Swansea City 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 1 - Report by Nigel Gigg, Photos - Andrew Thomas

Another glorious spring day and another vital game for the Swans play off hopes. With at least two of our rivals for a play off spot having tricky games today, three points against lowly Brighton was a must.

Andy Robinson returned from injury to start on the left of midfield.

Side- Gueret, Tate, Iriekepen, Lawrence, Painter, Britton, Craney, O'Leary, Robinson, D Duffy, Trundle. Subs- Oakes, Amankwaah, Austin, Williams, Abbott.

It didn't take Swans long to show their attacking intentions as Kris O'Leary tried his luck from long range in the first minute but his effort sailed wide.

Despite looking keen and eager several Swans players seemed to be nervous or just trying too hard and several passes went astray.

Brighton showed their attacking intentions with a nice move ending with Alex Revell stabbing the ball just wide of the post.

After 13 minutes Brighton took a surprise lead. With their giant striker Bas Savage having just picked up an injury there seemed little danger from a Brighton corner. However, striker Alex Revell ran across the six yard box and left his marker for dead and had the easy task of beating Willy from just 6 yards.

Five or six Brighton players ran the length of the field to celebrate in front of their own fans and were oblivious to Swans taking the kick off quickly and Lee Trundle leading a charge on the Brighton goal which seemed to be about six attacking just three defenders. Lee Trundle's shot at goal was cleared by the head of one of the Brighton players rejoining the game from behind their own goal.

The Brighton goal saw Swans start to settle down and they attacked in waves and it wasn't long before they drew level. Brighton made a dreadful mess of clearing their lines and the ball bounced out to Alan Tate on the right wing. He lifted the ball back into the box and again Brighton's defence were asleep as they let the ball bounce in the area. Brighton keeper Scott Flinders raced off his line but Darryl Duffy bravely got his head to the ball and lifted it over Flinders into the net. It was a classic poacher's goal.

Brighton responded well and Izzy Iriekepen was perfectly placed to clear off the line after Willy had chased a ball out from his goal and ended up in no man's land.

The next 15 minutes or so saw Swans play some scintillating football and they created chance after chance but failed to score a second goal. Leon Britton, Lee Trundle, Darryl Duffy, Andy Robinson and Dennis Lawrence all went close.

On 40 minutes the second goal finally arrived and Brighton would again have been disappointed with the nature of the goal.

Andy Robinson won a challenge just inside his own half in the centre circle. He went across to the right and after playing a short one two thumped the ball forward to Darryl Duffy who was the lone Swans player in a forward position. Duffy had two defenders for company and took Robinson's pass on his chest perfectly on the edge of the box. He then turned on a sixpence and fired a low shot right into the corner of the net to put the Swans in front.

Before half time Marcos Painter limped away from a bruising challenge.

Swans finished the half good value for their lead and Roberto Martinez would be wanting an early goal in the second half to settle the nerves.

Marcos Painter failed to come out for the second half and was replaced by Tom Williams.

Five minutes into the second half and Willy Gueret again showed his eccentric side. He came out off his line and just beat Alex Revell to the ball. The ball ran loose but Alan Tate was there to clear any danger but he rather foolishly listened to Willy's call to leave the ball. With the ball rolling outside his area Willy picked the ball up and was lucky to only see yellow from referee Mr Olivier with Andy Oakes in the dug out already preparing himself to come on. The decision was marginal but Willy really had no business even contemplating handling the ball with Alan Tate already there and the danger having past.

Brighton were showing grit and determination and were starting to boss the midfield. Andy Robinson and Leon Britton were starting to sit deeper and deeper and both were now looking jaded. The game seemed to be passing Ian Craney by and Kris O'Leary was over worked and over stretched.

After 63 minutes Roberto tried to freshen things up by bringing Kevin Austin on for Andy Robinson. Big Kev went to left back and Tom Williams pushed forward to left midfield.

We certainly looked more secure defensively now but were offering very little going forward.

On 72 minutes Brighton's Dean Cox cut inside from the left wing and from 30 yards hit a superb bending shot that beat Willy and thundered against the post. It was a huge let off and yet another wake up call if we needed it.

For the remainder of the game Swans only really attacked on the break and Brighton attacked in numbers although the defence held together well.

Pawel Abbott replaced Darryl Duffy for the final few minutes.

There was one final scare when Alan Tate gave Brighton a chance with an awful back header but they failed to take advantage.

Swans held out for three invaluable points and results elsewhere also by and large went our way.

Ratings

Gueret 6- A couple of decent saves but his lack of confidence and poor distribution continue.

Tate 6 - A long way off his best today.
Lawrence 7 - Another good game.
Iriekepen 8 - Excellent defensive game and also supported the attacks well.
Painter 7 - Another solid game but looked to pick up a nasty injury.

Britton 7- Caused Brighton's defence problems but did tire second half.
Craney 5 - Pretty much a passenger today.
O'Leary 7 - Seemed to be getting plenty of stick from Roberto in the second half but was having to do the work of two men in central midfield.
Robinson 7 - Good first half and assist for second goal but not surprisingly tired second half.

Duffy 9 - In a way I wish he'd stop scoring and Trunds banged in a few. We now know what he's capable of and we don't need him drawing to much attention from other clubs. Two great goals again and looks a quality act.
Trundle 7 - Some trade mark trickery and plenty of effort.

Subs-

Williams 7 - Asked to do two roles at left back and left midfield and did OK in both.
Austin 7- Does what it says on the tin. When you want somebody in a battle who else would you turn to.
Abbott 6 - Ran around like a 10 year old chasing the ball around the field and trying to catch the eye, but hardly had a touch.

Swansea City 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 1 - Western Mail, Photos - Andrew Thomas

DARRYL DUFFY came up double tops again as Swansea City breathed new life into their play-off dream.
The on-loan Hull striker is clearly loving life at the Liberty Stadium after grabbing his second brace in consecutive home games to move his adopted club to the fringe of the play-offs.

Just two goals now separate the Swans from sixth-placed Oldham with a daunting long-haul trip to Carlisle next Saturday - the side they leapfrogged in the table yesterday.

Both those rivals lost yesterday as the promotion race edges towards the final bend. Play like they did in the first half and Swansea should find their noses in front by the time the finish line comes into focus on May 5.

But play like they did after the break against a Brighton side who were still looking nervously over shoulders at the wrong end of the table, and Swansea fans will be in for a nerve-racking finale.

It may have been a textbook tale of two halves but manager Roberto Martinez has his players believing they can do it after missing out to Barnsley in the final last season.

It was just a shame Swansea's much-vaunted fan base didn't turn up in force to add their weight to the play-off push.

Just 11,972 watched Martinez score his sixth win out of ten as manager. But whether or not they do the business at Brunton Park next week, the side is entitled to expect a better showing in the stands for the final game of the season against Blackpool.

Those who attended yesterday saw an error-strewn first 20 minutes from a home side which looked terrified of their own shadow, never mind defeat. Passes went astray from the normally reliable, while even Lee Trundle's usual sublime touch was not what it should have been early on.

But from the moment Duffy equalised Brighton's opener in the 21st minute, Swansea took a grip on proceedings.

The marking had been non-existent for Alex Revell to meet Sam Rents' in-swinging free-kick and nod past a completely exposed Willy Gueret in the 13th minute.

The Brighton players couldn't believe it but, as half of them celebrated inside their own area, Swansea kicked off and only Kerry Mayo's block kept out an instant equaliser from Trundle.

Martinez' men were floundering in frustration despite Brighton's bizarre brand of comical defending.

That negativity vanished, though, the moment Duffy claimed his third goal in three games - courtesy of a superb piece of anticipation.

Alan Tate's header into the box should have been easily dealt with by Zesh Rehman but as the centre-half dithered Duffy darted into the space between defender and goalkeeper and placed a header past Scott Flinders.

The visitors threatened briefly when substitute Jake Robinson beat Gueret, but not a covering Izzy Iriekpen. From then until the break it was one-way traffic.

Yet, with Brighton awarding their hosts the freedom of their penalty area, Swansea repeatedly failed to make Flinders work.

Andy Robinson, Tate and Dennis Lawrence all failed to hit the target before leaving it to Duffy again to calm the nerves.

The striker showed deft control to bring down Robinson's lofted pass and in one motion swivelled and shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

The second half should have been a formality - it was anything but.

The tables were turned after the break as Brighton played with Swansea's earlier abandonment.

Gueret did outstandingly, scooping up the loose ball off Jake Robinson's boot - yet it cost him a booking and almost a red card.

Replays showed the ball had been on the line but referee Ray Olivier believed otherwise.
Swansea seemed shackled inside their own half but held on despite Dean Cox rattling a post and Alan Tate setting up a golden opportunity in the 90th minute for Nathan Elder, whose misplaced header required emergency action from Gueret, and then an even better save from Nick Ward's rebound. In saving Tate, Gueret saved Swansea's entire season.

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Swansea: Gueret, Tate, Iriekpen, Painter (Williams 46), Lawrence, O'Leary, Britton, Robinson (Austin 63), Craney, Trundle, Darryl Duffy (Abbott 87).
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Amankwaah.

Booked: Gueret.

Goals: Darryl Duffy 21, 41.

Brighton: Flinders, Mayo, El-Abd (Ward 65), Butters, Rents, Hart (Elder 84), Rehman, Bertin, Cox, Savage (Robinson 15), Revell.
Subs Not Used: Kuipers, Elphick.

Booked: Mayo.

Goals: Revell 14.

Att: 11,972

Ref: R Olivier (W Midlands).