Match report

We kept the same side that won at MK Dons with Austin returning to the bench. Hartlepool were a very pysical side in the first 15 mins Monk, Connor and McLeod were subject to late challanges Connors resulting in him limping off and meaning we were down to 10 men (Well Thorpe came on same thing really).

For the first half we looked like we thought we only had to turn up and would be given the 3 points Hartlepool were by far the better side apart from Martinez our midfield was non existent and they deservedly took the lead from a dubious free kick I thought Martinez won the ball. The free kick was poor but Willy went for a photo opportunity save and mucked it up completely. It took us 35 mins to have our 1st shot saying that after struggling for the 1st 45 Trundle missed a sitter on the stroke of Half Time overall the 678 jacks were more than happy only to be one down we were lucky it wasn't 2 or 3.

Kenny must have done the trick and the 10 men plus Thorpe came out a different side in the second half before the hour was up Trundle equalised from a header and when he was clearly fouled he took the pen which the keeper saved but Trundle scuffed in the rebound. We now played our best football of the game but too often Trundle was isolated and offered no support from the midfield. Pool started to mount pressure and a lapse in concentration by Ricketts although could have been Mcleod resulted in an excellent cross and the equaliser. The rest of the game was played out with no real threat from either side and I think overall we just about did enough to deserve the point.

Willy - 5 At fault for first goal did ok in 2nd Half

Tate - 7 Did well defending no overlapping today

Ricketts - 6 Not at his best

Monk - 5.5 Struggled today

Izzy - 6 Same as Monk

Robinson - 6 Not really in the game

McLeod - 5.5 Another quiet game for Kev

Bean - 6 An in and out performance

Martinez - 8.5 Excellent again

Connor - 7 Did ok lets hope injury not too serous

Trundle - 8 Just pipped for MOM did loads of work hld the ball up well

Thorpe - 0 Whats wrong with the youth team or Pritchard or Nugent this bloke looks out of his depth

Hartlepool 2 Swansea City 2 - Match Report - iCWales

LEE TRUNDLE prevented another Hartlepool horror show as his two-goal salvo kept Swansea City top of League One.

The high-flying Swans had taken the quick route for the 350-mile trip to the north-east by letting the plane take the strain on Friday afternoon.

But Swansea were in danger of being grounded by their robust Hartlepool hosts until Trundle netted for the sixth successive game, striking twice in the space of four second-half minutes.

Trundle's double - one a downward header and the other a follow-up after his penalty had been saved - wiped out the half-time deficit and, even though Antony Sweeney grabbed a point for 'Pool, there was understandable relief in the Swansea camp.

"I'm satisfied with a point the way the game went," reflected Swans' boss Kenny Jackett after his side had withstood a pounding from Hartlepool's aerial approach.

"At 2-1 ahead we were all hopeful of the three points. But collectively we weren't at our best, so I'm pleased to be going home with a point."

Swansea stay in pole position because of results elsewhere but Jackett knows his players must show more than they did here if they are not to be remembered just as early-season pace-setters.

Jackett kept faith with the team which beat MK Dons 3-1 in midweek for Swansea to claim top spot in the third tier of English football for the first time since 1992.

The early action was scrappy and the visitors were grateful for the presence of Garry Monk who was prominent in dealing with searching long balls directed towards the Swansea back four.

Hartlepool demanded a ninth-minute penalty when Izzy Iriekpen handled Michael Nelson's shot but referee Tony Leake deemed the contact accidental.

The Swans suffered a blow when Paul Connor limped out of the action after 16 minutes and 'Pool were soon ahead when Roberto Martinez fouled Thomas Butler 25 yards out. Though Ritchie Humphreys struck the free-kick well, Willy Gueret appeared to have it covered but the Frenchman could only palm the ball inside the near post.

Having been out-muscled in the opening half-hour, Swansea eventually found some rhythm and Trundle turned smartly before sending a tame shot at Greek keeper Dimi Konstantopolous.

There was another scare for Swansea on the stroke of half-time when Mark Tinkler's 20-yard shot shaved Gueret's post.

Hartlepool were made to pay in dramatic fashion when Trundle spun the contest on its head after 56 minutes.

First Alan Tate galloped into space down the right and his cross found substitute Lee Thorpe at the far post. The ball fell invitingly to Andy Robinson who swivelled and his looping centre was met by the predatory Trundle.

The small band of Swans fans were celebrating again when Kevin McLeod's firm header allowed Trundle to turn Neill Collins in the box and the Scouse striker was crudely upended.

Konstantopoulos guessed correctly to his left but Trundle followed up his spot-kick smartly and prodded the ball home with his right foot.

But Swansea hopes of a fifth straight win were ruined when Michael Maidens whipped in a cross from the right and Sweeney planted a super header inside Gueret's right-hand post.

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Hartlepool: Konstantopoulos, Darren Williams, Nelson, Collins, Humphreys, Maidens (Istead 80), Sweeney, Tinkler (Turnbull 63), Butler, Proctor (Foley 63), Daly.
Subs Not Used: Provett, Jones.

Booked: Butler.

Goals: Humphreys 25, Sweeney 76.

Swansea: Gueret, Tate, Monk, Iriekpen, Ricketts, Robinson, Bean, Martinez, McLeod, Connor (Thorpe 15), Trundle, Thorpe (Austin 89).
Subs Not Used: Murphy, Goodfellow, MacDonald.

Booked: Tate.

Goals: Trundle 56, 61.

Att: 4,743

Ref: T Leake (Lancashire).

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