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More match pics from G Martin

With just three League points to date after three very encouraging displays Roberto Martinez would have wanted another good performance, but more than anything he would have wanted a further three points.

Today's visitors Doncaster were one of the pre season favourites for promotion but they to have had an indifferent start with just one point from three games. They included Welsh International Gareth Roberts, former Tottenham keeper, Neil Sullivan and former Swan Mark Wilson in their starting line up.

Side- De Vries, Rangel, Lawrence, Monk, Austin, Britton, Pratley, Bodde, Robinson, Duffy, Scotland. Subs- O'Leary, Craney, Anderson, Butler, Bauza.

It wasn't the best of starts either on or off the field. For some reason the atmosphere was somewhat subdued and this seemed to be reflected on the field as Swans tried hard to get out of first gear.

There was an early scare when Dennis Lawrence seemed to control the ball in the Swans penalty area that was thankfully not seen by referee Mr Whitestone who didn't notice the offence.

Swans were being closed down quickly by a big and strong well disciplined Doncaster and seemed devoid of any alternative strategy to their passing game.

On 15 minutes a comedy of errors in the Swans defence featuring Dennis Lawrence and Kev Austin presented Richard Wellens with a great chance but he dragged his shot wide from just 12 yards out.

Swans were being kept at bay with Doncaster players working tirelessly to close down their moves quickly. Andy Robinson in particular was being double marked and was having no influence of the game.

It took the Swans 27 minutes to manage a shot on target when Jason Scotland tried his luck from 30 yards out but his shot was easily saved by Neil Sullivan.

Doncaster were looking the better side and were creating the better chances.

Darren Pratley created a chance for Jason Scotland after chasing down what looked a lost cause. He managed to pull the ball back to the Trinidadian striker who despite loosing his footing managed to get his shot under the body of the advancing Sullivan only to be denied by the post.

Against the run of play, Swans took the lead on 40 minutes. For once Andy Robinson found himself in space and with just one defender in front of him. He rounded the full back and fired a low drive across the six yard box. Neil Sullivan, perhaps unwisely, dived forward and stretching could only push the ball to the feet of Jason Scotland. He took just one touch and fired a left foot shot in the empty net.

Doncaster came straight back towards to the end of the half but could find no way through and Swans went in at half time 1-0 up rather fortuitously.

At the start of the second half Swans had much the better of things as Doncaster were forced to push men forward giving Swans players more time and space to play their passing game. Ferrie Bodde went close with a terrific long range shot that looked a certain goal only for Sullivan to pull off a spectacular save.

The game was, however, transformed on the hour. After a Swans attack broke down the ball was cleared up field but Ferrie Bodde and Doncaster defender Adam Lockwood decided to have their own little altercation. There was shirt tugging and handbags on both sides and the referee signalled to the players to separate as play continued. Lockwood heeded the referee's words but Bodde decided to launch his head in Lockwood's direction with the referee still looking on. Bodde's stupidity rightly saw him shown the red card and brought harsh words from Darryl Duffy. He left the field looking forlorn and lonely.

Roberto Martinez immediately withdrew Darryl Duffy for Kris O'Leary.

It only took Doncaster 7 minutes to draw level. Again there was panic in the back line and a poor clearance fell to Richard Wellens who drilled a low shot from 18 yards past Dorus De Vries.

Against eleven men Swans were always going to struggle to stay in the game. Jason Scotland battled valiantly on his own up front but too many others were having mediocre games.

With 10 minutes to go Tom Butler replaced Andy Robinson and two minutes later Leon Britton was replaced by Paul Anderson.

A minute later and Doncaster took the lead. A poor clearance from Kris O'Leary fell perfectly to Richard Wellens who volleyed home past a static Dorus de Vries who I can only assume was unsighted.

There was no way back for the Swans and the crowd vented their anger on referee Mr Whitestone who fanned the flames by booking Angel Rangel after the Spaniard was floored by the arm of giant striker Mark McCammon. Angel's card seemed to be for his reaction by thumping the pitch in annoyance at Mr Whitestone's refusal to even speak to the Doncaster striker.

The anger and frustration should have been saved for Ferrie Bodde who cost us three points.

Ratings –

De Vries 6 – Didn't look quite so assured today.

Rangel 7 – Has settled in well.

Monk 8 – Did very well and pick of the defence.

Lawrence 6- Not as nervous as he has been but far from assured.

Austin 6 – Really is an accident waiting to happen at left back.

Britton 6 – Never got going today.

Pratley 6 – Ran and ran but too often down blind alleys.

Bodde 4 – Was doing quite well until he saw red.

Robinson 5 – One touch of genius but nothing else today.

Duffy 5 – Offered little threat.

Scotland 7- Strong as an ox playing as lone striker.

Subs –

O'Leary 5 – Once they equalised a more attacking midfielder would have been a better option.

Anderson / Butler – Hardly had a kick in the time they were on.

Swansea City 1 Doncaster 2 - Report by Paul Nicholas, Pictures Dai Smith

The realities of League One football for a team hoping to play the beautiful game in a beautiful way hit the Swans right between the eyes today.




From the off it was clear that Doncaster were having none of it. Far from bereft of quality players themselves, they outpaced and out-muscled us continually. We found it difficult to deal with their physicality – not at all helped by a referee that I thought fell comfortably into the 'abysmal' category.

Doncaster had obviously done their homework, and with two men shadowing Robinson and Britton whenever either was in possession, our creativity from the wide areas was non-existent. Robinson was never allowed to cut inside – his favourite avenue towards goal – and there appeared to be no alternative plan.



They closed us down quickly in mid-field, never allowed us to settle into the pattern of play that we wanted, and made us look fairly rattled and ragged throughout the first 45 minutes.

Bodde showed some good touches, as did Scotland but far too many passes generally were wayward, or intercepted by the alert Doncaster midfield. Austin and Rangel looked comfortable at full back




Despite confident predictions from many sources of a sizeable win, we were a little fortunate that the half ended with us one up. On 41 minutes, Robinson finally managed to get to the by-line, put in a hard low cross which the keeper tried to intercept, and the ball fell to Scotland who composed himself and scored from close range.



This should have settled us, but the 2nd half was much the same pattern, and with frustration setting in on some players, surely the yellow card would suddenly start jumping in and out of The Man in Black's pocket with increasing regularity; something that it should have done in the first half given Doncaster's persistent mauling of Scotland. Britton got the first yellow for something I didn't see, and then after 62 minutes Bodde saw the red mist after a bit of friction following a tackle on him, and got a card to match the haze. He walked straight down the tunnel, with Martinez avoiding all eye contact with him.



Nothing garners solidarity amongst the vocal fans like a sending off, and suddenly the stadium atmosphere hit its greatest volumes of the afternoon. Little of it was to spur on the team; mainly it was make a lot of noise or head-butt the concrete walls. To most of the crowd, Bodde had let the team and fans down and made winning this game far less likely than it should have been; to a few he had become a hero. Tonight the pubs could be full of re-enactments.




Six minutes after his departure Doncaster drew level through Wellens, and they started to take advantage of the extra man. O'Leary had been brought on to shore up the midfield at the expense of Duffy, so having a loan striker was going to make it difficult for us. Doncaster had their heads up, but ours were far from down we just couldn't get the ball to the right man. Butler replaced Robinson and Anderson came on for Britton to add fresh legs and ideas, but the killer blow came with a superb first touch volley, again from Wellens, that De Vries had no chance with from 25 yards out directly in front of goal.



We didn't give up, and Rangel came into the game a lot in the latter stages, but the game was lost. There are going to be a lot more Doncasters than Notts Forests in this division and we need to be able to mix the clever passing game with doing simple things when needed, and mix it when needed (and staying on the field afterwards). Teams are not going to allow us to dictate the way the game is played, and will spoil as much, and for as long as it takes. Doncaster weren't animals; they were able to (and did) play some neat football themselves with good off the ball running. They took the initiative early on, stuck to a game plan and never let go, that was the difference.

This was a harsh lesson today, but it's early enough in the season to sort things out, but the sorting out has to start soon. We created very few chances today, and it was our previous creation of chances but failure to score that was the cause of many fans' 'it will come good' comfortable state of mind for the season. It's going to take more than that.

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