Roberto Martinez rang the changes after Wednesday’s cup exit with Andy Robinson dropping down to the bench and being replaced by Tom Butler and Dennis Lawrence not even making the bench with Alan Tate starting at centre half. Ferrie Bodde also returned from suspension as Roberto went back to 4-5-1 with Guillem Bauza making way. Loan signing Manchester United rookie Fabien Brandy took a place on the bench.

 Side- De Vries, Rangel, Monk, Tate, Painter, Anderson, Britton, Bodde, Pratley, Butler, Scotland. Subs- Austin, O’Leary, Robinson, Bauza, Brandy.

 Swans got off to a lively start no doubt keen to put |Wednesday’s bitterly disappointing experience behind them. There were good early runs from Tom Butler and Paul Anderson and one terrific cross field ball from Ferrie Bodde.  

Vale had obviously come looking for a draw with Luke Rodgers playing the lone striker role. Rodgers lack of inches may well have influenced Roberto’s decision to play Tate ahead of Lawrence.  

Rodgers managed an early shot that was well held by Dorus in the Swansea goal. For the first ten minutes or so Rodgers was well supported from midfield but as Swans started to dominate possession and gain the upper hand Vale’s midfield were getting deeper and deeper and Rodgers became more and more isolated.  

On 15 minutes Ferrie Bodde started a move that involved both centre halves before Tom Butler received the ball out wide left. He threaded the ball to Jason Scotland and his cross / shot beat everyone and flashed inches wide of the far post.  

It seemed a matter of time before Swans would take the lead as they looked a class above Vale. Darren Pratley almost broke the deadlock with a terrific drive from 20 yards after good work by Butler, and Vale keeper Joe Anyon had to be at his best to turn Pratley’s shot around the post.  

The goal finally arrived on 27 minutes. A rare Vale attack broke down with Leon Britton winning a challenge in midfield. With the loose ball falling to a Vale player and the crowd chanting Leon’s name the diminutive midfielder won a second challenge and set a Swans attack on its way. The ball was played out to Tom Butler on the left and he laid the ball perfectly into the path of Ferrie Bodde who struck a superb shot from 20 yards into the top corner of the net. It was a superb goal that had just about everything.

Swans created further chances before half time with Tom Butler in particular having a number of efforts but Swans couldn’t get the second goal their dominance really deserved. Darren Pratley was disappointingly booked just before half time and remarkably that’s his tenth yellow of the season and another ban for him.  

Roberto would have been delighted with the effort and commitment shown in the first half but must have felt the game should already have been safe.  

It didn’t take Swans long into the second half to get the all important second goal, as just 75 seconds after the restart Swans scored another superb goal. Paul Anderson broke down the right wing in front of the Ease Stand. With the crowd calling for an early cross, Anderson ignored the pleas, holding the ball up and exchanging passes with Leon Britton. He then rolled the ball back into the path of Angel Rangel who now had any number of options with supporting players arriving. The Spaniard chipped the ball into Jason Scotland who controlled it with one touch before turning and firing in a shot. His effort was blocked but fell perfectly for Darren Pratley who picked his spot from 18 yards. It was another terrific goal with half the Swans side involved.

 With the comfort of a two goal lead Swans relaxed and their passing game came into its own. Paul Anderson was causing all sorts of problems down the right as was Tom Butler down the left. Leon Britton was a terrier in midfield and the return of Ferrie Bodde took pressure off the centre halves.  

Luke Rodgers had a chance to pull one back with a free header but Dorus made a spectacular save to deny him. At the other end Alan Tate stole in at a free kick leaving his marker for dead but somehow managed to head wide from just six yards out with the goal at his mercy.  

Swans created chance after chance but again they couldn’t hammer home their advantage.  

Roberto switched to 4-4-2 on 65 minutes with the introduction of  Guillem Bauza for Darren Pratley, but returned to 4-5-1 ten minutes later when Andy Robinson replaced Jason Scotland.  

Vale looked somewhat shell shocked and almost looked content to take a 2-0 defeat.  

With ten minutes to go Fabien Brandy replaced Paul Anderson.  

The last ten minutes again was virtually all Swansea. There were chances for Ferrie Bodde and Guillem Bauza but Swans had to settle for 2-0.

Vale were yet another League One side that had been totally outclassed. Just a wonder how we let it slip against Havant.

Ratings 

De Vries – 7 One great save but very little to do.  

Rangel 8 – Hardly troubled defensively but superb going forward. 0
Monk 7 – Solid and reliable.

Tate 7 – No mad moment and normally looks very comfortably on the ball.
Painter 7- Quiet game but did nothing wrong.

Anderson 8 – Constant threat.
Britton 9 – Superb.
Bodde 8 – Stadium ‘Man of the Match’
Pratley 7 – Usual all action performance. Sad to see him booked yet again.

Butler 7 – Did really well but had a hatful of chances and probably should have scored at least one.
Scotland 7 – Makes the difficult job of playing up front alone look easy.

Subs- Bauza 7 – Another who probably should have got on the score sheet.
Robinson 7 – Didn’t have the impact he often has as substitute.
Brandy 7 – Only a few touches but looked confident and as quick as lightening.

Swansea: De Vries, Rangel, Tate, Monk, Painter, Britton, Bodde, Pratley (Bauza 66), Butler, Anderson (Brandy 82), Scotland (Robinson 75). Subs Not Used: Austin, O'Leary.

Booked: Pratley.

Goals: Bodde 28, Pratley 47.

Port Vale: Anyon, Pilkington, Lowe, Mulligan (Slater 70), Glover (Mikaelsson 57), Herd, Harsley, Whitaker, Edwards (Perry 57), Rodgers, Eckersley. Subs Not Used: Martin, Cardle.

Booked: Edwards, Herd, Pilkington.

Att: 12,310

Ref: Steve Bratt (W Midlands).

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