Swansea City 2 Crewe 1 - Match Report, Nigel Gigg - Match Pictures, Gary Martin

After Saturday's dire performance, Kenny Jackett and his charges had an immediate opportunity to put right the wrongs.

However, injuries had taken their toll and Kenny was forced into a number of changes. In defence came the biggest surprise with Andy Oakes replacing Willy Gueret in goal. Also Alan Tate replaced Kevin Amankwaah at right back, and Tom Williams replaced an unfit Kevin Austin at left back. Leon Britton started on the right of midfield and Darren Way came in to central midfield giving the midfield a far better looking balance. Rory Fallon replaced the injured Bayo Akinfenwa.

Owain Tudur- Jones and seventeen year old apprentice Chris Jones even made the bench.

Side- Oakes, Tate, Lawrence, Iriekepen, Williams, Britton, Pratley, Way, Robinson, Knight, Fallon. Subs- Gueret, Amankwaah, MacDonald, Tudur-Jones, Jones.

After a promising opening, Crewe almost stunned an expectant crowd in the second minute when Luke Varney was put through and raced past a very flat back four. Andy Oakes raced off his line but as he went to ground Varney lifted his shot over him. Oakes was no doubt relieved to see the ball sail over the bar.

The excellent Varney went close again after an excellent passing movement again caught the Swans back line flat footed.

Swans responded with their first real chance on 14 minutes when a deep cross from the left was met well by Rory Fallon and his goal bound header was cleared off the line.

Robinson tested Crewe keeper Ben Williams with a fierce shot that Williams was unable to hold and he was fortunate the ball fell to a Crewe defender.

On 23 minutes Swans took a deserved lead. Leon Knight played a short pass to Rory Fallon 15 yards out. Fallon took the ball on his chest and with the ball going away from goal he bicycled kicked the ball with his right foot into the top corner leaving Williams grabbing at thin air.

Despite going one down and lacking possession Crewe again caught the Swans defence out again on the half hour with both Varney and 19 year old Nicky Maynard beating the off side trap and bearing down on goal. Maynard was brought down by Oakes right on the edge of the box and the ball fell to Varney who hit the post when he really should have scored. However, referee Mr Taylor, after seemingly playing advantage blew up awarding the penalty. Andy Oakes had a let off in only receiving the yellow card. Gary Roberts made no mistake from the spot firing high into the top corner of the net.

Just a minute later and Crewe could have gone 2-1 up but Roberts's shot was well saved by Oakes denying the Crewe midfielder a second goal inside 60 seconds.

Crewe's front pair were really causing Dennis Lawrence and Izzy all kinds of problems with their pace and intelligent runs.

Swans did pick themselves back up and Alan Tate went close with a powerful run and shot.

The 1-1 half time scoreline was probably about right, but Swans would need to counteract the Varney and Maynard threat if they were to go on to win the contest.

It didn't take Swans long to get the all important second goal in the second half. A great cross from Tom Williams was met by Rory Fallon's head and his deft header fell perfectly for Leon Knight to fire in from 6 yards.

Darren Way almost put the Swans 3-1 up after collecting a poor clearance and firing a right foot shot against the bar with Williams in the Crewe goal beaten.

With 25 minutes to go Crewe Manager Dario Gradi threw on a third striker in Ryan Lowe at the expense of a centre half.

Swans to their credit tried to play a passing game and there seemed a far better balance to their play with Darren Way and Darren Pratley dominating the midfield.

Tom Williams was a revelation at left back and he almost capped an excellent performance with a wonder goal after a 60 yard run and a left foot shot inches wide of the post.

Crewe brought on yet another striker in Luke Rodgers at the expense of captain Neil Cox as they desperately sought the equaliser. However, Izzy and Dennis Lawrence know seemed to have mastered the threat of Varney and Maynard and they were starved of possession by the Swans midfield.

In the final minutes Andy Robinson went close with a left foot shot and Willliams in the Crewe goal continued to be much the busier of the two keepers.

Swans held out at ease to record an excellent win. It wais hard to believe the difference in the two performances over the last three days. The decisions to drop Willy, return Alan Tate, probably or best defender, to the defence and start Darren Way were all vindicated. One would have to ask though, should these decisions have been made a few weeks earlier?

Ratings-

Oakes 7 - One good save, a tad lucky not to receive a red card and well protected in the second half.

Tate 7 - Made a big difference to the defence.
Lawrence 6 - Torrid time first half against two gifted strikers but didn't put a foot wrong second half.
Iriekepen 6 - As above.
Williams 8 - Something of an enigma. Superb tonight, with an excellent cross leading to second goal and almost scoring the goal of the decade.

Britton 6 - Linked well with Alan Tate but still some way off his best.
Pratley 7 - Helped Swans gain control of the midfield.
Way 9 - Superb throughout, covered just about every square inch of the pitch.
Robinson 7 - Better second half than first.

Knight 8 - Scored one and made one. Always a threat.
Fallon 7 - Again scored one and made one. Could have been a bit more aggressive at times.

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Swansea: Oakes, Tate, Iriekpen, Lawrence, Williams, Britton, Pratley, Robinson, Way, Fallon, Knight.
Subs Not Used: Gueret, Amankwaah, Tudur-Jones, Jones, MacDonald.

Booked: Oakes, Britton.

Goals: Fallon 24, Knight 53.

Crewe: Williams, Baudet, Cox (Rodgers 85), O'Donnell (Lowe 66), Jones, Roberts, Vaughan, Rix, Moss, Varney, Maynard.
Subs Not Used: Tomlinson, Higdon, Kempson.

Booked: Jones, Baudet.

Goals: Roberts 32 pen.

Att: 10,031

Ref: P Taylor (Hertfordshire).