Match report

Video clips

• All the goals (2Mb)

Exciting finish at a sun-drenched Vetch Field this afternoon in which Swansea scored two very late goals to seal victory over a hard-working Southend side.

Swansea lined up as follows:-

Subs: Bird, Jones J, Jones S, Coates, Phillips.

Swansea quickly took control of the game and played some of the best football seen so far this season. Nick Cusack went down after 10 mins after a heavy challenge and had to leave the field for a few minutes for treatment.

Several challenges went flying in and free kicks around the box were wasted. Matthew Bound has hit EVERY free kick he has taken over the bar since his disallowed thunderbolt last season - perhaps it's time to give him a rest from this duty?

Swans went ahead on the quarter hour mark when Watkin was again clattered wide on the edge of the box. The resulting free-kick was floated in by Appleby only to be headed clear to the edge of the box - where Stuart Roberts drilled an unstoppable shot from 20 yards into the roof of the net.

On the 24 minute mark, Cusack who had been holding his ribs after every pass he made was finally replaced by Jonathan Coates in the middle of midfield.

From this point on, it was just a case of when would Southend equalise as they completely over-ran midfield. They were unlucky not to equalise just before the break when a far post header had Freestone beaten but it went the wrong side of the post. Minutes later Swansea were indebted to Roger for another fine save when Roach was put through 1 on 1 with him but an outstretched hand palmed away the fierce shot to safety.

Second half started the way the first had finished and it didn't take Hollins long to realise he needed to strengthen the team defensively. On 66 minutes, off went Stuart Roberts (who had been well contained by the excellent Jones) to be replaced by Steve Jones. Price pushed up and Jones slotted in at right back. This made a bit of difference and Swansea started to threaten themselves.

However, it came as no surprise when on 75 minutes Southend equalised. Bound lost his first aerial challenge of the match and the flick on saw Roach get goalside of Smith and slot the ball past the advancing Freestone.

This then spurred sections of the North Bank into chants of "Get your cheque book out" and general rubbishing of various Swansea players - Alsop being the main target. However, all was sweetness and light with just minutes left on the clock. Swansea who had struggled to regain a rhythm had Coates, Lacey and Jones all booked in rapid succession for diving tackles. But when Watkin played a through ball for Price to race at with the keeper, he fell? over the keeper's challenge and was fortuitously awarded the penalty.

Despite some gamesmanship from the Southend players, Watkin coolly stroked the ball home.

No sooner had the game restarted when Price was again put through on a 1 to 1 with Capelton and this time he slotted the ball right-footed into the far corner of the net.

The white supremacists on the NB had a field day today when they saw that Southend had 3 black players in their team - the very dark Capelton in goals, the excellent Roget at centre back and another in midfield.

The monkey chants started when any of these players had control of the ball - but these were replaced in the second half by the more socially acceptable "He's got a pineapple on his head" chant.

Not to worry though Mike Lewis - in his reply to the letter I sent to the board regarding this unacceptable behaviour - assured me that the stewards had now been trained to NVQ standard and would be able to deal with it.

So if I was a monkey chanting imbecile - I'd be shitting myself tonight - NOT!

An excellent win but not a great performance. When Cusack went off, the shallowness of the squad cover (with O'Leary and Thomas missing as well) was plain for all to see.

Still - up to 4th is not to be sniffed at in a game that Southend will be gutted at not getting anything out of.