The statistics that will shock every Swans fan.

REMEMBER the film When Saturday Comes, in which Sean Bean rose from anonymous steel worker to footballing super stardom? Saturday equals a football match, equals a win.

Unless you are a Swansea City fan at The Vetch, prior to yesterday's win over Bournemouth, it would appear. Swans supporters will have to hope that Jamie Wood/Andrew Mumford inspired triumph heralds the start of a new era and the end of a Vetch jinx.

Because a look at the statistics of previous home Swans games over the last two seasons outlines an alarming trend.

THE SWANS JUST CANT WIN AT HOME WITH ANY SORT OF CONSISTENCY ON A SATURDAY.

Oh, but they haven't done well, full stop, you could argue.

Not so. Of 19 Nationwide League midweek games played at The Vetch during those two seasons, the Swans won eight times, drew six and only lost five.

That winning ratio is 42 per cent. Of Saturday League Vetch fixtures over that period, prior to yesterday, the Swans managed just FOUR wins out of 27. A winning ratio of 14 per cent. I know they say you can make anything you want out of statistics, but these figures are pretty black and white in terms of spelling out The Vetch on a Saturday doesn't equal success for the Swans.

Notwithstanding yesterday's Bournemouth result, of course. Why, then, are the figures so damning?

"I have no idea. I'm numbed by these stats," says Swans legend Alan Curtis, who has seen most games during that period as the club's No2 or as a radio analyst.

"It's certainly something for Nick Cusack and I to chew over and think about.

"My view has been that we've struggled generally, full stop. I don't know what we can do about the Saturday thing, other than perhaps ask the players if they have a problem.

"Other than that, we need to get to grips with it. Because I've looked at our fixture list this season and we've got an awful lot of Saturday games coming up at the Vetch."

Asked about why the midweek record should be so different, Curtis said: "I suppose there is an argument for saying that the Vetch is a more intimidating place for visiting teams at night time.

"Perhaps the extra atmosphere and passion generated perhaps fires our players more. Players will tell you that the better the atmosphere, the better they like it.

"At The Vetch at night time everybody seems on top of the pitch, maybe the gaps in me terracing don't seem so obvious, the emotions seem more charged.

"That's the only conclusion I can draw from the statistics, anyway.

"What I feel we've got to do though is turn the Vetch into our own fortress - on Saturdays and in midweek."

Ironically, it was Lennie Lawrence, manager of the Swans' big rivals Cardiff City, who first raised the "midweek is better than Saturday" issue in Wales.

Before last season's play-offs, Lawrence argued that he would prefer the second leg against Stoke to be at Ninian Park -because it would be a night game and the intimidatory factor was greater. Yet a look at the Cardiff stats over the identical two season period shows the difference between Saturday wins and midweek wins is next to nothing.

Of 27 home Saturday League matches, they have won 16 - a 59 per cent winning ratio. Of 19 midweek games, they have won 12 - a 63 per cent ratio. It's not Ninian where the difference greatly apparent.

It's The Vetch. But can Bournemouth be the start of a new era?

Swansea City 2  Bournemouth 0

Not a bad way for Roger Freestone to celebrate his 500th League appearance for the Swans.

A first win of the season, a goal after just 15 SECONDS by Jamie Wood which was one of the fastest in the club's history . . . and, what will have pleased Freestone more than anything, a clean sheet.

Make no mistake, this was a desperately needed three points to raise morale and confidence as the cash-strapped Swans continue to try to stabilise after the turmoil of the Tony Petty era last season.

And although manager Nick Cusack expressed his obvious delight after the game, no-one will have been more pleased at the result than Freestone. He joined an elite group of players, the others being Herbie Williams in the 1960s and 70s and Wilf Milne pre-war, who have played 500 League games for the club.

Freestone was so desperate to get out there to help the cause yesterday that he spent much of the week building up to the game with his foot in Swansea Bay, hoping the sea water would speed up the healing process for an ankle ligament injury.

It may have been his 500th game, stretching over a 13-year period. But the big experienced goalkeeper knew the importance of being out there for this one as the Swans looked to kick-start their season following a disappointing run of results.

I will also bet that in those 500 games, Freestone has never seen as early a goal for the Swans as the one tucked home by Jamie Wood yesterday after just 15 seconds.

When Andrew Mumford headed the second seven minutes from time it was game, set and match, particularly as Bournemouth had by that stage been reduced to 10 men, Neil Young being sent off in the 76th minute for two yellow card offences.

Despite the magnitude of his achievement, there was no special presentation to Freestone. The Swans weren't being mean or anything. It's just that someone had got the arithmetic wrong and they did it last season. Not that Freestone would have been too concerned. The only present he wanted was a clean sheet and it looked good early on as he had a largely untroubled first half.

In fact, Freestone, and the Swans, couldn't have wished for a better start as they roared into the lead. And, irony of ironies, it was a complete gift from Chris Tardif, the goalkeeper at the other end of the pitch, which granted Cusack's men their lead.

The Swans kicked off, played the ball around, Paul Reid thumped it forward and Tardif came to gather comfortably, or so we presumed, at the edge of his penalty area. Inexplicably though, Tardif spilled the ball, collided with one of his defenders as he tried to recover. And while this was going on, Wood latched onto the loose ball and tucked home into the empty net for the easiest goal of his career.

Understandably, the Swans took great confidence from that unexpected start and for much of the remaining first half, they set about Bournemouth with plenty of gusto and purpose.

The impressive Reid pulled the strings in midfield, Lee Jenkins and Michael Howard rampaged down the flanks and up front Wood and James Thomas were a menace with their movement, directness and determination.

After 11 minutes, Tardif flapped again as he misjudged a Reid free kick, was at sea as Neil Sharp headed back across goal, but agonisingly, Dave Theobald couldn't touch the ball into an empty net. Mumford headed over from a Howard cross, Theobald headed wide from Reid's free kick and Thomas was denied by Tardif as he brilliantly met Jenkins' cross from the right, only to head at the Bournemouth 'keeper.

Thomas came closer to the goal he was threatening just before half time when he raced onto Wood's ball down the left, only to see his curler beat Tardif but agonisingly go just over the bar. As for Freestone, the only time he was really called into action inside his own area was when Wade Elliott split the Swans defence with a probing through ball. Carl Fletcher raced clear, tried to round Freestone but his goalbound effort was blocked by the legs of the alert Swans No1.

The fear was that, having failed to capitalise on the half openings which came their way, the Swans whirlwind would blow itself out. It did right at the start of the second half when three times in the first 15 minutes, clangers by the Swansea defence almost let Bournemouth in for an equaliser against Freestone.

Yet just as things were beginning to look ominous for Cusack's men, Young was booked for a wild challenge on Reid. Having previously been yellow-carded for a foul on Mumford, it meant the Bournemouth right back getting his marching orders, giving the Swans a one-man advantage for the closing 14 minutes.

The wind was taken out of Bournemouth's sails, the Swans gained fresh impetus and they took the game away from the visitors.

The Swans got their second goal seven minutes from time when Reid's corner from the right was powered home by a Mumford header.

An excellent end to an excellent day. Particularly for a goalkeeper who has become a legend down at the Vetch.

NICK CUSACK insisted Swansea City must look to build on Saturday's morale-boosting victory against Bournemouth when they travel to Bristol Rovers tomorrow. The player-coach wants his Third Division side to start gaining momentum and record another clean sheet after conceding seven goals in the opening three games of the season.

He said, "I was absolutely delighted with the performance against Bournemouth and now I want us to build on it.

"On Saturday we proved ourselves capable of putting in a really good team effort and that's something I want to see on a consistent basis.

"Bristol Rovers is not going to be an easy game - they are desperate to get their season going - but all I ask is that the players show the same kind of effort and commitment."

Whether the defensive errors responsible for the 3-2 defeat at Bury have been completely eradicated remains to be seen, but Cusack said he was pleased with the team's response.

"The players wanted to make amends after Bury and I was satisfied with how we turned things round," he said.

"We looked more solid and tighter at the back and it was a good team display - I couldn't praise them enough."

Cusack also paid tribute to goalkeeper Roger Freestone, who shrugged off the serious foot injury he sustained at Gigg Lane to chalk up his 500th league appearance for the Swans.

"Roger is a legend at Swansea," said the player-coach. "To play 500 league games is an incredible achievement, but to do it at one club is phenomenal.

"Other clubs have offered Roger a staggering amount of money to join them, but there has never been any chance of Roger leaving Swansea because he loves the club and the support-ers."

Swansea City 2  Bournemouth 0

Lee Jenkins feared his days at Swansea City were numbered when his season lurched from one major setback to another within the space of 24 unforgettable hours.

It was bad enough that the former Wales Under-21 defender spent most of the 2001-02 campaign on the sidelines after rupturing knee ligaments in a 1-0 defeat against Rochdale last October.

But matters were made considerably worse the following day when Jenkins became a victim of the Tony Petty saga, being told he had no future at the Vetch unless he accepted a sizeable pay cut.

How things change. Petty was ousted, Jenkins was retained by the club and his injury nightmare is but a distant memory.

Having had such a depressing time last season, the 23-year-old defender is now producing some of the best football of his career and is an automatic choice in Nick Cusack's Swans team.

Jenkins rarely steals the headlines, but he has been outstanding so far this season and his contribution to the 2- 0 defeat of Bournemouth on Saturday - a result which produced a collective sigh of relief, not least because Swansea managed to keep a clean sheet - was immense.

"I always give 100 per cent and try to do my best each game," said the Pontypool-born player, whose work-rate and crossing from the flanks has been exceptional.

"I am not the most skilful player in the world - I don't beat players like Ryan Giggs does - but I am a hard worker."

Jenkins, who signed for Swansea as a trainee in December 1996, admitted he feared the worst last season.

"I thought, `Is this the end?' when I injured my knee against Rochdale and the next day all the Tony Petty stuff happened.

"It was a nightmare - I wasn't playing because of the injury and didn't really know what the future would hold.

"But things have turned round. Now I'm just happy to be playing and every game is a bonus. I try to make the most of each one."

Jenkins put in a man-of-the-match performance against Bournemouth as Swansea found the win they have been craving since so nearly toppling Rushden & Diamonds on the opening day.

Gone was the dreadful defending which characterised the 3-2 defeat at Bury and the 2-2 draw at Darlington.

This time, Swansea managed to retain possession and posed far more of a threat going forward.

Ironically, Swansea were without two of their supposed first-choice defenders as Kris O'Leary began a three-match suspension and Jason Smith was missing with a groin problem.

David Theobald and Neil Sharp were magnificent in their absence and have every chance of staying in the team if they can produce a repeat performance at Bristol Rovers tomorrow.

Jamie Wood was restored to the starting line-up and scored what was probably the quickest goal of his career - and certainly one of the fastest seen at the Vetch.

Only 15 seconds in, Paul Reid launched an optimistic long ball forward which Bournemouth's on-loan goalkeeper Chris Tardif dropped, leaving Wood to notch his first goal for the club with the simplest of tap-ins.

The Cherries presented more of a threat after the interval, almost claiming an equaliser through striker Alan Connell, who took advantage of a mix-up in the Swansea defence to place an effort just wide of the left-hand post.

Bournemouth, relegated from Division Two last season and desperate for their first win this term, began to get frustrated and defender Neil Young was dismissed in the 75th minute for a second bookable offence.

Swansea compounded their misery seven minutes from time when Andrew Mumford, part of the Wales squad for next month's under-21 international against Finland, headed in Reid's corner.

"The result has taken the pressure off us a bit," said Jenkins.

"But the mood in the dressing room has stayed the same - there is always a buzz, a sense of optimism.

"What particularly pleased us was getting three points in front of our own fans. They deserved it."

CHERRIES had Warren Feeney injured and Neil Young sent off as they plunged to defeat at Swansea today. Swansea made a sensational start, taking the lead after just 25 seconds when Jamie Wood was presented with an opening to shoot home right-footed from six yards.

An inswinging corner from left taken by James Hayter forced a near-post clearance from Michael Howard. Cherries forced another corner but again Hayter's kick was cleared this time by Lee Jenkins.

But Swansea hit back and from a cross by Howard, Andrew Mumford headed over from close range.

David Theobald was booked for a foul on Hayter and Bournemouth's Neil Young soon followed him into the book for a challenge on Mumford. Cherries weren't making much headway and their cause was further undermined when Northern Ireland striker Warren Feeney went off with what looked like a serious injury. He was replaced by new signing from Ipswich Alan Connell.

Half-time:
SWANSEA 1 CHERRIES 0

Hayter cleared from a corner taken by Reid and as Swans kept the pressure on and forced another flag kick, Stephen Purches was the man to get this one away.

Cherries had had precious little in the way of shots but Connell changed all that after 55 minutes with a right-foot effort from the edge of the box which went past the right-hand post.

Hayter was menacing Swansea and after 59 miunutes clipped a left-foot effort wide of goal from six yards. Seconds later he drove in a right-footer from 18 yards which again missed the target.

When play swung to the other end Mumford broke down the inside-left channel but hit his 20-yard shot wide of goal.

Cherries made a 65th minute substitution, bringing on Brian Stock for Gareth O'Connor and he wasn't on long before shooting over. There was more gloom for Cherries when Young fouled Jenkins and was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Swans made sure of victory when Mumford headed home from a corner by Reid after 81 minutes.

LIKE hundreds of others in the close season, former Swansea City defender Chris Todd has been searching for a new club to extend his professional career.

And after a few months roving across the UK, the Treboeth-born youngster is now hoping for a change of luck across the Irish Sea in the Emerald Isle. Todd, who turned 21 this week, was one of 10 players released by Nick Cusack at the end of a turbulent year at the Vetch.

And since then the six-footer has been on the road to rekindle what had been a blossoming career. Todd had made his mark in Division Two for Swansea in 2001/2002.

Despite relegation, he stood out as the season drifted to an end and many were predicting a bright future for the centre-back. But at the end of a year which everyone at the Vetch wanted to forget. Todd found himself without a club, with football facing a cash crisis. "Of course I was shocked," said Todd.

"After playing so many games for the first team at a very young age I thought I might be an asset to the club. "But football is all about opinions and Nick Cusack believed I was not going to be part of his plans. "I have no complaints. I am not that sort of person. I do not hold grudges, you can't do that in football.

"I knew that these things happen in the game and it's something I have to get on with. Hopefully now I can settle down and start to work my way back into league football." Today, Todd was set to sign for newly-promoted League of Ireland side Drogheda United, swelling the number of professionals at the club to nine. And Todd believes that the Irish League will give him a chance to kick-start his Football League career again.

He has spent time on trial at Nottingham Forest, Notts County and Worcester City, while possible trials at Dundee and Aberdeen fell through. "It has been hard, especially this summer," said Todd.

"At Notts Forest the manager Paul Hart said he would have taken me on, but already had too many players in my position. "The financial situation in football has made it doubly difficult this year. "Maybe in other years I would have found getting a new club easier but this time it's different.

"Clubs have hardly spent any money and most are trying to cut their wage bills." Todd has already impressed at Drogheda - based just outside Dublin - and hopes to make the starting lineup against Bray Wanderers next week. "The standard here is pretty high," he added.

"Most of the teams have now turned professional and it is pretty impressive stuff. "I have taken a couple of knocks this summer but I know I can bounce back.

"I am young enough and strong enough to get through this and prove that I can do it in the Football League. "That is why I came into this game because I want to succeed. Hopefully coming to Ireland will be lucky for me and I can move on to somewhere else." Only Steve Brodie (Chester) and Mamady Sidibe (Gillingham) of those let go by Swansea this summer have found new clubs.

But Todd knows the rest are all better off than ex-team-mate Jonathan Coates. "If it has been hard for me then think about Coatesy," he said.

"He is a good player and a great bloke who did great things for the Swans and to have broken his shoulder like that is such bad luck for him. "I was devastated for him. It is hard enough just finding a club and I hope it comes right for him."

In the meantime Todd is ready to work as hard as he can to prove he has the ability to get back.

Maybe, as he kicks off a career in Ireland, the eyes will be smiling on him and he will again be one day knocking on the Vetch Field door.

SWANSEA City playermanager Nick Cusack made five changes as his team took on AFC Bournemouth at The Vetch Field.

And the changes made all the difference as the Swans made a flying start scoring after only 15 seconds. Jamie Woods scored the goal, his first for the club after a mix up between Bournemouth Defender Jason Tindell and his goalkeeper Chris Tardis, which resulted in Woods having an open goal.

Swansea continued to press and came close on a couple of occasions with both Andrew Mumford and David Theobold heading just wide. But it was Bournemouth who threatened next with Swansea ’keeper Roger Freestone saving well at the feet of Carl Fletcher.

Swansea City striker James Thomas had a chance just before half-time, but he shot high and wide.

HT: Swansea City 1 AFC Bournemouth 0

Bournemouth came out all guns blazing in the second half with substitute Alan Connell coming close on a couple of occasions.

First the 19-year-old striker had an overhead kick sail inches wide and then a low drive sailed across the face of the goal.

On the hour, James Hayter saw his drive smack the post and rebound to safety. With fifteen minutes left, Bournemouth defender Neil Young was sent off for a late tackle on Swansea City defender Lee Jenkins.

Jenkins almost made it two for the Swans but his shot was just wide of Chris Tardis' right-hand post. But Andrew Mumford celebrated his call-up into the Welsh under-21 squad with a late header securing all three points for Nick Cusack's side.

DELIGHTED Swansea boss Nick Cusack hailed his side's first victory since way back in March - then demanded they build on it.

The Welsh side gave their new boss his first win with a performance full of energy and enthusiasm.

Cusack said: "I made a few changes after last week and it came off for us. I thought our defenders, especially David Theobold and Neil Sharp, really did well. "We conceded seven goals in our first three games so it's nice to see us end with a clean sheet."

But Swansea were helped on their way to victory by a horrendous error from Bournemouth goalkeeper Chris Tardif after only 15 seconds.

Tardif, on loan from Portsmouth, blundered as he dropped a harmless punt up field to gift Swansea striker Jamie Wood his first goal. James Hayter hit a post for the visitors, who then had Neil Young sent off. Andrew Mumford hit the second after 83 minutes.

NET LOSS

BOURNEMOUTH'S on-loan keeper Chris Tardif's error sent his side crashing to a first defeat of the season. Only 15 seconds had gone when the keeper borrowed from Portsmouth made his blunder.

He somehow dropped a high punt forward, allowing Swansea striker Jamie Wood to rifle the ball into an unguarded net.

James Hayter came closest to equalising with a shot that crashed against a post. Defender Neil Young was sent off 15 minutes from time for a crunching tackle - his second booking - on Lee Jenkins. Swansea's Welsh Under-21 starlet headed the second seven minutes from the end.