Match report

Today's tactics would be interesting after Kenny Jackett claiming after the Cambridge game we were "too direct". The difference now being ,perhaps, he would prefer one extra pass, before lumping the ball forward!

Today's opponents, Lincoln, looked as usual to have plenty of six-footers to suit their long ball game.

On three minutes a poor corner from Robinson was miscued on the near post by a Lincoln defender. The ball sliced off his foot into the path of Izzy six yards out. He coolly turned and fired into the net with his left foot.

Swansea just about had the better of an untidy opening and on ten minutes birthday boy Kris O'Leary fired wide with a volley from twenty yards.

The early football from both sides was far from pretty with no player prepared to put their foot on the ball.

There were very few goal attempts in a poor half, but finally the game came to life on thirty-five minutes when first Forbes should have done better with a header, then Connor almost scored with a close range effort that was well saved by Lincoln's goalkeeper Alan Marriott.

This sparked Lincoln into life, and Gueret was forced into two great saves in the space of a minute.

The game went back to the pattern of Lincoln pumping balls fifty feet up and fifty yards forward, and Swansea playing slightly better football, but finding life very difficult into a strong wind, Trundle and Connor having little success against two giant centre halves of Ben Futcher and Paul Morgan.

It really was a first half lacking quality football, but with Swans 1-0 up few were complaining. Certainly not the kind of football on-looking John Hartson and Robbie Savage were used to.

Half-time bought the usual penalty competition with subs of both sides keeping themselves warm. Leon Britton, Alan Tate and Gary Fisken played an intricate game of keepy-uppies. While Lincoln's subs smashed fifty yards balls across the pitch to each other. Hope Kenny Jackett didn't see it.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Lincoln played the most direct football imaginable, and Swansea tried to play football, with neither side looking like scoring.

On seventy-minutes the first bit of Trundle magic as he beat his man and found Connor with a delightful cross. Connor failed to get any power into the header, which drifted wide.


With Lincoln never really threatening a goal, on seventy-five minutes Garry Monk clattered into a Lincoln striker and gave the Imps a penalty, surely, the only way they were going to score.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher struck the penalty well but it was brilliantly turned around the corner by Willy Gueret.

Swans hit back immediately with a fine run and cross from Andy Robinson, O'Leary made good ground in the box but headed just over.


The penalty had seemed to be the spark the Swans needed as they finally attacked with meaning. Trundle taunted his marker and Forbes had a few decent runs late on.

Lincoln never really threatened again, and Swans ran the clock down successfully.

So a win and three points in the bag, and everybody happy. Whilst Swans weren't pretty today, I pity Lincoln fans having to watch that football week-in-week-out. They looked more like a basketball team than a soccer team.

Gueret - 8 - Wonderful save from penalty and excellent display.

Ricketts - 7 - Little to do and given a quiet game as Lincoln failed to use the wings all afternoon.
Monk - 7 - At fault for the penalty but good otherwise.
Iriekpen - 8 - A good display capped by the goal.
Austin - 7 - Very similar game to Ricketts.

Forbes - 6 - Gave 100% and tracked back well, but little threat going forward.
Martinez - 8 - Back at his best.
O'Leary - 6 - Probably not suited to having Roberto in the holding role, as he is pushed forward which exposes his limitations.
Robinson - 6 - Still some way short of last years form.

Trundle - 7 - Some nice touches and a few snap shots but not his day.
Connor - 6 - Again battled hard against giant defenders.

Subs:
Britton - Not on long enough.

Monday, August 30, 2004

More optimism as the team was read out over the P.A, as most players were actually playing in their correct position.

A crowd of 6948 including John Hartson and Robbie Savage, with approx 75 from Lincoln

The game started with the Swans going straight for Lincoln. It was the start we hoped for but even in our dreams we couldn't have hoped to be 1-0 within the first 3 mins. Early pressure had Lincoln on the back foot and eventually conceded a corner. The clearance from a badly taken corner from Robinson was messed up by the Lincoln defenders and as the ball bobbled inside the six yard box it was Izzy who reacted the quickest to thump the ball into the back of the net. It was the settling start we needed to take some of the pressure off the team. The Swans were totally dominant at this stage and after some neat build up play O'Leary hit a half volley from outside the area which went well wide. The defence looked strong and played as a unit, coping well with anything Lincoln threw at them.

With the game looking as if it was only time before we got our second there was one shock as Gueret had to pull off a fine diving save to his right from a shot that had goal written all over it. On the half hour mark, it seemed, that by not getting the second that the play had warranted, the team seemed to sit back as Lincoln came more into the game without any real threat on goal. The same can be said for the Swans as most of the last 15mins seemed to be played out scrappily between the two penalty areas. Plenty of running but no end result.

So the first half can be summed up with a very good display by the defence but again our final ball forward lacked the killer touch. At least the nerves had settled as we led 1-0.

Lincoln had used their 3 subs before the hour as they looked for brawn over brains. They were playing route one football putting the defence under increasing pressure. Although allowing for some last minute clearances, the defence overall coped well. Without any yellow cards in the first half, it seemed that every 5 mins saw one in the second. 4 Lincoln players for bad tackles. Martinez for a cynical trip as a player went past him in midfield and Izzy for getting involved in a nothing situation.

We were now being overrun as Lincoln took control of the game, while Gueret and the defence stood firm, it did seem as it was only time before Lincoln got an equaliser. That moment nearly came as the ref awarded Lincoln a penalty. Without having a clear view it did seem harsh, but there were not any dissenting calls from the players. With Trundle pointing to right corner Gueret dived full length to pull off a magnificent save. This lifted the Swans game, and the crowd, who had started to doze in the sunshine.

The final 10mins saw us mostly back in control as the penalty save affected Lincoln. Britton replaced Robinson late on and Fisken for Forbes for the final 3 mins. 3 extra minutes were added to add to the tension but the final whistle blew with us worthy winners but 1-0 too close for comfort.

Players Comments.

Gueret - Hardly put a foot wrong, 3 good saves as well as the penalty. Looking more composed with each game.
Ricketts - Much better in his natural right back position. Good game, but does overrun the ball when joining the attack.
Iriekpen - Excellent game strong in the air and fast on the ground. Only criticism getting involved for the yellow card
Monk - Another good performance, battled well against much taller opposition.
Austin - Solid display
Forbes - Plenty of running but no end result. That until on the hour we thought he should be subbed, then put in many dangerous crosses.
O'Leary - Again a game of commitment, stood up well to some of the rough and tumble in midfield.
Martinez - Good organization and some timely interceptions, but his first touch has deserted him, putting us under pressure on numerous occasions.
Robinson - Nearly invisible in the first half. Blew hot and cold in the second, seems to want too much time on the ball.
Connor - Battled well without much success. Never looks a danger near the penalty area although was up against some tall defenders.
Trundle. - Not involved in the first half, but much more involved in the second. Tried some tricks and deserved a goal.
Britton and Fisken - not on long enough.

So back to the game. Our first home win of the season and the first win for Kenny Jackett at the Vetch. Adding to the win at Cambridge it has given Swans fans a happy holiday period. Although not a classic display it was worked for. Hopefully we now have our settled back four in front of the improving Gueret. The question mark still hangs over midfield, as it was a nearly performance. Nearly the right ball, nearly the right option.

Let's hope it gels as this should be a platform we can improve on.

Two 1-0 wins, let's not get too carried away, but life now is a lot, lot happier than a few days ago.

And even better. No traffic problems.

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