Match report

Two defeats and a draw in the last three games should have provided all the inspiration needed today as Swansea welcomed Grimsby to a cold and windy Vetch Field.

Kenny Jackett has moved quickly since the poor performance at Orient bringing in Marcus Bean on loan until he end of the season, and signing Kevin McLeod for an undisclosed fee, both from QPR. Today Bean got his first start, but McLeod had to start on the bench. Paul Connor rather luckily kept his place ahead of Lee Thorpe. Andy Gurney and Adrian Forbes both returned from injury. Surprisingly Brian Murphy didn't feature on the bench which was made up of five outfield players.

Side - Gueret, Gurney, Iriekpen, Austin, Ricketts, Forbes, Bean, Martinez, Robinson, Connor, Trundle.

Subs - Tate, Britton, McLeod, O'Leary, Thorpe.

Swans started well with Marcus Bean involved in most moves. The games first opportunity came following a mistake by a Grimsby defender, who gifted the ball to Andy Robinson, but his left foot cross fell just behind Lee Trundle. Grimsby then had a penalty appeal rightfully turned aside when Michael Reddy blatently dived in the box and was told so in no uncertain terms by Izzy Iriekpen.
Grimsby then almost grabbed the lead when a run and long range shot by Martin Gritton needed a good save by Willy Gueret.

Grimsby, like so many teams this season were beginning to get the upper hand and were playing he better football. It took Swansea until the twentieth minute to have a serious shot on target, with a well struck volley by Paul Connor from an Andy Gurney cross was well saved by Anthony Williams in the Grimsby goal.

Swans were totally unable to get control of the midfield and Grimsby looked to be most likely to score with Gritton and Reddy looking an excellent partnership.

On forty minutes a woeful back pass from Sam Ricketts fell way short of Willy, and was collected by Gritton whose first shot was blocked by the keeper. The ball fell to Michael Reddy whose cross was cleared off the line by Gurney. There followed a succession of shots which were blocked before the Swans finally cleared the danger.

With two minutes to half time we thought we were to be saved again by a Lee Trundle free kick which he had won just outside the box, but his quickly taken kick was easily saved by Williams. The half time whistle couldn't come soon enough and Grimsby must have wondered why they weren't in front at the break.

Kenny Jacket must have considered any number of changes at half time, but just Alan Tate was brought in to replace a limping Izzy Iriekpen.
Things didn't look any better at the start of the second half with Swansea losing possession all too easily.
On sixty minutes after looking assured since he had taken the field , Alan Tate conspired to give Reddy an easy scoring opportunity with a dreadful backheader. However, Reddy scuffed his shot wide to save Tate's blushes. The largely ineffectual Paul Connor was then replaced by Lee Thorpe. This second substitution at least provided some impetus as Swans desperately tried to gain the upper hand. Ten minutes later saw the debut of Kevin McLeod, replacing Adrian Forbes. This left Leon Britton still on the bench, despite the crowd having been calling for him for twenty minutes. McLeod took up position on the left, with Andy Robinson switching to the right.

McLeod almost assumed hero status after only being on the pitch for a couple of minutes, with a lovely piece of control and a perfect cross which Lee Thorpe headed just wide when he really should have scored.

With just fifteen minutes left Swans had their best move of the game. A pass from Andy Gurney was chested by Thorpe into the path of Robinson whose left foot shot from twenty yards flashed just wide.

Trundle then warmed the keeper's hands with a turn and shot from thirty yards but the Swans still weren't able to provide that clear cut chance.
With full time nearly up Marcus Bean seemed to be pulled down in the area but referee Scott Mathieson ,who had given us two pens in the match against Hull in May 2003, saw nothing.
With the game going into injury time Lee Trundle looked to be through on goal but a last gasp challenge by Ramsden put pressure on Lee, who only managed to shoot straight into the arms of Williams.

A poor result was turned into a bad day all round with news that Scunthorpe, Macclesfield and Yeovil all won today. Thank goodness Cardiff didn't play today. No doubt they would have won as well. It was that sort of day.



Gueret 7- Not too much to do. Made a couple of good saves.
Guerney 7 - Good game, but still the target of the boo boys.
Iriekpen 6 -Given a roasting by Gritton and Reddy first half.
Austin 6 - Another who struggled to cope with a lively striking duo.
Ricketts 7 - Decent game in both attack and defence.
Forbes 5 - Hardly involved at all.
Bean 6 - Decent enough debut.
Martinez 5 - Very poor today.
Robinson 6 - Did OK but too selfish too often.
Connor 5 - Poor first touch, was no threat to a well marshalled defence.
Trundle 6 - Marked well by 2 or 3 defenders all afternoon.
Subs
Tate 7 - One dreadful mistake but otherwise did very well.
Thorpe 6 - Won a few headers but should have scored with the game's easiest chance.
McLeod 7 - Caught the eye with some lovely touches. Should give crossing lessons to Maylett and Forbes.

Swansea v Grimsby BBCi

Swansea's automatic promotion hopes took another dive as they were held to a goalless draw by lowly Grimsby.
Martin Gritton and Michael Reddy caused the home defence countless problems, but striker Reddy was guilty of missing a number of gilt-edged chances.

His best opportunity came on the hour when a mistake by substitute Alan Tate let Reddy in on goal but he failed to control the ball.

Third-place Swansea have now gone four League Two games without a win



Swansea: Gueret, Ricketts, Austin, Gurney, Iriekpen (Tate 45), Martinez, Robinson, Forbes (McLeod 69), Bean, Trundle, Connor (Thorpe 61). Subs Not Used: O'Leary, Britton.

Grimsby: Williams, Ramsden, Forbes, Whittle, Bull, Crowe (Crane 80), Fleming, Coldicott, Hockless (Pinault 67), Gritton, Reddy. Subs Not Used: Downey, Parkinson, Jones.

Booked: Fleming.

Att: 7,760

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