Match report

We seem to go from one disappointment to another at the moment and if you could choose a game to get you back on track, you'd probably plump for Gillingham, struggling in the lower reaches of Division One and without a win on their travels this season.

Kenny Jackett made a number of changes to the starting line up, Sam Ricketts returned from flu in place of the injured Kevin Austin. Alan Tate still hadn't got over his knock and Leon Britton started right back allowing Izzy to move back into central defence in place of Steve Watt who dropped down to the bench. In midfield, Kevin McLeod retuned from injury and Darren Way also got a start with Adrian Forbes dropping down to the bench. Leon Knight replaced the injured Lee Trundle up front.

Side- Gueret, Britton, Monk, Iriekepen, Ricketts, Robinson, Way, Martinez, McLeod, Fallon, Knight. Subs Murphy, Watt, Forbes, McDonald, Akinfenwa.

Swans almost had the dream start with a goal inside 20 seconds. Leon Britton's cross should have been cleared by centre half Ian Cox, but he slipped allowing Leon Knight to hit a volley from 25 yards that just cleared the bar.

Swans were totally dominant in the early stages with the unusual pairing of Leon Britton and Andy Robinson causing Gillingham all kinds of problems from the right.

It was inter passing between Britton and Robinson that provided Leon Britton to put over an excellent cross to the near post for Rory Fallon. Fallon found space for himself and should really have hit the target with his header that flew past the near post.

On 17 minutes, totally against the run of play, Gillingham grabbed a shock lead.
Darren Byfield collected the ball just outside the box. He was given time and space to turn before he fired a left foot shot with very little back lift past Willy Gueret. Willy would have been disappointed not to at least get a touch.

The goal gave Gillingham confidence and belief and the front two of Byfield and Harris were giving Garry Monk and Izzy Iriekepen a torrid time.

It was no surprise to see Swans again lose their way after the setback of going one down. Although Andy Robinson was a constant threat from the right, there was little or no threat from the left as Sam Ricketts failed to get forward at all and Kevin McLeod was having yet another off day.

Gillingham were sitting back and trying to frustrate Swansea with appalling time wasting tactics that referee Mr Fletcher was slow to penalise.

Mr Fletcher added just 3 minutes injury time, after one single injury and treatment to a Gillingham player had lasted in excess of this. Mr Fletcher further infuriated Swans fans turning turn a penalty kick when Leon Knight was kicked by a defender who totally missed an attempted clearance and just managed to kick Knight into the air.

It had been another poor 45 minutes from the Swans.

At half time Kenny Jackett took off Darren Way for Adrian Forbes. Forbes went to right midfield with Andy Robinson going central.

Gillingham immediately resorted to their time wasting tactics at the start of the second half as Swans tried desperately to up the ante. The first opportunity of the second half didn't come until the 61st minute when an Adrian Forbes cross was excellently met by Rory Fallon. His header looked goal bound but sailed just wide of the far post with goalkeeper Jason Brown well beaten.

On 65 minutes Leon Britton hobbled off to be replaced by Shaun McDonald. This meant yet another change with Forbes dropping back to right back, and McDonald joining Martinez and Robinson in the centre of midfield.

On 67 minutes Gillingham's Michael Flynn was booked for time wasting and within a minute committed a poor challenge on Shaun McDonald to earn a second yellow and a red card. In the aftermath of the sending off Darren Spiller was also booked for dissent.

You'd think against a side without an away win and now down to 10 men, Swans would cease control of the game. Instead a comedy of errors again at the back gave Gillingham a 2-0 lead. Tommy Black was given time and space out on the right and his cross shot beat Willy Gueret all end up. Adrian Forbes cleared off the line but only succeeded in tapping the ball to Neil Harris who gratefully accepted the gift and tapped home from 5 yards.

Mr Fletcher, who had let far too much go in the first half, now was stamping on everything and issued further yellows to Black (unsporting behaviour), Byfield (foul) and Swansea's Kevin McLeod (foul).

Swans still couldn't find a way through and seemed devoid of ideas and all too often pumped high balls from central areas to Rory Fallon. In fairness to Fallon he was again winning plenty of headers but there was a lack of understanding between the big striker and his colleagues.

With 8 minutes to go Swans were thrown a lifeline. Leon Knight looked favourite to get on the end of a Fallon flick on and was upended in the area. Goalkeeper Brown became the sixth Gillingham player booked for dissent this time, before Andy Robinson fired home the penalty.

Alan Pouton became the seventh Gillingham player booked, again for dissent, before the game could restart.

Swans didn't make the most of their man advantage and never created another clear chance.

So yet another disappointing performance in front of another 14,000 plus crowd. The front two tonight of Fallon and Knight in patches why Kenny Jackett has brought them in. However, unsurprisingly there is little understanding yet between themselves and their colleagues. With new players coming in, you look to your experienced players he raise their game and take more responsibility, players like Garry Monk and Roberto Martinez. Sadly, tonight they again failed to do so.

Ratings –
Gueret 6- Looked to be partly to blame for both goals.

Britton 5- Like Izzy on Saturday, is no right back.
Monk 6 – Is not the tower of strength he was earlier in the season.
Iriekepen 5 – Given a roasting by Harris and Byfield.
Ricketts 5 – Questionable whether he had fully recovered from his bout of flu. Could be seen coughing numerous times.

Robinson 7 – Another good game, but needs to have a bit more faith in his strikers and pass to them once in a while rather than always taking the option to shoot himself.
Martinez 5 – No captain's performance.
Way 5- Playing him and Martinez side by side never worked.
McLeod 3- Would the real Kevin McLeod please come back.

Fallon 6 – Must wonder why he came here at the moment. Gets plenty of service but it would be nice if some of it came from out wide.
Knight 6 – We are just not playing to his strengths at the moment.

Subs-
Forbes 4- Usual all effort and little end product.
McDonald 6- Never afraid to try things.

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