With the Huish Park bogey recently laid to rest, Roberto Martinez would have been hoping for another win to put the Swans just two games from a Wembley appearance. Both sides featured in weekend FA Cup action against non League opponents, Swans coming through against Billericay but Yeovil slumping to a heavy defeat against Torquay United with ex Swans centre half Chris Todd scoring two of the goals.

Roberto Martinez again took the opportunity to give starts to fringe players with Guillem Bauza and Andrea Orlandi starting again and Kevin Amankwaah and Joe Allen also given a start.

Side- De Vries, Amankwaah, Tate, Monk, Austin, Anderson, Pratley, Allen, Orlandi, Bauza, Duffy. Subs- Knight, Lawrence, Bodde, Butler, Scotland.

Yeovil had the better of the opening exchanges and Kevin Amankwaah and Joe Allen both made early errors providing half chances for the opposition.

Yeovil's Marcus Stewart was substituted after just 5 minutes and looked to be feeling ill rather than picking up an injury. He was replaced by Wilfried Domoraud.

Dorus De Vries made an early uncharacteristic error and gave Gary Dempsey a chance but he redeemed himself with an excellent save.

Alan Tate picked up a nasty looking head injury on 12 minutes and had to go off for running repairs and to chance his shirt, which resembled the shirt of his beloved Sunderland with red and white stripes rather than the all white of the Swans.

Swans were unable to gain control of the midfield and Yeovil seemed faster, sharper and keener. Darren Pratley was battling manfully but lacked support and he all too often was guilty of trying to do too much.

Lloyd Owusu looked odds on to score but was denied by a last ditch tackle from captain Garry Monk. They came close again with a couple of chances in a goalmouth melee and then Terry Skiverton should have done better with a clear shot at goal from just 12 yards that he blasted over the bar.

Alan Tate was forced off the field again to have his head stitched and returned with a huge bandage wrapped around his head.

On the half-hour Swans finally created something but Guillem Bauza totally missed the ball trying a speculative volley, then Paul Anderson warmed Yeovil keeper, Stephen Mildenhall's hands with a thunderous volley.

This brief spell of pressure finally kick started the Swans as an attacking force and they took the lead on 40 minutes. Yeovil failed to clear the ball from a Swans corner and Alan Tate fired a shot from about 15 yards that hit the defender on the line and the ball ballooned up perfectly for Guillem Bauza to head home from 5 yards out.

Russell Slade would have been pulling his hair out at half time; well, he would have if he had any hair. Yeovil had had much the better of the half and yet found themselves behind.

Tom Butler replaced Paul Anderson early into the second half but the pattern of the game remained much the same with Swans looking better on the ball but Yeovil players seeming more up for the fight.

Daryl Duffy and Tom Butler both had efforts go close as Swans desperately sought the second goal that would hopefully kill off a resolute Yeovil.

Ferrie Bodde replaced Guillem Bauza and it didn't take long for him to pick up a needless booking and the Dutch midfielder was extremely lucky that referee Mr Miller missed his dreadful challenge on Yeovil's James Walker, who will have been left with the marks of Bodde's studs running down his calf.

Yeovil attacked in waves but Garry Monk and Alan Tate worked superbly to keep them at bay.

Jason Scotland took over the lone striker role from Daryl Duffy for the last ten minutes.

Swans held out thanks in main to the centre half partnership but there were few other positives to pull out of tonight's performance.

Ratings-

De Vries 8 – One mistakes but otherwise excellent.

Amankwaah 5 – Really should have been busting a gut to show what he can do, but just didn't seem to be up for it.
Monk 8 – A couple of mistakes but worked his socks off.
Tate 9 – Absolutely superb.
Austin 6 – Just not suited to our style of playing of playing football from the back.

Anderson 6 – Started very slowly but did improve.
Pratley 7 – Did loads of work but does try to do too much at times.
Allen 5 – Just never got going and for once looked like a 17 year old boy up against men.
Orlandi 6 – Some sublime touches but ducked a few challenges.

Bauza 6 – Another goal but didn't see too much of the ball.
Duffy 6 – Things just not going his way but to his credit never stopped running or trying.


Subs –
Butler 7 – At least offered us an outlet.
Bodde 7 – Made us look more solid in midfield but temperament again questionable.
Scotland 6 – Ten minutes in which he had to do more defending than attacking.