Match Report

Not a vintage performance by any means, but another three points towards the magic total, achieved in the challenging circumstances of a difficult, swirling wind. The team looked tired at times - but my goodness have they earned the right to be. And setting aside the worrying injuries to Robinson and Scotland, this was a satisfying and well-earned win to maintain our position.

The team lined up with a back four which had a definitely second-string look about it, with O'Leary coming in for the injured Monk to line up alongside Tate. Rangel and Austin took the full back berths. The midfield was strong-looking with Bodde and Pratley renewing their familiar partnership, with Britton alongside them and Robinson and Butler in the left and right wide positions. Scotland ploughed the lone furrow up front in an enterprising 4-5-1.

It became clear from the off that this was going to be a difficult day for playing fluent football, but it was the Swans who attempted to do so by getting the ball down and playing, whilst the hosts seemed more intent on lifting the ball forward optimistically into the swirling gale. And so it was the Swans who forced the early chances - first through Bodde whose free kick on eight minutes was well parried by the keeper, followed a few minutes later by a neat through ball from Robinson to Scotland whose low effort was again well saved, the rebound almost bouncing towards several on-rushing Swans players.



Huddersfield looked physically strong though, and they rallied with a decent headed effort from the impressive Phil Jevons, which flew wide, and a low strike which was well parried by DeVries. A long range effort followed from the lively Robinson which once again brought the home keeper into action, and shortly after we forced a melee in their box which culminated in Bodde dragging a shot wide. In a lively period of exchanges, Huddersfield responded with a neat move which O'Leary did well to break up with a low tackle; and then another Jevons headed effort which flashed wide.

On 33 minutes we produced our best move of the half when a terrific inside pass form the ever-dangerous Scotland set up Robbo who cantered in on goal in a wide position before firing in a low shot which was well saved. Another low strike on goal followed from Robinson, again working the keeper. And then Butler, who also looked dangerous, flashed a shot wide after more terrier-like work from Robinson.

There followed a dangerous tackle on Robinson which saw him leave the field for treatment and which ultimately forced him out of the game at half-time. But it was the Swans who responded best to this disruption. From a corner forced just before the break, Tate flicked on for Scotland to control and score from inside the six yard box, to give us a lead which our overall dominance, and our desire to be constructive in tricky conditions, had certainly deserved.



At half time we knew the lead was a slender one and that the second half would be a battle as we would have to face the worst of the pressing gale. Brandy replaced Robinson at the break and therefore also stripped us of our most potent player in the first half. But in fact the onslaught did not come in the early stages of the half, with the Swans forcing the pace with some composed and constructive passing football. Indeed we nearly doubled our lead when Brandy's pace saw him canter free of the home defence to fire in a low shot which the home keeper saved brilliantly with one hand - the loanee, though, will know he should have buried it, and this led to a more nervy half than it might have been.

Soon after this, the home side began to mount some of the pressure we were expecting. First Jevons volleyed well over following a knock down to him at the edge of the box; then Robbie Williams fired in a free kick which cleared our bar by some distance; and then an excellent run by Michael Collins, easily outstripping our midfield challengers, set up Jevons for a clever low strike which Dorus did well to save at the near post.

As the half wore on, we began to find it increasingly difficult to maintain any possession or territory as the home side made full use of the wind to peg us back. However, they failed to make any clear cut chances during this spell - one free kick, blocked by Butler, and a couple of long range pot shots being their best efforts. It was pressure with no cutting edge, and eventually we broke free of the shackles to mount some dangerous counter attacks. Two of these forced Robert Page into two clearly bookable challenges - the first a clattering on Britton and the second a clear pull back on Scotland who had terrorised him all afternoon. Page rightly walked, drawing the anger of the crowd towards Scotland for the remainder of the game.



In the final stages it was the Swans who looked more likely to score - with half chances falling to Butler and Brandy. We had the ball in the net late on when after a neat move, Scotland twisted and turned in the box in an attempt to squeeze the ball home. Butler returned to the field in an offside position to fire home, with the goal rightly being ruled out for offside. Sadly, this was also the incident in which Scotland appeared to receive a serious injury to his leg - the sight of him being stretchered off was a seriously worrying one for the Jack fans, and one which could yet threaten our comfort zone at the top.

At the whistle it was another well earned and well deserved win, received well by the 600 - 700 or travelling Jacks, and acknowledged by the team in a joyous celebratory huddle.



DeVries - 8 Good under the high ball and a couple of important saves
Rangel - 7 A good solid defensive performance though he struggled to get forward today
Austin - 7 Pretty solid; rarely lets us down.
O'Leary - 7 occasionally caught out by the swirling high ball but otherwise solid
Tate - 8 The pick of our defenders - led the defensive line well
Butler - 8 Constantly cultured and threatening throughout
Robinson - 8 A great first half in which he worked the defence and the keeper.
Bodde - 7 Battled hard but found the conditions hampered his play-making
Pratley - 7 As above
Britton - 7 tenacious but less effective going forward
Scotland - 8 Goal to win and led the line terrifically well
Brandy - 7 A lively and threatening performance
So on we march to the magic promotion target; Dai's lucky scarf and badge and Bethan's lucky earrings are holding firm! And this was a performance in which we continued to try, and succeed, to play good football. Unfortunately, the injury tally is mounting and the knock to Scotland looked particularly serious. We could be starting our next game with Brandy and Duffy our only fit strikers to choose from - the cost of this particular three points could have been very high indeed. Let's keep those fingers crossed, eh!

Huddersfield: Glennon, Sinclair, Page, Clarke, Williams, Kamara (Schofield 81), Holdsworth, Collins (Mirfin 90), Brandon, Jevons (Booth 78), Beckett.
Subs Not Used: Eastwood, Skarz.

Sent Off: Page (82).

Booked: Williams, Page.

Swansea: De Vries, Rangel, Tate, O'Leary, Austin, Butler, Bodde, Britton, Pratley, Robinson (Brandy 46), Scotland (Duffy 90)

. Subs Not Used: MacDonald, Way, Burgin.

Goals: Scotland 45.

Att: 10,471

Ref: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).

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