Match report

Video clips

• highlights of both goals (668kb)

Listers' view - Gary Martin

Hollins made two changes to the team that disappointed against Torquay on Saturday. Mike Howard was restored at left back allowing Jonathan Coates to displace Lee Jenkins in midfield. The other change was a fit again Steve Watkin taking the place of Kris O'Leary.

The game was played on a dry St James Park but the biting wind and low temperature did not deter 250 Jacks from attending.

Swansea were first to threaten when a Thomas shot trickled across the goalmouth past the far post after 7 minutes.

Two minutes later, Swansea were still level thanks to Freestone's sliding tackle on Exeter's tricky left winger who had easily dribbled his way untouched towards goal.

Swansea had another let off on the half hour mark when a well delivered corner was headed firmly just inches over the bar.

On 32 minutes, Swansea fans thought the breakthrough had arrived when some good recovery work from a poorly taken corner saw Bound head for goal but his effort crashed against the crossbar.

Cusack was booked for contesting some of the referees decisions and shortly afterwards Roberts followed him into the book for a slightly mistimed sliding tackle.

The fans spirits were lifted when Boyd, who looked far more lively than in any of his previous games, picked up the ball in his own half and set off on a weaving run towards goal. He slipped the ball to Roberts who fed Watkin but his shot was off target.

Coates became the third Swansea player to go into the referee's book when he was responsible for giving the ball away at the edge of their box and could only recover by chasing back and fouling the beneficiary.

Second half saw Swansea take advantage of the strong wind at their backs and a good cross from Price was followed by a narrow miss by Jason Smith who side footed the ball inches wide from 5 yards out.

The opening goal came on 55 minutes as a result of a poor goalkeeping clearance. Boyd pressured the centre back into giving the ball away to Watkin who had it under control in a flash. His through pass for Boyd was slightly overhit but Boyd had luck on his side when he went in for a 50-50 with the keeper and saw the ball come out in his favour. This left him with the simple task of blasting into an empty net.

Minutes later Feestone was booked for time wasting and Thomas became booking number 5 just minutes after that.

The main danger to Swansea was coming from whipped crosses from the flanks but Smith was dealing admirably with these. The danger was coming from the second phase of play with Swansea defenders slow to react to these clearances.

It was from one of these that Exeter equalised. A cross was headed out by Smith as far as the edge of the box, where Rees was given time to compose a cracking shot into Freestone top left of the goal.

With less than 10 minutes to go, Exeter were reduced to 10 men when Rees was sent off for a 2nd yellow card.

Swansea forced a half a dozen corners in search of a win but couldn't break down the desperate Exeter defence.

Player ratings
Freestone - 7 dealt with everything - not to blame for the goal.
Price - 6 improved after a shaky start
Howard - 6 his best game for a while
Smith - 7 won everything in the air
Bound - 7 no nonsense tackling
Roberts - 6 made a few good runs down the right flank
Cusack - 6 dependable performance
Thomas - 6 still improving gradually
Coates - 6 mediocre start but improved
*Watkin - 8 excellent touch, control and distribution
Boyd - 7 much more commited and involved
Jones S - 6 replaced Roberts with 10 mins to go. OK.

Summary: Improved performance but too many free kicks and corners wasted - needs sorting out on the training field against opposition.