Match report

Swansea City 3 Chester 0 - Match Report Nigel Gigg - Pictures Andrew Thomas

This afternoon’s opponents, Chester, managed by Ian Rush, currently lie in 20th position and have only one win to their credit in 13 games. They were forced into several chances for today’s game through suspensions and injuries.

Swans lined up as expected with Andy Robinson replacing Ijah Anderson and Willy Gueret returning from suspension to replace Brian Murphy in goal. Roberto Martinez failed to recover from injury and didn’t feature.

Side- Gueret, Ricketts, Monk, Iriekpen, Austin, Forbes, Britton, Gurney, Robinson, Connor, Trundle. Subs Murphy, Tate, Anderson, Maylett, Pritchard.

As the teams came out, Chester Assistant Manager, Mark Aizelwood got the sort of reception he would have expected and deserved. It is difficult to imagine anyone other than Tony Petty or Mike Lewis receiving such a welcome.


Swans failed to settle well, but on 3 minutes a quick throw out by Willy Gueret found Lee Trundle just inside the Chester half. He turned, ran at the defence and let fire from the edge of the box but his shot was well saved by Chester goalkeeper Chris Mackenzie.

Whilst everyone hoped this would signal the start of an all out assault on the Chester goal, it never materialised as Chester frustrated Swansea’s game plan with a 5-man midfield and very committed approach. Indeed it was Chester that played the better football in the early stages.

After the early Trundle effort it was fully another 20 minutes before Swansea mounted a meaningful attack, which saw a poor Connor header go well wide. A minute or so later a Leon Britton shot from outside the box also sailed well wide.

Chester’s tactics were frustrating Swansea but with only ex Everton Michael Branch up front there was very little danger to Willy Gueret’s goal.

It really had been poor quality fare in the first half and no doubt Kenny Jackett was preparing to read the riot act when on 41 minutes Swans took an unexpected lead. Lee Trundle was pulled back 5 yards outside the box and to nobodies surprise grabbed the ball for the freekick. He floated a delicate chip over the wall and the keeper was very slow to react as the ball found the net. Whilst once more it was a piece of magic from Trundle, the keeper was undoubtedly at fault and should have had time to get across to make the save.

Just before half time Andy Robinson fired just wide and in all honesty 2-0 would have been flattering to say the least.

Despite the goal just before half time Kenny Jackett was sure to have had a go at a lacklustre Swansea and his words seemed to have had the deseeded effect as Swans looked much brighter immediately in the second half.

Swans almost scored from an Andy Robinson shot after he was put through by an exquisite pass from Lee Trundle. The shot was turned behind by Mackenzie for a corner. But Chester’s relief was short-lived as Robinson received the ball on the edge of the box from the corner. He ran toward goal before firing a cross/shot across the 6-yard line. With the defence ball watching Paul Connor reacted quickest to nip in at the far post to tap the ball home.

Chester were now chasing the game and it opened up, which more than suited Swansea, who now controlled the midfield. Leon Britton’s influence on the game increased minute by minute.

On 55 minutes with Swans pressing once more, two Chester defenders jumped for the same ball in their own penalty area. With only the diminutive Leon Britton in attendance Chester’s Michael Brown seemed to be caught by the elbow of his own captain, Phil Bolland and he hit the ground hard. The referee immediately called on the trainer who was followed by both club doctors, the stretcher-bearers and finally 3 paramedics. After a long delay he was stretchered off apparently with a split lip and having swallowed his tongue. The incident was remarkably similar to Garry Monk’s injury at Chester earlier in the season.

Straight after the stoppage Swans picked up where they had left off and on 61 minutes Leon Britton won an excellent challenge before he passed to Lee Trundle on the edge of the box. He floated a delicate shot toward the far post, which the keeper seemed to have well covered. The keeper obviously thought the shot was going wide as he outstretched both his arms and watched as the ball bounced into the corner of the net having apparently moved several yards in the air.

The game had developed into the proverbial game of two halves with Swansea now dominant and in total control of the midfield.

Further chances fell to Adrian Forbes and Andy Robinson, and Lee Trundle could have scored a further 2 or 3 goals and really should have passed on several occasions with Paul Connor often in acres of space in the penalty area. However, with 2 goals already and Swans 3-0 up this wasn’t a day old magic daps was going to create goals for someone else.

Chester continued to battle to the end but with only one man upfront they were never a serious threat on the Swansea goal and indeed Willy never made a serious save in the entire 90 minutes.

So with Scunthorpe again dropping points at home Swans move into clear second spot just a point behind Yeovil and with the chance to go top next Friday. Nobody wants to talk about automatic promotion but when you beat teams 3-0, miss a hatful of second half chances and play poorly for 45 minutes you have to try hard no to.

Gueret 7 – Hardly anything to do but did kick and throw out well.
Ricketts 7 – Had an easy day.
Monk 8 – A couple of early slip ups, but exemplary thereafter.
Iriekpen 7 – Like Monk didn’t start too well, but very good thereafter.
Austin 7 – Doesn’t look too comfortable against quick wingers and very fortunate with some of the referee’s decisions today.

Forbes 6 – Hardly featured first half, much improved second half.
Gurney 6 – Like Forbes much better second half. Provided the games best comedy moment when sitting on the floor and an opponent clambering all over him seemed to react by head butting his opponents knee.
Britton 9- Superb second half.
Robinson 7- Constant threat second half and linked well with colleagues.

Connor 7- Actually developing a strikers instinct at the moment.
Trundle 8- On another day could have scored 4 and made 5!

Swansea City 3 Chester 0 - Match Report Clive Gareth & David Hughes - Pictures Andrew Thomas

This chance flattered to deceive as our general play went down hill dramatically. Passes went astray and there was no cohesion in our play. For the next 20mins or so Chester had the freedom of midfield knocking the ball around but not threatening our goal at all. Branch was having a good game for them but lacked support when faced by our back four. We were not mounting any attacks and it was close to 35mins before we threatened again. A looping header from Connor from a cross went over and a minute later Britton's effort also went way over. With the game drifting to half time Trundle was fouled a couple of yards outside the box in line with the right hand post (attacking). As Trundle lined up to shoot the keeper stood too far to his right, the result a Trundle trademark goal over the wall and into the top corner. This at least raised the crowd and there was just enough time for Robinson to have an attempt on goal, but again a shot that went wide.

So again we found ourselves ahead at half time in a game that we had not controlled and a lead that we did not really deserve.
The hope was that the second half would see the other Swansea City. It did seem that the team were showing more purpose as the opening minutes saw A Robinson shot turned away for a corner by MacKenzie. Chester's didn't withstand the onslaught as a miss-hit shot by Robinson inside the corner of the area went across goal giving Conner a simple tap in.

2-0 up so soon in the second half against a team that had offered very little must mean that the game was won. From here Swansea took complete control for the first time and it was Chester's turn to see long periods without the ball. With the Swans now attacking a collision between Britton, Brown and another Chester defender saw Brown fall awkwardly and motionless on the pitch. The game was stopped immediately with trainers and doctor rushing onto the pitch. It seemed a very serious injury as it took five minutes to carefully get him on a stretcher and off the pitch to respectful applause. (He remained in the First Aid room for 15mins before taken to hospital by Ambulance). Within 5 minutes of the restart the Swans were 3 up as a curling shot from Trundle was misjudged by MacKenzie who must have thought it was going wide only to see it end up in the bottom corner.

With 30 minutes still to play against a dispirited Chester it seemed only time that the Swans would build up a larger score. Unfortunately although now in total control wrong options were taken by players, Trundle in particular, as he looked for his hat-trick. Let's hope we don't lose out on goal difference at the end of the season. This off course does not take away the performance of keeper MacKenzie who saved well on at least 3 occasions.
Players Comments
Gueret - Very quiet game, due to no threat on goal.
Ricketts- As above, but not much seen as an attacking force.
Monk - As with most of the defence not troubled during the game.
Iriekpen - MoM in the first half when Chester offered something. Not needed in the second half
Austin - Still looks better in the centre than left back
Forbes - Quiet first half, better in the second but booked yet again for not knowing when to tackle.
Gurney - Sat back too deeply in the first half. Made himself available more in the second half.
Britton - As with most of the team, poor in the first half but much more involved in the second
Robinson. As Britton, but his play still shows he is not happy on the left.
Conner - Invisible in the first half, came stronger in the second, should have had a second, but first touch needs improving.
Trundle - What can be said? A match winner and entertainer. A striker needs to have some selfishness and belief, but unfortunately the balance went the wrong way later in the game, as goals went begging.
No subs used - We thought a strange decision as it seemed an ideal time to maybe give Pritchard a run and also Maylett 15 mins to get match fit.
General Comments
Another good crowd, but how many Swans chants were heard in the first 15mins. Whilst happy with the 3 valuable points, this game was an ideal time to improve our goal difference, making it as good as another point. Chester were dead as a team for a large part of the second half. Did we kill them off??

Att: 8,989.

Ref: I Williamson (Berkshire).

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