Match report

Video of the goals

Is it me or has this been the coldest season for watching the Swans? Yet another chilly night for the visit of second placed Brentford.

Kenny Jackett made just one change from the excellent LDV Vans win at Colchester with Lee Trundle replacing Leon Knight up front.

Side- Gueret, Tate, Monk, Lowe, Ricketts, Britton, Martinez, O'Leary, Robinson, Akinfenwa, Trundle.
Subs- Murphy, Way, Forbes, Knight, Fallon.

Brentford had the better of the early exchanges, forcing a couple of early corners. Brentford were fast and physical across all areas of the field and it was soon obvious that Swans would need to be at their best to compete with them.

Swans rare attacks broke down all too easily with Lee Trundle and Bayo Akinfenwa often left isolated and marshalled by 4 or 5 Brentford defenders.

Despite Brentford dominating the early stages it was Swans that took the lead. Andy Robinson and Sam Ricketts played some good football before Sam put over an excellent cross to the far post. Leon Britton was given time and space to control the ball and lay it across the 6 yard line for Bayo to turn the ball in past Stuart Nelson in the Brentford goal.

Brentford responded well with Lloyd Owusu bursting past a couple of challenges and with just Willy to beat and about to pull the trigger, Sam Ricketts got in a last ditch challenge.

A minute later Jay Tabb had a well struck shot from just outside the area that thankfully was straight at Willy.

Brentford were pushing for the equaliser but the manner in which it came will again give Kenny Jackett sleepless nights. Left back Andy Frampton made a run of about 15 yards from deep in the middle to the near post. No Swans player picked up his run and he had a free header that he buried in the net past a prostate Willy Gueret. It was a shocking goal to concede.

Swans struggled to get a foothold in the game and Brentford again took the upper hand. However, Lee Trundle almost restored Swans lead with a quickly taken free kick that caught the keeper out of position. Nelson made excellent ground and just managed to turn the ball around the post. It was Andy Robinson's turn next with a free kick from the edge of the box that was deflected of a defender's head for a corner.

It was the last action of the first half. Brentford for all their possession had not driven home their advantage and Swans had probably had a share at decent attempts on goal.

Brentford looked again to be obtaining the upper hand in the early stages of the second half and should have taken the lead when Keith Lowe lost possession just inside the Brentford half. Paul Booker broke clear and with just Willy to beat he fired into Willy's body.

Kenny Jackett took a huge gamble in making a double substitution after just 54 minutes. He replaced Bayo Akinfenwa and Roberto Martinez and brought on Rory Fallon and Adrian Forbes.

Forbesy went left midfield and Andy Robinson came central. Within minutes Swans had lifted the tempo 100%. Forbesy was running at people and had injected the pace that had been missing and Fallon was causing his marker all sorts of problems.

On the hour Fallon showed just what he can do. He picked a ball up wide on the right, and watched by 2 defenders, he left both for dead before curling a left foot shot that seemed destined for the top corner only for Nelson to somehow turn the ball over for a corner.

The substitutions had turned the game around and Brentford were now very much on the back foot.

Lee Trundle showed both the good and the bad within a couple of minutes. First he jacked out with both feet at his marker as both lay on the ground. A stronger referee than Mr Tanner could well have shown him the red card and a minute later Trunds almost scored after picking up a woeful back pass, he then hit a powerful drive that Nelson did well to keep out. Adrian Forbes following up smacked the ball goal ward only for Nelson to save with his knee. The ball ballooned up and Fallon won the header and looked to have broken his goal drought but a defender cleared the ball from what looked like the wrong side of the goal line.

Adrian Forbes then had a terrific run beating 5 men, resembling the John Barnes goal for England against Brazil many years ago. Sadly his finish was high, wide and not very handsome.

Lee Trundle went close again with an overhead shot after good work from Forbes and Fallon again.

Despite all Swans pressure now Brentford still looked dangerous on the break and Rhodes missed a glorious opportunity after a mistake from Sam Ricketts.

With just 5 minutes to go Andy Robinson was brought down just outside the box. With most of Brentford's defensive wall watching or pointing in Lee Trundle's direction, Andy Robinson lifted an excellent free kick over the wall and past the despairing dive of Nelson.

The final minutes saw Swans sitting back and Brentford throwing the kitchen sink at us. Thankfully Swans held and firm and with seconds remaining broke clear. Adrian Forbes ran 50 yards and had Rory Fallon in support. Forbesy committed both covering defenders before slipping the ball to Rory Fallon. He rounded the keeper and with the goal at his mercy fired against the post. It was the final act of a brilliant Swans turnaround.

If only Swans could bottle the heart and commitment shown in the final 36 minutes promotion would be assured.

Ratings-

Gueret 6- Some good saves, but far from commanding.

Tate 7- Another solid performance.
Monk 8- Outstanding.
Lowe 6- A couple of howlers but otherwise did well.
Ricketts 6 - Still too many mistakes.

Britton 7- Another committed performance.
O'Leary 7 - A few crunching tackles, but with him and Martinez in midfield at home just seems far too negative if we are trying to win games.
Martinez 5- A long way off his best.
Robinson 7- Not his best game but yet another goal.

Akinfenwa 7- Had little change out of a strong defence but grabbed another goal.
Trundle 6- Hardly involved first half, much better second half.

Subs-
Forbes 9- The pace he injected into the game was probably the turning point.
Fallon 9 - Did everything but score. Superb.

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Swansea: Gueret, Tate, Monk, Lowe, Ricketts, Britton, Robinson, O'Leary, Martinez (Forbes 55), Trundle (Way 90), Akinfenwa (Fallon 55).
Subs Not Used: Knight, Murphy.

Booked: Lowe.

Goals: Akinfenwa 20, Robinson 86.

Brentford: Nelson, Tillen, Sodje, Turner, Frampton, Tabb, Newman (Willock 88), Brooker (Rhodes 56), Pratley, Owusu, Rankin.
Subs Not Used: Gayle, Smith, Bankole.

Booked: Newman, Rankin.

Goals: Frampton 30.

Att: 13,508.

Ref: S Tanner (Somerset).

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