Match report

SWANSEA City's League One play-off charge turned into a TT race at Bournemouth yesterday.
Alan Tate and Lee Trundle epitomised Swansea's fighting spirit at sun-drenched Dean Court to rescue the Welshmen's season when all looked in tatters.

City's never-say-die attitude, installed by new manager Roberto Martinez, was evident in the final seven minutes as Tate and Trundle struck to complete a miraculous comeback from two goals down to keep their slim play-off chances alive.

Swansea may have dropped a place to eighth last night but due to Oldham's shock home defeat to struggling Cheltenham, Martinez's men moved a point closer to the sixth-placed Latics.

The suave Swans coach felt the pain of play-off heartbreak last year as a player when Barnsley pipped Swansea on penalties to Championship promotion, but for Swansea to at least buy a ticket for the play-off lottery, mid-table Brighton, on-form promotion-chasers Blackpool and seventh-placed Carlisle must be put to the sword in their remaining fixtures.

But Martinez must have belief after watching his Swans play so poorly but scrape a result on the road to maintain their good form - just one defeat in nine - since he replaced Kenny Jackett at The Liberty Stadium in February.


Swansea lacked punch, drive, industry and a cutting edge in the opening hour yesterday as Bournemouth raced into a two-goal lead thanks to Marc Wilson and David McGoldrick strikes.


The relegation-threatened hosts thought that they had secured their League One status for another year when the Swans showed their battling qualities.

And their goal heroes couldn't have more contrasting scoring records.


Alan Tate picked just the right time to score his first for three years as the defender cracked a stunning 30-yard left-foot half-volley to throw Swansea a lifeline.


Darryl Duffy had an effort hit the post when the half clearance gave Tate, back from a ban after a red card at Millwall, the perfect invitation to post his goal-of-the-season contender in the 82nd minute. And how.


Within five minutes and with a flick of his trusty left foot, talisman Trundle secured Swansea's comeback with his 18th goal of the season after sub Pawel Abbot's shot had been parried by Bournemouth goalie Neil Moss.

If Swansea, though, showed the sort of fight they did in the final 10 minutes for the whole 90, Martinez would have celebrated a comfortable victory - and on-form Swans had the better early openings.


The best was created by Leon Britton who weaved past Warren Cummings to lay the ball on a plate but Darryl Duffy, scorer of two on his full debut against Port Vale last week, blazed over when he should've at least hit the target.

Duffy was soon rueing his miss when Bournemouth exposed Swansea's shambolic marking to open the scoring. Highly-rated starlet Wilson, on loan from Premiership Portsmouth, left his Pompey team-mate Richard Duffy dozing in the danger zone to power Warren Cummings' swinging left-wing corner past helpless Swans stopper Willy Gueret .


Right-back Duffy, borrowed from Fratton Park until the summer, stood to admire Wilson's third goal of the season in the 21st minute.


Swansea were allowing a Bournemouth side desperate to secure their League One status dominate them.

The hosts' inspiration was the outstanding one-time Premiership and England star Darren Anderton who bossed the game with a midfield masterclass.


Both he and Luke Summerfield left Gueret rooted to the spot with 30-yard efforts before David McGoldrick scored his sixth of the season on the hour as James Hayter teed him up.


But as the Swans army were contemplating a miserable trip home, their team's late, late show made an unexpected draw feel like a satisfying victory.

Bournemouth: Moss, Purches, Young, Gowling, Cummings, Summerfield (Broadhurst 86), Anderton (Hollands 63), Wilson, Hayter, McGoldrick (Pitman 82), Fletcher.
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Vokes.

Booked: Young, Wilson, Broadhurst, Pitman.

Goals: Wilson 22, McGoldrick 60.

Swansea: Gueret, Richard Duffy (Abbott 62), Iriekpen, Lawrence, Painter, Britton, Craney, O'Leary (Tate 52), Butler (Williams 52), Trundle, Darryl Duffy.
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Amankwaah.

Booked: Britton, Craney.

Goals: Tate 83, Trundle 88.

Att: 6,786

Ref: C Penton (Sussex).