Match Report

IT WAS fifth time lucky for Swansea City with two superb goals from Jason Scotland and Ferrie Bodde sealing all three points at Huish Park.

The Swans went into the game knowing they had failed to bring back a single point from their last four visits to Yeovil.

Perhaps more worryingly, they hadn’t even scored a goal there in over 360 minutes of football.

But it was a different story yesterday as Roberto Martinez’s side showed a huge amount of character to overcome Russell Slade’s Yeovil Town.

The crowd were hostile, the referee was questionable and opposition tackles were flying in everywhere. But the Swans battled through and went home with a valuable win.

Martinez named an unchanged XI from the side that beat Bournemouth 4-1 a fortnight ago. But the Spaniard was able to select his strongest bench of the season as Leon Britton, Darryl Duffy, Andy Robinson and Alan Tate all made welcome returns from their respective injuries.

Both sides started positively but it was Yeovil who created the game’s first real chance after seven minutes. A well-worked free kick saw the ball reach the impressive Kevin Betsy just outside the six yard box and he hit a powerful shot on the turn.

The home crowd thought they had taken the lead but Dorus de Vries reacted brilliantly and tipped the ball round the post for a corner which the Swans were able to clear.

Despite the frantic pace of the game it was an uneventful first half in terms of chances and the two teams proceeded to cancel each other out for the next 25 minutes.

The encounter eventually came to life just before half time when the Swans finally lifted their Huish Park curse and put the ball in the back of the net.

As Yeovil pushed forward, Angel Rangel intercepted the ball and slipped it to the lively Paul Anderson just inside the Swans half.

The pacy winger set off on one of his characteristic runs, easily beating centre back Scott Guyett as he went.

He laid the ball across the box to Scotland and the striker hit an unstoppable first time shot with his left foot to score his first goal in six games.

Yeovil almost struck back within two minutes and Betsy was once again the danger man.

He eluded the offside trap and drilled the ball across the face of the Swans’ goal. But, with de Vries stranded, Paul Warne just couldn’t reach the ball and the Swans were able to clear, holding on to their one-goal advantage until the break.

Martinez’s men made a terrible start to the second half and it took Yeovil just three minutes to level the scores.

Rangel found Warne in a dangerous position on the left flank and the Swans failed to deal with the resulting free kick.

Guyett out-jumped Dennis Lawrence at the back post and headed the ball back across the Swans goal. De Vries was caught in no man’s land and Betsy powered his header into an empty net to get the goal his performance deserved.

Yeovil then looked the most likely team to go on and score a winner as first Lloyd Owusu and then Mark Lynch went close. But the Swans almost grabbed a second themselves when Darren Pratley’s looping volley from the edge of the box was acrobatically tipped over by Stephen Mildenhall after 75 minutes.

Minutes later they had their winner, though, with Pratley again involved.

He slipped the ball through to Bodde in the middle of Yeovil’s half and the Dutchman took on two defenders before drilling his shot past Mildenhall. It was a beautiful solo effort and it typified Bodde’s contribution to the game.

Yeovil looked to hit back immediately but by now Martinez had brought on Robinson Britton and Duffy, and the Swans were looking dangerous on the counter attack.

But neither side could create a clear-cut chance and the Swans held on for a historic win.
Yeovil Town 1 Swansea City 2, Match comments by Richard of Warwick

Very, very pleased to come away yesterday with all the points. The wind had a big influence on that game and made sure it was a bit of a battle although that was pretty certain anyway.

The important thing is that we stood up to it, rode our luck a bit, but kept plugging away. In the end we got the reward our superiority deserved.

Anderson was just too quick for them all afternoon and Scotland was much improved. His goal as a payback for the drill we do before kick off - one touch and shoot - he looked sharper beforehand and his finish was first class. We created a lot of space for Anderson. I have not yet worked out how we do that but we consistently pulled them to the left, leaving him in acres of space. If that has come from the training ground then well done. And Bodde's goal looked a good one too although you don't get the best view at Yeovil do you

He waited and waited before putting it away neatly. He kept his head well then, and if he can keep that up then he will start to get more goals. Not Bodde's best game by far but grabbing a winner qualifies for forgiveness in my book.

Not a classic but just what we needed. It was almost the ugly win that we had not seen in our locker. It will give the team lots of self-belief.

But it is much, much too early to be looking at the table and talking loosely about promotion. There is a long and hard winter campaign ahead yet. Lets start to think about those things when the daffodils come up.

Winning Friday night is a priority. Winning well would be very valuable as I guess we will have a big crowd in. If there is a fiesta that could roll over to the next home games. Our next four games at home (3 league and one Paint Pot) are all night matches. This could be a critical period in our season, certainly from a financial perspective.

Will that influence selection? I doubt it but I agree with Haydn I think, who said that the next selection is tougher to make.

We will do well when all the players know they have to have a really good game to hold their place. When they are sure that there is someone ready and waiting to replace them if their standards drop.

Looking around our squad at the moment there is one position that is not contended enough for me and thats Left Back. And Painter has not had the best of times in the last few games. Only Austin is a recognised left back and we all know his lack of pace leaves him exposed. Does Painter feel untouchable?

Who could put Painter under pressure?

Orlandi. Can he tackle? No idea but this weeks training should start to test that. And Haydn, yes this is a serious suggestion that we look at it

Yeovil Town 1 Swansea City 2, Match comments by Dave Williams

Nice pub lunch, 3 points, the Yeovil hoodoo broken and home before 6pm. Just how I like it. Shame it was so friggin cold on that bleak, drizzly open terrace.

Richard of Warwick, you asked, can we win ugly? Well, I think the answer is, yes we can if we have to. It wasn't as ugly as the Yeovil play but we weren't at our fluent best but we were good enough to beat an energetic and physical, route one Yeovil. As well as being one of the best (maybe the best?) footballing side in L1, this team can battle and grind out a win like they did this afternoon. Really proud of them today.

Difficult conditions to play cultured football in light drizzle and a cold, swirling wind which spoilt the game a bit.

De Vries - one amazing save in the first half and got lucky once or twice in the second

Angel - looked unsure in the swirling wind (like most of thhe others) but still looked a class above everyone else

Monk - continued his excellent recent form

Lawrence - did a lot of clearing up today and looks so much more composed and less hesitant than he did a few weeks ago

Painter - really battled with his winger and just about came out on top

Anderson - they couldn't handle him, great run and pass to set up Scotland for first goal

Bodde - saw the best and worst of Ferrie. Some brilliant passes, some dreadful ones, a great goal and one absolutely dreadful shot which cleared the stand behind the goal

Pratley - what an engine this boy had today, was absolutely everywhere and never let the Yeovil midfield settle

Butler - less effective than of late and well marked, seemed reluctant to take his man on on the outside but still contributed a lot

Scotland - much improved from Bournemouth, took his goal well and worked hard but went missing in the 2nd half

Feeney - battled well and caused them problems but didn't get many chances and not surprisingly tired in 2nd half

Nice to see Robbo, Leon and Duffy back in the fray as subs. Must have been a nightmare for the Yeovil defence to have looked like weathering the storm only to be confronted with those 3 coming on fresh for the last 20 minutes. All 3 kept their defence stretched which allowed Ferrie the space to come through and score the winner

Yeovil: Mildenhall, Lynch, Guyett, Forbes, Nathan Jones, Rose, Barry, Cochrane (Walker 79), Stewart (Warne 18), Owusu (Domoraud 84), Betsy.

Subs Not Used: Dempsey, Alcock.

Booked: Nathan Jones, Rose.

Goals: Betsy 48.

Swansea: De Vries, Rangel, Lawrence, Monk, Painter, Butler (Robinson 83), Bodde, Pratley, Anderson (Britton 82), Scotland, Feeney (Duffy 69).

Subs Not Used: Austin, Tate.

Booked: Painter, Rangel, Bodde.

Goals: Scotland 40, Bodde 79.

Att: 6,207

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

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