Swansea 1 v 0 Hartlepool

Jason Smith was the toast of the Vetch field as the Swans flew back to the playoff fray tonight.

In a tension filled clash the former Tiverton stopper swooped just before the hour as Swansea secured a crucial maximum point.

Swansea chief John Hollins rang the changes as he sought to improve The Swans' recent disappointing home league form. Skipper Nick Cusack was dropped for the first time, and joined Stuart Roberts and Julian Alsop on the bench.

Fit-again ex-Southampton midfielder Martin Thomas made a first start for three months and Tony Bird and Damian Lacey returned to kickstart their flagging play-off hopes.

Relegation-haunted 'Pool, knew that a victory would put enormous pressure on Scarborough, who take on their local rivals Darlington tomorrow. Chris Turner brought in ex-Notts County defensive lynchpin Gary Strodder for Chris Westwood - the only alteration to the 11 that triumphed over Chester 72 hours earlier.

Amid high tension and on a bone hard surface, both sides struggled for continuity. But Swansea raider Steve Watkin created a rare opening on 12 minutes, Bird's low, angled drive forcing United 'keeper Martin Hollund to clutch the ball at his near post.

The fare was scrappy in the extreme, but former England star Peter Beardsley's vicious right-foot volley on 20 minutes produced a rare moment of quality. Three minutes later, the Swans cursed their luck as Richard Appleby swivelled before thumping a fierce left-foooter against the rigging.

Bird and Lacey thundered drives wide after the interval as Swansea turned up the heat, before Smith pounced to sooth nerves on 56 minutes.

Appleby's right-sided free kick was returned by Steve Jones and the defender met it from 4 yards - his 6th of the campaign.

Swansea City: Freestone, Jones, S, Coates, O'Leary, Smith, Bound, Appleby, Thomas, Bird, Watkin, Lacey,
Roberts, Alsop,

Hartlepool United: Hollund, Knowles, Ingram, Barron, Strodder, Hughes, Stokoe, Beardsley, Freestone, Jones, Clark,
Stephenson, Di Lella,

Substitutions
Swansea City: Cusack, for Thomas (82)
Hartlepool United: Baker, for Hughes (85)

Substitutions
Swansea City: Cusack, for Thomas (82)
Hartlepool United: Baker, for Hughes (85)

Bookings
Swansea City: Appleby (75), Lacey (80)
Hartlepool United: Strodder (58), Clark (60), Ingram (90)

Referee P. Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent)

Attendance 4,429

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