Match report

Thankfully, Rory Fallon recovered from his injury to start up front and there was further good news with Bayo Akinfenwa also coming back from injury for a place on the bench. Darren Way, however, has had a recurrence of his injury, so Owain Tudor Jones started in midfield.

Side - Gueret, Tate, Lawrence, Iriekpen, Williams, Britton, O. Jones, Pratley, Robinson, Fallon, Trundle. Subs. - Oakes, Austin, Butler, Akinfenwa, C. Jones.

Millwall had a great chance in the second minute, when Dennis Lawrence fell asleep and lost Millwall's lanky striker Poul Hubertz. Hubertz did well to find fellow striker Danny Haynes, who took one touch to control the ball before firing a powerful volley that beat Willy all ends up and smacked the crossbar.

After twenty four hours of almost constant rain and a rugby match on Friday the pitch was looking in excellent condition. However the wet surface was making life difficult for defenders.

The game sparked to life in the 12th minute when referee Mr Joslin ignored two poor challenges prompting Alan Tate to dive in with a two-footed lunge. Millwall's Tony Craig then reacted to Tate's challenge and he was lucky to just get a yellow card, which Alan Tate also received.

Swans first real chance came on 16 minutes, when a Tom Williams free-kick was headed goal-ward by Lee Trundle. The header took a slight deflection before hitting the top of the bar and going for a corner.

Swans took the lead from the resultant corner kick with Dennis Lawrence nodding home from six yards after Millwall failed to clear the ball.

Swans were causing Millwall problems down their left with Tate and Britton working well together. Tony Craig was having a torrid time and was allowed to get away with another poor challenge on Leon Britton.

Millwall have had a good League run of late and it was easy to see why as they were well organised in both defence and midfield although they were short of ideas in attack.

Andy Robinson tested Millwall keeper Lenny Pidgeley with a left foot drive as Swans pushed for the second. However, the game lacked any sort of pattern with Mr Joslin blowing up constantly for the most minor of infringements and failing to play the advantage on more than one occasion.
Lee Trundle then went close with a brilliant turn and a shot that beat Pidgeley but went just wide and Andy Robinson was only inches away from reaching Trund's shot as he followed up.

One minute later and Swans really should have been 2-0 up. Tom Williams whipped in a superb cross and both Andy Robinson at the front post and Rory Fallon at the far post failed to connect with the goal at their mercy.

On 42 minutes Denis Lawrence seemed to inadvertently catch Millwall's Hubertz with a stray elbow. As Hubertz was receiving attention off the pitch Danny Haynes sought retribution on Lawrence under the eye of Mr Joslin sparking a melee between 10 or 12 players. Again Haynes was fortunate to only see yellow.

Swans were good value for the half time lead but Kenny Jackett would have felt the game could and probably should have already been out of the reach of Millwall.

Millwall replaced the hapless Craig at half time no doubt to avoid his possible dismissal although with Mr Joslin in charge this probably wasn't needed.

Five minutes into the second half and Swans went 2-0 up. Andy Robinson dispossessed Danny Senda just outside the box. Robbo pushed the ball through to Lee Trundle inside the area and as Trunds was about to shoot he looked to be fouled. Mr Joslin again saw nothing but the ball fell to Rory Fallon who shot at goal. The ball was deflected and looked to be going wide when Leon Britton popped up at the far post to prod the ball home. There was no more popular goalscorer on or off the field.

Millwall responded with their last two substitutions and immediately switched to a 4-3-3 formation.

With their side 2-0 and being taunted by both the sections of both West Stand and East Stand the 500 or so Millwall contingent tried to burst out of their section pulling aside the netting designed to contain them. They were hell bent on getting at the Swans fans in the North West corner but were repelled by police only to try a similar attempt on the other side of their section and moving ominously toward the East Stand. Although several hundred Swans fans moved in the direction of the Millwall fans, again lifting the netting, thankfully, quick work by the large police presence prevented what could have been a major disturbence that could have had ramifications for the club.

Back to football, and on the hour Lee Trundle won the ball inside his own half and ran 50 yards before being brought down by Millwall substitute Derek McInness. Lee dusted himself down but his penalty was delayed by the time wasting antics of Pidgeley. The eventual penalty was well saved by the keeper.

After all the excitement the game went into a quiet period although Millwall were getting no change from a resolute Swans defence. Darren Pratley and Owain Jones dominated the midfield and Swans continued to create the better chances.

With 8 minutes to go Andy Robinson was replaced by Tom Butler.

With 5 minutes to go Millwall had only their second real shot when Chris Zebroski fired a curling shot that looked bound for the top corner only for Willy to make a superb save.

On 87 minutes Bayo Akinfenwa replaced Rory Fallon and a minute later Chris Jones replaced Lee Trundle.

Swans saw the game out comfortably.

After an excellent display Swans move up to 5th place just 2 points off 2nd.

Ratings -

Gueret 7 - Little to do. One excellent save late on.

Tate 8 - Excellent in defence and going forward.
Lawrence 7 - Early lapse but excellent thereafter.
Iriekepen 7 - Very calm and collected.
Williams 7 - Definitely benefiting from a run at left back. Very good game.

Britton 8 - Excellent game rounded off with a goal.
Pratley 9 - Ran the show.
Jones 7 - Looked a little ring rusty but his physical presence adds something to our midfield.
Robinson 8- Back approaching his best.

Fallon 7 - Tireless.
Trundle 8- As Robinson, seems to be coming back to his best.

Subs -

Butler - )
Akinfewah - ) Only on a few minutes
Jones - )

Swansea: Gueret, Tate, Iriekpen, Lawrence, Williams, Britton, Pratley, Tudur Jones, Robinson (Butler 83), Fallon (Akinfenwa 87), Trundle (Jones 89).
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Austin.

Booked: Tate.

Goals: Lawrence 17, Britton 51.

Millwall: Pidgeley, Senda (Zebroski 55), Shaw, Ross, Craig (Phillips 45), Hackett, Elliott, Trotter, Mawene (McInnes 55), Haynes, Hubertz.
Subs Not Used: Day, Morais.

Booked: Craig, Shaw, Haynes, Pidgeley.

Att: 13,975

Ref: P Joslin (Nottinghamshire).