Match report

Normally Bournemouth is the venue for party Conferences at this time of year; tonight they welcomed a Swansea City side still proudly sitting at the top of Coca Cola League One.

Bournemouth currently lie in 16th place, but are one of only three League One sides unbeaten at home (Bristol City and Tranmere being the others). Perversely all three sides are in the bottom half of the table.

No injury worries for the Swans but Kenny Jackett made a surprise collection in bringing in Kevin Austin for Garry Monk in the heart of defence.

Gueret
Tate - Austin - Iriekpen - Ricketts
Britton - Bean - Martinez - McLeod
Akinfenwa - Trundle

Subs: Murphy - Monk - O'Leary - Robinson - Goodfellow

Swans started brightly and almost took the lead in the first minute. An excellent move starting on the left ended with a cross from the right from Leon Britton, unfortunately Adebayo Akinfenwa headed just wide of the post.

Swans dominated the early exchanges and certainly looked as if they'd come looking for three points.

Kevin McLeod looked back at his best and fired a left foot shot just over the bar.

After fifteen minutes Lee Trundle went down in the area under a challenge, the referee Mr Hegley turned down Lee's appeal.

Kevin McLeod had a great opportunity with a near post header, from another Leon Britton cross, under little pressure he headed over.

Swans were having the bulk of the chances and the majority of the possession.

Their dominance deserved a goal and on twenty minutes, it looked as if it had arrived. Bournemouth repelled a couple of Swansea attacks before Sammy Ricketts picked the ball up just outside the box. He jumped over one challenge and fired a shot that took a deflection off the heel of the defender and ballooned over Neil Young in the Bournemouth goal. With all the travelling Jacks holding their breath the ball hit the cross bar before being cleared.

On thirty minutes the goal finally did arrive. An excellent Kevin McLeod corner was headed down by Izzy Iriekpen for Akinfenwa. He turned and shot from just six yards. Young produced a wonderful save only for Lee Trundle to follow up and fire in with his right foot from five yards.

A minute later and it was almost 2-0. Kevin McLeod won a challenge and fed Lee Trundle, he skinned his defender but with just Young in the Bournemouth goal to beat, he fired into the side netting.

Swans then had a quiet spell but Bournemouth never really threatened, until just a minute before half-time when James Keene seemed to pull Izzy to the ground. Mr Hegley saw no infringement and Keene had time to pick his spot, only to be denied by an excellent save by Willy Gueret.

One nil at half time was not a fair reflection on a half Swansea had dominated. After playing wonderful football for thirty minutes the Swans went off the boil after the goal, and Kenny Jackett would have had some harsh words to say at half time.

Swans started the second half as they had the first and were soon dominating possession.

Adebayo Akinfenwa had an early chance from a Lee Trundle cross, but after controlling the ball on his chest fired over. Two minutes later Bayo had another opportunity after again being freed by a Lee Trundle pass. With just the keeper to beat he fired straight at him.

Bournemouth finally stirred into life on fifty-four minutes when James Hayter's goal-bound header was brilliantly turned away by Willy Gueret.

On the hour Adebayo Akinfenwa again had a chance, this time he made it himself, turning his defender and firing in a shot that beat Young and came back off the underside of the bar.

Lee Trundle looked to have scored when he collected a fifty yard ball from Sam Ricketts on his chest. He turned and fired a shot that beat Young. Most of the Swansea fans started celebrating with the ball appearing to be in the net, unfortunately we soon realised the ball had gone into the side netting.

Izzy Iriekpen was the next to have a chance. Adebayo's shot was saved by Young but he dropped the ball at the feet of Izzy, who no doubt surprised, stuck out his foot but stabbed the ball wide of the post.

Swans were then guilty again of sitting back, allowing Bournemouth to come at them. Swans were becoming less of a threat going forward and Andy Robinson replaced Adebayo Akinfenwa with ten minutes left. The intention was to bolster a midfield that had lost its early dominance.

With three minutes to go Kevin McLeod almost scored after a great passing moment, but his chip sailed over the bar. In injury time Swans had two further chances, both falling to Robbo, but on each occasion he fired over the bar.


An away win is always welcome and many will see the 1-0 score-line and read into it that Swansea had scored and defended well. However, this game could easily have finished 6-2 to the Swans with the chances that were created.

Gueret - 8 - A couple of excellent saves, but generally a quiet game.

Tate - 8 - Pick of the defence once more.
Izzy - 7 - Lost Hayter once but otherwise a good game.
Austin - 7 - A few poor clearances but otherwise a decent game.
Ricketts - 8 - Did well in both attack and defence.

Britton - 9 - Superb from start to finish.
Martinez - 7 - A few wayward passes but helped us win control of the midfield.
Bean - 8 - Did sterling in front of the back four.
McLeod - 7 - Excellent first half but hardly involved second half.

Akinfenwa - 7 - Did everything but score.
Trundle - 8 - Caused Bournemouth problems all night, but guilty of being selfish two or three times.

Subs:
Robinson - 7 - Was desperate to score, but left his scoring boots behind today.

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.