Match report

Match Report - Nigel Gigg, Pictures - Gary Martin


All the good work of the win over Millwall has been undone over the last 7 days with the defeats at Northampton in the League and Peterborough in the Johnstone Paints Cup, as the Swans continue their 'stop start' season.

Tonight Kenny Jackett at least was able to go back to the same starting line-up he fielded against Millwall with the return of Darren Pratley from injury.

Kevin Bond's Bournemouth included ex Premiership star Darren 'sicknote' Anderton and James Hayter who has been winning rave reviews with his goal scoring exploits from midfield.

Side- Gueret, Tate, Lawrence, Iriekepen, Williams, Britton, Pratley, O Jones, Robinson, Trundle, Fallon. Subs- Austin, Amankwaah, MacDonald, C Jones, Akinfenwa.

Just 3 minutes in and after a slow start, Swans took the lead. An inswinging corner from the right from Lee Trundle was watched by all the Bournemouth defence and Izzy Iriekepen was able to bundle the ball over the line from 5 yards or so.

Swans would have been grateful for the early gift and it gave them the confidence to play a passing game.

Both Lee Trundle and Rory Fallon had early chances to extend the lead from a shot and header respectively.

After 17 minutes Lee Trundle made a terrific run and he eventually chipped the ball over the advancing Gareth Stewart in the Bournemouth goal but the full back popped up to clear the ball off the line. The clearance fell straight to Rory Fallon and he fired a first time shot that went straight into the arms of the lucky Stewart.

Bournemouth were doing their best to play football, but were starved of possession and were losing the midfield battle. However, Hayter in particular was causing the Swans defence a few headache with his runs from midfield.

Swans were causing Bournemouth problems from all angles with Leon Britton and Tom Williams in particular providing some excellent crosses.

Swans were content to retain possession and wait patiently for an opening which was frustrating Bournemouth.

Bournemouth did break out of the shackles on 35 minutes and Steve Foley volleyed a cross from the right toward the bottom corner and was denied by an excellent save from Willy Gueret.

Swans had had the vast majority of the possession in the first half and would have been disappointed not to have added to their early goal.

The Swans started the second half as if the players had all eaten a 3 course meal during the half time break. They were slower by a yard or so than they had been in the first half and Bournemouth took the upper hand.

Shaun MacDonald replaced Owain Jones on 51 minutes.

After 10 minutes of Bournemouth pressure, Leon Britton robbed the ball in midfield, worked some space for himself before threading the ball through to Andy Robinson. Robbo played the ball in the path of Tom Williams who had made an excellent run from deep and Williams having spotted Stewart off his line, delicately chipped the ball over Stewart's head. With the ball certainly going in, (if it wasn't already in), Rory Fallon followed up to tap home.

Two minutes later and the game was surely safe as Swans scored a third. Lee Trundle bamboozled the full back on the corner flag, leaving him on his backside . Trunds then send over a perfect cross and Rory Fallon thundered a header home from 6 yards off the underside of the bar.

3-0 up and everyone expected champagne football with Bournemouth rolling over and dying. But no. Bournemouth showed resolution and grit and Swans started to play over confidently and gifted the ball away far too easily.

Bournemouth were rewarded on 77 minutes with a simple goal. Danny Holland received the goal 12 yards out. He was allowed far too much time and was able to pick his spot to score past Willy Gueret.

A minute or so later Kevin Amankwaah replaced Darren Pratley who limped off down the tunnel quickly followed by the club Doctor.

Bournemouth continued to push forward and scored a second on 84 minutes when the defence stood still allowing Brett Pitman to get to Shaun Maher's header, when at least one Swans defender and probably Willy Gueret should have got there before Pitman.

Thankfully the second goal was the wake up Swans needed and they responded well to see the game out.

With just 30 seconds of the four minutes of injury time left, Lee Trundle received a Kevin Amankwaah throw in on the right. He turned his marker, moved infield and bent a shot into the top corner from 20 yards. It was vintage Trundle.

Before the game restarted Kevin Austin replaced Andy Robinson and Austin hadn't even got across to the left before the referee's final whistle went.

It had been a six goal thriller in the end but Kenny Jackett could have sleepless nights if he watches the video.

Ratings -

Gueret 6- Another game when he lacked authority in his own box.

Tate 8 - Excellent in attack and defence.
Lawrence 6 - Good for 60 minutes, then panic set in.
Iriekepen 7 - As above but did get a goal early on from a corner which is a rare event for us.
Williams 7 - Good game, denied a goal by Rory Fallon. Looks a world beater one minute and gives the ball away the next.

Britton 8 - Ran his legs off.
Pratley 6 - Lost out too often second half.
Jones 6- Not sure if he was injured but did OK.
Robinson 6 - Offered little help to Williams in defence and lost possession too much second half.

Trundle 8 - Deserved a goal for his all round contribution.
Fallon 7 - Not his best game but two goals will help his confidence.

Subs -
MacDonald 8 - Excellent 40 minutes or so.
Amankwaah 6 - Proved he is not a midfield player.
Austin - On for all of 5 seconds.