Match report

Brighton Hove Albion 3 v 2 Swansea City

Report courtesy of John Burgum - Evening Post

Despite a spirited second-half revival, Swansea slumped to their third successive defeat as Brighton boosted their survival hopes. Brighton welcomed back Denny Mundee after injury, the experienced midfielder preferred to new signing Robbie Reinalt. Swansea were relieved to have leading striker Steve Torpey back after suspension. They were boosted further when skipper David Penney was declared fit after treatment all week for ankle and thigh injuries suffered in the 2-1 home defeat by Scarborough.

Torpey for the suspended Kwame Ampadu was the only change from the Scarborough game. Swansea started nervously, and it needed the alertness of Walker to intercept a poor Chapple back-pass. However, the Swansea midfielder quickly shook off those early nerves and had a major hand in the opening Swansea attack, which released Hills on a left-wing run, before the move was halted by a Hobson clearance.

Another promising Swansea build-up, this time led by Jones down the opposite flank, showed Swansea at their most fluent. Penney, Coates, Thomas and Chapple were involved before Ormerod raced off his line to take the high ball under pressure from Torpey.

Chapple and Hills again combined neatly, before a close-range diving header from Coates rebounded off the legs of Brighton's goalkeeper.

Having weathered that early pressure Brighton twice broke effectively down the right-hand touchline, only to be denied by Freestone and Walker.

After Penney had responded by driving over the bar from long-range, the same pair were involved in the next threatening move, which saw Thomas steer the ball wide of the goalkeeper near the byline, only to see Hallam cut out his cross.

Brighton continued their improvement when Storer cut inside Hills, before Edwards came across to prevent the Brighton winger getting in a shot.

Mayo had better luck in another Brighton attack, but his shot from 25 yards went straight at the goalkeeper before Penney responded with another long-range effort, which dipped over the bar.

Having looked the more likely side, Swansea were stunned on 34 minutes when Brighton's Ian BAIRD scored.

Maskell won a tackle on the halfway line, Smitt, took up the running down the right wing and delivered a cross to the far post cross which Baird made the most of to give his side the lead very much against the run of play.

Swansea responded, with Penney getting forward with another long range effort, which had Ormerod scrambling to cover the far post. Just before the break Thomas had another effort which went high and wide, as Brighton retreated in numbers to protect their lead.

Swansea resumed looking very determined but committing so many men forward they were inevitably to get caught on the break, and when Baird raced through unchallenged, it needed an important tackle from Walker to stop the Brighton captain adding to his first half goal.

Swansea continued to build patiently, but there was still no hurting the opposition. As the pressure increased on the Swansea defence Baird released Storer, and the winger raced clear only to shoot into the side netting when a pass to Maskell might have brought a goal. Storer need not have worried as Brighton went further ahead on 54 minutes, with BAIRD again the scorer. Swansea were stretched on both flanks and when McDonald's cross reached Baird at the far post the experienced striker volleyed his shot into the roof of the net.

It was now an uphill battle for Swansea, facing a third successive defeat for the first time this season. The hard-working Penney continued to offer Swansea hope, but when he burst around a defender into the penalty box the ball bobbled awkwardly and his shot went wide.

The pressure was all on Swansea now and Freestone kept his side in the match with a superb save from Maskell. Ryan Casey replaced Thomas with an hour gone. Swansea continued to throw men forward and it almost paid off when a Smith clearance was volleyed by Torpey straight to the Brighton goalkeeper, Swansea's first shot on target since the interval.

Penney followed up with another volleyed effort after a poor Brighton clearance, but his effort went wide of the target. The pressure finally paid off when BRAYSON offered Swansea a lifeline on 72 minutes rising above everyone to meet a cross from Hills, and glancing a header in before the advancing Ormerod could reach it. Brayson's third goal in five matches was just the tonic Swansea needed.

If Swansea had any hopes of salvaging something from the match they disappeared on 79 minutes when Craig MASKELL, looking suspiciously offside raced through onto a Hobson pass and drilled a low shot beyond Freestone's reach. Two minutes from the end Swansea reduced the deficit to one goal for the second time when WALKER emerged through a packed defence to beat Ormerod at the near post.