Match report

Match pictures

With just about every Swans from near and far either at the game or watching on TV today, rather than the usual match report I thought I'd just do a diary of the day.

Another fretful night's sleep. Last night I dreamt we were 3-0 up at half time with Leon Knight scoring twice. Any chance of this being a premonition were dismissed however, as the game was played in a swimming pool with just a few hundred watching.

Made a mistake by watching the DVD of the LDV final for the first time over breakfast, which just added to the nerves. The build up this week has been terrific and a few people have mentioned to me the similarities with the Hull game 3 years ago. I couldn't agree. Three years ago the club was fighting for it's very existence and whilst defeat today would be a huge disappointment, it would not bring an end to SCFC as we know and love it.

We left at 10.15 a.m for the short trip to Cardiff and met up with around 30 friends from this site and some work colleagues at a restaurant in the Bay. We enjoyed an excellent lunch with a couple of beers before the 15 minute walk to the Millennium Stadium. It was great to see the streets packed with jacks and made up for the atrocious weather.

Once inside the ground it was great to see the Swans half of the ground fill to almost capacity in the biggest gathering of Swan fans ever.


Side- Gueret, Tate, Monk, Austin, Ricketts, Britton, O'Leary, Jones, Robinson, Knight, Fallon. Subs- Murphy, Williams, McLeod, Akinfenwa, Trundle.

The first half of the game saw Swans start better but fell behind to a Barnsley goal on 19 minutes when former Swans target Martin Deveaney send over a cross from the right wing. Kevin Austin, under pressure, did well to win the header but only cleared the ball behind him where Paul Hayes was unmarked. He hit a first time shot that beat Willy Gueret on his near post.

Swans and their 33,000 fans were stunned for a few minutes and all the noise was now coming from the Barnsley fans . Swans soon regained their composure and scored a deserved equaliser on 28 minutes. Sam Ricketts took a free kick in the centre circle that he rolled back to Garry Monk. He floated the ball into the box where Owain Jones won the header and flicked the ball on to Rory Fallon. From 8 yards out and with his back to goal Rory tried the spectacular overhead kick which he did to perfection sending the ball into the roof of the net. The closed roof was almost lifted by the roar from the Swans fans.

Twelve minutes later and Swans were in front. A quickly taken free kick 40 yards out by Kris O'Leary was touched to Andy Robinson. He ran about 15 yards unchallenged before firing a shot at goal. There looked little danger with the ball going straight at Barnsley keeper Nick Colgan. He let the ball squirm from his hands and across the line to send the Swans throng into ecstacy.

Barnsley looked a beaten side as they trudged off at half time.

Swans had much the better of the start of the second half without really testing an unsure looking Colgan again. With the pressure Swans applied they really should have been pushing for the third goal and Barnsley looked to have little to offer going forward, but were thrown a lifeline on 62 minutes. Garry Monk brought down Brian Howard on the edge of the box. Willy Gueret didn't seem happy with the wall and then stood rooted to the stop as Nardiello's free kick went within a yard of Willy who must have been unsighted. It was the softest of soft goals to concede.

Swans did battle back to once more look the better side but chances were now at a premium. Lee Trundle replaced Leon Knight and almost scored with a terrific run and a shot that went just wide but the game drifted towards extra time.

With just a minute to go Swans had a gilt edged chance to win it. Leon Britton freed Alan Tate who had made a great run into the box. Tatey had a good first touch but his shot from just 10 yards was wide of the post and all around him held their heads in their hands.

Extra time saw Bayo Akinfenwa and Kevin MacLeod replacing Rory Fallon and a tired looking Andy Robinson and although Swans had much the better of extra time penalties seemed inevitable.

After Lee Trundle and Leon Britton had struck excellent penalties, Bayo tried to be too clever stopping half way through his stride pattern and then lifted the ball over the bar.

Barnsley's four penalties all sent Willy the wrong way but Willy may have been guilty of telegraphing his movement to each of the penalty takers. The unlucky Alan Tate took Swans 5th and final penalty which was well saved by Colgan to see Barnsley take the prize of promotion.

The minutes after the end were then something of a daze. Swans fans all around were shell shocked and several players looked distraught. Meanwhile 22,000 Barnsley fans were delirious and starting a party that no Swans fan would have wished to witness.

My two daughters were in floods of tears as were many around us. If this is what football is all about perhaps myself and my family should take the advice of our good friend Jan Linssen.

Three years ago when Jan was in Swansea filming ' That Final Day' for Dutch television he had told my wife after seeing what the pressure of that day had done to our family, that we may all be better off giving up on football and taking up fishing. Today it felt for an hour or so that he may just be right. But come August we all know we'll be back for more heartache in the hope…….

Ratings

Gueret 5 - Not a good day for Big Willy.

Tate 7 - Lacked composure at the moment he needed to stay cool. However, he's been superb this season and it's really hard to be critical of him today.
Monk 7 - A few wayward passes but generally solid.
Austin 7 - Possibly Big Kev's last game for us and what a hero he's been.
Ricketts 7 - Good game. Supported attacks down the left well.

Britton 9 - Absolutely superb for 120 minutes.
O'Leary 7- Quiet for 75 minutes but got better and better after that.
Jones 7 - Excellent early on but did tend to drift out of things later on.
Robinson 6 - Tired badly late on.

Knight 6 - Not the LK we saw at Brentford.
Fallon 8 - Workhorse all afternoon and excellent strike for goal.

Subs
Trundle 8 - Real livewire and unlucky not to score.
McLeod 7 - Caused Barnsley huge problems late on.
Akinfenwa 6 - All action as usual but failed to create a chance for himself.