Match report

Video clips

Clueless Swansea cast away more crucial points as Division Three new boys Cheltenham's iron grip ruled in a 0-0 draw at the Vetch Field.

Swans boss John Hollins had called for a "killer touch" before kick-off, but his men produced a stumbling display in the rain.

Just over 4,000 looked on in anguish as Swansea failed to return to the play-off zone for the first time since August.

The Swans produced little after a Steve Watkin chance in the first half and Steve Cotterill's braves so nearly stole the show as Lee Howells and Michael Duff threatened late on.

Another dreadful performance. Hollins started with Boyd instead of Alsop, and the Swans tried to play the ball forward on the floor whenever possible. Boyd's performance was a little better than in previous games, but if he was anyone else he wouldn't get into the reserve team.

Unlike the Halifax game, Appleby and Coates couldn't get past their full backs, and without Alsop to win the ball in the air our attacking options just about disappeared.

Cheltenham looked like a non-league team and frequently pressed the panic button.Unfortunately we had no-one good enough to kill them off. With our wingers ineffective, Lacey breaking up many of their attacks, Bound and Smith commanding in defence, the result was a stalemate.

In the second half, Alsop and Thomas provided increased energy and effectiveness, but we never really looked as if we were going to score. In the end we were lucky to get away with a point as Cheltenham missed a couple of easy chances.

Players marks:-
Freestone 7 no mistakes, nothing much to do
Price 5 Tried hard, but his lack of skill was obvious for all to see
Howard 6 Defensively quite good, but poor distribution
Cusack 6 O.K only
Smith 7 Defensively good, managed not to kick the ball out of the ground
Bound 8 Another good game, hit the post late in the game
Appleby 6 Ineffective tonight, his full back was too good for him
Lacey 7 worked very hard again, broke up many of their moves
Watkin 7 quite a good game, won several balls in the air - but to no avail
Boyd 5 His best game, but still poor - one tidy shot only, we can't afford him ( on and off the field)
Coates 4 An enigma, his full back was too good for him, he didn't get past him once
Subs
Alsop 7 Came on for Boyd for last 15 mins. Tried hard, good in the air
Casey 5 Came on for Coates after 60 mins, ineffective
Thomas 7 Came on for Appleby for last 20 mins. lots of energy, got into the box for a shot twice

I don't think that we can blame Hollins, the players we've got are not good enough. Without one or two new signings I don't think we will make the play offs, but I suspect there's no money left.

Personally, to get the best out of the players we've got, I would play Cusack as sweeper behind Smith and Bound, with O'Leary. just in front. Appleby and Coates as attacking wing backs, Watkin is too good to leave out, and I would play him in midfield with Lacey, and persevere with Boyd (for a little longer) and Alsop up front.

                        Freestone

		               Cusack
           		 Smith                Bound
        O'Leary 		Watkin             Lacey
                              Appleby                              
          Coates 		Boyd              Alsop

Lacklustre Swans Spurn Chance To Climb Table

SWANSEA spurned the chance to climb into the Third Division play-off zone with a lacklustre performance at the Vetch Field last night.

Victory over the league newcomers would have lifted John Hollins’s side seven places into seventh spot.

But when they did penetrate a resolute defence they invariably failed to hit the target.

Steve Watkin thought he had scored on the stroke of half-time when he chased a stray back-pass by Chris Banks and squeezed a right-foot shot from a narrow angle. Neil Howarth hooked it out and referee Alan Butler ignored the Swansea striker’s protests that the ball had crossed the goal-line.

Cheltenham, winners only once in their six previous league games, worked hard at closing down and denying space, permitting Swansea few clear-cut opportunities.

One of their few accurate strikes came from Walter Boyd the redbooted Jamaica international, wearing black gloves as protection against the cold, saw ’keeper Steve Book get a hand to his low drive and Banks complete the clearance.

Julian Alsop replaced Boyd for the last 20 minutes during which the Swans laid siege to the visitors’ goal without managing to find a way through.

Cheltenham could have snatched victory six minutes from time had Michael Duff had the composure to beat ’keeper Roger Freestone when he was put clean through by Mark Yates.

Swansea’s finishing will have to be much better if they are to do well against Oldham in the FA Cup second round on Saturday.

They had territorial advantage for most of a scrappy first half. Michael Howard hit a 25-yard drive that forced Book to make a rare save. For all their possession, Swansea failed to hit the target. Nick Cusack volleyed wide from a half-chance created by Boyd’s cross and was off target again after Richard Appleby had cleverly dribbled past two opponents.

Eager to do well on his recall, Boyd showed greater urgency, one darting run giving him room for a right-footed drive. But again it was wide of the mark.

Cheltenham offered nothing in reply until the 25th minute when Damien Lacey’s mistake allowed Hugh McAuley to supply the pass from which Duff shot wide.

Hollins used his three substitutes in the second half in an attempt to make the break-through but Matthew Bound’s powerful drive was turned for a corner and Book had Martin Thomas’s close-range effort covered.

Swansea’s only other on-target effort was a header by Alsop that Banks did well to intercept.