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Sunday, April 27, 2003 Marc fires last-ditch safety drive |
| Wales on Sunday JUST two miles south from Spotland lies a district in Rochdale called Hollins. Appropriate enough because just three years ago on a stifling May afternoon at Rotherham, Swansea lifted the Third Division championship on the last day of the season. Many saw that as a significant date in the Swans proud history - the triumph masterminded by ex-Chelsea chief John Hollins. The former Stamford Bridge star was a man on a mission - keen to re-establish his managerial credentials after London had seemingly cold shouldered him. That the ex-Chelsea, QPR and Arsenal midfielder totally achieved his objective will always be open to debate. But the stakes are no less high for Brian Flynn today. After Swansea collapsed over Easter the little Welshman gave his squad a lecture about life on the dole. Flynn knew all about that because he tasted unemployment for twelve months after severing a near 13 year link at Wrexham in September 2001. Flynn, a guarded and proud man, must have feared the worse before this trip to the Pennines. But his inspired substitution six minutes after the hour, with goal hero Marc Richards replacing James Thomas, has given him fresh hope. Strikes by Blackburn discard Richards - just 60 seconds after his entry - and a 19th minute opener from Kevin Nugent means the Swans' football league destiny is back in their own hands. Regardless of the outcome of Shrewsbury's gripping clash with Carlisle at Gay Meadow on Tuesday, a Swansea maximum over Hull City at the Vetch next Saturday will see them safe. Flynn toasted these facts booming, "That's what I always aimed for going into the last day of the campaign. "I knew things would go to the wire and that's exactly how events have turned out. But we really needed this victory at Rochdale. We had to bounce back with a brave display after those defeats over Easter. "My lads were quite magnificent out there. And yes, I will allow myself a little pat on the back for putting Marc Richards on." Swansea's reshuffle included Jon Coates who made his first start for over 12 months. The Wales B international, cruelly dumped to Woking during the disastrous reign of Nick Cusack, slotted into a left-side midfield role. James Thomas also returned as veteran John Williams dropped to the bench. Under-fire Dale chief Paul Simpson resisted the temptation for change, despite no wins in nine games. The Lancastrians opted again for a 4-4-2 formation, Northern Ireland cap Lee McEvilly and Clive Platt leading the attack. Around 1,000 Swans followers had made their way along the M62. Roch-dale directors must have been pleased - home gates had plummeted to around 1,800 recently. And the travelling support was roaring its approval as Swansea ripped forward in search of that early breakthrough. Flynn's men almost had the lead on five minutes. Roberto Martinez launched a pin-point right side corner, Lenny Johnrose's thunderous header screaming inches wide. The Swans were soon threatening again. Mike Howard's throw was flicked on by Johnrose, Rochdale keeper Matt Gilks grabbing the ball over a clutch of heads. Dale's last maximum was on March 15 but they were soon showing their teeth. Platt touched a cross goal and then saw a blast canon back off Alan Tate. Martinez and energetic Leon Britton were monopolising the midfield and Swansea were wallowing in a glut of possession which they capitalised on in the 19th minute. Former Wigan playmaker Martinez crucially played in Nugent and the ex-Cardiff City striker powered the ball into the net from 12 yards - his fifth goal of the season. It was just reward for the visitors against opponents who were guilty of numerous unforced errors. And Dale almost disintegrated once more on the half-hour as Johnrose almost touched in another Martinez corner. The home team were continuing to creak. Michael Howard rounded Chris Beech on the left, Gilks down at his near post to smother the menace. But Swansea wilted to a devastating counter-punch two minutes from half-time, Martinez's hand ball on the left edge of the area proving fatal. Gary Flitcroft's set piece was precise and Gareth Griffiths' header flashed past Neil Cutler. It was the 33-year-old Welshman's seventh strike of the campaign and Swansea were swaying as a Matt Doughtery's delicate chip just grazed the bar. Unfavourable later scores had filtered through on the wire over the break - Swansea's relegation rivals Exeter and Carlisle both winning their matches. But Richards left the bench for Thomas on 66 minutes to dramatically turn this clash. Only 60 seconds had past before the youngster made his mark - jabbing into the net via a post after Britton had escaped on the right. Swansea's unbridled relief was so evident and Dale were hanging on as Wayne Evans hacked Coates' scuffed drive off the line. Richards then missed a chance to seal matters completely as Swansea hung on grimly to the death as Simon Grand scooped over the bar from six yards. |
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Saturday, April 26, 2003 CAN THEY STAY UP? |
| Evening Post
Swansea City could be all-but safe this weekend if they win at Rochdale and relegation rivals Carlisle, Exeter and Shrewsbury all lose. Exeter would no longer be able to overhaul Brian Flynn's side, while either Shrewsbury or Carlisle would also be certain to finish below them bar an extraordinary turnaround in the Cumbrians' goal difference. |
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Friday, April 25, 2003 Rochdale are ready to give Swans hard time |
| Western Mail SWANSEA CITY were last night warned to expect another high-pressure contest when they travel to Rochdale for Saturday's crucial Division Three clash. The Swans, crestfallen after two devastating Easter defeats against Exeter and Orient, travel to Spotland knowing anything less than a win would leave them with one foot in the Conference. Brian Flynn's men, just one point above the Division Three drop zone, will face a Rochdale side safe from relegation on 49 points with three games to go. But Dale player-manager Paul Simpson, who has come under fire from supporters and is yet to be offered a new contract for next season, has warned the Swans not to expect any let up in the pressure. "I can assure Swansea that we aim to make this a very difficult game for them," said Simpson, who succeeded former Vetch Field boss John Hollins last summer. "They are fighting for their lives, but so are we. People might think we are safe from relegation, but that doesn't mean we have nothing to play for. "I would like us to get over the 50-point mark so that we are not caught up in the relegation scramble. "We've got to make sure Swansea go away disappointed on Saturday evening." Simpson has come under attack for failing to repeat the success of last season, when Hollins guided Rochdale into the Third Division play-off semi-finals. And the former Derby and Manchester City midfielder will be playing for his future against the Swans since the club are stalling over the offer of a new contract. "Everything is up in the air as far as I'm concerned and that is getting me down," he said. "But whatever happens, I want our season to end on a high. And that means everyone working hard against Swansea. "We'll have to be at our best because they will not come here and make it easy for us given the situation they're in." Swansea midfielder Kieron Durkan will miss the clash against his former club because of his achilles injury. Jason Smith (hamstring) is also out, but Swansea hope James Thomas will be fit after missing the Exeter defeat with an ankle problem.
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Friday, April 25, 2003 Penney ready to nick Swans' spot |
| Western Mail FORMER Swansea City captain Dave Penney has sent his old club a good luck message ahead of their critical match at Rochdale tomorrow - knowing he could pinch their place in the Football League. Six years after Penney captained them to the Third Division play-off final against Northampton at Wembley, the Swans head into their penultimate game of the season in grave danger of dropping into the Conference. And the irony of Penney's message of support will not be lost on them. For, as the manager of a Doncaster side that has clinched a place in the inaugural Conference play-offs, the next fortnight could possibly see him swap places with his old club. "It would be a strange twist of fate if that happened, though it is quite possible," said Penney, whose four-year spell at the Vetch ended in 1997 when he joined Cardiff City. "But I'm desperately hoping that if Doncaster and Swansea do meet next season, it will be as two Football League sides. "It's tight at the bottom of Division Three and Swansea are facing a fight to the end, but I'm hopeful they will get through it. "I'd be upset if they didn't make it because I still have a lot of affection for the club. "I had the best time of my career at the Vetch. It was a proud moment when I captained the team at Wembley in 1997. "That was my last game for the Swans and it seems a long way off now. I didn't ever envisage Swansea being in the situation they are now." Penney, who netted 23 goals in 131 League appearances for the Swans before reuniting with Frank Burrows at Cardiff, joined Doncaster in the summer of 1998 following their relegation from the Football League. And should Swansea require any further motivation for their final two final games, Rovers are testament to the difficulty of bouncing straight back out of the Conference. "We've been there or thereabouts over the past few seasons, but it has basically taken us five years to get to the point of a return to the league," said Penney, appointed manager at Belle Vue in January 2002. "Teams that come out of Division Three need time to regroup. "Financially, it's a big shock because you don't get the same money from the Football League and attendances can fall dramatically. "It would certainly come as a shock to Swansea because they've never been out of the league before." Yeovil have already won the Conference championship, but the introduction of play-offs this season gives Doncaster, Morecambe, Chester and Dagenham & Redbridge the chance to join the Somerset club in Division Three. Rovers will know who their semi-final opponents are after their last game of the season against Hereford at Edgar Street tomorrow. And if it turns out to be Chester, 38-year-old Penney is hoping a piece of history repeats itself. "Swansea beat Chester in the Third Division play-off semi-finals before playing Northampton in the final," he said. "That would hopefully act as a lucky omen if we got them and help us on to promotion in the play-off final. "The perfect end to the season for me is Doncaster going up and Swansea surviving relegation. I want to return to the Vetch next season as a league manager." Swansea take a 19-man squad to Lancashire tomorrow aiming to get at least a point to avoid being dragged into the relegation zone ahead of the last game against Hull. And 12-goal striker James Thomas yesterday declared himself fit and is expected to start alongside Kevin Nugent and Marc Richards. |
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Thursday, April 24, 2003 Rochdale are ready to give Swans hard time |
| Western Mail SWANSEA CITY were last night warned to expect another high-pressure contest when they travel to Rochdale for Saturday's crucial Division Three clash. The Swans, crestfallen after two devastating Easter defeats against Exeter and Orient, travel to Spotland knowing anything less than a win would leave them with one foot in the Conference. Brian Flynn's men, just one point above the Division Three drop zone, will face a Rochdale side safe from relegation on 49 points with three games to go. But Dale player-manager Paul Simpson, who has come under fire from supporters and is yet to be offered a new contract for next season, has warned the Swans not to expect any let up in the pressure. "I can assure Swansea that we aim to make this a very difficult game for them," said Simpson, who succeeded former Vetch Field boss John Hollins last summer. "They are fighting for their lives, but so are we. People might think we are safe from relegation, but that doesn't mean we have nothing to play for. "I would like us to get over the 50-point mark so that we are not caught up in the relegation scramble. "We've got to make sure Swansea go away disappointed on Saturday evening." Simpson has come under attack for failing to repeat the success of last season, when Hollins guided Rochdale into the Third Division play-off semi-finals. And the former Derby and Manchester City midfielder will be playing for his future against the Swans since the club are stalling over the offer of a new contract. "Everything is up in the air as far as I'm concerned and that is getting me down," he said. "But whatever happens, I want our season to end on a high. And that means everyone working hard against Swansea. "We'll have to be at our best because they will not come here and make it easy for us given the situation they're in." Swansea midfielder Kieron Durkan will miss the clash against his former club because of his achilles injury. Jason Smith (hamstring) is also out, but Swansea hope James Thomas will be fit after missing the Exeter defeat with an ankle problem. |
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Wednesday, April 23, 2003 Roberts: Swans in must-win situation |
| Western Mail NORTH BANK folk hero Stuart Roberts says Swansea City's precarious league position has left him heartbroken. The Wycombe Wanderers winger, whose younger brother Matthew is a first-year apprentice at theVetch, believes the final two games of the season could even decide the future of the club. The Swans, just one point above the Division Three trap door, travel to Rochdale on Saturday before facing Hull at the Vetch a week later. And Llanelli-born Roberts insists his former team-mates must win both games to secure their Football League status. "It's heart-breaking to see Swansea in the situation they are in," the 22-year-old told The Western Mail yesterday. "I find it very, very upsetting. "The future of the club is at stake. I never thought I would see the day when Swansea are fighting to avoid dropping out of the Football League." Former Swans owner Tony Petty controversially sold the Wales Under-21 international to Second Division Wycombe midway through last season for a cut-price £102,500. "My family and friends are Swansea supporters and my brother is a youth-team player there, so the club still plays a big part of my life," explained Roberts. "Matthew is only 17 and he's worried because he wants to become a professional footballer with the Swans. "It's important for him and all the other young players at the Vetch that the club stays in the Football League. It's also important for the city itself. "I've told Matthew he's got to remain optimistic. They're not down yet. There's still everything to play for." Added Roberts, "Once Tony Petty left the club we all thought the Swans would slowly move upwards. We all thought it couldn't get any worse. "But it hasn't turned out that way. The club is still in a bad state. "I think the last couple of years have caught up with the club. When you think the Swans were Division Three champions three years ago, it's hard to take in what's happening now. "Rotherham finished second behind the Swans that year and look at what they've gone on to achieve- they'renowamid-table First Division side. "To see Swansea in the Conference would be terrible. It is a massive club with super fans - they had a crowd of 9,000 against Exeter." |
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Tuesday, April 22, 2003 Heat is on for Welsh clubs |
| Western Mail SWANSEA City moved a step closer to the Division Three trapdoor yesterday following their disastrous home defeat against Exeter. The prospect of Nationwide Conference football at the Vetch loomed closer courtesy of Sean Devine's second-half winner for an Exeter side who started the day bottom of the table. "It is now all about how much courage and belief we have in the next two games," said Swansea's director of football Brian Flynn. The Swans are just one point above the drop zone and Flynn's men have also played a game more than fellow relegation battlers Carlisle and Shrewsbury. Fortunately for the Swans, both those sides lost yesterday. Carlisle were hammered 6-1 by Wrexham who are now within touching distance of making an immediate return to Division Two. Denis Smith's men - four points ahead of fourth-placed Bournemouth and with a game in hand - are just one win away from promotion and they could be partying at the Racecourse on Saturday when they face Cambridge. "It would be nice to get promotion in front of our own fans," said Smith. "The lads are all up for it." But in Division Two there was bad news for Cardiff City as second-placed Crewe stretched their lead over the Bluebirds to five points with a 2-1 comeback win at Barnsley. Lennie Lawrence's men must now beat Bristol City at Ashton Gate tonight to have a realistic chance of finishing second and snatching that last automatic promotion spot. |
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Tuesday, April 22, 2003 Get ready for a drop of the hard stuff |
| Western Mail SWANSEA CITY old boy Chris Todd last night warned his former club he is ready to push them closer to the Conference trapdoor. Todd returns to the Vetch today for a relegation showdown - the Swans desperately needing three points off bottom club Exeter to avoid being sucked into the bottom two. Brian Flynn's men aim to quickly pick themselves off the floor following Saturday's demoralising 3-1 defeat at Leyton Orient that left them dangling just two points above the drop zone. But defender Todd has warned that bottom club Exeter, for whom defeat would almost certainly spell relegation, arrive in South Wales today confident of heaping more misery on his hometown club. "This is a do-or-die game for us, but we feel more than capable of getting the result we need," said 21-year-old Todd, who returns to the Vetch for the first time since he was released by player-coach Nick Cusack last summer. "It's going be a tough game, but we're confident that we can get three points - we certainly won't roll over and die. "We drew 2-2 draw against Oxford at the weekend - we might have got all three points had the referee not made a couple of bad decisions - and that has given us a big boost. "Swansea will be desperate for the win themselves, but I can promise them we will give it everything we've got. "We go into the game four points adrift at the bottom and we know defeat will leave us staring at the Conference - but we're determined that won't be the case." Todd, who joined Exeter's relegation fight in February following a spell in the Republic of Ireland, added, "It will be strange for me if I put the club I grew up with in deeper trouble. "But I won't be thinking that way when I'm on the pitch. I have to be professional about it. "I don't want the Swans to go down, but neither do I want to be playing in the Conference next season." A bumper 7,000 crowd is expected at the Vetch - a "car-nival atmosphere" has been promised - for a game Flynn admits is one of the biggest of his managerial career. Having suffered their first defeat in six matches against Orient, Swansea must win to avoid the daunting prospect of needing at least four points from the final two games against Rochdale and Hull. And Flynn last night sent out a tub-thumping message to his players. "This is a time for them to show big hearts and to be clever upstairs," said the director of football. "The players shouldn't need me to motivate them. Everyone - myself included - is playing for a new contract. The threat of being out of a job should be enough to lift people." Victory would ease the pressure on Flynn's men, but a loss would leave them with an uphill task since the two other teams below them - Shrews-bury and Carlisle - have a game in hand to contest. "Defeat is something we can't contemplate," said Flynn, who will be without Jason Smith and Kieron Durkan after both picked up injuries against Orient. "Saturday's defeat was a big setback and we can't afford another one. We let the fans down at Orient, but we need them to cheer us on at the Vetch. And we must give them something special." Former Vetch Field chairman Mike Lewis, now on the board at St James' Park but still despised by Swans fans, will not be at the match after police advised him to stay away. Lewis is presiding over a club in turmoil. Two weeks ago six directors walked out and boss Gary Peters - Exeter's third manager this season - threatened to resign if fans protested during their game against Oxford. |
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Sunday, April 20, 2003 Swans sink closer to the abyss |
| Western Mail
IT was no laughing matter for the Swans as they slithered back nearer a Conference abyss in London's East End. A double from Chris Tate and borrowed Charlton destroyer Michael Turner sent them sliding - this after James Thomas had given Swansea an early lead. The setback - the Vetch side's 20th of the campaign - now means tomorrow's home bank holiday dogfight with rock-bottom Exeter is absolutely critical. But boss Brian Flynn might this morning reflect on the farcical situation which must have disrupted his Swans before their vital mission into the English capital. Staying overnight in East London on Friday, the disbelieving Welshman encountered an hotel straight out of a Fawlty Towers sketch - his squad's supper and breakfast totally decimated. Explained Swans spin doctor Peter Owen: "If our league position wasn't so serious, the whole thing would have been hysterical. "The hotel was like Fawlty Towers. It had a waiter who couldn't speak a word of English - he was from Lithuania. They served us a chicken dinner which was dry without gravy - we had to wait over 20 minutes for that to arrive. "We complained and they eventually brought us some, but when the waiter went to serve it his tie was fully submerged in the stuff! "Brian Flynn couldn't believe what he was seeing. He had all the filthy crockery and glasses lined up on the table in front of him - there was dust on everything. "In the end, most of the lads went up to bed frustrated. Some had tea and biscuits because they were too frightened to eat anything! "Many of the squad then didn't appear for breakfast. They had given up on everything by then!" Furious Flynn then demanded to see the hotel duty manager before Swansea left for their clash with Orient at the Match Room Stadium - he was out of luck. Said Owen: "Brian was seething. He wanted to see the duty manager to spell out a few facts. But he was told the man was cooking breakfast and was unavailable to talk! "But we were never going to leave without getting something done. Eventually, the club managed to get a sizeable chunk chopped off our bill, but the damage was done by then." Swansea reshuffled coming into the clash. Former Wales U-21 international Thomas returned after a three-match absence, as did wide man Kieron Durkan - former Wrexham man Steve Watkin dropping to the bench, on-loan winger Brad Maylett recalled to Burnley last Monday. O's manager Paul Brush was seeking to halt a potentially fatal slide. His side had lost five out of their last six matches, a run which saw them six points from the danger zone at kick-off. The Londoners had taken only four from 21 points available and they brought Justin Miller into central midfield Easter transportational complications in London had failed to halt an army of 1,000 Swans followers who had marched into the East End, and Welsh voices pierced the air from the arena's North Terrace. The Swans knew a maximum against Orient and over seemingly-doomed Exeter at The Vetch on Monday would probably have secured their 83-year Football League status. Lenny Johnrose's leaping challenge on Ciaran Toner in the opening seconds typified Swansea's approach. And the visitors scythed through on two minutes. Thomas easily brushed centre-back Greg Heald aside but former Blackburn team mate Marc Richards pulled his left foot snapshot wide. But the Os were soon showing their teeth. Tate was off target with an angled header before Gary Alexander's 25-yard block-buster screeched inches wide. The Swans were dramatically in front on seven minutes, though. Durkan's raking ball completely split Orient's point and Thomas advanced before producing an emphatic finish. But Flynn's battlers had wilted to a classic sucker punch in just 60 seconds. Ex-Cardiff star Matthew Brazier fed Tate with a sublime left-side delivery. Tate saw his initial blast blocked but his follow-up squirmed under the sprawling body of Neil Cutler and into the net. It was a cruel blow for the Swans and emotions were boiling over - Brazier lectured by Leicester referee Paul Danson for pushing Lee Jenkins to the floor. Orient were displaying fresh belief and Alan Tate had to lunge at Wayne Purser deep in the box - this, after the jittery Cutler had miscued. But borrowed Stoke keeper Cutler was atoning for his errors on 19 minutes - deflecting Purser's rasping drive to safety with a breathtaking one-handed stop. The former Aston Villa custodian then twice foiled Alexander but he must have been relieved as Jason Smith nodded Toner's chip off the line. Swansea were coming under increasing pressure and Orient looked to have legitimate claims for a spot kick after Smith appeared to hold Alexander in the box. Both rearguards seemed ready to disintegrate at any moment and the Swans almost regained the lead on 27 minutes - Lee Harrison brilliantly flipping away Durkan's arcing drive. Tate then missed a sitter and Cutler pawed away Alexander's 20-yard special. Cutler was performing more heroics as he thwarted Tate and bravely dived amongst the feet to foil Miller. At the interval, Swansea replaced Durkan with John Williams, Glenn Morris came on for the injured Harrison in the Orient goal and John Martin slotted in for Toner. And the Swans new formula so nearly sparked immediate dividends. Ten seconds into the restart, Williams set up Thomas who blazed over from 12 yards. The wastefulness was magnified seven minutes later as the Os went in front - Turner rising highest to nod home Matt Lockwood's corner. Stunned Swansea were finding it difficult to break Orient's stranglehold. But Thomas's bending free-kick was just held under his bar by Morris. The Swans were staring down both barrels of defeat just after the hour as they crumbled to another set-piece, though. Lockwood again supplied, this time for Tate to pounce with a jack-knife header. |
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Saturday, April 19, 2003 Swans face real struggle - Molby |
| Western Mail JAN MOLBY has stunned former club Swansea City by claiming they will struggle to win any of their remaining four games. Molby, speaking for the first time about the Swans' fight to avoid the drop into the Conference, has also ruled out the possibility of one day returning to the club he managed between February 1996 and September 1997. The big Dane's old side hope to secure League survival by reaching 49 points from crunch Easter fixtures at Leyton Orient today and Monday's relegation showdown against Exeter at the Vetch. But Molby, who went on to take Kidderminster into the League following his stint in South Wales, believes the Swans will have to settle for a maximum of four draws to take them to 47. "I think Swansea will be safe, but it is going to be a struggle for them," Molby told The Western Mail. "I'm not confident Swansea will get any more wins. I just can't see where a win is going to come from. "Even the Exeter match on Monday, I feel, could end in a draw. It could well be Exeter's last chance to survive "And I just get that feeling looking at Swansea's position (sixth from bottom) they might be saying to themselves `Let's settle for a draw.' "I may be wrong, but considering the games Swansea have left (Rochdale and Hull are the other two) I'm not sure there is a win there for them." The former Liverpool and Denmark midfielder, who witnessed the struggling Swans when he was in charge at Hull earlier in the season, said it was "incredible" that his old club was in this position. "I can't believe they've spent the season struggling," he said. "That there is a chance of a club like Swansea going out of the Football League is incredible. "Some big clubs have dropped out of Division Three in recent years, but Swansea, a club that led the old First Division 20-odd years ago, are on a different level. "However, it is wrong to say they are too big to go down. I just hope they don't end up playing non-league football next year." Having guided little Kidderminster into the League in 2000, Molby knows what it takes to get out of the Conference. And he reckons Swansea would struggle to bounce straight back if they were relegated. "It could take as long as four or five years to win promotion," he said. "History tells you that the clubs to have gone down in recent years - Chester, Doncaster, Scarborough and so on - have struggled to come back. It is the likes of Rushden & Diamonds and Yeovil who are succeeding. "Clubs make the mistake of getting relegated and thinking they will be OK if they sell one or two of their best players to cut the budget. "You have to do the opposite. You have to strengthen and rebuild because, in my view, none of the bottom five teams in Division Three would be strong enough to finish in the Conference top five. "It was extremely difficult getting Kidderminster up because the Conference is such a competitive league." Molby is hoping to get back into football management after his spell in charge at Hull lasted just six months. But he poured cold water on suggestions he might in the future consider a return to the club he led to a Division Three play-off final against Northampton at Wembley in 1997. "I've still got a soft spot for Swansea - there was a great buzz about the place," said Molby, who left the Vetch following an acrimonious split with the Swansea board. "But I don't think I would go back. Sometimes it's best just to say, `I've been there and done that' - and leave it there. "At the moment Swansea have a good manager in Brian Flynn. He is someone who, the longer he is at the club, the more he will impress." Flynn's men hope to have at least 1,500 Swansea supporters following them up the M4 for today's big match in East London. Kevin Nugent misses the return to his former club, but fit-again James Thomas is expected to go straight in for Steve Watkin. Orient, beaten 4-1 at league leaders Hartlepool last week, need one more win to make certain of survival. |
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Saturday, April 19, 2003 TATE WANTS TO COME BACK TO VETCH AGAIN |
| Evening Post
Swansea City's on-loan Manchester United defender Alan Tate will be dreaming of a return to Vetch Field when he heads home to Old Trafford in a couple of weeks' time. With a career in the higher echelons of the league pyramid seemingly within his grasp, Tate has no shortage of ambition to achieve at the top. |
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Saturday, April 19, 2003 GOVERNMENT CASH BLOW HITS SWANS |
| Evening Post
Plaid Cymru Assembly Member Dr Dai Lloyd has lashed out at the Government for failing to fund its share of a football development scheme. All 72 Nationwide League clubs, including Swansea City, received a fax informing them that the next payment will be £13,800, not the expected £34,500, from the scheme set up a year ago. |
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Friday, April 18, 2003 Flynn: We can make it a happy Easter |
| Western Mail BRIAN FLYNN believes Swansea City can secure League survival by the end of the Easter weekend. A victory at Leyton Orient tomorrow followed by another three points from Monday's relegation showdown against Exeter would leave the Swans on 49 points. And Flynn is convinced that would be enough to remove the threat of Conference football that has hung over the Vetch since he took charge last September. "Ideally, I want us to reach the 50-point barrier, but I think two more wins should be enough to keep us up," said the director of football. "Six points from the Easter matches would give us a major advantage over the other teams and it would need a cruel piece of luck to send us down then. "To be mathematically safe, we might need to get another point at Rochdale, but it would mean us hopefully going into the Hull game on the final day of the season knowing we're OK." But Flynn said he would settle for a total of four points from Swansea's Easter programme. "A draw from the Orient game would not be a bad result," he said. "They're on the fringes of the relegation battle and they will be looking for one more win for survival." Shrewsbury's midweek defeat against Macclesfield Town boosted Swansea's cause, but Flynn maintains there should be no need to rely on other teams. "Our sense of achievement at staying in the League will be diminished if we do it by virtue of results elsewhere," he said. "Losing only one of our last nine games has put things in our own hands, but the job is yet to be completed. "We still have to make sure we survive by our own means. We're capable of doing that, and I remain confident that we will." After last Saturday's 1-1 draw against Scunthorpe, midfielder Roberto Martinez suggested Swansea were putting too much pressure on themselves to pick up results. But Flynn said, "It's going to be a high-pressure end to the season - the players must be able to cope with that. "There's no escaping the fact that these games will be some of the biggest of the players' lives - you can't pretend otherwise. "To be fair, they've handled the pressure well over the past few weeks and I'm confident they will continue to do so." Striker James Thomas, who has missed the last three games with an ankle ligament injury, is poised to go straight back into the side in place of Steve Watkin tomorrow. And Kieron Durkan is expected to get the nod on the wing following Brad Maylett's return to Burnley. "It's good to have James back as it means we've almost got a full squad to pick from for these two games," said Flynn, who will have Kevin Nugent, and possibly Leon Hylton, back for Exeter's visit. "We will need as many players as possible for Monday because we're bound to pick up one or two knocks at Orient." |
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Friday, April 18, 2003 FLYNN PLANNING FOR NEXT TIME |
| Evening Post
Swansea City boss Brian Flynn has already drawn up a list of summer transfer targets. And with another spell of major rebuilding work in prospect at Vetch Field, the club's director of football has revealed that some current players will leave at the end of the season - assuming he is still in charge. |
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Friday, April 18, 2003 SWANS DOUBLE SETBACK |
| Evening Post
Swansea City's Third Division survival plans suffered a double upset today with the news that Jamie Wood and Terry Evans are set to miss the relegation run-in. Striker Wood, who was on the verge of a comeback from a broken foot, appears to have aggravated the same injury in training, while full-back Evans, out for the last two months with a knee problem, suffered suspected ankle ligament damage in the same session. |
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Wednesday, April 16, 2003 JACK ARMY'S ON THE MARCH AGAIN |
| Evening Post
Swansea City are expecting another sizeable away following at Leyton Orient this weekend for the next instalment of their fight for Third Division survival.
The club are hopeful that at least 1,000 fans, possibly double that number, will ignore some travel complications to make the awkward trip to East London. |
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Wednesday, April 16, 2003 MAYLETT GOES BACK |
| Evening Post
Burnley have rocked Swansea City's Third Division survival plans by recalling Brad Maylett just 48 hours after agreeing to extend his loan at stay Vetch Field.
The First Division club U-turned on their decision to allow the 22-year-old winger to remain in South Wales for the rest of the season after Tony Grant joined a growing list of injured midfielders at Turf Moor. |
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Tuesday, April 15, 2003 Time to use kid gloves |
| Lancashire Evening Telegraph BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent has pledged to look after his promising young players for the rest of this season - but also vowed to keep them involved. Ternent was again having to assess the fitness of his squad this morning with Briscoe the latest concern, joining Drissa Diallo, Ian Cox, Paul Cook, Andy Payton and Alan Moore on the injured list. Arthur Gnohere will be available after suspension but the youngsters look certain to travel again. With only 13 fit senior players, Chaplow and O'Neill were joined by Joel Pilkington on the bench at Norwich. One man who will be back in the Burnley squad tomorrow night is winger Brad Maylett who completed his loan spell at Swansea on Saturday. "I have had to bring Brad back because we are thin on the ground," said Ternent this morning. "I won't know about the rest of the players until we have trained and i have spoken to the physio but at least Arthur is available." The Clarets head south to promotion certainties Portsmouth tomorrow night hoping to put an end to a miserable run of away-days. Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Norwich City was a fourth successive loss on the road, starting with the morale sapping setback at Watford in the FA Cup quarter-final. The current run is just the derby win against Preston in the last ten games and the Clarets will be taking on a side that is still smarting from having lost top spot following a shock home defeat by bottom side Sheffield Wednesday. "They will want promotion and will want to go up as champions," said Ternent. "It will be a good game to play in. It's a case of going out and being professional and giving 100 per cent because we have a responsibility to the other teams in this league. "We are not going to get in the play-offs and we are not going to get relegated. We will be a first division side next season so there is no pressure on us so we should be able to go out and play without any fear. "We will remain competitive to the end of the season." |
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Tuesday, April 15, 2003 Testimonial For Freestone |
| Teamtalk Swansea's experienced goalkeeper Roger Freestone will be acclaimed for 12 years of service in a testimonial game against Chelsea in May. The Swans will host a Chelsea XI on Tuesday, May 6 - just three days after the last game of the season against Hull City at the Vetch. The 34-year-old joined Swansea in September 1991 and has made 515 league appearances for the club, scoring three goals in the process. Freestone also signed for Chelsea as an 18-year-old in 1987 and went on to make 53 appearances for the Stamford Bridge outfit. |
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Tuesday, April 15, 2003 REFEREE ADMITS IT WAS HANDBALL - BUT NOT DELIBERATE |
| Scunthorpe Telegraph
Brian Laws described the penalty his side were not awarded on Saturday as the most blatant he had ever experienced in football. |
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Tuesday, April 15, 2003 UNITED DENIED BY HAND OF FATE! |
| Scunthorpe Telegraph
When they most needed it, lady luck deserted Scunthorpe United at the Vetch Field on Saturday.
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Tuesday, April 15, 2003 Scunthorpe Telegraph |
| LAWS IS LEFT DISAPPOINTED
Scunthorpe United manager Brian Laws was disappointed his side did not claim the full three points from Saturday's trip to Swansea City. |
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Tuesday, April 15, 2003 Swansea City: View from.............. THE DUG-OUT |
| Western Mail BRIAN FLYNN admitted Swansea City were lucky to escape with a point after the visitors dominated the second half. "Scunthorpe put us under severe pressure and we had to hang on - under those circumstances we're grateful for the point," said the director of football. "We were OK in the first half and I was reasonably happy at the break. But I was convinced Scunthorpe, being the quality side they are, would come back at us. "Our options in attack were limited. If available, Kevin Nugent would have been a useful outlet. He'd have given us something to aim at. "And there was no John Williams as he became a father again on Saturday morning and wanted to be with his partner. But you have to deal with these things. We put Brad Maylett up front which worked reasonably well. "Scunthorpe's penalty claim was debatable. The ball did strike Michael Howard's arm, but thankfully it didn't cost us. "Other decisions have gone against us - like when Lee Jenkins was sent off against Carlisle. It could prove a vital point." THE PITCH Martinez, who played alongside Beagrie at Wigan, said, "Scunthorpe enjoyed more and more possession as the second half progressed and Peter was at the heart of it. "He showed what a great player he is and created many of Scunthorpe's chances. "For me, the key moment was when Steve Watkin missed the target just after half-time. Had he scored, that would've killed the game off and we would've been able to relax a bit more. "But it ended up being a nervous second half. And because it was such an anxious finish, we have to be pleased with a point. "Scunthorpe are a very good side and probably didn't get off to the sort of start they wanted. "But the fact everyone in our dressing room was disappointed after 90 minutes shows the desire there is to stay in the Football League. We'll keep fighting and I'm positive we'll come out on top." THE OPPOSITION "Even the most hardened Swansea fan in the ground would have to admit that the defender (Michael Howard) handballed it - he may as well have put on a pair of gloves and called himself the keeper!" said Laws, whose team would have moved into the play-off zone had they collected three points. "The referee admitted it was handball, but said it wasn't deliberate. I don't agree with that and the referee hasn't helped us. "I think Brian (Flynn) and I would agree it was a game of two contrasting halves. "I knew Swansea would start well with the crowd behind them. But I felt we would get stronger and that was how it proved. "I was pleased with how we pressurised Swansea in the second half. We got the equaliser and then started to dominate. "We managed to get something like 20 corners but Swansea held on. Had the game gone on for another five minutes, I think we might have snatched it." THE TERRACING "IN the end the Swans were lucky to get a draw," said Cliff Cadwallader from Pontlliw, near Pontarddulais. "They played well in the first half and were good value for their lead at half-time. But in the second half we defended too deep. "We were nervy and gave Scunthorpe too much possession. But we should avoid relegation. "We'd be very unlucky if we went down now. The Swans just need to keep playing as they have done in the last few games." Christopher Paul, of Gowerton, said, "The turning point was Steve Watkin's miss just after the break. "Had his header gone in we would've gone on to win comfortably. But Scunthorpe came back at us and it was no surprise to see Martin Carruthers score - he's done it against us for both Scunthorpe and Southend. "Because of how the other results went, a win might have meant us going into the Hull game on the final day of the season safe from relegation. "As it is, we will probably need a coronary care unit at the back of the stand!" |
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Monday, April 14, 2003 PLENTY TO PONDER AS A BIG POINT IS MADE |
| Evening Post
Think! Your actions could relegate our club.
The simple message to Swansea City's fans over the weekend promises to loom large in the minds of their players in the 19 days of this trying season that remain. |
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Monday, April 14, 2003 Another crucial point for Swansea |
| Western Mail BRIAN FLYNN'S feeling before the start of this game was that every point is a point gained when you are in Swansea City's position. And how right that proved to be yesterday. Not only were the Swans grateful to have earned a share of the spoils from their own battle - they were hanging on at the end - but other results also conspired to make it a more than satisfactory day for the home side. A survey of the table this morning reveals that there are still five teams with worse points totals than Flynn's men and, all things considered, they remain just ahead of the game in terms of preserving their Football League status. The old saying tells us what goes around comes around - and yesterday for Swansea City it was payback time. On March 15, the Vetch Field was left fuming after Carlisle United were awarded a scandalous penalty that enabled them to kick on to a 2-0 victory. Yesterday, the boot was on the other foot. Just before the break, Michael Howard didn't so much as handle the ball in his penalty area as catch it and stuff it halfway up his jersey. It looked as clear-cut a stonewaller as you are ever likely to see, but this time Lady Luck smiled on the Swans and, astonishingly, referee Alan Butler, who made some quite bizarre decisions throughout, ignored the incident. No question Swansea deserved their point yesterday, but it's worth stopping to consider that on such moments, matches, and indeed seasons, can turn. Yet for all the conclusions that it was, after all, a point gained rather than two dropped, there will still have been plenty who headed off home with a tinge of disappointment. And that's because for the entire first half Swansea were so superior to Scunthorpe. They worked neat patterns, they were busy, they were up for it. But they did not get the second goal that their pressure warranted - and that would surely have won them the game. Instead it cost them in the end. Even though they were second best for the rest of the match you felt the Swans would have preserved a two-goal cushion. As it was, there was no real surprise among neutrals that Brian Laws's side grabbed the draw. And certainly no way you could begrudge them it. In Peter Beagrie they had the most dangerous player on the pitch, but quite apart from that they are a team chasing automatic promotion, a cause they are as desperate to achieve as Swansea are to avoid the trapdoor. The ideal team for Flynn's men to have faced would have been a mid-table outfit playing out their fixtures knowing that, no matter what, they will be in the same division next term. But things are never that simple. The Swans made the bright and urgent start their league position demanded and crafted their first opportunity in the third minute. Roberto Martinez curved a fine pass down the inside left channel for loan striker Marc Richards to fire a low drive straight at the keeper. But if that was a half chance, Brian Flynn's side wasted a glorious one moments later, Lenny Johnrose's unopposed diving header from a Lee Jenkins cross at the far post bouncing into the turf and over the bar. Not that home fans had to wait too much longer for the breakthrough. In the 14th minute a deep cross from th e left by Steve Watkin forced Scun-thorpe to concede a corner. Another Johnrose header direct from the setpiece was scrambled off the line but Richards collected the clearance and swivelled to blast into the roof of the net from six yards. The Blackburn loan striker's celebratory charge to the dug-out said everything about the tension surrounding the Swans' predicament. And the liveliness that characterised Swansea's first half display continued. Brad Maylett was a nuisance down the right flank and Martinez pulled mid-field strings with a gem of a through ball in the 24th minute almost leading to a second for Richards. No doubt, Scunthorpe, who themselves started the afternoon just five points off the third automatic promotion spot, had the wind removed from their sails by Swansea's opening. Both ex-Everton star Beagrie and striker Paul Hayes were booked for nasty challenges in the first half hour. And if the visitors were frustrated it was understandable - they were made to chase shadows at times as Swansea put together some impressive triangles. By contrast Scunthorpe were physical, but there was little quality to anything they did. It was only after half-time that they showed their capabilities. Their mood was not improved when they were denied that penalty appeal.Scunthorpe players were still complaining as the teams trooped off at half-time and manager Brian Laws, not renowned for his restraint, also marched up to the officials to vent his anger. Swansea made the sort of start to the second period that suggested they would not be relaxing their stranglehold. Crosses from Richards and Jenkins stretched the away defence and Watkin came within inches of doubling the lead in the 52nd minute when he powered a header from a corner just wide. By this stage there was an element of real niggle about the game. Richards and his marker Greg Strong exchanged regular words and angry glances, Maylett was tripped cynically when bearing down on the danger area and how Watkin escaped a booking for a wild lunge on Wayne Graves only referee Butler knows. Of more concern to most inside the Vetch Field was that Laws's side remained fiercely motivated and with Beagrie's weaving raids down the left, they looked dangerous on plenty of occasions. And in the 75th minute the equaliser arrived. Beagrie made it, centring low for first-half substitute Martin Carruthers to prod home. It had been coming, and worse, Scunthorpe were rejuvenated and threatening to take all three points by steadily increasing their influence all over the pitch. The Swans on the other hand lost the foothold they had earlier in the match. They tired in the closing stages and never really looked like winning it. Twenty Scunthorpe corners over the 90 minutes told its own story. Beagrie might have won it with a header but there was to be no final heartbreaker. |
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Sunday, April 13, 2003 Flynn: It Was An Important Point |
| Teamtalk Swansea director of football Brian Flynn believes the home 1-1 draw with Scunthorpe could prove significant in his side's fight against the drop. Marc Richards' 14th-minute goal put Swansea ahead and they coped with the visitors' pressure after substitute Martin Carruthers had levelled 15 minutes from time. Flynn said: "We were hanging on in the end and under pressure for most of the second half. "We were fairly happy at half-time but Scunthorpe are a good side near the top of the table and we knew they would come at us after the interval. "The crowd were magnificent yet again and at the end of the season this point could prove vital."
An early Marc Richards goal was cancelled out by Martin Carruthers' late equaliser for the Iron, who remain two points from the play-off zone. Richards put his side ahead in the 14th minute when he collected a loose ball in the area and fired into the roof of the net. The Swans were given a let off just before the break when Michael Howard looked to have handled a Peter Beagrie cross, but the match officials did not see it. Scunthorpe did eventually equalise in the 75th minute when the impressive Beagrie evaded two challenges before whipping over a low cross which veteran poacher Carruthers tapped in. |
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