Swans 20 minutes to have their first attempt on goal, which came from a Kevin McLeod freekick but Lee Thorpe seemed to jump too early and his header sailed over the bar. However, just a minute later Swans had a great opportunity from a McLeod cross but Kris O’Leary, after out jumping his marker, headed over from just 8 yards.

Swans just couldn’t find the key to unlock a well-marshalled defence. Crosses were easily dealt with and Swans too often over complicated their passing game.

Izzy Iriekpen came close to breaking the deadlock but his header lacked power and was cleared off the line easily.

It wasn’t all Swansea and Cambridge counter attacked well with Iwan Roberts always a threat. Unfortunately Lee Trundle was having an off day and Lee Thorpe was failing to win his share of headers.

Half time arrived with the game goalless but Swans had plenty of attacking options on the bench and Cambridge surely couldn’t defend so resolutely in the second half.

Cambridge should have taken the lead within 30 seconds of the restart. Willy blocked the first shot but the rebound fell to Bramble and with Willy lying on the floor he looked odds on to score. However, Izzy managed to block the follow up shot, which was deflected for a corner.

Swans first chance of the second half was a header from Leon Britton but his effort lacked power and looped over the bar.

Swans were looking predictable and nervous and it was no surprise on 55 minutes that Andy Robinson replaced a poor Kevin McLeod.

The substitution did not have an immediate impact and Swans were now no longer dominating territorially or possession wise. There followed a shocking period of 3 or 4 minutes in which several players made uncharacteristic mistakes and the crowd were getting more and more tetchy. Lee Trundle then produced the bit of magic we’d all hoped for. He received the ball out wide right, beat his man and had space in a dangerous area for the first time in the game.

He didn’t waste it. He made an excellent run across the 18 yard line sucking in defenders and slipped a perfect pass to a now unmarked Andy Robinson. He need just one touch to control the ball before firing an unstoppable shot from 18 yards that gave John Ruddy in the Cambridge goal no chance. The goal bought huge relief around the whole ground.

The goal lifted all the tension which the players had shown and seemed also to knock the stuffing out of Cambridge. Izzy Iriekpen almost scored from a corner and Lee Trundle produced a wonderful turn and shot that Ruddy did well to keep out.

Although Cambridge now offered very little in attack everyone wanted the second goal to kill the game off. With 7 minutes to go the goal finally came. Cambridge gave the ball away on the half way line. Andy Robinson nutmegged one defender before putting a slide rule pass through the Cambridge back line for Lee Trundle to have a free run on goal. With just the keeper to beat he waited for the keeper to commit himself before stroking the ball into the corner of the net.

The icing on the cake came with a minute or so to go. Lee Thorpe chested the ball down to Lee Trundle on the edge of the box. He controlled the ball with a single touch before lashing the ball into the corner of the net before Ruddy could move.

In injury time Sam Ricketts was substituted by Andy Gurney and worryingly Sam was holding his groin on the way off. My girls tell me this is nothing to worry about as Sam is always holding his groin (apparently).

Gueret 7 – Another quiet game but did all he was asked.

Ricketts 6- Looked a little jaded and could and probably should have got forward more often.
Monk 8 – Almost faultless.
Iriekpen 7 – Dealt with everything well. Close to scoring twice.
Austin 8 – Solid as ever.

Britton 7 – Still not playing where he wants, in the middle, but did well and relished the spaces created by the first goal.
Martinez 6 – Far to many under hit and wayward passes.
O’Leary 8 – Mr 100% again.
McLeod 5- One or two nice touches but a poor game and didn’t repay Kenny Jackett’s faith in starting him.

Thorpe 7 – Failed to win much in the air but created havoc and looked great after we’d scored the first.
Trundle 9 – For 65 minutes this was probably close to his worst home performance. Then one assist and two cracking goals.

Sub
Robinson 8 – His 25 minute cameo turned the game.

Swansea City 3 Cambridge 0 - Match Report by Paul Nicholas - Pictures supplied by Andrew Thomas

With six matches remaining and a top of the table that in recent weeks has shifted position more often than a politician on Question Time, nothing but a continuation of the success we have seen in the past few games would be good enough.

On what must be one of the warmest days of the year so far, a large crowd arrived at the Vetch and the tension could be sensed from the outset. With all stands and the North back filled to capacity, the atmosphere was superb.

Despite the glorious weather, and the appearance of many in short sleeve shirts, one Dai Smith remained rooted to the cause and duly wrapped his lucky woollen scarf around his neck.

The Swans took the field playing a 4-4-2 formation, as follows:

We were out-challenged in the air on most occasions and Cambridge seemed to have an extra man at every phase of play. I found myself wishing we could have used Tony Santore's subtle 5-3-3 formation, and counted the Cambridge players to see if they had adopted it themselves!!

The game was not moving the way we needed it to, and apart from a headed opportunity that Trundle put just over the bar, and one Iriekpen header cleared off the line there was nothing to show for the first 45 minutes.

It was poor first half performance, and with results elsewhere showing a stalemate at half time, we really needed to change tactics and increase our determination and work rate to get maximum points from the encounter.

No player, with the possible exception of Kris O'Leary, came off at half time with any real credibility. We were giving the ball away with ease, but luckily, it was to a side who despite their dominance of possession, did little with it.

So the half time break saw the crowd a lot quieter than it had been 45 minutes earlier, and expectations on what Mr Jackett would be saying in the changing room filled most conversations around me.

The usual half time penalty shoot-out was followed by the Vetch Field's own pantomime as a touchline scrap between Cyril and Sybil Swan, and the Monster Munch mascot, was actually interrupted by a jobsworth of a steward, who must have had aspirations of serving out a few Anti Social Behaviour Orders to earn himself some stripes.

The second half, unfortunately, began exactly where the first half ended, and a goalmouth scramble almost saw the Swans go a goal down, avoided only by an Austin tackle.

Things continued with ball after ball being given away, and with a total lack of penetration, something had to change and some speed and determination had to be brought onto the field.

Ten minutes into the second half, McLeod made way for Andy Robinson, and a further ten minutes later, we were one nil up thanks to his excellent finishing skills. Suddenly things seemed a lot more relaxed, and the standard of football improved almost immediately.

We were smoother on the ball, moved more cleverly off the ball, had more direction, and seemed sharper all round, but it was not until seven minutes from the end that the game was put safe. Trundle despite having one of his less memorable games to that point, took control of a superb through ball from Andy Robinson and calmly slotted home the second goal.

He further improved his match performance in the dying minutes when a through ball from Thorpe was rifled home by Trundle from twenty yards out for his second and the Swans' third goal.

With each goal came more confidence, and if matters had gone to plan, and the early goal that everyone craved had arrived, this could have been a carnage. Luckily, matches and points are won on goals scored not first half performances and these were three points that we needed and got. Not the prettiest game, and not the best of performances by any of the players but at the end, who cared, and the crowd and team gave each other a rousing send off.

Every result involving the other top teams went in our favour and we ended the day back in third place. Five games to go and the nerves are in for a testing time, but automatic promotion is now pretty much in our hands, and we do not want to let go of it again. Whatever the weather Dai don't leave that scarf at home; just be glad the season ends in May.

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