Match report

After two league wins, confidence was high as we made the short trip to Yeovil. Yeovil have started well this season and this would be a real test for the Swans. Around 700 Jacks in a decent crowd in mid Somerset on a warm afternoon.

New signing Andy Gurney took his place on the bench. Alan Tate remarkably was watching from the stand, and Swans had no keeper on the bench as Brian Murphy was on under-21 International duty.

Roberto Martinez became the first yellow card of the day for obstruction. The booking was harsh to say the least. This was the first of some questionable refereeing decisions.

The first shot of the game came on eighteen minutes when, from a Trundle cross, Forbes bicycle-kicked over by about twenty feet.

Two minutes later and after an intricate passing movement Andy Robinson hit a twenty-yard right foot shot that seemed destined for the corner before goalkeeper Chris Weale just got a hand to it, to turn the ball around the corner.

On twenty-five minutes Lee Trundle turned the first of Yeovils' centre-halves inside out, danced passed the second of the centre-halves only to be upended just outside the box. Incredibly whilst giving the free-kick, referee, Mr Singh, took no further action. Perhaps inconsistency is Mr Singh's middle name.

From the free-kick the ball broke loose and an Izzy shot from twenty-five yards was again turned around the post when a goal looked certain.

At this stage the Swans were playing the best football we have seen this year, with Yeovil pinned back in their own half, and reliant on break away's.

Trundle latched onto a quickly taken free-kick from Roberto, and caught the defence flat-footed as their keeper came out, he shot past him, but the ball rolled agonizingly past the post.

On forty-three minutes, Andy Gurney replaced Paul Connor who had taken a knock. Adrian Forbes went up-front to join Lee Trundle, and Gurney slotted into the right of midfield.

Andy Gurney almost had a dream start of a thirty-yard pile-driver with his first touch. Unfortunately the ball sailed well over the bar.

Half-time arrived and Swans could consider themselves unlucky not to be at least one up. The midfield, with Martinez and Kris O'Leary outstanding, were dominating things.

Yeovil made two substitutions at half-time acknowledging Swansea's superiority, bringing on Gavin Williams and Andrejs Stolcers. The substitutions almost had an immediate effect when Stolcers burst through at the end of Yeovil's best move and fired over from twenty yards.

Andy Robinson had a shot deflected just wide of the post as Swansea tried to regain control, but to no avail as the Swans failed to hang onto the ball now, and Yeovil started to attack in waves.

On fifty-four minutes another substitution with Kris O'Leary replaced by Brad Maylett. O'Leary had probably been about the best player on the park. Straight after the substitution our defence opened up but thankfully Phil Jevons shot wide again.

On fifty-seven minutes Trundle created space for himself and bent the ball towards the top corner, again goalkeeper, Chris Weale, tipped the ball around for a corner.

Four minutes later, Willy Gueret saved the Swans with a great save from a Roy O'Brien shot.

On seventy minutes Brad Maylett, who had been ineffective, limped off to be replaced by Kevin Nugent. Adrian Forbes moved back to the right of midfield, and Gurney moved to centre-midfield.

Within two minutes of coming on Nugent was put through, and did well to shrug off the centre-half, it was one-on-one with keeper Weale, but he shot early and his effort was well saved.

On eighty-three minutes, Roberto Martinez committed a poor challenge in midfield with his studs showing. Everybody expected the referee to blow up and dismiss Roberto. However, he rightly played the advantage, and this caught the Swansea defence napping. Monk dived into a challenge on Jevons and was probably unlucky to see a penalty awarded against him. By all accounts, Williams was offside but from our vantage point, at the other end of the ground, it was impossible to say.

Garry Monk protested strongly, but was shown the red card for a professional foul. Cardiff born Gavin Williams scored from the penalty spot before taunting the Swansea fans yet again in his celebration.

Monk's dismissal meant yet another change to the formation, and the Swans were unable to get back into the game.

In the last few minutes Swansea players resorted to arguing with one another, and Andy Robinson was needlessly booked for a rash challenge on defender Michael Rose.

Yet again a game which we seem to be controlling was allowed to slip away.


Gueret - 7 - Unable to rescue us with another penalty save but did well overall with one excellent save.

Ricketts - 7 - Looks at ease playing League football.
Monk - 6 - A decent game, possibly unlucky with the penalty decision.
Iriekpen - 8 - Super game both in defence and pushing forward.
Austin - 6 - Defended well, but should get forward a little more.

Forbes - 5 - Little or no threat going forward.
O'Leary - 8 - Was excellent until his enforced substitution.
Martinez - 7 - Good first half, but unable to hold Yeovils' attacks in the second.
Robinson - 6 - Still way off his best and spends too much time arguing with Trundle.

Connor - 6 - Did quite well in the time he was on.
Trundle - 6 - Worked hard and our most potent threat, but didn't get enough good service today.


Subs:
Gurney - 6 - On for forty-seven minutes was asked to play right-midfield, then centre-midfield, then back to right-midfield, and finally right-back. Impossible to judge him on this occasion.

Maylett - 4 - In the two minutes before his substitution he failed to track back allowing Yeovil to cross the ball easily, he lost possession going forward with poor ball control, and finally went down injured holding his thigh. Ineffective and frustrating as ever.

Nugent - 6 - Battled hard but had the best opportunity of the day, which he spurned.


A final word about the large Swansea contingent, some of whom let themselves and the club down today with racial taunting of the referee.

The referee admittedly had a very poor game, however, this was no excuse for some of the disgraceful outbursts from a number of the Swansea fans that only show their ignorance with their racist comments.

Would you like your match report printed here? Email it to the site straight after the match.
Click here to return to the main page.