SIR ALEX FERGUSON, Arsene Wenger, Neil Warnock... and now Paulo Sousa.

The Swansea City boss has joined the list of managers who constantly seem to berate referring decisions after their team has lost.

Only in Sousa’s case, he believes he has such a justifiable cause for grievance he is considering making an official protest to Uefa about the treatment his club get.

Yet another controversial and, in many people’s eyes, erroneous decision from a referee cost his Swans vital points against West Brom in their Championship clash on Tuesday night.

With that penalty award coming on top of a glut of other key decisions going against the Swans in other games, the manager reckons enough is enough.

It’s doubtful Sousa will get any joy from Uefa.

But if the old maxim that decisions even themselves out over the course of a season is true, then Sousa will believe his Swans are in for a grandstand finish to their promotion quest.

The Portuguese seems to be taking issue with referees on a weekly basis and even he seems bored with it.

You could argue the Swans boss should just bite his tongue when mistakes happen, but should he when it directly affects his job?

If Sousa was out of line with his criticisms then surely he would have been pulled up on them by the FAW.

Yet, despite claiming refereeing errors have cost Swansea points on multiple occasions, he is yet to even receive a caution let alone an actual disciplinary charge.

When so many other managers, including Ferguson and Cardiff City boss Dave Jones, have previously been hauled over the coals for their comments about referees, it seems strange Sousa is permitted to get away with it.

The reason? It’s hard to punish someone for speaking out when they seem to have a valid point.

The four officials at the top of Sousa’s hitlist – Anthony Taylor, Keith Hill, Colin Webster and Steve Tanner – were each bumped down to League Two fixtures after evoking his wrath when in charge of Swans games.

Coincidence? Read into it what you will.

Whether such a fate awaits Tuesday’s referee, Roger East, following his decision to award a penalty for an apparent trip on Giles Barnes remains to be seen.

But, even if it does, what good is that to the Swans?

No-one likes people complaining about officials and it is clear the players are fed up of doing it themselves.

Yet Sousa is still threatening to compile a dossier of injustice and take it to Uefa headquarters because he knows how costly it has been for his team.

Hill ordered a penalty retake during last month’s 1-1 draw with Plymouth, a match the Swans would otherwise have won.

Taylor harshly sent off Albert Serran against Crystal Palace in December (the red card was immediately rescinded after the game).

Tanner didn’t act decisively enough as far as the Swans are concerned during the recent game at Derby.

But it is the respective penalty decisions of Webster and East which have really hit the Swans’ automatic promotion hopes over the past fortnight.

Two weeks ago, Webster turned down Darren Pratley’s stonewall penalty claim against Nottingham Forest. On Tuesday, East’s decision to award the Baggies a spot-kick after Angel Rangel’s challenge simply rubbed a bucket of salt into the wounds of Sousa and his players.

“Once again a refereeing decision has cost us three points,” a disappointed Rangel remarked.

“And this was one of the most important three points of the season if we wanted to achieve something better than the play-offs.

“The big shame is that, when we had a much better penalty shout at Nottingham Forest, it wasn’t given. Those two results have cost us a lot.”

While there is no guaranteeing Swansea would have won either match, particularly on Tuesday when a lack of ideas up front meant they only deserved a point, the two defeats have combined to deliver a hammer blow to their hopes of breaking into the top two.

However, even if they had beaten Forest and battled to a draw against West Brom, the Swans would have still been six points behind the second-placed Baggies.

With nine games remaining, overturning a six-point deficit would have been far more achievable than clawing back from a 12-point one.

It’s a situation that has, rightly or wrongly, left a strong sense of injustice at the Liberty Stadium.

“We are not the biggest club and we are fighting against teams with much more money and doing much better than they are,” said Rangel.

“So it’s devastating when these decisions go against us. It seems like we are moaning about referees the whole time, but we believe we have good reason.

“We just have to use it to make us stronger. I still believe we will get in the play-offs and defy everyone.”

In the interest of fairness it should be pointed out Barnes was adamant Rangel brought him down.

The winger said he could sympathise with Swansea’s frustrations, but insisted there was no wrongdoing on his part.

“Every penalty is debated, but he caught me,” he said.

“He knows it as well and, if he is honest, he will admit it.

“I wasn’t surprised it was given.

“I’m not a diver and he definitely caught me.”

Rangel responded: “I can 100 per cent say it wasn’t a penalty.

“Everybody thought the referee was blowing to give him a yellow card for diving.

“He should be punished, not me.

“It makes me angry that Barnes is saying it was a penalty.”

Sousa's dossier of injustice

DECEMBER 28: SWANSEA 0 CRYSTAL PALACE 0

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Controversy: With just 16 minutes on the clock, Albert Serran was sent off after referee Taylor saw a so-called elbow on Neil Danns. Replays showed there was no contact, the red card was rescinded but, in a game they had hoped to win, the damage was already done for the Swans.

Sousa’s reaction: “Perhaps the officials do not want to see us high up in the table. The sending-off was ridiculous and if standards of refereeing are not improved it will ruin the game.”

Referee’s reward: Taylor did referee some high profile FA Cup games but his next three league games were in League Two.

FEBRUARY 16: PLYMOUTH 1 SWANSEA 1

Referee: Keith Hill

Controversy: With the Swans leading 1-0, Plymouth were rightly awarded an 87th minute penalty. Dorus de Vries kept it out but referee Hill ordered a re-take, claiming the Dutchman had come off his line. De Vries stopped the second penalty but Damien Johnson eventually scored the follow up. Replays showed the Swans keeper had every reason to be upset and he was furious.

Sousa’s reaction: “I believe we have been let down by the officials. There were a lot of poor decisions. Everyone in the ground could see what happened. I have watched a replay of it since and the keeper’s foot is on the line.”

Referee’s reward: Hill’s next game was in League Two and he was then in charge of two League One games. He will return to Championship action this weekend.

FEBRUARY 20: DERBY 0 SWANSEA 1

Referee: Steve Tanner

Controversy: Even when Swansea win they have grounds for complaint. Tanner let far too many poor tackles go unpunished and, after a horrific challenge from Jay McEveley sidelined young Allen for six weeks, the Swans were furious when he was just given a yellow card. The two teams ended the game with 10 men and tempers boiled over later on, sparking an 18-man brawl.

Sousa’s reaction: “We played against 14 (including the referee and linesmen) but we had 12. Our supporters were outstanding to help us on a difficult pitch. It was difficult to play like I said against 14. I don’t want to explain.”

Referee’s reward: Tanner’s next three games were in League Two.

MARCH 6: NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1 SWANSEA 0

Referee: Colin Webster

Controversy: With the two teams level, Darren Pratley goes through on goal before being brought down by Chris Cohen. It looked a certain penalty but referee Webster waved away Swansea’s appeals and Forest went on to score a last-gasp winner.

Sousa’s reaction: “People who make mistakes are only human but what concerns me is that it is happening week by week with us. The stadium was in shock when we were not awarded the penalty. Everyone could see that it was but we didn’t get what we deserved. It’s happening too often and I hope someone can explain the situation to me.”

Referee’s reward: Webster has only been in charge of two games since, each in League Two.

MARCH 16: SWANSEA 0 WEST BROM 2

Referee: Roger East

Controversy: With the scores level in Tuesday night’s vital promotion clash, referee East awards West Brom a 79th minute penalty after he deemed Rangel had tripped Giles Barnes. It looked like Barnes should have been given a yellow card for diving and replays showed it was a poor decision.

Sousa’s reaction: “These decisions are something we are used to. I don’t remember us having any luck with referees this season. The next step maybe is to expose the decisions we have had this season – the mistakes which have cost us important points. We are thinking about exposing these to the English FA and to Uefa.”

Referee’s reward: TBC

STRIKER Craig Beattie insists the only difference between Swansea City and promotion-chasing rivals West Brom are the players’ price tags.

The big-spending Baggies visit the Liberty Stadium tonight (7.45pm) in second place in the Championship and four points behind leaders Newcastle.

Having spent the last eight years yo-yoing between the Championship and the Premiership, West Brom have been able to part with the sort of money Swansea can only dream of.

Former West Brom man Beattie, an £800,000 signing last August, said: “The year I went to West Brom they spent £11m and they were a Championship side.

“As far as Championship sides go they are one of the biggest and they have been in between this league and Premiership a lot.

“So they are well known and they have got the money to spend.

“It is a credit to the players’ ability, attitude, and the belief here (that Swansea compete with them).

“We are not as big a club, spending-wise, but ability-wise there’s not much in it.”

West Brom signed Simon Cox, Joe Mattock and Gonzalo Jara before the start of the season for a total of nearly £4m.

The year before they spent about £14m on players including former England goalkeeper Scott Carson (£3.25m) and Abdoulaye Meite (£2m) from Bolton.

Scotsman Beattie scored the winner against his former club in the reverse fixture at the Hawthorns in October and said the Swans have not given up hope of catching the Baggies in second place.

But he knows another three points would also go a long way to securing an all-important top-six berth.

Beattie said: “I’ve still got a lot of mates there and I’m sure they’ll like to get their own back because there was a bit of banter after the last game.

“There’s a lot of points to play for and it would inspire confidence if we could get the three points, but we won’t get our heads down if we don’t.

“Our aim is to try and cement a play-off place and if we can get three points it would give us some hope of catching the team in second.

“A play-off place would be a great achievement for the boys. At the start of the season we set ourselves some targets as a team and quietly that was one of them.

“But we are not going to get too far ahead of ourselves. If we have a couple of bad results we could be out of it.”

With a young up-and-coming manager and a penchant for the passing game, West Brom under Roberto Di Matteo have plenty in common with Paulo Sousa’s Swans.

Having failed to take maximum points against a dogged Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, 26-year-old Beattie said he is hoping for a more open game tonight.

“On Saturday, they came and sat deep and that’s a credit to how well we have been playing at home and what our form has been like,” he added.

“Teams come here and are delighted with a point, that’s a big testament to our management and the players.

“At the start of the season teams would have been looking at the fixture list and thinking ‘we’ll go down to Swansea and get a win there’. But not any more.

“Teams are happy to take a point from the Liberty. It’s a credit to everybody here.

“Hopefully, West Brom are a good team and will try to win the game.

“They are certainly not in a position to be playing for draws, although a draw would not be a disaster for them because our home form has been pretty good.” Beattie has struggled with injuries since making an impact early in the season but says he is now fit and ready to help the Swans in their drive to reach the Premiership.

And he added: “I don’t see why both clubs can’t get promoted. There are two spots available, that would seem to be the case. “The play-offs are a bit of a lottery so there’s a lot of work to be done between now and then.”

LEE Trundle reveal- ed his agony at missing out on a late winner against Sheffield Wednesday but is confident the Championship's lowest scorers have the firepower to seal a play-off spot.

Swansea City failed to score at home for the eighth time this season as they were frustrated by a well-organised Wednesday outfit. But Paulo Sousa's side did have their chances, with Darren Pratley, Ashley Williams and Trundle missing opportunities to break the deadlock.

Swansea, the lowest scorers in the Championship with 31 goals, remain in fourth place, but Trundle was left to rue his missed opportunity.

"We've had a couple of good chances — Ash had his header and Prats too — but I was very disappointed with mine in the box because I should be scoring them," he said.

"I've taken it on to my left foot in the box and as I've hit it I've scuffed it — I've not caught it properly at all — and it's gone wide.

"I was gutted because that is a chance I normally thrive on.

"It hurts even more because you know there aren't many chances coming in the game."

On the positive side of a frustrating afternoon, Swansea did keep their 21st clean sheet of the campaign — they remain the most miserly team in the league, having conceded just 23 goals in 36 games.

Impressively, Sousa's side have let in only nine goals in 18 home games, a major part in their success this season.

And Trundle reckons Sousa's strikers will provide enough firepower to remain in the play-off places.

For tomorrow's home clash with West Brom, Swansea have Gorka Pintado back from suspension, while the likes of Shefki Kuqi, Craig Beattie and Trundle are all pushing for a place in the starting XI.

"It's great for the manager to have so many options up front," said Trundle.
"And the opposition won't know if we are going to go 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 these days because we have played the latter formation recently.

"Shefki has done really well since he arrived and he's proved to be a right handful for defences. But the rest of the strikers offer something different to each other, so the gaffer knows he has options to play with.

"The defence has been top quality this season and they deserve a lot of credit for the team's success, but I'm confident when we go forward that we will score goals.

"We have the quality in this squad to keep the club in the play-offs."

RETURNING winger David Cotterill said he is eager to reward Swansea’s outstanding defensive effort with more goals.

He missed Swansea’s last two games with a hamstring injury, but played nearly 80 minutes of Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Sheffield Wednesday.

It was City’s 21st clean sheet of the season from just 36 games.

Cotterill said: “Credit to Dorus in goal and the defence because they kept another clean sheet and that’s important.

“Sheffield Wednesday did not trouble them, they look very comfortable.

“As attackers, we should have carved out a few more chances and, the ones we had, we should have done better.

“We had three or four chances where we could have done better, but it was just one of those days where it was all frustrating. Hopefully we can put it right on Tuesday night against West Brom.”

With Sheffield Wednesday in the relegation zone it was always going to be a dogfight and Cotterill said that made it difficult to get a passing game going.

He said: “They had a game-plan to come and sit back and we tried our best to break them down, but it is just difficult when teams are only looking for a draw.

“They will be going away being the happier of the two teams, but it is important now that if we don’t pick up the three points that we don’t lose.”

Cotterill remains positive despite dropping two vital points and said they have not ruled out reaching second place.

He added: “Other teams in the top six have not got the results they would have wanted this weekend and we are one point closer to Forest in third.

“It is important we concentrate on what we are doing, we have done well this season already and we need to keep that going and look to climb the table.”

The 22-year-old wide man looked sharp on Saturday and said he hopes to start again in tomorrow’s important home game against West Brom.

“I felt fine,” added Cotterill. “It was nice to get 80 minutes under my belt. Hopefully I will be sharper on Tuesday if selected.

“I feel good after the game and it depends if the manager thinks I have done enough.”

Ashley Williams says promotion-chasing Swansea must rediscover their "spark" when they host West Brom on Tuesday.

Williams says the fourth v second Championship clash is "massive" and that the Swans must bounce back from the 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

Williams said: "The gaffer said after the game we lacked a little bit of that spark and I think we did as well. So we'll have to address that."

At the same time his former club West Brom were beating Blackpool 3-2.

Williams added: "We're enjoying it. How can you not enjoy being in this position? I think we're just trying to enjoy each game and trying to put a side out to win each game.

"They're second, we're fourth and we want to win to try and catch them up and to secure our play-off place a bit more and I'm sure they want to win.

"But we're at home, which is a bonus for us.

"We don't have to beat them to finish second, but it definitely helps and if we don't beat them it will be a lot harder for us.

"We're as excited as the fans. It's a brilliant time for Swansea City and to be involved with us and I'm sure the West Brom boys are the same - we are each going to get up for the next game."

Williams played through the pain barrier after blocking an on-target shot with his groin in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

That left Williams reeling in agony at Liberty Stadium, but he says it is all part of the job.

"That's what we're there for and I think I've learned that a block can be as good as a goal up the other end if it stops a goal," said Williams.

"I didn't know what planet I was on when I was down and the ref was telling me if I go off I miss the corner so I had to get back up and then I headed it as well, but that's what it's all about.

The defender will also put aside his personal wish to beat his ex-club and concentrate on playing his part in Swansea's team effort.

"It was nice to go there [West Brom] when we won because I hadn't been back there, but not too much.

"There are more important things on the game than just personal ones. I don't even really feel like that towards the club.

"I just want to win just for Swansea City."

PAULO SOUSA hit out at the groans of frustration circling round the Liberty Stadium during yesterday’s stalemate with Sheffield Wednesday, claiming there is a need to “educate” some Swansea City fans.

While acknowledging his team, struggling with both mental and physical fatigue, were not at their best against the Owls, Sousa was disappointed that some supporters voiced their frustration during the game.

There were audible groans when passes went astray or chances were missed and the Portuguese insisted it was not the right way to help his high-flying Swans secure a top-six finish.

Encouraging the Jack Army to be more positive with their support, Sousa said he understood why fans were getting nervous as they move towards the business end of the season.

But, with his team 10 points clear of seventh-placed Blackpool, he insisted letting those nerves influence and affect the players wouldn’t help anyone.

“We need to educate our fans,” he explained.

“We have a lot of younger fans and they need to learn how to help us because what they did out there was not the best way to do it.

“Sheffield Wednesday came with a lot of fans and they made a lot of noise. They were helping them all the time to get the result.

“I understand that, at this stage of the season, our fans are getting anxious because of where we are in the table.

“They always want us to win and play well and they are getting nervous, which sometimes makes the players nervous.

“The fans need to know that they don’t need to worry, they don’t need to be anxious or create anxiety in our players.

“They just need to support the team because, after that, the players will give them the results.

“We need them to believe in our success. They just need to keep supporting us – it’s so easy like that, so simple.”

As for the contest itself, he added: “It was a difficult game like I predicted. Sheffield Wednesday are a well organised team that defends well.

“My team looked tired both mentally and physically. We pushed hard at the end of the game and created some chances, but you need luck in these games and we didn’t have it.

“Sometimes these things just don’t go your way.

“But I’m sure that, when we need the luck, my players will get it because that’s what they deserve.”

SWANSEA CITY star Nathan Dyer has urged his team-mates to prove their top two credentials against West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.

Despite yesterday’s frustrating home draw with relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday, the Swans are definitely looking up the table rather than down.

And, while much of the talk this season has been about securing a spot in the play-offs, Dyer is quick to point out there’s no reason Paulo Sousa’s high-flying squad still can’t go one better.

With as many as 30 points left to play for, it is certainly mathematically possible for Swansea to catch West Brom in second place – despite the Baggies holding a nine-point lead over Sousa’s men after their 3-2 win over Blackpool yesterday.

And, with the two sides going head to head at the Liberty Stadium on Tuesday, Dyer believes his team have the chance to issue a huge statement of intent.

“This is a great chance for us to push for the top two,” he declared.

“We want to push as high as we can and keep the momentum going.

“Beating West Brom would be a huge result for us. It would go a long way to maybe knocking them out of the top two.

“We genuinely believe the automatic spots are well within our grasp.

“It’s there for the taking if we can keep stringing results together.

“They have got some hard games coming up and, providing we keep our end of the bargain, I’m sure we can creep up there. That has to be a target for us.”

Highlighting the importance of Tuesday’s clash, Dyer insisted the game was “definitely” a six-pointer.

“A win would make a big difference in the promotion race,” he said.

“It’s going to be a tough game because West Brom are a good side.

“But it’s a big game for us and we have to approach it like we are playing in the FA Cup final. We have to put everything into it and go for the win.

“Everyone is slipping up at the moment so we just have to stay consistent.”

While happy to hype the importance of securing all three points against Albion, Dyer made it clear defeat at the Liberty would not end Swansea’s hopes of automatic promotion.

Should the worst happen, the winger is confident there will be plenty of time for the Swans to get back on track.

Losing is not a scenario he is really willing to contemplate though.

And, highlighting the fact West Brom have been inconsistent of late, Dyer has warned Roberto Di Matteo’s men are by no means invincible in his eyes.

“They are not untouchable at all,” he explained. “Every team has a bad patch and it hasn’t been easy for them lately.

“As long as we do our bit to dampen their hopes, that’s all that matters. If we can beat them, we will be on a high while they will have to lift their spirits again.

“I’m sure we have got more than enough quality to win.

“We are playing at home and we have been unbelievable at the Liberty this season so, if we all pull together and play to our potential, I’m sure we will beat West Brom.

“Losing doesn’t kill off our top two hopes either though, not at all.”

After missing the last two games with an ankle injury, Dyer is hopeful he will be able to play his part against the Baggies.

“It’s not too bad,” he said. “I saw a specialist during the week and he said that, where I had an operation before, I’ve taken a knock again.

“I just have to rest it and make sure I don’t aggravate the injury again.

“It’s nothing serious at all though and I should be OK for Tuesday.”

Swansea lost ground in the title race as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Sheffield Wednesday.

Dogged defending by the visitors prevented David Cotterill and Darren Pratley from opening the scoring in the early stages but it was a below-par performance by the Swans who must bounce back against promotion rivals West Brom on Tuesday night.

"It was a difficult game as I predicted it would be," said Swansea manager Paulo Sousa.

"They were well organised but we seemed a little tired and although we created a few good chances we never had any luck.

"The players have plenty of desire and I made the changes at half-time to switch things around and be more aggressive.

"In this type of game we were unable to play the way we would like to but the players are tired both physically and mentally and we haven't had time to prepare for different opponents.

"I have respect for all our opponents and we try to win every game but our fans must be educated to know that they need to help the players and not pass their anxiety on to the field as we need them to believe and support."

Wednesday were desperate for points to pull themselves away from the relegation zone and, after four minutes, Leon Clarke tried to lob home goalkeeper Dorus De Vries only to see the ball land on top of the home netting.

After an ineffective first half, Craig Beattie was replaced by Shefki Kuqi in an effort to unsettle the visiting defence.

Kuqi was immediately in the action, hitting a Cedric van der Gun centre first time just beyond the post with Owls keeper Lee Grant beaten.

Chances were limited at both ends but with Swansea's midfield not operating at their fluent best they were unable to penetrate the visitors' rear guard even with seven minutes of added time.

Wednesday boss Alan Irvine was very pleased with his side's well-earned point.

"I think we deserved a draw and had to work very hard for it as we knew there would be periods when we didn't have the ball and were prepared for that.

"Midway through the first half we began passing the ball much better and it was only in the closing stages that I felt a little worried.

"Swansea have a fantastic record of winning games 1-0 and I was a little nervous as the game moved to a close.

"We have recently played three of the top sides and not looked out of place but we have to build on these performances to push on and have a lot of hard work to do.

"Four games ago we were hammered at Reading but the players have shown great character in coming back from that defeat."

BESIAN Idrizaj has finally put the health scare which threatened his career behind him — and now he wants to fire Swansea City to the Premier League.

The Austrian striker has been to hell and back already in his short time in the pro game, but today he's looking to the Promised Land.

After collapsing during a game while playing for Wacker Innsbruck in his homeland just over two years ago, Idrizaj feared for his football future.

Fortunately, though, the cause of his collapse was a virus rather than a heart problem as first feared.

Risk

As he attempted to rebuild his career, Idrizaj admits there weren't many offers on the table, with clubs seeing him as a big risk.

But thanks to Swansea City, Idrizaj has a chance to make up for lost time.

Austria's young player of the year in 2005, Idrizaj showed enough potential to earn a move to Liverpool.

Loan stints at Luton and Crystal Palace didn't get the best out of the former Austria Under-21 international, and his health scare seemed to end his time in English football.

Hell

Swansea have changed that, and Idrizaj is desperate to repay their faith.

It hasn't gone smoothly in Wales, either, so far.

Just one league start and four appearances off the bench have brought a total of only 98 minutes' gametime.

But Idrizaj says he has now overcome his health issues mentally, and he is in positive mood following a first appearance since December in Tuesday's win at Watford.

"I've been through hell, and I'm only 22," he says.

"My health problems made me, and many clubs, think that my career was over.

"I've come back from some major setbacks, but now I can see the future is a promising place.

"I was released by Liverpool and was searching for somewhere to play. I went to Germany to play and I was questioning my ability and health.

"But I knew deep down that I could play professional football at a top level again.

"My chance has come with Swansea. It has taken quite a long time to adapt.

"I appreciated the chances the gaffer gave me against Scunthorpe and Plymouth. I didn't take my chance in those games, but I quickly realised that I wasn't ready at that time.

"My fitness was not right and my touch and movement was not there either.

"But I've had time to get a lot of training behind me and games with the reserves, while I've also come off the bench in the Championship.

"These things have all helped my comeback."

Desperate

He added: "A switch flicked in my head recently. Suddenly the worries about my health were gone and now I'm desperate to show the gaffer, chairman and supporters what I can do.

"I want to repay them for the faith they have shown me, and the opportunity I have received.

"I am ready to show my quality now."

Idrizaj's recent exploits both on and off the field suggest he should provide Paulo Sousa with added firepower.

Along with scoring goals for the club's second string, the 22-year-old has been dealing with firepower of a different kind after being called up for national service in his homeland.

"My dad did it when he was younger, and my two brothers have too," said Idrizaj.

"I was taught how to open a gun, how to load it and shoot it. I was hopeless at it. It is crazy, but it is not something you can avoid in my home country.

"I don't think I have to go back again. I won't be volunteering for it.

"Hopefully I will shoot much better at goal than I have with a gun."

Mar 12 2010 by Tim Lewis, Western Mail
Add a commentRecommend SWANSEA CITY boss Paulo Sousa says he’s planned for the rest of the season without any new signings – despite having a double-figure injury list.

Sousa said he could not guarantee there will be additions to his severely-depleted squad before the loan window closes in two weeks’ time.

But he insists he will not be alarmed if no new faces can be brought in to boost their push for promotion.

Sousa said: “I am a manager who tries to anticipate things and, because of that, I am organised if no players come in or we keep having injuries.

“I need to have options for the players I have. I need to have all the players prepared if no other players come in.

“This is what I have and, if I can’t have more than this, I have to work with this.

“We have only a couple weeks left because after that we cannot do anything.”

Sousa has been without Garry Monk, Nathan Dyer, David Cotterill, Joe Allen, Gorka Pintado, Albert Serran, Jordi Lopez, Andrea Orlandi, Federico Bessone and long-term absentee Ferrie Bodde.

But, despite the lengthy injury list, the Swans continue to pick up vital wins and Sousa said he has not felt the need to press chairman Huw Jenkins for urgent signings.

“He knows what we need, everybody knows what we need, but for that we keep waiting,” said Sousa, whose side welcome Sheffield Wednesday to the Liberty Stadium tomorrow.

“I have said from the beginning that I gave a list of the players I want and then I wait.

“I don’t know if the players are still available, I don’t have the details.

“For me it is very important, to be a big club or to get close to being a big club.

“First you make the deals and after you speak about the players. Not before.

“I fight a lot every day to become a big club and big clubs do it that way.”

Sousa refused to speculate on what money is available for transfers, but insisted with the club sitting in fourth position in the Championship there will be plenty of players who want to join his side.

He added: “It is not hard to attract players, especially at this moment because we are looking to get promotion.

“For this club, this season is one of the years they have spent a lot of money.

“We can’t accuse the club of not spending money. We need to spend the right money.

“I am not frustrated by the lack of new players, I keep winning so I am not frustrated.

“I am very happy with the squad of players that I have. If we do have more problems then I will try to do my best with what we already have.

“We have to keep working with the same enthusiasm and the same belief.”

The former Portuguese midfield star was full of praise for his opposite number tomorrow, Alan Irvine, who took over at Hillsborough on January 6.

Former Preston boss Irvine picked up the manager of the month award in his first month in charge, but Wednesday remain in the relegation zone after five defeats since the beginning of February.

Sousa said: “We have an important game against an opposition who are very difficult to beat and have done well in their last two games.

“In their last game against West Bromwich Albion they deserved a little bit more, they are very organised and can counter-attack very well.

“They could have won the game, but conceded at the very end when it is difficult to come back.

“It will be a very difficult game against, in my opinion, one of the nicest managers in the Championship.

“He is a person I have a lot of respect for because he has a lot of respect for everyone.

“I hope they get out of their situation, especially for Alan Irvine and for an important club like Sheffield Wednesday.”

Swansea’s second home match in the space of four days is against second-placed West Brom on Tuesday night, that game possibly re-igniting hopes of finishing in the automatic promotion places.

Defender Angel Rangel said last week the Swans must now treat every game as if it was a cup final, but Sousa disagrees.

“Each game it is important to win, but it is not a cup final,” he said.

“My approach since the start of the season has been to win each game. We’ve had a winning mentality since the start of the season.

“All the games are important and special for a club like us to stay in a strong competition like the Championship.

“We need to approach all the games in the same way. It can’t be different when we play home or away.”

STAND-IN skipper Alan Tate has insisted complacency will never undermine Swansea City’s promotion push, claiming the club have learnt from fierce rivals Cardiff’s play-off misery last year.

As they sit comfortable in fourth place, with nine points separating them from Blackpool in seventh, it would be easy to start thinking of the Swans as play-off certainties.

Paulo Sousa’s men have only lost three league games in the last six months – all to teams above them – and, mixing last year’s attacking flair with steel at the back, have got their fans dreaming of life in the top flight.

With 11 games still to play, starting with relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday today, Tate is quick to point out no-one at the Liberty Stadium is getting carried away though.

“We saw what happened with Cardiff last season,” he explained.

“They were dead certs to stay in the play-offs with just four games to go, but then fell out of the top six.

“That is a big warning for us. If you learn from other people’s mistakes instead of your own, it’s a lot better because you don’t suffer the heartbreak they did.

“It is a big buffer between Swansea and seventh place, but, with the amount of games we have this month, it’s easily wiped out.

“Everyone has got to remember we can’t take those nine points for granted. We just have to keep going and try to win every game.

“It’s no good saying that, when we have Blackpool away, we can take that game easy because we have a points cushion between us and them.

“We have got to get to a point where it is impossible for them to catch us.

“That way we know we will have a guaranteed shot at making the Premiership. That’s what everyone here is working for.”

Tate is right to point to Cardiff’s failings last year. After all, with just four games remaining, the Bluebirds were eight points and 18 goals clear of Preston, only to then lose out to the Lillywhites on goals scored on the last day of the season.

It was a collapse few in Welsh football will ever forget and a stark warning to anyone at the Swans who thinks the job is already done.

“You never want to get complacent because it’s going to come back and bite you,” said Tate.

“The only team in the country that can do that is probably Newport County because I think their season is finished. We won’t be getting carried away here. We will be going game by game and not looking too far ahead because that’s when complacency sets in.

“What happened to Cardiff is a lesson we are all aware of, but it’s not really something we have looked at too much.

“Will it be brought up? Maybe. But we don’t tend to look at other teams.

“We just try to concentrate on ourselves because that’s the only thing we can control. It has worked well for us so far.”

While Tate may be fending off questions about promotion and complacency now, it didn’t always look like that would be the case this season.

In fact, as the defender points out, many pundits and fans started the campaign believing the Swans would be involved in a relegation dogfight by now.

With just one win in their first eight games, life under Sousa certainly didn’t go to plan early on. Following the summer departures of former boss Roberto Martinez, top scorer Jason Scotland and last year’s player of the season Jordi Gomez, even the players themselves were publicly accepting this looked likely to be, at best, a season for consolidation.

Tate is the first to admit his surprise about how drastically the situation has turned on its head.

And, while a serious injury crisis is threatening to derail their efforts, there is a clear sense of pride when he talks about the way his team continues to upset the odds.

“We are doing well even though the injuries have come at probably the worst possible time,” he said.

“The lads are performing really well and we have shown great team spirit.

“We never thought we would be in this position now. The first month was pretty bad and, if you had asked people after five games, they would probably have said we would be involved in a relegation scrap by now.

“I didn’t think that was going to be the case. But then I never thought we would be complaining that a refereeing decision against Nottingham Forest was ruining our chances of getting second.

“The lads have shown great character and that’s what you need if you want a chance of going up. That’s all we’ve got now though, a chance.”

The battle to turn that chance into a reality will continue when struggling Wednesday visit today.

And, while the Owls may be fighting at the opposite end of the table, it’s a challenge Tate is not willing to take lightly.

For once Sousa’s men can’t even play the underdog card and, for Tate, it’s time they showed they can live with that pressure.

“Wednesday have got a good team and a good manager,” he explained. “I think Alan Irvine will keep them up.

“We normally say the pressure is on other teams because of their big budgets, but that isn’t the case this week.

“To have a chance of going anywhere the lads have got to deal with that.

“Every home game is huge for us now and, having picked up an away win, we need to build on it.”

If Swansea are to build on Tuesday’s win at Watford, they will have to do it with very much the same squad that travelled to Vicarage Road.

Captain Garry Monk, winger Nathan Dyer, midfielders Andrea Orlandi and Joe Allen and defender Fede Bessone are all unlikely to be fit, while Gorka Pintado serves the last game of his four-match suspension.

NO-ONE likes getting shouted at by their boss, but, for Swansea City’s Welsh youngster Jazz Richards, it has its benefits.

Admittedly, unlike most people, Richards’ boss just happens to be a two-time Champions League winner and a member of Portugal’s golden generation.

It’s fair to say Swans supremo Paulo Sousa knows a fair bit about football.

For an 18-year-old midfielder-cum-right-back that has now been pressed into action as an emergency left-back, a little advice is exactly what the doctor ordered.

And, while Sousa’s methods of delivery are aggressive to say the least, Wales Under-21 cap Richards believes the constant ear bashings are paying dividends.

“It doesn’t always help when the gaffer is shouting in your ear for 45 minutes,” he admitted with a smile. “But it’s all constructive criticism and I will only learn from it.

“Maybe if he wasn’t shouting at me I wouldn’t adapt as quickly. It’s working for me and it’s not a bad thing really.

“After a game, whether we have won or lost, he never criticises the players. He just tells us to keep our heads up and, when I need it, he just gives me advice.

“I know I make mistakes now and then, but it’s all part of my learning curve. The gaffer knows I’m playing out of position so he tries to help me as much as possible.

“I’m still learning with the positioning. It’s taken a while to get used to it, but I wasn’t expecting to play as many games as I have this season anyway.”

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY boss Alan Irvine has heaped praise on two key arrivals at Swansea City this season, hailing Paulo Sousa’s appointment while acknowledging striker Shefki Kuqi was the ideal man to give the Portuguese a plan B.

Irvine, who brings his struggling Owls side to the Liberty Stadium today, believes Sousa was the ideal man to take over from Roberto Martinez last summer.

The Scot is a big admirer of his counterpart’s work in South Wales and the continuation of Martinez’s stylish football has been crucial to Swansea’s success.

But, acknowledging the need for a more direct approach at times in the Championship, Irvine believes Kuqi has also been a key acquisition.

The former Preston boss revealed that Sousa told him back in September that he was after a big target man and, with three vital winning goals to his name already, it seems Kuqi fits the bill perfectly.

“I know from talking to Paulo quite a while ago, when he came to Preston, he was looking for a big striker,” the Wednesday boss explained.

“He wanted an alternative option and obviously Kuqi gives them that.

“They are a fantastic football team and everybody knows that.

“They play the game in a very nice way, building from the back and playing through the middle.

“They keep the ball, pass it very well and they look to work openings.

“They are so patient and have so much possession that it also helps them defensively.

“They have a lot of the ball so don’t find themselves under too much pressure.”

As for Sousa’s arrival, Irvine continued: “It was a really good appointment because they brought in someone who was going to play in a similar way to Martinez.

“If they had brought in somebody with completely different ideas, it would have been difficult for them, as Roberto built a squad whose strengths were suited to that style of play.

“You can’t change that overnight unless you change the players overnight.”

Swansea manager Paulo Sousa could be boosted by the return of winger David Cotterill ahead of Saturday's home clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

Cotterill missed the midweek win over Watford after failing a late fitness test on a hamstring problem but could be ready to take a place in the squad this weekend

If the 22-year-old doesn't make it in time, Cedric van der Gun is likely to retain his place.

Sousa will once again be without the suspended Gorka Pintado, who is serving the final game of a four-match ban.

Garry Monk and Fede Bessone are both still out with calf injuries and Andrea Orlandi and Albert Serran are struggling to overcome their respective hamstring troubles.

Jordi Lopez's ankle problem is still proving problematic, while Ferrie Bodde and Joe Allen (both knee) remain sidelined.

ASHLEY Williams has hailed Dorus de Vries — for helping to ease the pain felt by his one-legged centre-backs.

Both Williams and stand-in captain Alan Tate carried injuries through Tuesday night's win over Watford.

And Wales defender Williams reckons de Vries's performance was a major influence in ensuring Swansea City kept yet another clean sheet.

And though the Dutch stopper's mistake proved costly at Nottingham Forest last week, Williams reckons there is no better keeper in the Championship.

"Me and Tatey were joking about our injuries because he had a bad ankle and I've got a bad knee — we had two good legs between us at Watford," said Williams.

"Dorus, again, was outstanding for us and helped us through the game.

"You have only got to look at the saves he has pulled off this season to see how valuable he has been for us.

"There are a number of quality keepers in this league, but he is the best in my opinion.

"He is like an extra outfield player to us because of his footballing ability — he is one of our best passers.

"He can hit a spare man at any time and it catches the opposition off guard.
"As defenders we know we can pass back to him and be confident he won't mess it up. He will get a clean connection every time.

"You couldn't have asked for more from Dorus this season," Williams added."
Swansea look to continue their play-off charge tomorrow as Sheffield Wednesday visit the Liberty.

The Owls occupy the final relegation spot in the Championship, and Williams expects Alan Irvine's side to pile the pressure on Swansea's rearguard as they attempt to rise out of the drop zone.

"Sheffield Wednesday are at the wrong end of the table, but they've got a brilliant manager and shouldn't be down there," he added.

"The good thing for us is that they need to win, which should allow us to get behind them and create chances.

"But if they do come at us then the defence has been very solid this season.
"What I like about this season is the rotation being used by the manager. We have six defenders in myself, Tatey, Garry Monk, Angel Rangel, Jazz Richards and Fede Bessone who can all keep a solid back line."

SHEFKI Kuqi comes up against one of his former employers tomorrow believing Sheffield Wednesday are the biggest club he has represented in his career.

It is more than eight years since then Wednesday boss Terry Yorath paid around £1 million to take Kuqi from Stockport County.

And while his stay at Hillsborough proved to be relatively short-lived, the Swansea City striker remains fond of one of Yorkshire's sleeping giants.

"When I look back, I think Sheffield Wednesday was probably the right club at the wrong time for me," he says.

"I had a good time and a bad time there.

"I have played for Ipswich, Blackburn and Fulham in the Premier League, but I have to say they are the biggest club I have played for.

"Unfortunately, I think it was the wrong time to be there when I went.

"The club had financial problems and nothing was going right.

"We were losing a lot of games and we ended up getting relegated from (what is now) the Championship."

After beginning his career in Finland, Kuqi had started life in English football with Stockport County.

Signed for £300,000, the powerful centre-forward quickly made a name for himself at Edgeley Park and just under a year later he was unveiled by Wednesday.

Kuqi had some individual success as an Owl, scoring 19 times for the club before moving on again after 18 months, this time to Ipswich.

By then Yorath had been replaced by Chris Turner, whose decision to let Kuqi leave for nothing raised eyebrows.

Time would prove it was not the shrewdest move, as Kuqi went on to excel with the Tractor Boys before earning a move to Blackburn and, later, a £2.5 million switch to Crystal Palace.

He has enjoyed many happier spells on the pitch than he had at Wednesday, but Kuqi has not forgotten the status of the club.

"If they were competing in the top six in the Championship, they would get 35,000 people at the ground," reckons the 33-year-old.

"That tells you something about the size of the club.

Stadium

"You only really have to look at the stadium — as soon as you walk in you know how big they are.

"They have had success in the Premier League and they have had some great players.

"They have had a few problems, too, but they seem to be getting better and I hope they can push for promotion to the top level soon."

The priority at Wednesday just now is staying in the second tier.
Alan Irvine's team are currently in the drop zone, but Kuqi is convinced they are good enough to survive.

Pressures

Swansea have their own end-of-season pressures to contend with, but theirs are the kind players want.

After a fine campaign, the task for Paulo Sousa's team is to ensure they hang on to the play-off place they have made their own in recent months.

And Kuqi, who twice finished in the top six at this level with Ipswich, believes Swansea are right on course.

"You never want to predict too much in this league, because Sheffield Wednesday beat Leicester the other day but Leicester beat Nottingham Forest 3-0," he says.

"Bristol City lose 5-2 at home to Doncaster, then they go and win at Crystal Palace.

"These results tell you that anything can happen, but I have to say we look really strong for the play-offs.

"A couple more wins and we will be there I think — although I also believe we can do better than that."

Kuqi's confidence is inspired by the consistency he has witnessed since arriving in Wales in January.

"For most teams results depend on how players feel on the day, but with us I don't really see that," he argues.

"We have looked very strong in every game."

Swansea have lost only once since Kuqi tied up a free transfer from TuS Koblenz, and that was in cruel fashion at Nottingham Forest last weekend.

Not for the first time in Swansea colours, the big Finn talked his way into the referee's notebook at the City Ground in the wake of the Darren Pratley penalty controversy.

Even now, almost a week on, Kuqi still bristles about Colin Webster's performance.

"I had to do a drugs test after the game, and even the drug testers said they couldn't believe we didn't get a penalty," he reveals.

"I understand referees have a hard job. I have played this game for many years and I have got on well with them.

"But I have never seen a run of decisions like this.

"At Forest I felt we had some bad decisions even before the penalty, so I spoke to the ref at half-time.

"I said 'Ref, how can you give free-kicks to them but give nothing to us?'.

"He said 'It was a mistake', so I said 'Can you make these mistakes for us?'. He just said 'Yeah, you wish'."

Swansea wish indeed.

Had a few more of the big calls gone their way up until now, they might be second in the table.

As it is Kuqi, ankle injury permitting, will spearhead the search for victory against Wednesday knowing there is still much work to do if Swansea are to reel in the top two.

PAULO Sousa admits he is in the dark over Swansea City's attempts to strengthen for the final push in their bid for the ultimate promotion.
One of the most critical runs in Swansea's 98-year history continues when they host Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow.

But Swansea will once again be forced to rely on a patched-up team with as many as 10 senior players expected to miss out.

Sousa has made no secret of his desire to bolster his squad, and Swansea have been looking for new faces in defence and midfield for the last three weeks.

But with the deadline for emergency loan signings now just a fortnight away, they have so far failed to do any business.

"I gave the chairman a list of the players I want and after that I wait," Sousa said.

"He knows what we need, but I don't know whether we will get anyone.
"I don't know what money is available, but I think the club have spent more this season than they have in many years."

Swansea have inquired about Crystal Palace midfielder Neil Danns, Peterborough's Lee Frecklington and Stephen Quinn of Sheffield United.

They are also thought to be interested in Rochdale defender Craig Dawson and Bolton's Danny Shittu, while Serbia international Dusko Tosic continues to train at the Liberty as his representatives attempt to gain Football Association clearance for him to sign.

With as much as £60 million on offer to clubs who climb out of the Championship, Swansea could reap handsome dividends on a small outlay now.

But Sousa insists he will be happy to press on with what he has if Swansea cannot find the right signing.

Garry Monk (calf), David Cotterill (hamstring) and Nathan Dyer (ankle) are all edging towards comebacks, while Alan Tate, Ashley Williams and Shefki Kuqi are all carrying knocks.

"I am not frustrated because we keep winning," Sousa added.

"I am very happy with my squad and I am a manager who always tries to anticipate things.

"We need to have options within our squad. I am already trying to organise that in case nobody comes in."

Sousa's men will attempt to take another stride towards the play-offs — and perhaps the top two — against a struggling Wednesday side who have lost four of their last five matches.

Relegation

The Owls are in the drop zone after a narrow defeat at West Brom in midweek, but Sousa hopes they will avoid relegation.

"I hope so because in Alan Irvine they have one of the nicest managers in the Championship," he said.

"I have a lot of respect for him because he has respect for everyone.

"Sheffield Wednesday are an important club and this will be a very difficult game for us because they don't want to be relegated.

"They showed that at West Brom. If they'd had the luck of the game, they could have won."

Welsh Swansea City's board of directors, including chairman Huw Jenkins, voted for the seventh year in a row to not take any wage from the club.

A report of the club's financial performance indicates that the Swans faced a net loss of GBP 457,002 for the year ending May 31st 2009.

The club has also managed to increase the turnover by GBP 3 million since the previous year.

There has been a wage bill increase of over GBP 1.5 million in the period also. Jenkins said, “I think the accounts show we’re running the club as we have done since we arrived.

If you look at the accounts over a period of time, you can see we’ve made small profits and small losses, but we’ve managed to balance the two out.

Two important things to take into consideration is the accounts cover all expenditure from those 12 months, nothing is spread out, and that we do not include any asset value to our squad.

It was natural turnover was going to go up going into the Championship, just as it was natural we were going to get an increase in wages going up a division. As always, we have tried to stick to within our income levels while staying competitive.

It is a difficult job balancing the two but we’ve managed to do that over the last few years and we will be doing our best to make sure that continues.”

These results are of the period before the Roberto Martinez compensated loss, and trade of Jason Scotland, to Wigan.

Since then the club has also signed six-figure deals with Nathan Dyer, Craig Beattie and David Cotterill, who are all working with the new manager Paulo Sousa.

Swansea has been looking for a new midfielder without much luck. Jenkins said: “We have had some difficulty with bringing in a midfielder.

Things we have tried have either been delayed or just stalled, but I don’t think there’s the urgency there was two games ago because we’ve done well and now you can see the likes of Andrea Orlandi, David Cotterill and Joe Allen all coming back in.”

SWANSEA CITY boss Paulo Sousa says he’s planned for the rest of the season without any new signings – despite having a double-figure injury list.

Sousa said he could not guarantee there will be additions to his severely-depleted squad before the loan window closes in two weeks’ time.

But he insists he will not be alarmed if no new faces can be brought in to boost their push for promotion.

Sousa said: “I am a manager who tries to anticipate things and, because of that, I am organised if no players come in or we keep having injuries.

“I need to have options for the players I have. I need to have all the players prepared if no other players come in.

“This is what I have and, if I can’t have more than this, I have to work with this.

“We have only a couple weeks left because after that we cannot do anything.”

Sousa has been without Garry Monk, Nathan Dyer, David Cotterill, Joe Allen, Gorka Pintado, Albert Serran, Jordi Lopez, Andrea Orlandi, Federico Bessone and long-term absentee Ferrie Bodde.

But, despite the lengthy injury list, the Swans continue to pick up vital wins and Sousa said he has not felt the need to press chairman Huw Jenkins for urgent signings.

“He knows what we need, everybody knows what we need, but for that we keep waiting,” said Sousa, whose side welcome Sheffield Wednesday to the Liberty Stadium tomorrow.

“I have said from the beginning that I gave a list of the players I want and then I wait.

“I don’t know if the players are still available, I don’t have the details.

“For me it is very important, to be a big club or to get close to being a big club.

“First you make the deals and after you speak about the players. Not before.

“I fight a lot every day to become a big club and big clubs do it that way.”

Sousa refused to speculate on what money is available for transfers, but insisted with the club sitting in fourth position in the Championship there will be plenty of players who want to join his side.

He added: “It is not hard to attract players, especially at this moment because we are looking to get promotion.

“For this club, this season is one of the years they have spent a lot of money.

“We can’t accuse the club of not spending money. We need to spend the right money.

“I am not frustrated by the lack of new players, I keep winning so I am not frustrated.

“I am very happy with the squad of players that I have. If we do have more problems then I will try to do my best with what we already have.

“We have to keep working with the same enthusiasm and the same belief.”

The former Portuguese midfield star was full of praise for his opposite number tomorrow, Alan Irvine, who took over at Hillsborough on January 6.

Former Preston boss Irvine picked up the manager of the month award in his first month in charge, but Wednesday remain in the relegation zone after five defeats since the beginning of February.

Sousa said: “We have an important game against an opposition who are very difficult to beat and have done well in their last two games.

“In their last game against West Bromwich Albion they deserved a little bit more, they are very organised and can counter-attack very well.

“They could have won the game, but conceded at the very end when it is difficult to come back.

“It will be a very difficult game against, in my opinion, one of the nicest managers in the Championship.

“He is a person I have a lot of respect for because he has a lot of respect for everyone.

“I hope they get out of their situation, especially for Alan Irvine and for an important club like Sheffield Wednesday.”

Swansea’s second home match in the space of four days is against second-placed West Brom on Tuesday night, that game possibly re-igniting hopes of finishing in the automatic promotion places.

Defender Angel Rangel said last week the Swans must now treat every game as if it was a cup final, but Sousa disagrees.

“Each game it is important to win, but it is not a cup final,” he said.

“My approach since the start of the season has been to win each game. We’ve had a winning mentality since the start of the season.

“All the games are important and special for a club like us to stay in a strong competition like the Championship.

“We need to approach all the games in the same way. It can’t be different when we play home or away.”

Swansea City goalkeeper Dorus de Vries say it is important for a football club to have no off-field turmoil if players are to produce their best in games.

Premier League Portsmouth have recently gone into administration owing £60m, while Chester City have been wound up.

Swansea's neighbours and Championship promotion rivals Cardiff City are another club in financial difficulties.

"The main focus for players always should be what's happening on... matchday," said the Dutch stopper.

"So there's no distractions off the pitch, things going on with financial troubles or whatever.

"And that's a good position to be in as a player as well; you don't worry about your future then as... you do when you play for those clubs [having financial problems].

"Players might be not paid for a while and the wages might be a little different up there as well."

"It's nice to have no distractions which means you can only focus and put all your energy into positive things on the pitch.

This month is very important... because we have important opponents, important games

Swansea manager Paulo Sousa
"And that's what you want eventually as a player, you don't want any problems on your mind, you don't want any hassle, you just want to play your football in the best way possible and that's when you're focussed on the pitch."

Southend United, like Cardiff, are another football club to have been given an ultimatum to pay monies owed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in the High Court.

Cardiff have until 5 May to settle their £1.9m debt, while League One Southend have even less time to come up with a sum understood to be close to £200,000.

Crystal Palace are struggling to avoid relegation from the Championship after being automatically docked 10 league points having already gone into administration this season.

Swansea are not free of debt themselves, but a sum understood to be around the £400,000 mark is no real cause for alarm for a club operating in Swansea's situation at Championship level.

Manager Paulo Sousa still has the resources at his disposal to strengthen his squad, with the Portuguese keen to bolster his injury-hit midfield with loan signings as they seek to consolidate their place in at least the play-offs.

"Yes, we need to be looking because we are struggling a little bit," Sousa said.

"We will see what we can get for the next days... this month is very important for everyone, especially for us because we have important opponents, important games and we want to be... competitive and winning games."

KRISTIAN O'Leary hopes to continue his career at Cheltenham Town after impressing in a reserve fixture for the League Two club.

The 32-year-old, who featured in the Robins reserves defeat by Birmingham, is a free agent following his release from Swansea City and is keen to return to the club at which he spent a month on loan in 2006.

But a move to Whaddon Road is only likely to happen in the summer, with Cheltenham boss Mark Yates looking to use his funds to sign a new striker.

"I'd love to go back," said O'Leary, who snubbed a permanent move to Cheltenham three years ago.

"It was a really tough decision three years ago, but I was organising my testimonial at Swansea and I was part of a League One-winning squad. Cheltenham would be my choice in the summer.

Lee Frecklington will stay put at Peterborough after a potential loan move to Championship rivals Swansea failed to materialise.


The 24-year-old Posh midfielder looked set to leave a relegation battle at London Road for the Swans promotion push, but it appears talks between the two clubs broke down on Wednesday when no fee could be agreed.

Swans boss Paulo Sousa had wanted Frecklington to cover for the absence of injured trio Ferrie Bodde, Joe Allen and Andrea Orlandi. However he will now have to cast his net elsewhere for reinforcements.

Frecklington, who has scored four goals in 35 games for the Championship strugglers, will stay put and try to help in Posh's uphill battle to avoid an instant return to League One.

GUILLEM Bauza has thrust himself into selection contention for Swansea City's match with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

The 25-year-old replaced Craig Beattie with just over 20 minutes left of Tuesday's win at Watford to make only his third appearance of the season — all of which have come from the bench.

But the Spanish striker impressed in his second half cameo, playing behind striker Shefki Kuqi, and believes he did enough to force his way into Paulo Sousa's plans for the weekend.

"I'm glad I could get on the pitch. The feeling to be there helping my mates is wonderful," he said. "I've had a really tough season, I think I deserved another opportunity and I think I did well.

"I've always been ready to help the team and I've always been working hard and the gaffer knows that.

"Now I think I deserve maybe the role I played on Tuesday or maybe more in the next game."

It was Bauza's first appearance since he came on for Gorka Pintado in the last minute of Swansea's 2-0 win against Wednesday at Hillsborough in December. A knee injury has also disrupted the Spaniard's progress this season, but he now believes he is ready to stake a claim for a regular first-team place.

"I always work hard to play in the next game," said the former Espanyol player.
"First of all I wanted to help the team to get the three points on Tuesday, and then I wanted to show the gaffer that he can use me in the next fixtures.

"It's very difficult after such a long time out. You need to be strong minded and think you're going to have what you deserve.

"When you have played just two games all season, never from the start, you lack that confidence and that sharpness. But I think I performed really well and we got the three points, so that's a big reward for me and for the team."

WALT DISNEY once decided combining Beauty and the Beast made for a good fairytale ending.

And, after using an extremely effective plan B to grind out three more vital points at Watford, it seems Swansea City agree.

With the dream of Premiership football becoming an increasingly distinct possibility, Paulo Sousa’s Swans are chasing a very different fairytale to the one Disney (or at least his people) was talking about.

Forget love conquering all, big money, big names and a place in one of the best leagues in world sport is all that matters here.

But Disney’s principle of mixing opposing ends of the aesthetic spectrum hasn’t been lost on the powers that be at the Liberty Stadium.

And, while Swansea have retained much of the attractive football that earned so many plaudits under former boss Roberto Martinez, Sousa has added a darker side to the men in white and it is paying some serious dividends.

On their own pitch, situation permitting, Swansea have repeatedly shown they can still play some of the best football around outside of the top flight.

The difference this year has been the ability, particularly on their travels, to match that style with substance when winning ugly is the only option.

While the idea of back-to-basics, long ball football in a standard four-four-two system was abhorrent to Martinez, Sousa has a more practical approach.

As experienced midfielder Mark Gower pointed out following Tuesday’s gruelling 1-0 win at Vicarage Road, a victory which owed far more to resilient team defending than any form of attacking flair, having the likes of Finnish colossus Shefki Kuqi replacing the skilful Jason Scotland has given the Swans a very different look at times.

“There is an uglier side to our team this season,” he explained.

“I look at the line-up and you could see we have big boys that can head the ball and put themselves about.

“We had that in defence last year but, with all respect to Jason, he was no good when it came to defending set-pieces in the air. With Shefki and Craig (Beattie) involved, we look like we can do some damage.

“Compared to last year, I thought to myself when we lined up that we have something a bit different. It just feels like we have a plan B.

“We didn’t really have that last season.

“The Watford result showed how important it can be to have that option and we got a valuable three points from it.

“At times, on a pitch like that, you don’t have any option but to go long.

“It’s so difficult to play passing football on surfaces like that and it gives us another outlet.

“We put in a really gritty performance.

“We deserved the points and we keep grinding out results so it’s looking good.”

Watford was not the first time Swansea have won ugly this season.

A gutsy 2-1 win over Sheffield United back in September kick-started their season after a poor start while recent away wins at both Crystal Palace and Derby established them as firm play-off contenders.

It’s not nice football to watch and, according to Gower at least, they are not nice games to play in either.

But it is effective and, in a business driven by results, that’s all that matters.

Considering last year’s trip to Vicarage Road saw one of the worst performances of the season, Tuesday’s win really highlighted the benefits of Sousa’s less attractive plan B.

It may not be as fun or enjoyable as Martinez’s reign but it is a more realistic approach and, as the Swans currently sit in fourth with a staggering nine-point safety buffer in the play-offs, the results speak for themselves.

“There’s no real enjoyment in playing that way,” Gower conceded.

“But, at the end of the day, you are not going to get your own way in every game.

“We went to Watford last year, tried to play the pretty football and lost 2-0.

“We don’t want to play this way but sometimes, in this league, it’s needed.

“We’ve got the players to do it now and it’s looking good.”

Comparing life under Sousa to last season, he continued: “I thoroughly enjoyed last year under Roberto and I’m not going to talk about what he did or didn’t do.

“But this year the defence just looks so solid while last season it was a bit like attack, attack, attack.

“Now, if we nick a goal, we are not really going to lose the game.

“We have brought in some players that can do the uglier bits and it’s paying off.”

Swansea have failed in their attempt to sign Peterborough midfielder Lee Frecklington after talks between the Championship clubs broke down.

Skysports.com can reveal that the Swans have been in negotiations with Posh over a possible loan move for Frecklington, but no fee could be agreed between the clubs and talks have since stalled.

An ever-growing injury list at the Liberty Stadium has prompted Swansea boss Paulo Sousa to look elsewhere to ensure his side's promotion challenge remains on track.

Midfielders Ferrie Bodde, Joe Allen and Andrea Orlandi are all sidelined and Sousa has been scouring the market in recent weeks for emergency loan options.

Crystal Palace player Neil Danns and Sheffield United's Stephen Quinn had previously been linked with a switch, but it appears Peterborough attacking midfielder Frecklington was Sousa's number one target.

The 24-year-old attacking midfielder has scored four goals in 35 games for the Championship strugglers in what is his first full season at this level since joining from Lincoln.

Frecklington, a representative of the Republic of Ireland B team, was handed his professional debut under the late Keith Alexander in 2005 after coming through the youth academy at Sincil Bank.

SWANSEA CITY’S board have opted against taking a wage out of the club for the seventh successive year.

And chairman Huw Jenkins has insisted the club’s latest accounts prove it is business as usual at the Liberty Stadium.

The Swans’ financial results have revealed a £457,002 net loss for the year ending May 31 2009 – but also an increased turnover of more than £3m from the previous year.

Other interesting notes from the financial results include an increase of more than £1.5m in the wage bill – and the continuing stance by chairman Jenkins and fellow directors not to receive a salary for their work.

“I think the accounts show we’re running the club as we have done since we arrived,” said Jenkins. “If you look at the accounts over a period of time, you can see we’ve made small profits and small losses, but we’ve managed to balance the two out.

“Two important things to take into consideration is the accounts cover all expenditure from those 12 months, nothing is spread out, and that we do not include any asset value to our squad.

“It was natural turnover was going to go up going into the Championship, just as it was natural we were going to get an increase in wages going up a division.

“As always, we have tried to stick to within our income levels while staying competitive. It is a difficult job balancing the two but we’ve managed to do that over the last few years and we will be doing our best to make sure that continues.”

The results are for the financial year that ended before the compensated loss of Roberto Martinez and backroom team to Wigan, the sale of star striker Jason Scotland to the same club, while Swansea have since gone on to pay six-figure fees for Nathan Dyer, Craig Beattie and David Cotterill under new manager Paulo Sousa.

But Jenkins last night admitted hopes of landing a new midfielder on loan to boost Sousa’s injury-hit squad could be put on hold.

Swansea had been linked with Stephen Quinn of Sheffield United, Crystal Palace’s Neil Danns and also Lee Frecklington.

But Jenkins said: “We have had some difficulty with bringing in a midfielder.

“Things we have tried have either been delayed or just stalled, but I don’t think there’s the urgency there was two games ago because we’ve done well and now you can see the likes of Andrea Orlandi, David Cotterill and Joe Allen all coming back in.”

NO conspiracy theories, no questionable refereeing decisions, just an action-packed evening of football that saw Swansea City hold on for dear life to secure three more crucial points in their play-off push.

On the site of their worst performance of last season, Paulo Sousa’s Swans secured what could prove to be one of the most important results of this one.

It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t comfortable and it never looked entirely secure, but, secured by Shefki Kuqi’s first-half header, this victory was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Liberty Stadium outfit.

Still seething with a deep sense of injustice after being denied a stonewall penalty against promotion rivals Nottingham Forest at the weekend, Swansea channelled their anger in the best way possible.

They were pushed to the limit by a Hornets side, who threw everything possible at them, but, showing their fighting spirit once again, they stood firm. It wasn’t a perfect performance, in fact there were plenty of things for Sousa to iron out before Sheffield Wednesday come to South Wales in four days time.

But, as they opened up a nine-point cushion on seventh-placed Blackpool, the result really was all that mattered. Victory was made more impressive by the fact it saw the Swans continue to defy their on-going injury crisis.

Nathan Dyer was this week’s addition to a list already containing captain Garry Monk, midfield stars Ferrie Bodde, Joe Allen and Andrea Orlandi and record signing David Cotterill.

Whether or not Sousa would have changed his system anyway to suit a difficult Vicarage Road pitch, only he knows.

But there was every reason to suggest he had had his hand forced as Kuqi and Craig Beattie were partnered together for the first time in a 4-4-2 formation.

It was to prove a wise decision either way and, while some chaotic defending offered early reminders of last year’s poor show, Swansea’s two-man strikeforce was looking lively.

Beattie had a shot saved by Scott Loach after seven minutes before Kuqi spurned two golden chances to put his team in front.

The first opportunity, created by a dangerous cross from Darren Pratley, saw the big Finn beat Loach to the ball before seeing his header crash of the post and out for a goal-kick.

Then, when Cedric van der Gun provided good service minutes late, he headed the ball straight at the Hornets keeper when unmarked six yards out.

They weren’t to prove costly misses though as Kuqi made it third time lucky in the 18th minute. This time Beattie turned provider with a superb cross and, while it wasn’t the best connection you will ever see, the Scotsman was celebrating when his partner’s stooping header squirmed through Loach’s arms and dribbled over the line.

The lead did little to settle Sousa’s men at the back, though. The warning signs kept coming and, whether it was through poor communication, bad positioning or simply losing track of individual attackers, the Swans were inviting far too much pressure on themselves.

How they even made it to half-time ahead was a miracle. Had it not been for some smart saves from Dorus de Vries, the hosts would certainly have had the equaliser they deserved. With youngster Jazz Richards often left exposed and struggling, the right flank was proving to be particularly fruitful for Watford.

And, when Danny Graham beat Richards before whipping in a dangerous 39th-minute cross, de Vries had to produce a top-class save to deny the onrushing John Harley.

The big Dutchman was then forced to play spectator as the Golden Boys twice came even closer to a leveller before half-time. After the unmarked Martin Taylor headed over from close range in the 41st minute, Angel Rangel then came to his keeper’s rescue 30 seconds later to clear Jay DeMerit’s goal-bound volley off the line.

Despite their struggles against a seemingly endless barrage of aerial attacks, Swansea still had chances to double their advantage before the end of a pulsating and action-packed opening 45 minutes. But, having been denied by an instinctive point-blank save from Loach, Beattie then dragged a low effort just inches wide from the edge of the box.

A second goal would certainly have been harsh on Malky Mackay’s hard-working Hornets. And, while it was the Scotsman’s side trailing at the break, it was his Portuguese counterpart who probably had the bigger problems to fix with his team talk.

While there were a few signs that the Swans had recovered some of their shape, the Golden Boys picked up exactly where they left off. And, when Adrian Mariappa’s long-throw saw Heidar Helguson head just over in the 53rd minute, it looked like it was going to be a long 45 minutes for Sousa’s men. As it happened, chances were actually few and far between.

But, when the game sprang to life in the 72nd minute, Swansea had a refereeing decision of their own to be thankful for before de Vries pulled off a world-class save to maintain his team’s lead.

After 48 hours complaining about the penalty they didn’t get against Nottingham Forest, the men in white would have breathed a sigh of relief when van der Gun wasn’t punished for a strong barge on Mariappa.

It would have been quite a harsh decision from referee Trevor Kettle, but Watford’s impassioned appeal told you what they thought and you have seen such decisions given before. Having dodged that bullet, it was then de Vries’ turn to save his defence’s bacon.

The impressive Henri Lansbury was left unmarked just 10 yards out and, while his firmly-stuck volley looked destined for the bottom corner, the big Dutchman sprang down to his right to get a strong hand to the ball.

The pressure continued until the last minute. But, showing the resolve that has made them such firm play-off contenders, Sousa’s men held on for another crucial three points and their first win at Watford since 1978.

WATFORD: Loach, Mariappa (Hodson 80), DeMerit (Cpt), Taylor, Doyley; Cowie, Eustace, Lansbury (Jenkins 90), Harley (McGinn 80); Graham, Helguson. Subs not used: Lee, Bennett, Hoskins, Henderson.

SWANSEA: De Vries, Rangel, Tate(Cpt), Williams, Richards; van der Gun, Britton (Butler 83), Pratley, Gower; Beattie (Bauza 68), Kuqi (Idrizaj 90). Subs not used: Cornell, Burgin, Lucas, Trundle.

Goals: Shefki Kuqi 18.

Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rutland).

Attendance: 12,907.

SWANSEA City are in talks to sign Dusko Tosic after the Football Association indicated they will allow him to move to the Liberty.

The FA had initially said they would block any deal with Swansea because Tosic signed for Portsmouth last month.

But the Serbian international's representatives say they have now received assurances that a transfer will be ratified by the authorities.

It is now a case of Swansea thrashing out terms with Tosic, who is desperate for first-team football as he attempts to win a place in the Serbia squad for this summer's World Cup.

Tosic, who has 10 caps, is a left-back who can also operate in central defence.

His agent regards him as a top-flight player, and the suggestion is that any deal with Swansea will only run until the end of the season.

The only chance of him staying in Wales beyond May, the player's camp say, will be if Paulo Sousa's men win promotion to the Premier League.

Whatever the future holds, a short-term deal could suit both parties if the finances are right for Swansea.

Tosic, who has also been linked with Fulham, Wigan and Stoke, is hungry for a move after being told he will not be allowed to play for Portsmouth because of their financial troubles.

And the 25-year-old would bring extra quality to an injury-hit Swansea rearguard as they look to secure promotion.

Tosic began his career in his homeland with OFK Beograd before a stint in France playing for Sochaux.

He then moved on to German side Werder Bremen, but left them in January after falling out with the coach over whether he could represent Serbia in the Olympics.

As a free agent, he signed for Portsmouth outside the transfer window and, after receiving FA clearance, was an unused substitute in their FA Cup win at Southampton last month.

But the Premier League then announced that he would not be allowed to play any league matches because Pompey's crippling debts meant they were not allowed to register any players.

That left Tosic in limbo, with one authority claiming he cannot leave Portsmouth and another saying he cannot play for them.

But it now appears that Tosic will be allowed to exit Fratton Park on an emergency loan if not a free transfer.

If terms can be agreed, he could make his Swansea debut when they host Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.

SWANSEA City are in talks to sign Dusko Tosic after the Football Association indicated they will allow him to move to the Liberty.

The FA had initially said they would block any deal with Swansea because Tosic signed for Portsmouth last month.

But the Serbian international's representatives say they have now received assurances that a transfer will be ratified by the authorities.

It is now a case of Swansea thrashing out terms with Tosic, who is desperate for first-team football as he attempts to win a place in the Serbia squad for this summer's World Cup.

Tosic, who has 10 caps, is a left-back who can also operate in central defence.
His agent regards him as a top-flight player, and the suggestion is that any deal with Swansea will only run until the end of the season.

The only chance of him staying in Wales beyond May, the player's camp say, will be if Paulo Sousa's men win promotion to the Premier League.

Whatever the future holds, a short-term deal could suit both parties if the finances are right for Swansea.

Tosic, who has also been linked with Fulham, Wigan and Stoke, is hungry for a move after being told he will not be allowed to play for Portsmouth because of their financial troubles.

And the 25-year-old would bring extra quality to an injury-hit Swansea rearguard as they look to secure promotion.

Tosic began his career in his homeland with OFK Beograd before a stint in France playing for Sochaux.

He then moved on to German side Werder Bremen, but left them in January after falling out with the coach over whether he could represent Serbia in the Olympics.

As a free agent, he signed for Portsmouth outside the transfer window and, after receiving FA clearance, was an unused substitute in their FA Cup win at Southampton last month.

But the Premier League then announced that he would not be allowed to play any league matches because Pompey's crippling debts meant they were not allowed to register any players.

That left Tosic in limbo, with one authority claiming he cannot leave Portsmouth and another saying he cannot play for them.

But it now appears that Tosic will be allowed to exit Fratton Park on an emergency loan if not a free transfer.

If terms can be agreed, he could make his Swansea debut when they host Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.

Dawson could reject Premiership interest for a move to Paulo Sousa's Swansea City.

Tottenham and Fulham have had scouts watch Dawson at Spotland since the turn of the year.

However, the Daily Mail says Swansea have had a £750,000-rated offer turned down.

The youngster wants first-team football, so he is open to a move to the Swans - but the lure of the top-flight could be too much for Dawson to resist.

SWANSEA CITY’S Leon Britton insists the club’s ever-increasing list of grievances against Championship referees has cultivated a strong siege mentality at the Liberty Stadium.

And, acknowledging the need to scrap for every point available ahead of tonight’s rearranged clash with Watford, the combative midfielder knows that’s not a bad thing as Swansea push for the Holy Grail of Premiership football.

While stopping short of vice-captain Alan Tate’s claim that there is a conspiracy against the Swans, Britton has joined the chorus of disillusionment aimed in the direction of officialdom.

The list of complaints has seemingly been growing on a weekly basis and, after referee Colin Webster waved away Darren Pratley’s stonewall penalty shout during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, we seem to have found the straw that broke the camel’s back.

But, as frustrating as the constant string of refereeing errors has been, Britton is quick to point out it has brought a crucial silver lining.

“It brings us closer together,” he explained. “It kind of makes it us against them really.

“The siege mentality can help us. That’s what we talk about and the manager always tells us that we won’t get any favours from the referees.

“It is us against them and we have to make sure we look after ourselves.

“People don’t want us to do well but that brings the group together and builds the team spirit which obviously helps when you are digging in for results.

“It’s working for us at the moment. Forest was a disappointment but there is still plenty to be optimistic about.

“We are still in a very good position and this trip to Watford is a game in hand for us.

“It will be very tough but, if we can get a good result, it will put us in a strong position.”

Admitting the old adage that decisions even up over the course of a season is unlikely to come true for the Swans, Britton continued: “We are starting to wonder a bit about when we will get a refereeing decision.

“They haven’t been brilliant for us this season.

“People do say they even themselves up but we will need a lot to go our way by the end of the season for that to happen.

“I can’t remember a season like it to be honest.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a conspiracy against Swansea though.

“It’s probably that we are not the biggest club in the Championship.

“The bigger clubs in this league seem to get the decisions. It’s similar in the Premiership when, if you look at the statistics, Man United didn’t concede a penalty at home for years.

“I think the refs see us as a smaller club and maybe they side with the bigger ones.”

While most of Swansea’s complaints have focused on the fact decisions like Webster’s have cost them precious points, britton also claimed the officials’ leniency was potentially endangering both his and his teammates’ careers.

Pointing to the recent plight of Wales and Arsenal starlet Aaron Ramsey, the 27-year-old urged referees to give Swansea more protection against some of the crude, and often illegal, tactics employed by opponents.

As a holding midfielder himself, Britton accepts that tackling is a key part of football.

But, knowing sides often set out to try and bully the Swans off the ball, he believes more needs to be done when teams cross the thin line between a fair physical battle and blatant fouls.

“It’s not just the big decisions like the penalty incident on Saturday,” he said. “It’s the tackles that fly in throughout the game.

“I didn’t go to Derby but you just look at some of the challenges they put in.

“It’s not just Derby though and these teams just get away with it. The tackles just seem to go unnoticed. There have been so many bad tackles against us.

“Maybe teams think they should just get stuck into us and rough us up. But, if that happens, we need protection.

“You saw the other week with Aaron Ramsey what can happen if you don’t protect players.

“You don’t want to take tackling out of the game but serious injuries will come along if you don’t stamp out the bad challenges.”

Whether Britton’s pleas are heeded by referee, Trevor Kettle tonight, remains to be seen.

But one thing is for sure, Swansea will once again need to be up for a tough battle against the Hornets.

Admitting it may be another night when Sousa’s men have to sacrifice style for substance, Britton knows the Swans will have to grind out a result on the difficult Vicarage Road pitch.

Watford provided the setting for one of the worst performances of last season and, while keen to set the record straight, he knows winning ugly will most likely be the order of the day.

“I don’t think their pitch is brilliant,” he explained. “It wasn’t a good game last year and this will probably be the same.

“It won’t be the prettiest game of the season to watch or play in. “But you are going to get games like that and you have to scrap, be strong and dig deep for the points.

“If that means we don’t play that much football and grind out a result, then so be it.”

“Last year was awful. We were lucky to come away having just lost 2-0.

“That sticks in the mind and we just need to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself.”

Birmingham keeping tabs on AZ striker Dembele Swansea boss Paulo Sousa is moving for Bolton Wanderers defender Danny Shittu.

The powerful centre half is out of Owen Coyle's plans and can leave - with the Welsh outfit willing to pick up his big wages for the rest of the campaign, says the Mirror.

Nigerian international Shittu has turned down previous attempts to get him out of Wanderers - with Bristol City also keen. But Swans hope he realises his first-team chances are slim at the Reebok.

SWANSEA CITY goalkeeper Dorus de Vries felt Nottingham Forest’s late sucker punch summed up a controversial City Ground affair.

De Vries made a rare mistake when he was at fault for Luke Chambers’ stoppage-time winner, the big Dutchman denied a 20th Championship clean sheet of the season after badly misjudging Lewis McGugan’s corner.

“It’s just a ball that you want to get really aggressive with,” said de Vries, who got underneath McGugan’s corner on his goal-line.

“I got my fist to it but I didn’t make a proper contact and then the guy heads it in at the second post.

“You’re just real gutted because that maybe sums up the day.”

De Vries had earlier made smart saves from George Boyd and McGugan but Swansea stayed solid in withstanding Forest’s best attacking spells of a tight contest.

“They had the better chances in the first half and they could have been 1-0 up,” admitted de Vries. “But you’re still 0-0 towards the end of the game and I thought we deserved a point. To give it away like that is hard to take because all the key points have gone against us.

“The referee is a big influence in the game and he shouldn’t be that. Everybody in our dressing room is gutted by those decisions going against us.

“It is a clear penalty and if he gives it and sends the defender off then it is three points away from home.”

De Vries also insisted Dexter Blackstock was “two yards offside”' in the move which led to the decisive Forest corner.

“He might not have touched it but he was interfering with play,”' he said.

“The linesman doesn’t see it, the referee doesn’t react to it – and again it’s a costly mistake.

“But then the referee gave them so many soft fouls which were lot a lighter than the penalty.

“There were a few times when the centre-half was hanging around Shefki on his neck and pulling him down, but we didn’t get the decision.”

CONSPIRACY theories are growing at such an alarming rate at Swansea City that you half-expect to see Paulo Sousa’s men encounter a lone gunman on a grassy knoll somewhere.

Far-fetched maybe. But there is no disputing the growing sense of injustice Swansea feel at the refereeing decisions they fear could yet derail their play-off bandwagon.

John Toshack might have added to Sousa’s persecution complex in midweek when the Wales manager’s decision to give Ashley Williams the full 90 minutes in the Sweden friendly sparked a club versus country spat.

But referees remain Sousa’s biggest bugbear and the Portuguese’s consistent complaint that Swansea do not get the same treatment as others was on fertile ground here.

Sousa’s Latin blood was in danger of boiling over in the 73rd minute as referee Colin Webster somehow missed Chris Cohen’s clear contact on Darren Pratley, the Swansea midfielder so close to goal he might have been blown over again by the sharp intake of breath from the Forest faithful in the Trent End.

But Webster waved away Swansea’s furious protests and, to compound matters and Swansea’s fury, ignored Dexter Blackstock lurking in an offside position in the move leading to a decisive last-gasp corner.

But does something sinister lurk beneath Swansea’s bad luck? Sousa clearly thinks so – and now he has a willing convert in stand-in skipper Alan Tate after the Swans’ first defeat in 13 games.

“You can excuse one or two, but I can give you plenty,” said Tate, who was excellent again in stifling a Forest attack deprived of their injured Wales striker Robert Earnshaw.

“We didn’t get clear penalties against Doncaster or Blackpool, while Dorus (de Vries) has saved a penalty at Plymouth and the ref has said, ‘Go on, have another go.’

“At Reading, I’ve got the ball and the ref’s said, ‘Go on, have a free-kick.’ That’s just the ones I can think about off the top of my head.

“It is starting to look like a conspiracy and the FA need to look at it. It’s just ridiculous that referees are getting so many decisions wrong.

“That penalty decision could cost us £60m as a club and something needs to be done about it.”

According to shell-shocked Swansea players, Webster claimed he hadn’t seen the incident after substitute Cedric van der Gun had split the Forest defence with the best pass of a cagey contest.

Pratley might have got his shot away, but there was no denying Cohen went into the back of the Swansea midfielder coveted by Forest in the January transfer window.

But, just like Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic at Wembley when Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor was upended, Cohen did not receive so much as a yellow card.

Unlike the Carling Cup final though, Swansea did not profit from a penalty award.

“It’s embarrassing, I’ve seen it again twice,” said Pratley. “I’m five yards out from goal and why don’t I shoot if I’m not being brought down?

“Their player has come up to me after and said, ‘How’s he not given a pen?’ The player himself said it was a blatant penalty.

“I asked the referee, ‘Why isn’t that a pen? Why wouldn’t I shoot?’ He just said, ‘You tell me.’ And that he didn’t see it.

“But if you look at the replay the referee goes to blow his whistle and then he pulls it away.

“It’s a decision that’s cost us three points because you hopefully score the penalty and are 1-0 up playing against 10 men.

“I know it’s easy for players to say referees cost them games and sometimes when you see players moaning it’s often an excuse.

“But when it’s as blatant as that then there really is no excuse. It’s a massive decision and it could be the difference between us going to the Premiership or not.”

Forest boss Billy Davies – the only manager to inflict a season’s double on Swansea – predictably said these things balance out and that “we have had decisions go against us in a lot of games”.

But Davies was entitled to smile with Forest back in the top two. He had kept his bench well-stocked with strikers in opting to match Swansea’s 4-3-3 formation, a system the Scot rarely favours at home.

There were signs it was working in the first half when the on-loan George Boyd twice nearly marked his debut with a goal, his second effort forcing de Vries into an excellent save with his legs.

The unattended Cohen also fired over and Swansea had the odd scare when their former winger Paul Anderson troubled Ashley Richards with his pace.

But Swansea had arguably the best chance of the first period when Shefki Kuqi pounced on Wes Morgan’s mistake, but couldn’t find enough elevation on his chip to beat Lee Camp in the Forest goal.

There was almost too much riding on the outcome to make it a classic and, as Forest lost their early second-half momentum, there seemed little hope of a breakthrough from either side.

Then came the penalty rumpus and one final Forest attack when Chris Gunter’s pass was helped on by David McGoldrick into an area where Blackstock was waiting and in the confusion Chambers netted the winner.

Alan Tate furious as Swansea are denied by Nottingham Forest

It is unlikely that Alan Tate owns a white Fiat Uno or cites UFO spotting in the skies above the Mumbles as one of his pastimes but perhaps the Swansea City defender favours a grassy knoll on the Gower Peninsula as a cherished venue for contemplation.

Tate is beginning to think there is a conspiracy to hinder his team’s promotion effort and restore the Welsh club to the highest level they last fleetingly embraced nearly 30 years ago.

A distinct feeling of injustice lingered in the visiting ranks when Darren Pratley fell inside the 18-yard area after substitute Cedric van der Gun’s pass had released him in the 73rd minute.

Sport on television Passengers atop the Nottingham Eye, the 200ft high ferris wheel enjoying its annual visit to the Old Market Square two miles north of the City Ground, would have noticed Nottingham Forest defender Chris Cohen bundling over the Swansea midfield player but referee Colin Webster failed to spot the offence that merited a penalty and a red card for its perpetrator.

“I don’t know how he can get it wrong,” said Tate. “Out there on the pitch, he said he didn’t see it. If he hasn’t seen the lad clattering Darren down then I don’t know what he’s watching to be honest.

“We’ve been going on about it all year, you don’t want to say there’s a conspiracy but that’s how things seem at the moment. It could be a £60 million decision if we don’t get promoted.”

A Luke Chambers header in stoppage time from a dubious corner compounded Swansea woe but secured a 10th successive home victory for Forest and second position, eight points ahead of the vanquished.

Billy Davies’s team should have been ahead when Cohen’s errant far post volley squandered Paul Anderson’s fine creation and George Boyd was denied a debut goal by the legs of Dorus de Vries, the goalkeeper later culpable for the winner.

For all their gripes, Swansea rarely mustered a shot on goal...rather like conspiracy theories, lacking in substance

PAULO SOUSA thinks refereeing mistakes could cost Swansea City promotion, after being on the wrong end of a howler at the City Ground.

Sousa believes several decisions have hurt his team this year – Colin Webster’s refusal to punish Chris Cohen for his shove on Darren Pratley the latest.

And Sousa reckons refs have stopped Swansea surging towards the top of the Championship.

Swansea stay fourth after the defeat – while Forest moved into the automatic spots courtesy of Luke Chambers’ goal.

But a clearly fed-up Sousa said: “It is human for these mistakes to happen – but it is too often with us.

“All I can hope is that somebody can explain it because it is very difficult to understand. This is not once or twice – this is week by week.

“And once more a wrong decision has cost us points. And when you look at the points, it is a lot. I think if not for the mistakes we would have been coming close to the top of the table.

“I don’t want decisions to be for us, I want them to be right. If that had happened we would be close to the top.

“It could cost us promotion but we will still follow our way. And I am not worried because we have a great team. We have worked for our dream from the beginning and we will keep doing that.”

Sousa insisted Dexter Blackstock was ‘completely offside’ moments before Lewis McGugan’s corner set up Chambers for the injury-time winner that handed Forest a second win over Swansea this year.

But his real frustration was with the foul on Pratley that should have warranted a spot kick and a red card with just 17 minutes to go.

“I think everybody saw it,” said Sousa. “The whole stadium was in shock by the decisions, especially the first one. But what can we do?

“I didn’t need to speak to the referee, He knows what he has done. We have to stand up and be proud because we deserve much more than this.

“My lads are honest lads, they have worked very hard to get our rewards and we deserved them. But decisions have gone against us. We are a team who will continue to look to win games.”

Forest boss Billy Davies admitted he felt for Sousa over the Pratley penalty claim – but insisted his promotion-chasing Forest still deserved their victory.

“Paulo is not happy and neither would I be,” said Davies. “But what goes around comes around. We’ve had stonewall decisions go against us. It wasn’t a turning point and we had chances to be in front before that. But, as an opposition manager, I would have been disappointed.”

While the old adage that there is no place like home certainly applies to Nottingham Forest the East Midlands club may also reflect that charity also begins at that same location after seeing off one of their closest promotion rivals at the City Ground.

During their previous five away games, Forest have amassed as many points as they have goals - precisely zero - but their fine form in their own backyard continued with this tenth successive league win on the south bank of the River Trent.

Sport on television A goalkeeping clanger by Swansea's Dorus de Vries in the first minute of time added presented the victory to Forest that hoisted them back in to the automatic promotion places behind Newcastle United, now seemingly the champions elect.

But a glaring error of equal magnitude by referee Colin Webster was also pivotal in Swansea's first defeat in 13 matches, their last reverse also being inflicted by Forest at the Liberty Stadium last December.

Darren Pratley, released by substitute Cedric van der Gun's pass, was poised to secure a 73rd minute lead for the visitors when full back Chris Cohen tugged the midfield player to the floor, a tackle that would have merited a red card had the match officials spotted the incident.

Their failure to punish Cohen was compounded when Forest were awarded a disputed corner, Swansea claiming offside against Dexter Blackstock, which Lewis McGugan floated into the six yard area in the 92nd minute.

De Vries misjudged its flight badly and as it sailed over his groping hands, centre half Luke Chambers, only starting because of injury to Kelvin Wilson, headed the winner which appeared to stun the scorer as much as Swansea and Paulo Sousa.

"Week by week, not just once, we are on the wrong end of decisions," said Swansea's Portuguese manager. "I hope somebody can explain it because it's difficult to understand. The whole ground was shocked, everybody saw it. These mistakes have cost us a lot of points when we could be in the automatic promotion places."

Forest manager Billy Davies agreed that Sousa had every right to be unhappy with the officials but by then his team should have been ahead.

George Boyd was denied a goal on his debut when De Vries's legs blocked his right foot effort but later in the first half, Cohen was profligate when he volleyed high and wide after Paul Anderson's clever turn and centre had invited a more composed close range finish at the far post.

Stuck in the middle: Dusko Tosic

Portsmouth's Dusko Tosic is in limbo after a proposed move to Swansea was blocked by the FA.

The Serbia defender was signed outside the January window as a free agent to play in the FA Cup against Southampton, but the Premier League decreed that Portsmouth could not register any more players due to their financial situation - so withheld his registration to play in league games.

The FA say he cannot now sign for Swansea because, due to the FA Cup game, he is registered as a Portsmouth player.

The player's agent is considering the next step, which may be legal action.

A source said: 'They are messing with a player's life here.'

CHECKING the papers before training yesterday, Swansea City's players were all having a dig at Darren Pratley.

Privately they might agree with Alan Tate's claim, made in these pages, that Pratley is their most influential player.

But footballers do not spend much of their time patting one another on the back.

"Tatey's never said anything like that to me," Pratley says through a grin.
"But then I don't think we talk to each other like that. We don't tend to go around praising our team-mates."

Instead banter reigns, hence the suggestion from most inside Paulo Sousa's squad that Tate does not know what he is talking about.

Swansea's vice-captain compared Pratley to Darren Fletcher, arguing that he brings to Swansea what Scotland's skipper offers Manchester United.

Similar

"He is a good player at one of the best clubs in the world, so to be mentioned with him can only be a good thing," Pratley says.

Pratley and Fletcher are not only similar types, they are also alike in that both are now firm favourites with fans having had some trickier times in the past.

United's followers wanted Fletcher moved on for many a year, but today he is one of their top men after a couple of fine seasons.

Swansea's supporters never went as far as wanting Pratley to go, but there was a time when sections of the Liberty would get on his back.

"I remember that," says the former Fulham youngster, who joined Kenny Jackett's Swansea in a £100,000 deal back in 2006.

"I used to get a few boos from some of the fans, but you just have to be strong and get through that. Not everyone is going to like you."

Maybe they didn't back then, but there cannot be many Swans followers who do not appreciate the role Pratley plays now. And the irony, in Pratley's eyes, is that nothing has really changed.

"I think we used to keep the ball and sometimes we'd go sideways more than forward," he says. "I think I used to get booed for that, but the strange thing is that we do that all the time now.

"When I first came to the club we were a little bit more direct. We had the four best strikers in our division in Lee Trundle, Leon Knight, Bayo Akinfenwa and Rory Fallon, and people wanted to see goals from them all the time.

"If we kept the ball, sometimes it was a big problem. But now we keep the ball for 95 per cent of the game and sometimes people complain that we don't score enough.

"Personally, I think the style suits me better now.

"The more we keep the ball the better, because there is nothing harder than having to chase it around."

Not that legs have ever been a problem for Pratley who, according to the stats, covers the most ground when Swansea play.

The 24-year-old's extraordinary stamina makes him a crucial component for Paulo Sousa's Swansea.

According to Newcastle boss Chris Hughton, in fact, it is Pratley's thirst for work which makes Swansea's system function.

Durability is something the Londoner has been blessed with all along, and he believes the addition of more goals to his game has been key to his progress this term.

"I would probably say this is the best form I've ever been in," Pratley nods.
"I think I am playing in a better team than ever, which is important. If your team are doing well, you tend to get noticed.

"The same is true of scoring goals. I have always worked hard, but I've scored a few more this season and I think that's been the big difference really."

Pratley looks a little embarrassed about all the praise coming his way, and argues that Tate is just as important to the Swansea cause as he is.

Both players should be involved at Nottingham Forest tomorrow despite injury scares this week, and Pratley's presence is a real bonus given the problems elsewhere in the Swansea midfield.

"My knee is bruised and my calf is sore, but I'm relieved it's nothing serious because you don't want to miss any games, especially when you are challenging for the play-offs," he adds.

"I feel sorry for Ferrie (Bodde), who has got a much more serious problem and will be a big miss for us.

"But we can't be moaning about the injuries because we've got a big game this weekend against a really good Forest side."

A side Pratley might have been part of had Huw Jenkins not said no when Billy Davies came calling with a bid worth around £2 million during the transfer window.

As Swansea have seen in recent times, interest from other clubs can get into players' minds.

But you get the impression that Pratley is not too concerned about what went on.

"It's nice to be recognised by a big club like Forest, but I'm a Swansea City player," he says.

"The bid was rejected and that was that. Swansea gave me my chance, they bought me from Fulham reserves and they have been good to me, so I was never going to throw my toys out of the pram.

"I'm happy in Swansea and I've got 15 months on my contract."

That sounds like a hint that Pratley might be interested in signing an extension.

Given his contribution this season, Swansea should open talks.

Midfielder never considered Forest switch
By Chris Galea Last updated: 5th March 2010

Swansea City midfielder Darren Pratley insists he is more than happy to stay with the Welsh outfit, after a bid from Nottingham Forest was rejected in January.

The former Fulham youngster has helped engineer a promotion push for Paulo Sousa's side this season, which alerted the attention of fellow promotion rivals Forest - who they meet at the City Ground on Saturday.

However, the 24-year-old insists he did not even consider joining Billy Davies' outfit once their interest became apparent.

"All I heard was that there was a bid received from Nottingham Forest and that it was quickly rejected, which I was fine about," Pratley told skysports.com.

"It was flattering to hear that they were looking at me, but I am contracted to Swansea and I'm more than happy to stay and help this club to gain promotion this season.

Content
"Both could go up and both could stay in this division, but to be honest I didn't really get a great amount of time to think about it because as soon as Swansea rejected the offer that was the end of it.

"I wasn't going to go in and start throwing my toys saying that I didn't want to stay, because that wasn't the case."

Forest are nicely placed for an automatic promotion battle entering the final furlongs of the season, but Pratley believes that the Swans, who are only seven points off the top two themselves, can still make a late bid to join them.

He added: "There are a lot of points left to play for, with around 40 up for grabs, so everything is still to play for, but we want to cement our place in the play-offs first before looking at the automatic promotion places.

"We still have to face the second and third-placed sides, West Brom and Nottingham Forest, so if we carry on winning and take points off them, anything is possible."

NOTTINGHAM Forest striker Robert Earnshaw believes Swansea are major contenders for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Swansea travel to the City Ground tomorrow looking to close the gap on third-placed Forest — who have played a game more — to just two points.

West Brom are currently second with seven more points than Paulo Sousa's side.
But Swansea have emerged as dark horses to finish as runners-up behind Newcastle after a 12-game unbeaten run.

And Earnshaw admits he sees Swansea as a real threat to Forest's hopes of a return to the top flight.

"Someone asked me recently if it's two out of the top three going up and I said 'No'," he revealed.

"It looks like that, but there's always someone who has a little run in the last 12 weeks or so of the season.

"You've always got to watch out for the fourth team because there's always someone quietly ticking away and maybe Swansea are that team.

"But we're looking to stop that. We've been in very, very good form throughout the season and we want second spot ourselves."

Forest have struggled away from home recently but have won nine on the bounce in the league on their own patch.

Highly-rated winger George Boyd has joined the club on loan from Peterborough and is expected to complete a big-money permanent switch this summer.

Earnshaw, who came off the bench in Wales's friendly defeat to Sweden in midweek, has revealed his admiration for Swansea.

"Over the last three years or so there's been big, big progress at Swansea," said the former Cardiff man.

"They play good football. They pass the ball well and everyone enjoys that when they're not playing against them.

"Tomorrow is a massive game and we're looking forward to it. They're a tough team to beat and it will be a challenge."

Earnshaw is sure to come under fire from the large travelling support following his spell at Ninian Park.

And Wales colleague Ashley Williams has also been threatening to give the forward a hard time.

"I'm used to the stick, what with Cardiff, Swansea and everything," he said. "The Swansea fans are brilliant. They were watching on Wednesday and I did get some cheers. It's all good, I know it's just banter.

"Ashley's been messing around, saying that he's going to kick me. He'll be looking forward to the game as well as me.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST defender Chris Gunter insists he for one is not surprised by Swansea City’s excellent Championship campaign.

The two sides face off at the City Ground tomorrow in the second tier’s big clash of the weekend with Forest lying third and the Swans just one place behind.

Welsh international Gunter, who was at the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday for the Dragons defeat to Sweden, is expecting a tough game, but a free-flowing footballing encounter between two sides who are noted for the way they try to play the game.

And, as a former Cardiff City player, 20-year-old Gunter (below) is expecting a rough ride from the Swans’ travelling support, who will also have revenge on their minds after Forest won 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium back in December.

“It will be a tough game. They are just the one place below us, so it’s a big game for both sides,” said Gunter.

“I think it will be a really good footballing game too. We are on a really good run at the moment and we are the kind of side who like to pass the ball around a bit, and so do Swansea too. I’m looking forward to it.

“We won at Swansea earlier in the season and I did have a few texts from my Cardiff friends telling we well done.

“As an ex-Cardiff player, I will probably get a few boos, but you just get on with it. It’s at our place, though, so it will be mainly support.

“Swansea had a really good season last season after they came up and they have really just carried that on.

“They had a few changes over the summer and, fair play to them, they have just kept their progress going.

“People talk about them as a bit of a surprise package in the Championship this season, but for me they have got some really good players. I know a few of them. They are no surprise to me.”

One player Gunter is very familiar with is fellow Welsh international and Swans defender Ashley Williams who he played alongside in the Sweden defeat in midweek.

But Gunter admits friendships will have to be put on the back-burner as each side go in search of a vital three points.

“Basically there are no friends when you are out on the pitch because you need the three points too much,” said Gunter.

“You want the win a lot more than having a nice chat during the game. I’m hoping I’m going to be the happier of the pair of us come the end of the game.”

Forest are unbeaten in the league at the City Ground since Blackpool won 1-0 there way back in September and under boss Billy Davies they also embarked on a mammoth 19-match unbeaten run away from home.

But that has come off the rails recently and they go into tomorrow’s game off the back of a 3-0 reverse at Leicester.

And, with Forest looking to get back into the automatic promotion places, Gunter believes promotion is still very much up for grabs for a host of sides.

“It’s still a very open race up there. Newcastle are doing well and have a lot of experience,” said Gunter.

“But we have been on such a good run at home and we need to keep that going.

“We went unbeaten away too for a long time and now that has been taken away from us. We need to focus on getting back to the way we were away from home before.

“But, while there’s a game there to be played and points to be won, we are going to keep going for it.

“I’m sure it’s the same for everyone up there, the likes of Leicester and Cardiff. Everyone wants the points for different reasons.”

With Swansea and arch-rivals Cardiff both in the play-off places, Gunter believes if either could make it to the Premiership it would be a big boost for Welsh football in general.

It is something Newport-born Gunter would like to see happen as long as Forest join them in the top flight too of course.

“It would be great to get a Welsh team in the Premiership as long as it’s not at the expense of Forest of course,” added Gunter.

“It would be brilliant. It’s good there are two Welsh teams in the play-of positions.

“It would be good if you look down at the youth development at the clubs. It would raise the standards and that could only be good for Welsh football.”

FOREST (possible): Camp, Gunter, Morgan, Wilson, Cohen, Anderson, McKenna, Moussi, Boyd, Earnshaw, Blackstock. Subs (from): Smith, Chambers, Perch, Majewski, McGoldrick, McGugan, McCleary, Adebola, Garner, Tyson.

SWANSEA (probable): De Vries, Rangel, Tate, Williams, Richards, Britton, Gower, Pratley, Dyer, Kuqi, Butler. Subs: Cornell, Walsh, Van der Gun, Trundle, Beattie, Idrizaj, Collins.

TEAM NEWS: It is two very different stories as a virtually fully fit Forest side come up against a Swansea squad decimated by injury.

Julian Bennett and Joel Lynch will be the only players missing for the Reds, although both came through a reserve friendly in midweek.

While Garath McCleary returns from suspension and is likely to be included on the bench.

Swansea, on the other hand, have serious problems in defence and midfield.
Forest transfer target Darren Pratley is battling a knee injury but should recover to take his place in midfield.

Captain Gary Monk will have a late fitness test on a calf strain, but is considered a significant doubt.

While a further seven senior Swans players are injured and Gorka Pintado is suspended.

KEY MAN: Darren Pratley.

The midfielder is the driving force that Billy Davies wanted to add to his own squad in January, with Forest having made a failed seven-figure bid for him.
Is fighting a knee problem but is desperately required to bolster an injury ravaged side.

DANGER MAN: Shefki Kuqi.

The powerfully built striker was added to the Swansea squad in January and has already provided a couple of vital goals.

Yeovil Town manager Terry Skiverton has said that the club are not thinking beyond the end of this season when it comes to loan midfielder Shaun MacDonald. The Swansea City midfielder this week said that he was fed up with living out of a suitcase, prompting suggestions that he could well leave his home town club in the summer, in search of a permanent contract with a club more likely to offer him first team football.

Of course, the Glovers would jump at the chance to sign the Welsh Under 21 international if they got the chance, but Skiverton has said that for the moment, all he is concentrating on is Shaun's loan spell at Huish Park and maintaining the club's relationship with Swansea City:

"We've got ongoing dialogue with Swansea. They've been absolutely brilliant with us, letting Shaun (MacDonald) come on a Standard Loan. Even if they needed Shaun, they can't use him now. He's with us until the end of the season, and then he'll be going back and having talks with Swansea."

Skiverton added that come the summer, when MacDonald is out of contract, that he would have a lot of big decisions to make, but that those decisions were his and his alone:

"We'd love to keep Shaun, but with the way that he is playing and the way that he is progressing, there are going to be a lot of decisions that are going to fall on him. With what's happening at Swansea, I don't want to get involved in that, because he's a Swansea City player, they've been kind enough to loan him out to us, and what will be, will be in the future. First and foremost, he's only on loan, and we're not looking past the end of the season or trying to get into anyone's head. It's going to have to be Shaun's decision."

Chief Executive Martyn Starnes told the Western Gazette that he was of the same mind, pointing out that the management team were already planning for next season, but that there would be no early move for MacDonald whilst he was a Swansea player:

"Terry Skiverton and Nathan Jones are already looking at their options and compiling lists of targets. Shaun has been a great performer for us this season, but we have got to understand that it is not just in our hands. He is still a Swansea City player."

SWANSEA CITY manager Paulo Sousa has revealed he might not sign Welsh players again after launching an extraordinary attack on national team boss John Toshack.

Sousa was furious that Swansea’s Ashley Williams played the full 90 minutes of Wales’ 1-0 defeat to Sweden on Wednesday night – one of only five players to do so.

Williams missed Wales’ training session on Monday with a dead leg and it is understood that Swansea were unhappy with the versatile 26-year-old’s participation in the Liberty Stadium friendly.

And, to make matters worse, winger David Cotterill – a second-half Wales substitute – picked up a hamstring injury against Sweden and is likely to be on the sidelines for the next few weeks.

Toshack admitted after the defeat that “managers had been on the phone” to inquire what game-time their players would get on Wednesday ahead of the busy weekend club programme.

But Sousa – who has helped to revitalise Cotterill’s career since the Welshman’s switch from Sheffield United earlier this season – stormed: “We feel we don’t have the same treatment as the other clubs.

“It makes me think in the future should I get more Welsh players.

“Of course, if you remember in the beginning when I came to Swansea I said would like to sign Welsh players.

“But not now. It’s something we need to think about in the future.”

The dependable Williams has made 38 appearances for club and country this term and will be a pivotal figure for Swansea’s final push in the Championship promotion race.

Asked whether he had tried to contact Wales over Williams’ situation, Sousa replied: “I didn’t ask John Toshack.

“I don’t know why John Toshack doesn’t have a (mobile) phone. I don’t speak with him.

“You can just analyse and reflect on what I said before.

“I know from the beginning that this club does not have the same treatment as other clubs.”

Aside from Williams and Cotterill, Sousa has plenty of other young Welsh talent at his disposal with Joe Allen, Jazz Richards and goalkeeper David Cornell all regular members of his matchday squad.

But, alluding to Cardiff manager Dave Jones’ own previous difficulties with Toshack, the Portuguese suggested that he would be looking outside Wales to strengthen his squad in the future.

“Dave Jones said some things about Wales and I don’t want to say the same things because we are different people,” said Sousa.

“But we will think about the situation – and that is not to have Welsh players.”

As the dust settles on the Wales friendly fall-out, Sousa has turned his attention to tomorrow’s top-of-the-table humdinger at Nottingham Forest.

The game pits third against fourth and Swansea know that victory at the City Ground would take them to within two points of Forest with a game in hand.

Swansea are the only unbeaten side in the Championship in 2010 and have the longest unblemished run in the division – stretching back 12 games to when Forest won 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium in December.

But Sousa said: “We came stronger than them in that game. They scored a goal from a set-play, but we created much better opportunities than them.

“It’s a team very aggressive and organised. It was difficult to win when we conceded because they closed all the space down well with a lot of aggression.

“They are strong in counter-attacks and a team prepared to go forward, one of the stronger sides in the Championship.

“But they can lose too and, though they are stronger financially than us, we can compete with them in our game, our strategies and with the quality of our football.”

Relishing such a vital contest, Sousa added: “This is a match we like to have all the time.

“It’s an environment we want to be in more often. We believe we can catch Nottingham and I think our fans are believing we can do that too.

“This game can affect things, but mentally we have become stronger with all these demands over the last few weeks.

“We can also give them a big negative impact for the rest of the season by winning at Nottingham.”

Ironically, like Toshack, Sousa could utilise Williams further forward in a holding role in front of the back four if skipper Garry Monk is fit and his midfield problems do not ease.

Allen, Ferrie Bodde, Andrea Orlandi and Jordi Lopez are all missing from the central midfield area, but Sousa is hopeful that Darren Pratley will play after suffering a knee injury in the 1-0 victory over Peterborough last weekend.

Mark Gower will also come into contention for a central midfield spot with Tom Butler the most likely to fill Cotterill’s berth out wide.

But Sousa admits he is still on the look-out to strengthen his depleted resources with so many games coming up in the next month.

“We are looking for loan players, but we are still waiting,” he said.

“We need to do this because it’s vital for us to keep on fighting.

“We have been looking for loan players for two weeks now and I’m hopeful that players will arrive.

“But we won’t become desperate because the injuries do not affect our spirit and our family.”

SWANSEA City tackle Nottingham Forest this weekend knowing victory would put them within sight of automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Nothing will be decided on Saturday, of course, for there is still some way to go in the race to climb out of the Championship.

But the fact is that Swansea, as the form side of the division at this critical stage of the season, have given themselves a chance of finishing in the top two.

Remarkable

That is a remarkable achievement given that the campaign started with Swansea aiming primarily to stay up.

Paulo Sousa's pre-season suggestion that the top 10 was the target looked a little ambitious back then, yet now Swansea know that a spectacular end to their year will have spectacular consequences.

What exactly is needed?

The lowest points tally required to finish in the second tier's top two over the last 10 years was 76 in 2007-8.

The highest was 88, in 1999-2000 and again the following season.
The average for the decade is 83.4 points.

Swansea currently have 56 on the board from their 33 games, so an improvement in form is required if they are to match that total, which of course is only a guide anyway.

Around 27 points from 13 games looks a tall order, but a victory at Forest would add weight to the argument that Swansea's excellent season could come to an extraordinary climax.

"Anything is possible over the next couple of months," reckons chairman Huw Jenkins.

"We have got no idea how Nottingham Forest and West Brom are going to perform in that period, you just can't tell.

Tricky

"But we just have to try to stay on the same path that we have been on. If we do that, who knows what might happen?"

A win at the City Ground, where Forest have been fairly formidable this season, would put Swansea just two points behind Billy Davies's third-placed team with a game in hand.

Second-placed West Brom, who still have to visit the Liberty this season, are currently a couple of points better off than Forest, although they face a tricky weekend trip to Queens Park Rangers, where Neil Warnock will be keen to make a mark in his first game at the helm.

Newcastle, meantime, are six better off than the Baggies and, according to Jenkins, can already look forward to a return to the top flight.

"Newcastle look like a team who capable of winning or drawing games without even playing really well," he adds.

"To me it looks as though nobody will catch them, but among the next three in the table everyone has a chance.

"As we saw in the Championship last season, nobody can really predict what is going to happen in the last few games of the season."

That may be a reference to Cardiff, whose disastrous finish 12 months ago saw them slip out of the play-off places on the final day.

Whether the top two is within reach or not, Swansea's primary target must be to ensure they don't suffer a similar fate in 2010.

And key to any success they might enjoy will be the next 23 days, when Swansea must play seven of their remaining fixtures with a squad that has been badly disrupted by injuries in the past few weeks.

"Our task has not been made any easier by the injuries, particularly when you look at the run of games we have coming up," says Jenkins.

"I don't think anybody should lose sight of how difficult things are going to be with the players we have out.

"I am under no illusions — this month is going to be a lot harder than last month and it's going to be a massive challenge just to stay where we are."
In truth, if Swansea manage that, all at the Liberty would be quite happy.

But, as Sousa would say, it's good to have a dream.

Swansea are making a £750,000 bid to sign high-flying Rochdale’s top-rated young centre half Craig Dawson.

The 19-year-old prospect is already a key part of Keith Hill’s League Two-topping side but he could be whisked away by Paulo Sousa’s club in the next few days.

Sousa wants to take Dawson on loan with a permanent deal at the end of the season and is close to agreement for the defender who has also attracted Premier League interest.

SHAUN MacDonald has hinted his future may lie away from Swansea City.

The midfielder, out of contract in the summer, is yet to speak to Swansea boss Paulo Sousa about a new deal.

And having impressed while on loan at Yeovil Town this season, the 21-year-old is starting to weigh up his options.

MacDonald has featured just three times for Swansea during the current campaign, with Sousa utilising him during the start of his reign.

But tough competition in midfield saw MacDonald head back to the club he played four games for last term.


"Swansea is my home club, but it's difficult to say I definitely want to stay when I don't know what the club is thinking," said MacDonald, who scored Yeovil's winner against MK Dons last weekend.

"I know the gaffer is busy concentrating on the squad he has and pushing for promotion, but you can't help feel that you are not in future plans if it's March and you still don't know where you stand.

"Hopefully, Swansea will let me know soon. Even then, I need to play first-team football and the deal needs to be right.

"I don't want to sign a deal that simply sends me back out on loan again, I want to feel part of someone's immediate and long-term plans so I can settle down.

"It is hard living out of a suitcase, and if I settle down, my football will get even better."

MacDonald also refused to rule out a permanent move to the Glovers, who are mid-table in League One.

"I love the town, the club and the supporters. The manager (Terry Skiverton) is great too," he added.

"I know I am ready to play in the Championship but sometimes you have to be patient.

"That said, the sooner I play regularly in the Championship, the sooner I will be able to determine if I can make the step up to the Premier League."

Swansea City boss Paulo Sousa has been nominated for February's Championship manager of the month award.

The fourth-place Swans won four and drew twice during the month and are the only unbeaten side in 2010.

Sousa is up against Coventry's Chris Coleman, Leicester's Nigel Pearson and Reading boss Brian McDermott.

Swansea keeper Dorus de Vries is up for the player award against strikers Paul Gallagher (Leicester), Simon Church (Reading) and Andy Carroll (Newcastle).

The awards will be announced on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Swansea have been given a full allocation of 1,963 tickets for the south Wales derby with Cardiff on Saturday, 3 April (1720 BST), which are now on sale.

SWANSEA City are on the trail of two midfielders — but Huw Jenkins admits landing them is proving hard work.

Boss Paulo Sousa is keen to reinforce his injury-hit squad as they prepare for a crucial run of seven fixtures in 21 days.

The Evening Post understands that Swansea have made inquiries about Crystal Palace's Neil Danns, Stephen Quinn of Sheffield United and Peterborough man Lee Frecklington.

But Jenkins, who has revealed that Swansea are also eyeing potential targets in the Premier League, says doing any deals at this stage of the season will prove difficult.

"It would certainly help if we could get one or two players when you consider the number of games we have coming up in March," the Swansea chairman said.

"We have got players who are due back soon, but we need some cover in case they are delayed by a week or two.

"The problem is that it's not easy.

"As I have said to Paulo, I have been doing this for around eight years now and it's hard when you have got everybody trying to get the right player.

"Midfield is the priority for us and it could be that we get a couple of players in just to get us through this month."

Jenkins would not talk names, but Danns is believed to be a leading target.

The 27-year-old could be prised out of Palace because of the London club's financial problems, although there is speculation that Neil Warnock will go back to Selhurst Park for Danns after quitting for Queens Park Rangers this week.

The suggestion in South Yorkshire is that the Blades will not want to lose Quinn because they are short of bodies themselves, but Peterborough may be willing to do business if they can replace Frecklington.

But Swansea's chances of getting him were hit yesterday when Tottenham recalled another midfielder, Jake Livermore, from his loan spell with the Posh.

"There are very few Championship clubs who are just going to hand players over to you," Jenkins added.

"We are searching the Premier League as well to see who is available.

"The problem is that clubs have injuries, or there are players who have not played a lot, so it is hard to find someone who will make the right impact for us."

Another complication for Swansea is that they expect to have players coming back from injury over the course of March.

"Darren Pratley's knee isn't that bad, then we have Andrea Orlandi, Joe Allen and Fede Bessone who should be back in the next few weeks," Jenkins said.

"It's difficult to bring players in when you know that within a few games we are going to be back with more or less the team which played against Derby a couple of weeks back.

"Some players will only come if they are guaranteed to play, and some managers will only let them come if they are guaranteed to play, so it's not easy."

HUW Jenkins insists there is no reason why Ferrie Bodde cannot return to his best despite his latest injury hammer blow.

Bodde is facing up to anything between six months and a year out of action after snapping his cruciate ligament for the second time.

The desperate news means Bodde will have made only two starts in around two years when his next comeback attempt comes round.

But Swansea City are doing their best to remain upbeat about the prospects of the talented playmaker.

Bodde's latest setback has led to inevitable speculation about whether he will ever overcome the problem which first struck him down in November 2008.

But while Jenkins concedes there can be no guarantees, he is remaining optimistic.

"In this day and age, there are a lot of players suffering this type of injury and they are coming back from it," the Swansea chairman said.

"We have examples in our own squad in Marcos Painter and Garry Monk.

"They made full recoveries and they've carried on with their careers, and there's nothing to say that Ferrie cannot do the same.

"Obviously he has suffered another setback and we are all disappointed.

"It means another spell out for him and a lot of time lost, which is a frustration for everyone.

"But we just hope that he gets some good advice back in Holland, gets the operation done as quickly as possible and begins working towards a comeback."

Bodde flew back to his homeland yesterday after rupturing his cruciate in last weekend's 1-0 win over Peterborough.

It was the former Den Haag man's first start in five months, but he broke down after less than half an hour.

Jenkins, though, has echoed Paulo Sousa by insisting Bodde did not return to action too soon.

"We went along with the surgeon in Holland's opinion and everybody was comfortable with that," he added. "The most important thing was that Ferrie felt comfortable, which he did, and it's just disappointing that he needs another operation.

"It puts us another six months down the line, but we have to be positive and get on with things.

"We wish Ferrie all the best and we will see where we are in a few months' time."

Missing

Joe Allen, Andrea Orlandi and Jordi Lopez are also missing from Swansea's midfield at present, although there is an outside chance that Darren Pratley could feature at Nottingham Forest on Saturday despite the fact that he limped off with a knee problem against the Posh.

Alan Tate has an ankle ligament injury, but he is likely to tell Sousa he can play if needed.

The ideal scenario is that Garry Monk overcomes a calf problem in time for the City Ground trip, which would allow Tate to rest.

DAVID Cotterill believes his move to Swansea City may have saved his Wales career.

The winger reckons he is starting to fulfil his potential following his £600,000 switch from Sheffield United.

And after impressing Paulo Sousa, Cotterill hopes to show John Toshack what he can do in Wales's friendly with Sweden at the Liberty tonight (7.45).

Cotterill was frozen out of the Wales set-up for a spell following criticism of Toshack's selection three years ago.

But the former Wigan man hopes his four goals in 12 Swansea games will see him play some part this evening.

"I've been doing well in recent games for Swansea and, if I can continue that, I hope to get a sniff of a chance with Wales," said Cotterill.

"The gaffer (Sousa) has given me a lot of confidence and I like the way we play at Swansea.

"Playing here has helped me push for a cause for a place in the Wales team. I was starting to be left in the cold at Sheffield United — I was on the bench quite a lot near the end — and it wasn't good for me at club level or national level.

"I understand that if you are not playing regularly for your club then you won't be in the frame for selection at national level.

"So Swansea helped me put myself back in the window for Tosh, and it seems to have worked so far."

Having scored the winning goal against Peterborough last weekend, Cotterill is hopeful of giving Toshack plenty to think about ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifiers which begin in September.

"I'm glad to be part of the Wales squad, but I really want to be part of the starting XI," revealed Cotterill.

"I have 15 caps, but I want to win a lot more.

"Simon Davies is back and he's playing regular Premier League football, so it is hard to break in.

"But I'm hoping to feature in the game, especially as it's on familiar ground.

"It would be great to play in front of the Liberty crowd for Wales, but I know the gaffer has a lot of players to choose from.

Improve

"But Tosh has seen me improve a lot at Swansea and I'm hoping he will give me my chance against Sweden."

Cotterill also praised the decision to stage the Sweden friendly away from the Millennium Stadium.

"I watched the rugby last week at the Millennium and there was a full house, so I was pretty envious," he added.

"The England home game in the Euro qualifiers will undoubtedly be packed, but for games like this it is better to be at the Liberty or at Cardiff's ground.

"We needed to get out of the Millennium because there was no atmosphere.

"A lack of atmosphere can affect players, while the pitch wasn't the best at the Millennium either."

SWANSEA City have identified Stephen Quinn, the Sheffield United midfielder, as a potential solution to the injury crisis threatening to derail their play-off campaign.

But officials at Bramall Lane are expected to snub any approach for the former Republic of Ireland under-21 international after being plauged by fitness problems themselves.

Swansea, one of United's main rivals in the race for play-off qualification, are expected to enter the loan market before Saturday's visit to Nottingham Forest after seeing several of Paulo Sousa's key performers enter the treatment room.

Neil Danns, a member of the Crystal Palace squad which entertains United this weekend, is understood to be the Portuguese's number one target. But sources at the Liberty Stadium have told The Star that Quinn, whose contract was extended by a further year last month, features on his list of alternatives.

United manager Kevin Blackwell has refused to comment on transfers after becoming frustrated by reports linking members of his team with moves elsewhere during the previous two windows.

However, Blackwell has gone on record to express concerns that the lack of options at his disposal represents the biggest obstacle standing between United and a top six finish meaning he is unlikely to entertain an approach should Swansea pursue their interest; a fact underlined by the decision to refuse Ryan France permission to join Hartlepool on a short-term basis before an operation to remove a cyst sidelined the defender.

Speaking after the 4-3 victory over Plymouth Argyle, which lifted United to seventh in the table, Blackwell said: "The biggest challenge is going to be keeping everyone together. If we can do that then we look like a good team. That's going to be the most important thing though - keeping fit - because we've already seen that we can't cope with too many being out."

With several members of their reaguard, including centre-half Kyle Bartley, undergoing late fitness tests before the meeting with Argyle, United are known to have pursued several lines of enquiry themselves with right back the position where Blackwell believes they are particularly vulnerable following the loss of Kyle Walker and Derek Geary.

However, with Chris Morgan available for selection after recovering from a damaged rib, Nyron Nosworthy is again expected to marshal the flanks at Selhurst Park.

Swansea are interested in Posh midfielder Lee Frecklington.

And he could be allowed to leave if Posh secure a replacement. Posh manager Jim Gannon was believed to be in talks with two potential new recruits on Monday, one of whom is expected to train with the club today.

Posh have used up all bar one of their emergency loan deals for the season, but if one of their current loan players was recalled by his parent club, an extra loan deal would be permitted.

The Swans are understood to have confirmed their interest after Saturday's match between the clubs at The Liberty Stadium.

Four of Swansea's central midfielders are currently injured. They are also trying to sign Sheffield United's Stephen Quinn and Neil Danns of Crystal Palace.

Frecklington, who has started every game under Gannon, is understood to be keen on the move. He has scored four goals in 33 appearances this season.

FERRIE BODDE will today fly back to his native Netherlands to see specialists after it was confirmed he has ruptured his cruciate ligament for the second time.

And Swansea City’s troubled playmaker will undergo surgery as early as tomorrow as he begins a third attempt at a comeback.

Bodde’s scan yesterday confirmed the initial fears of Swans medical staff at the weekend, that the 26-year-old had ruptured the same anterior ligament in his left knee as he first damaged against Birmingham City in November 2008.

It will mean the second operation on the problem for the Dutchman, having avoided surgery when his initial comeback ended in tears in September.

And it means Swansea fans can expect to be without the £4.5m-rated ace until as late as 2011 as he enters yet another period of intensive rehabilitation.

Bodde admitted to being devastated yesterday in a club statement, adding: “It’s nobody’s fault, it’s just one of those things.

“I’ve worked really hard over the last few months on my rehab, training seven hours a day and six days a week, and felt really good during the game on Saturday.

“All I can remember is jumping for a ball and turning on my left leg when I landed.

“I knew something was wrong straight away.”

It has sparked debate for a second time whether Bodde was ready for a comeback, yet several sources close to the player have suggested he was fitter than ever and there had been no suggestions of further problems with the knee.

“We all feel for Ferrie,” Swans boss Paulo Sousa said yesterday, denying the player had returned too early.

“It’s something we could never have predicted.

“He received the best medical treatment possible and all the leading specialists confirmed that he was fully recovered to play.

“He looked stronger than ever and fully integrated himself into training.

“It’s a shock to everyone and all we can do now is wish him a speedy recovery again.”

Sousa has already begun planning for life without Bodde, with Crystal Palace’s Neil Danns targeted as a replacement.

The 27-year-old former Colchester and Birmingham midfielder would arrive on an emergency loan – but with a permanent deal put in place as cash-strapped Palace cope with administration.

Swansea could expect to pay up to £500,000 for Danns, although Palace’s financial situation could mean a cheaper deal for Sousa.

Yet his need for a midfield reinforcement is not as pressing as first feared, with Darren Pratley understood to be in with a slight chance of facing play-off rivals Nottingham Forest this weekend.

Pratley underwent a scan on Sunday after he too was withdrawn from Saturday’s 1-0 win over Peterborough with a knee complaint.

But the injury is not serious and the Swans’ top scorer could be back for the trip to Watford a week today, even if he does not make the Forest game.

Still, Sousa is still likely to want cover in the midfield with Joe Allen out for up to a month, Andrea Orlandi struggling with a hamstring problem and Jordi Lopez now reported to be a doubt for the rest of the season.

And there could be concerns with Alan Tate, believed to be struggling with ankle ligament damage.

SWANSEA City are hoping Crystal Palace star Neil Danns will arrive to bolster their battered midfield this week amid fears that Ferrie Bodde has suffered another cruciate ligament injury.

The Evening Post understands Swansea will look to land Danns from cash-strapped Palace before next Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at Nottingham Forest.

They were lining up the 27-year-old before Bodde's latest setback, but Swansea's desire to do a deal has increased with Darren Pratley (knee) also set for a spell out.

Swansea say they won't know the extent of either player's injury until scan results are assessed today.

Pain

But the club are fearing the worst over Bodde after the player indicated that he felt familiar pain in his knee.

The Dutchman was making only his second start in 15 months after first rupturing his cruciate ligament in November 2008.

He lasted only nine minutes in his previous start, against Sheffield United last September, after his knee gave way.

And this time Bodde hobbled off just before the half hour after suddenly pulling up lame off the ball.

Bodde's belief that the cruciate has gone again had led to inevitable questions about whether he came back too soon.

Sousa got annoyed when asked about the timing of Bodde's return, saying: "He has trained well, more than he did last time.

"He felt comfortable and he came very close to scoring a goal in the time he was on the pitch.

"He has enjoyed training. What happened could have happened at any time."
Swansea are more optimistic about Pratley's problem, which came after a collision with a Peterborough player. "Darren got a big kick on his knee as he turned," Sousa said.

"We hope it is a little better."

Swansea could be in the market for more than one new face, with a shortage of options in defence as well as midfield.

The club cannot recall either Shaun MacDonald (Yeovil) or Marcos Painter (Brighton) because of the nature of their loans.

But the talented Danns could arrive imminently and would bring undoubted Championship quality.

Raised in Liverpool, Danns came through the ranks at Blackburn before making his name at Colchester United.

His form there earned him a £500,000 move to Birmingham in 2006 before a £600,000 switch to Palace in 2008.

Danns initially struggled at Selhurst Park, but he has scored seven goals in 37 appearances this term and has been one of the Eagles' big success stories along with Darren Ambrose.

An attacking midfielder, he can play out wide or in a more central role. Palace are currently in the hands of administrators, who could well let Danns leave as they attempt to cut costs.

The player would arrive at Swansea on an emergency loan deal, but it is likely the move would be made permanent when the transfer window opens at the end of the season.

FERRIE Bodde's latest injury setback is a crushing blow for the player and a cruel one for his club.

But while Swansea City's most gifted individual gets set for another long rehabilitation programme, his team-mates must continue to focus on the grand opportunity which could open up for them in the next couple of months.

The Premier League is on Swansea's agenda, and the harsh fact is that they have come this far without Bodde.

And so the evidence is there that they can achieve great things even without a player who was worth, according to Bolton, £4.5million last summer.

Swansea wanted more back then, but quite what Bodde's value is now is questionable.

Sadly, the Dutchman is struggling to overcome the cruciate ligament injury which struck him down when in the form of his life back in November 2008.

Swansea hoped the 27-year-old might be able to return in that sort of mood this spring.

They had fingers crossed that Bodde, at his best one of the most talented players in the Championship, could have a big influence on their promotion push.

As it is, Swansea will have to press on without Bodde and, for a while at least, a host of other midfielders as well.

Paulo Sousa does not give much away when it comes to injuries, believing that any information emerging from the Liberty treatment room may help Swansea's opponents.

But the suggestion is that Joe Allen, who limped into the stadium with his leg in a brace this weekend, will be out of action for at least four weeks.

The extent of Andrea Orlandi's hamstring is uncertain, but the fact that he has returned to his native Spain suggests he won't be back on the pitch particularly soon.

Jordi Lopez is expected to miss the rest of the season because of an ankle problem, and now Darren Pratley has joined the casualty list.

Shortly before Bodde pulled up this weekend, Pratley hobbled off after a heavy bang on the knee.

"Midfield is a bit of a problem," Sousa conceded.

"We lost two players at Derby, now we have lost two more and we have to look at the loan market.

"We have a fantastic chief scout and I am waiting now for something to happen."
Swansea's sizeable squad has been one of the themes of the season.

Sousa talked from the outset about cutting the numbers, and there are a handful who have not had a sniff of first-team action since the early weeks of the campaign.

Yet all of a sudden, Swansea's resources look thin.
At almost the worst possible moment in the season, when Swansea are gearing themselves up for seven fixtures in 21 days, the manager's options are limited.

The shortage spreads beyond midfield.

Swansea are also down to the bare bones in defence.

Fede Bessone, Albert Serran and Garry Monk were all absent against Peterborough, while Alan Tate picked up an ankle ligament problem which left him limping through the car park.

Monk has a chance of featuring in the top-of-the-table collision at Nottingham Forest next Saturday, and Sousa must hope his captain makes it.

"We have enough strikers," Sousa added.

"We are going to have to prepare them to play at centre-half or in central midfield."

The Portuguese managed a smile at this point, his mood lightened by the fact Swansea had overcome the injury problems to edge past Peterborough.

Three points offered some consolation on a day where the loss of Pratley and the desperate news on Bodde left Swansea shaking their heads.

The disruption appeared to affect Sousa's team, who were short of their fluent best in a game which will not live long in the memory.

The right team won, although only as a result of David Cotterill's smart penalty on a day when the Peterborough goalkeeper, Joe Lewis, made a succession of saves.

Shefki Kuqi — three times — Lee Trundle — twice — Mark Gower and Nathan Dyer were all denied by Lewis.

The lively Trundle also fired a couple of efforts wide, while another Dyer shot was kicked off the line by Exodus Geohaghon.

"We had a lot of good chances and we could have scored more goals," Sousa said.
"We could have been more relaxed."

As it was, Cotterill's early spot-kick, awarded after he had tumbled under Charlie Lee's challenge, proved the difference as Swansea kept yet another clean sheet.

Peterborough rarely threatened, although Liam Dickinson had the Posh fans on their feet with a late volley which flew just too high.

Swansea's 19th shutout of their second-tier campaign means they now have the meanest the defence in the Coca-Cola League and stretches their unbeaten run to 12 matches.

They are very well placed in fourth, a healthy eight points clear of seventh-placed Sheffield United and only seven adrift of the automatic promotion spots.
"It's very important to keep winning," Sousa pointed out.

"And we are double happy to beat Peterborough, because a lot of the teams below us won too."

Double happy with the result Swansea may have been, but they were double sad about the grim injury news.

PAULO SOUSA has admitted he will be prepared to enter the emergency loan market as he sweats on news over Ferrie Bodde’s latest injury.

The Dutch playmaker had been expected to undergo a scan yesterday – but it is believed that has now been put off until this morning.

Although the club were last night staying tight-lipped on the early prognosis over Bodde’s troublesome left knee, several Swans sources were fearing the worst.

Sousa was reluctant to talk too much on the issue of Bodde’s future after the 1-0 win over Peterborough, aside from conceding it was “not nice” for the 26-year-old as he defended the decision to bring him back five months after his initial comeback also ended in injury.

But it is understood Bodde complained of feeling the knee go after an apparent twist in a challenge, leaving the Liberty on crutches before full-time. It has left question marks over whether the knee is strong enough – or indeed if Bodde is mentally – for a third comeback should the damage be severe.

Sousa was also awaiting news on a scan on the knee of Darren Pratley, but it is understood the club are hopeful the injury to the goal-scoring midfielder is not ligament but soft tissue, meaning a limited time on the sidelines.

Nevertheless, Sousa will instruct chief scout Lil Fuccillo to search out central midfielders available for loan, while also pondering over a change in formation.

“Midfield could now be a problem for us in the coming matches and we may have to play different shapes to get over it as we have now lost two players in each of the last two games,” said Sousa.

“It’s not a good feeling for Ferrie. He went straight home with his family and it’s not nice for him.

“It could have happened in the first training session but he was stronger, training better than before and he felt comfortable.”

Midfielder Leon Britton admitted the Swansea squad are keeping their fingers crossed for Bodde, while also hoping the side’s impressive promotion form is not hindered by the absence of key man Pratley.

Yet Britton has insisted they are strong enough to cope with the midfield injury crisis and insisted the Swans can still soar if they switch to a more conventional 4-4-2.

“I’m sure we can cope, we’ve shown in the past we’re quite adaptable as a squad,” said Britton.

“At the moment we’re quite badly hit in the midfield but we’ve got the cover, even if it means a few lads playing slightly out of position which we’ve done well with in the past.

“It might mean a change of formation and although a lot of our success has been down to having that extra man we’re quite adaptable and we’ve proved that before.

“We’ve changed it around before and done well and we know we can switch to different formations and different ways of playing if we need to.

“You do lose that extra man which gives you the extra option to pass and keep possession but at the same time, on Saturday had that extra option up front so we created quite a few chances and showed we can still get the ball down and play

“It’s down to the manager, it depends on who’s fit and available, who we’re playing and what he feels we need to do. Only time will tell.”

Britton backed his manager’s belief Swansea showed their ability to grind out results once more after the unentertaining but comfortable win over Peterborough, with Sousa adding: “We had a number of chances to score more goals, which would have relaxed us, but it never happened.

“It was a tough game for us but it is very important to keep on winning.”

PAULO SOUSA has been frustrated recently at what he’s perceived as negative coverage of his side’s success.

Last week, for instance, the Portuguese claimed there should have been more made of Swansea’s surge past 50 points so soon in the season rather than the dust-ups at Derby.

Yet, try as he might, there is no way Sousa could deny the disappointment eking out of the home dressing room on Saturday.

True, the talking point really should have been how a 12th game without defeat put the Swans eight points clear of seventh spot – meaning they are now as close to the automatic places as they are from dropping out of the play-off spots.

And, although the performance was far from the most thrilling offered by Sousa’s men, David Cotterill’s first-half penalty was easily enough to secure the points against lively but limited opposition.

More than enough reason for it to be all smiles and sunshine then.

Not quite, the fears for the future of Ferrie Bodde dominated discussions among players, punters and press following this win as question marks were placed over the very career of the gifted pass-master.

The last time his comeback from serious knee injury ended prematurely, withdrawn after just eight minutes against Sheffield United in September, the burning question was if the 26-year-old had been rushed back.

The fact such issues were cast aside in post-game dissections after he limped off with little more than 20 minutes played simply proved there is an altogether more sombre feel about this setback.

Some players, unsure of the latest on their team-mate, did not feel comfortable discussing what lies next for Bodde, knowing that even the determined Dutchman would struggle making a third comeback should the diagnosis be disastrous.

And the general feeling around the Liberty was, that if the same knee injury has taken its horrific hold once more, then it could be the last seen of Bodde in a Swans’ shirt.

Hardly reasons to be cheerful.

One can only hope such predictions are pessimistic, that early indications are wrong or that Bodde’s need to signal to come off so soon into his first start in five months – a second in 15 – was a sign he was not yet ready to compete at Championship level.

Yet there had been signs of that from the very off from the ex-Den Haag man, whose talent has seen both Bolton and Wigan slap down multimillion pound offers in the recent past.

There were at least three occasions where the chance for Bodde to enter the tackles he used to love presented themselves, each time passed up by the playmaker.

The range of passing was there, setting up Shefki Kuqi for an early chance. The stinging shot was there, the remarkably little backswing needed for him to trouble Joe Lewis from 25 yards proving that.

But something was missing, and perhaps Bodde knew it. Time will tell.

Still, negative or not, surely Sousa can admit frustration at seeing plans disrupted once more. If this was the first time he could start with Swansea’s holy trinity in midfield it was not the first time he has seen it ripped apart by injury.

Because, while Bodde held supporters’ sympathy, the extent of the knee injury suffered by Darren Pratley could hold the key to continuing Swansea’s superb upward push.

Limping off after an innocuous challenge, the marauding midfielder took a blow to the knee that left him numb and could leave Swansea without a player described by stand-in skipper Alan Tate as their most important.

It is expected to be a short-term loss, but while Swansea have learned to live with out Bodde, they have only struggled without Pratley.

Certainly, no-one quite offers the same energy at the tip of Swansea’s midfield set-up and Sousa will be praying his absence is minimal.

No Joe Allen (out for a month with his own knee issues), no Andrea Orlandi (out for up to a month with a hamstring problem), no Jordi Lopez (potentially out for the rest of the season with an ankle complaint) and suddenly even a squad of Swansea’s size is being stretched.

Mark Gower did well to show he can be relied upon in the middle, while Jazz Richards and Ashley Williams have both been given central duties this term.

David Cotterill, though, is one player who could make a mark in any midfield role should Swansea have to cope without top scorer Pratley.

And, certainly in the first half on Saturday, he set about proving further what a shrewd acquisition he has been by the Swansea board.

True, he was not involved an awful lot after the break, but he was part of everything before it, including the sharp piece of opportunism that brought the decisive goal.

Pouncing on to Charlie Lee’s loose ball, he drove at the Posh defence and earned the foul from the same player trying to atone for his error.

As calm as he was seeing off Kuqi’s claim for the spot-kick, Cotterill dispatched his third goal since his move from Sheffield United.

Had it not been for some wasteful finishing from both Kuqi and Nathan Dyer, as well as some excellent goalkeeping from one-time England squad member Lewis, there might have been more goals in this game.

Indeed, the number of chances created could tempt Sousa into utilising a 4-4-2 should injury problems persist, Lee Trundle looking lively just off the front man and twice forcing decent saves from Lewis after working himself into space.

At the other end, there was little for Dorus de Vries to do against a fairly toothless team undoubtedly destined for the drop.

And although the injuries gave just cause for concern, it spelt a deserved three points and a further step to securing that play-off place.

Even on this day of disappointment, surely a positive in anyone’s book.

SWANSEA CITY moved eight points clear of the chasing play-off pack as David Cotterill sealed a comfortable win over relegation-haunted Peterborough.

The Wales star grabbed the game’s only goal with a well-taken penalty 19 minutes into this tame encounter that makes it 12 games unbeaten for the Swans and keeps them in fourth spot.

But the win could come at a cost for boss Paulo Sousa who saw key midfielder Darren Pratley limp off with a suspected knee injury –- before Ferrie Bodde did the same less than 10 minutes later.

While Sousa will not want to lose the services of star man Pratley, it is the injury to Bodde that is the real worry.

Early indications suggested it was a recurrence of the same ligament problem that has wrecked his last two seasons.

This was Bodde’s second comeback from the same problem – limping off just eight minutes into his initial return back in September.

Bodde had shown glimpses of his ability in his short spell on the field, one cross-field ball seeing Shefi Kuqi go close four minutes in before a 25-yard effort from the Dutchman had Posh keeper and captain Joe Lewis worried.

And it helped the hosts hold the early initiative before they grabbed the opener from the spot.

Cotterill capitalised on a loose ball from Peterborough’s Charlie Lee before driving into the box and tempting the foul from the same player.

In front of the watching international boss John Toshack, the Wales winger dusted himself down to slot home the 19th minute penalty.

The downside for Swansea was that Pratley had limped off after an innocuous challenge moments earlier, only to be joined by Bodde who worryingly limped off before being eventually replaced by Lee Trundle.

The double blow saw Swansea lose their way somewhat but they still had chances to increase their led, sub Mark Gower and Nathan Dyer interchanging to see Kuqi go close.

And Kuqi then wasted an opening just before the break as Exodus Geohgon gave away possession cheaply, making amends when he cleared Dyer’s follow up off the line.

Swansea pushed to press home their advantage after the break and Trundle’s pass to Dyer could have set Kuqi up for the second only for the big striker to scoop the chance over.

But Sousa’s men were then guilty of switching off and allowing the Posh to press themselves.

Nathan Koranteng’s cross found Lee Frecklington but the midfielder couldn’t keep his header down on the hour mark.

Trundle and Gower, though, again impressed with Craig Morgan getting a block to a Trundle shot before Lewis saved the striker’s 71st minute effort with Dyer failing to follow up.

Lewis again frustrated Trundle with a superb save to deny him on 79 minutes but Swansea had already done enough to keep up their impressive run in 2010.

Swansea City: De Vries; Rangel, Tate (capt), Williams, Richards; Britton, Bodde (Trundle 33), Pratley (Gower 23); Dyer, Cotterill; Kuqi.

Subs not used: Cornell (gk), Beattie, Butler, Bauza, Idrizaj.

Peterborough United: Lewis (capt); Whelpdale, Geohagon (Zakuani 69), Morgan, Griffiths (Gilbert 46); Lee (Koranteng 46), Frecklington, Livermore; Reid, Dickinson, Rowe.

Subs not used: McKeown (gk), Torres, Crook, Mills.

Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey)

Attendance: 16,175

Manager Paulo Sousa was left to count the cost of victory after a first-half penalty from David Cotterill gave Swansea all three points against Peterborough.

Having been hauled down as he homed in on the Posh goal, Cotterill rifled in his spot-kick in the 19th minute to keep the Swans’ promotion hopes on track.

A lack of punch up front kept the visitors in the game right up to the final whistle, and Swansea are now the Coca-Cola Championship’s lowest scorers with 30 goals – but of far more concern to Sousa were the early departures of star midfielders Darren Pratley and Ferrie Bodde.

Dutch midfielder Bodde had a recurrence of the knee injury that has kept him out for the last five months, and with midfield partner Pratley also off injured, the Swansea midfield failed to function in their usual fluid manner.

“It is very important to keep on winning but it was a tough game for us today,” said Sousa.

“The injuries made it difficult for us and we will have to see the results of scans before we know the extent of the injuries of Darren Pratley and Ferrie Bodde.

“Midfield could now be a problem for us in the coming matches and we may have to play different shapes to get over it as we have now lost two players in each of the last two games.

“We had a number of chances to score more goals, which would have relaxed us, but it never happened.

“We are looking to win games and be competitive but we may have to go into the loan market to cover all these injuries to our midfield players.”

It was one-way traffic from the first whistle but the Swans failed to carve out any clear openings until Cotterill’s successful spot-kick.

Even with the advantage of a one-goal lead against the division’s bottom club, the Swans failed to add to the score because of wayward shooting and a couple of fine saves by Posh keeper Joe Lewis.

Lee Trundle – on the for the unfortunate Bodde – and Shefki Kuqi both failed to hit the target when well placed and that led to a few anxious moments on the odd occasions that the visitors made it into the Swansea half.

“They took their chance and that was the difference,” said Peterborough boss Jim Magilton.

“I felt it wasn’t a penalty as we had crowded their player out but the referee saw it differently.

“We never showed enough technique to bother Swansea and force ourselves into the game but it is a work in progress at this club this season.

“I want to bring a bit of pride back into our game and I think we did that, but we have to continue to work hard so that we are ready for next season, whichever division we may find ourselves in.”

SWANSEA CITY secured three more vital points – but paid a heavy price after key duo Ferrie Bodde and Darren Pratley limped off with potentially bad injuries.

While David Cotterill’s first-half penalty settled a poor game at the Liberty Stadium, the Swans’ mounting injury crisis in midfield was the big talking point.

Boss Paulo Sousa was already missing Joe Allen and Andrea Orlandi before both Bodde and Pratley made early exits within the first half-hour.

To see Bodde go down, holding the troublesome left knee that has wrecked the last 15 months of his career, was a particularly cruel blow.

The Dutchman lasted only nine minutes of his last full comeback and, following another six months on the sidelines, there was a devastating sense of déjà vu as this one ended after just 20 more.

Strange as it sounds, Pratley’s injury may be even more of a concern to Sousa.

Swans have proved they can cope without Bodde but losing his energetic colleague as well is a different matter.

The only good news is that Leon Britton was back at his best after returning from back trouble, while Mark Gower gets better with every game he plays in central midfield.

But even that won’t stop the Jack Army crossing everything possible in the hope that it will be good news from the treatment room.

It won’t stop Bodde dominating the headlines either. The skilful 28-year-old is still a firm favourite at Swansea, with many believing his return would be crucial as the club tries to secure a top-six finish.

Questions will now have to be asked as to whether or not he was brought back too early again.

But, considering how careful Sousa had been with the former Den Haag man, accepting Bodde is just a victim of seriously bad luck would be a more sensible approach than playing the blame game.

The optimist may even suggest that Bodde’s departure was simply a precaution, spurred on by his own insecurity about the strength of his knee.

But, if the looks on both his and Sousa’s faces as he trudged off were anything to go by, it seems that would be a serious case of wishful thinking.

It had all looked so different as Bodde eased round the pitch in the early stages.

The midfield maestro was involved immediately, chipping an inch-perfect ball to Shefki Kuqi who controlled it superbly with his chest before testing Joe Lewis with a dangerous low shot.

Offering one of the few bright spots in a slow opening quarter hour, the Dutchman came close with a typically audacious shot from 30 yards.

The Liberty fans were denied the dream moment they wanted as the ball whistled past the post but, proving Bodde’s worth, the effort seemed to be the catalyst Swansea needed as they took the lead four minutes later.

Cotterill was the man of the moment, robbing Charlie Lee deep in the Posh half and driving into the box before being sent to the ground by a sandwich tackle from Lee and Exodus Geohaghon.

Referee Gavin Ward pointed to the spot and Cotterill picked himself up to slot home.

But the afternoon was soon to take a turn for the worse for Sousa. Having already lost Pratley, the Portuguese looked devastated when Bodde, with nobody around him, suddenly slumped to the deck and instantly signalled his afternoon, and perhaps season, was over.

Despite their lead, the injuries took their toll. Kuqi and Cotterill continued to look lively but Swansea were struggling to find their rhythm in a game that offered precious little in the way of chances.

Peterborough, shorn of their key attacking trio of George Boyd, Aaron Mclean and Craig Mackail-Smith, looked every inch a team that belongs at the foot of the table. They worked hard but there never looked like being an end product.

If there was going to be a second goal, Swansea were the only team that would get it. A mistake from Geohaghon gave them that chance shortly before the break but, after Kuqi’s low shot was saved by Lewis, the defender recovered in time to clear Nathan Dyer’s follow-up off the line.

After a poor first half, the game sparked to life after the break. Lee Trundle, who had come on for Pratley, was starting to pull the strings and, after his work set up a good chance that Kuqi missed, he went close with two good efforts in the space of three minutes.

The Swans came close to getting the all-important second goal in the 71st minute.

Trundle’s mazy run beat two defenders before his powerful shot was well saved by Lewis.

The Posh ’keeper was in even better form eight minutes later, producing two superb stops in the space of 60 seconds.

Tate slid through Dyer and, after racing off his line to block the winger’s effort, Lewis picked himself to deny the luckless Trundle with a brilliant save down to his right.

That was to prove the last real chance of the game. Peterborough did their best to apply some late pressure but, in reality, keeper Dorus de Vries barely had a thing to do.

Cruising through the final stages, Swansea held on for the win they were expected to get.

But the question everyone will be asking is just what price have they paid for those three points.

CAGEY Paulo Sousa said he did not bring Ferrie Bodde back too soon from his knee injury.

But the Swans boss admitted he will need the emergency loan market to solve the club’s midfield crisis.

Sousa looked devastated when, for the second time this season, Bodde’s comeback ended in disaster.

The midfielder limped off with what looked like a reoccurrence of his knee injury after just 29 minutes and his season could well be over.

The obvious question for many fans will be whether the influential Dutchman should have played.

But, adamant Bodde was ready to play, Sousa insisted there was no indication the injury would return.

“Why would it be too soon?” he asked. “It could have happened in the first training session but he was stronger, training better than before and he felt comfortable.

“It’s not a good feeling for Ferrie. He went straight home with his family and it’s not nice for him.”

Refusing to answer any more questions on Bodde – who will have a scan today – Sousa turned his attention to the general injury crisis threatening to hinder Swansea’s impressive season.

And, having also seen Darren Pratley limp off early on in the 1-0 win over Peterborough, Sousa said he needs to bring in reinforcements.

“I need new players from the loan market, and we have a fantastic chief scout who is working to make sure I get them,” added Sousa.

SWANSEA CITY teenager Jazz Richards has revealed his desire to be the next of Welsh football’s precocious ‘young guns’.

But first the 18-year-old admits it is all about making the breakthrough with his home-town club.

And he has not made a bad start this season with 10 appearances so far, including two 90-minute outings in Swansea’s last two games at Plymouth and Derby.

The level-headed Richards admits his progress has been a dream come true, considering just a few years back he was on the terraces cheering on the Swans.

And after a host of Wales appearances at under-17 and under-19 levels, Richards has now made the step-up to under-21 level with three caps so far.

It is an amazing turnaround for a player who, at the age of 16, was told by Wales youth guru Brian Flynn he was not ready for the international game.

“I can still remember his words now as he told me I wasn’t ready for international football,” said Richards.

“I told him that I was ready and I’d just had a few off games.

“Looking back it made me stronger. I was determined to prove him wrong, not in a bad way, but to prove to myself I was good enough. He probably did me a favour.

“Now Brian has promoted me to the Under-21s. I haven’t played every game, but when I have played I feel I’ve done all right.

“I’m happy to be playing at that level whereas there’s a lot of boys my age who are not.”

And Richards believes with Wales boss John Toshack willing to take a gamble on youth he could well be next off the teenage conveyor belt for the senior side.

“My next step at international level is the seniors and, of course, that’s where I want to be,” said Richards.

“If I can keep progressing and keep showing what I can do at Swansea I hope I can get to play in the Wales first team in the near future.

“When you see the likes of (Cardiff City’s) Adam Matthews on the bench for the Scotland game – who is younger than me – it does make you think you've got a realistic chance.

“John Toshack has already given young lads about my age the chance and they’ve taken it.

“Players like Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale are regulars now and I’m eager to step up like them.”

For the moment Richards is concentrating on earning his Swansea spurs after gaining vital first-team experience.

Admitting he sees himself as a midfielder, Swans boss Paulo Sousa has also utilised Richards’ talents at full-back.

“It’s been good to come in and I didn’t expect to get as many games as I have so far,” added Richards.

“I like to think I’ve come in and done well. I’m happy to show what I can do and hopefully it will continue.

“I’ve been lucky boys have been out injured and I’ve been able to prove to the gaffer I can play at this level.

“The manager has been top with me to give me the chance. I hope now he trusts me to come in and do a job for the side.

“I’m a midfielder really, but when you’ve got the likes of Darren Pratley. Leon Britton, Joe Allen and Ferrie Bodde, the best midfield in the Championship, it’s very hard.

“The full-backs we’ve got are first-class too, so I’m not expecting to start when everyone is fit.

“But when they are out the manager knows he can come to me. I’ll play wherever he wants because it’s great to be playing games with these lads.”

ROBBIE SAVAGE has continued his rant against Swansea City striker Gorka Pintado.

The ex-Wales midfielder is still fuming after being the victim of an ugly challenge from the Spaniard in the Swans’ win at Pride Park last week.

And he has called on the FA to bring in longer bans for horror tackles after re-iterating his belief his career could have been ended by the challenge.

Pintado saw a straight red for the foul – and sat out the first of four matches he will miss through suspension yesterday.

Pintado’s case has been handled by the FAW rather than the FA, but that did not stop Savage saying in his newspaper column: “I could have been writing this from hospital, my career over.

“That’s why I believe that the FA must start looking at extending the normal three-match ban for violent conduct when the circumstances are extreme.”

Pintado is known as ‘El Toro’ by Swans fans, but the irony was lost on Savage as he continued his rant saying: “Only Pintado knows his intentions, but I saw a 14-stone raging bull launch himself at me, two-footed and knee high. It was ugly.”

And even though the second red of the season meant an automatic four-game ban for the 31-year-old, Savage went on: “I don’t see why the FA can’t look again at serious fouls, as they do for incidents missed by the referee, and award a four or five-match ban for the very worst of them.”

Savage claims Pintado’s challenge should be taken into account when the sides face disciplinary charges for failing to control their players as a result of the melee that followed.

But Savage reckons the reaction of the Derby players was justified because of the challenge.

He claimed: “It was nothing more than handbags and an understandable reaction when you’ve just seen one of your team-mates attacked.”

PAULO SOUSA believes Swansea City’s passing of the 50-point landmark last weekend slipped under the radar.

In a veiled swipe at those that suggested the Swans could struggle this season, Sousa made a point of the fact his team had now passed the magical 50-point barrier seen as guaranteeing safety in the Championship.

While everyone else saw the hard-fought victory at Derby as another step towards a top-six finish, it seems the Swans boss was keen to remind his early doubters that they hadn’t always been so positive.

The Portuguese is happy to see his high-flying squad are now getting the respect they deserve.

But, as Swansea look to secure another three points against rock-bottom Peterborough today, the frustration clearly still lingers that promotion wasn’t always the word on everyone’s lips.

“Nobody even wrote at the weekend that we have now secured our Championship status,” he said with a wry smile.

“At the start of the season there were doubts and I haven’t forgotten them.

“I think the critics in particular are giving us more respect now, though. I think our opponents realised our talents early and gave us the respect.

“The journalists and pundits have changed their opinions now as well. They talk about us looking for the play-offs or even automatic promotion.”

If Swansea are to deliver on the play-off potential, today’s clash with the Posh has to be seen as a must-win game.

Jim Gannon’s men are 10 points away from safety and have already been written off in many quarters.

Acknowledging it will still be a very tough game, though, Sousa is happy to have a number of big names back from the treatment room.

Ferrie Bodde could make his first start since September, while Leon Britton, Craig Beattie and Cedric van der Gun are all back in contention.

Fede Bessone is also close to returning from his recent calf injury, while skipper Garry Monk will have a late fitness test on his back problem.

Joe Allen and Andrea Orlandi are likely to miss out after picking up injuries in the 1-0 win at Pride Park.

WHAT do you get if you cross a suspicious burglary in Germany, a pregnant wife and the frustration of living your life out of a suitcase in a hotel?

How about all the off-field distractions Swansea City new boy Shefki Kuqi has had to overcome in order to hit the ground running for his new life at the Liberty Stadium.

With two precious away winners in the last four games, Kuqi is already a big hit at Swansea after his January arrival from TuS Koblenz.

Boss Paulo Sousa has basked in the glory of what could arguably be the shrewdest signing of his tenure, while the club’s fans, revelling in the sight of his infamous “Swan dive” celebration at Derby last weekend, have been pleasantly surprised by what the big Finn brings to the table.

For the man himself, though, life in South Wales has had its share of ups and downs.

And, while all the ups have come on the pitch, the downs have made for a frustrating month off it.

The biggest source of that frustration actually has nothing to do with Swansea.

As he sat on a bus on the way back from the abandoned game at Watford last month, Kuqi was left shocked when his brother Njazi rang to say his house in Germany had been burgled.

The thieves took several personal items and, as he struggles to establish what happened with the German police, it has been an unwanted distraction for the 33-year-old. It’s not the only one either.

If the problems at his old home weren’t enough, finding a new one in Swansea has been far from straightforward.

With his wife Julietta expecting their first child in June, Kuqi is desperate to find a permanent base for his family but it seems that is easier said than done.

“At the moment I am still in a hotel here,” he explained. “I’m trying to organise things so I can move out though because, with my wife being heavily pregnant, you want a home of your own.

“Everything in just the one room is not ideal. Loads of people will think it’s nice to live in a hotel, but most of the players will agree it’s a nightmare.

“When you are going away from home a lot anyway, staying in hotels, you want to come back to your own house.

“I have to go back to the hotel and I must admit I’ve had enough of that in my career.

“At Palace, I had four months in a hotel, two months in one in Germany and now I am back in a hotel. It’s a frustrating time, but it’s all you can do when you move countries.

“Hopefully I can organise myself so that I can then focus 100 per cent on my game.”

As for the burglary, Kuqi said a lot of personal items were taken.

“I have a strange feeling about it because they only took certain things – watches, laptops and my wife’s jewellery,” he said.

“It was all very strange because they left a lot of valuables and I still have no idea how they got in. It’s proving difficult to sort out and it hasn’t been easy for me.

“It’s not a nice situation at all. It’s never happened to me before and I’m just glad my wife was over here with me.”

With so much drama off the pitch, Kuqi deserves even more credit for what he has done on it.

The former Crystal Palace forward has settled in superbly and, with a string of good performances, has laid down a strong claim for the lone striker role.

Showing that modesty is one of his many qualities, the softly-spoken striker is quick to share around any plaudits, though.

If he has settled well at Swansea, he is convinced it’s because those around him have made it so easy to do so, particularly Sousa.

“It’s made easier because I am so happy to be part of this team,” he beamed.

“I have only been here four weeks, but it feels like almost four years.

“It’s a really nice atmosphere and, when you are in a good group like this, it lets you put other things to one side.

“I’ve got problems off the pitch, but I’m really enjoying my football again.

“I make sure the other issues don’t affect my performances. I know I have a job to do here, which is to help Swansea get promoted.

“It has gone well so far and that is because everyone has been so good to me.

“I had a hard time in Germany, but it has been so easy to settle here.

“The main thing is the gaffer because the way he has built the team spirit here is just amazing.

“It’s like if he asked you to run through a brick wall, even though you know it’s impossible, you would still try.”

While Sousa may not want him to run through walls, he will be hoping Kuqi can soon resolve all his off-field issues.

Such is Kuqi’s determination to focus fully on Swansea he has taken the rare decision to withdraw from the Finland squad for next week’s friendly in Malta.

With the Swans having a few days off following today’s clash with Peterborough, missing the game gives him an ideal opportunity to get his affairs in order.

“I had a long chat with the Finland manager and explained my situation” he added. “He is a good man and he understood.

“We have lots of important games coming up here. The Finland game was only a friendly and it was in Malta, so the coach understood that it was best I didn’t travel.

“It’s not a question of not wanting to play for my country. On this occasion, with the games coming up and the problems I have to sort out, it was just the better option.”

AN unsentimental Ashley Williams admits he is aiming to put one over on the man who kick-started his football career.

The cultured centre-half and his Swansea City team-mates entertain Peterborough tomorrow with Jim Gannon now managing the struggling Posh.

Gannon was Williams’ last boss during the Wales international’s five-year spell at previous club Stockport County.

And Williams admits it was Gannon who instilled the confidence he needed to embark on his meteoric rise which saw him sign for the Swans and go onto captain John Toshack’s Wales side.

But, with the Swans riding high in fourth and looking for points to cement their promotion credentials, Williams said he will be looking to disappoint his former mentor.

“I’d had a few managers at Stockport before Jim, but he was the one that really gave me my chance,” said Williams.

“The manager before him did not really like me at all and I did not play that much for whatever reason.

“Then Jim came in, and he said to me ‘You’re a good lad, go out and play.’ I tried to do that and then one thing led to another.

“Maybe I would be where I am now without him or maybe I wouldn’t, but it would not have been as easy. I would probably have had to go the long way around.

“Jim gave me the confidence to express myself. He made me captain and I had a really good relationship with him.

“I think he’s a brilliant manager, one of the best I’ve worked with, along with the gaffer here now and Roberto (Martinez) last year.

“I think Jim will manage at the top one day, but we will be doing our homework before the game.

“They will want to come and try to stop us playing, but we will be wanting the three points.”

With the Championship season nearing its business end, Williams and his colleagues face a packed fixture schedule over the next month.

Including Peterborough’s visit, Paulo Sousa’s side face eight games over the next four weeks.

For Williams, personally, you can add his outing in Wales’ friendly clash with Sweden at the Liberty Stadium next Wednesday, where once again the 25-year-old is expected to wear the captain’s armband for his country.

But Williams insists there is no chance of burn-out, claiming current boss Sousa has managed his personnel in the perfect manner this campaign.

“As a team we’ve used a lot of players, the gaffer has kept players fresh and, personally, I don’t feel it’s as hard as last season,” he said.

“I feel a lot better than I did last season. I feel really fresh. It feels like I’ve got more days to rest this time. The manager has done things better and none of the boys are struggling.

“Last year we felt we were always chasing a play-off spot, but this time we are nicely positioned.

“When I looked at the table the other day I did a double-take, but it does give you that enthusiasm to come in and work hard.

“The funny thing is I don’t think we are playing as pretty as we did last season, but we are grinding out the results this time, like we did at Derby.

“It’s a nice feeling, especially as a defender coming away from a game like that.”

The Swans have been boosted by the news that inspirational midfielder Ferrie Bodde could make his return tomorrow after-long term injury.

The Dutchman has not seen action since coming off with a recurrence of a knee ligament injury against Sheffield United back in September.

But Sousa has given his clearest indication yet that Bodde could be back to face the Posh and he insists the 27-year-old is in better shape than ever.

“Ferrie has a big chance to start playing now,” he said. “He is in better shape than he was last time and I have a lot of confidence from what I have seen in training. He is stronger than he was back at the start of the season.

“Ferrie can have more opportunities and, considering the injuries in central midfield, he could even start this weekend.”

Huw Jenkins rallies the troops with seven home games to.

Chairman Huw Jenkins is urging Swansea supporters to come out in force to help the club’s push for promotion.

The fourth-placed Swans are currently averaging a respectable 15,234 at the Liberty Stadium, but Jenkins wants more fans through the turnstiles for the remaining seven home games of the season.

Jenkins said: “When you consider what the players and Paulo Sousa)have done this season, our stadium should be full every week.

“If we are going to get the recognition we deserve as a club, and if we are going to keep moving forward, we want to see a full house every time we play at home.

“This is nothing to do with the finances. I’m talking about what our players and management deserve, and that has to be walking out in front of 18,000 or 19,000 every week.

“It would be great for the players because of the atmosphere a big crowd generates, and it would also be great for the perception of the club.”

The in-form Welsh outfit host rock-bottom Peterborough this weekend, and Jenkins added: “We are aware that we have come a long way in terms of crowds in the last few years.

“We know that averaging over 15,000 is a great achievement when you consider where our gates were just a few years ago.

“But Paulo is an ambitious man and he’s a winner. He wants to see our club moving forward and one way to do that is to have a full ground every week.”

Britton has enjoyed two promotions with Swansea City

Leon Britton insists promotion-chasing Swansea City will not get carried away over their position and form as they host Peterborough on Saturday.

The fourth-place Swans are the only team in the Championship not to lose in 2010 and are on an unbeaten run of 11.

In stark comparison, Peterborough are bottom of the table 10 points adrift of safety, winless away from home and are on their third manager of the season.

"These are probably the hardest games to play," said Britton.

"People on the outside may look at it and say it is a home banker, but the players don't look at it like that.

"A team at the bottom of the league, changing manager a few times and fighting for their lives to stay in the division.

"As a team we're not getting carried away, our feet are on the ground and we know there's a lot of football to be played between now and the end of the season."

Britton witnessed Peterborough's fighting spirit from the bench back in December when Lee Trundle struck two minutes into injury time to seemingly secure a win for the Swans at London Road.


Sousa hints at Bodde starting role

But Aaron McLean snatched a 2-2 draw in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

"They've shown they've got the fighting spirit which they are going to need to try and get out of the position they're in," Britton added.

The Posh were also bottom at the time but sacked manager Mark Cooper earlier this month after he won just once in 13 games since taking over from Darren Ferguson in November.

Now former Motherwell and Stockport manager Jim Gannon has taken over and has won two and lost two.

But Britton is focused on Swansea's cause as they look to go one better than last season and at least make the play-offs, with a place in the Premier League the ultimate goal.

"Last year was a case of nearly there, we were hanging around the play-offs," he said of the Swans who finished eighth, two places and six points short.


Williams ready to face old boss Gannon
"We were always nearly there but we were never quite cemented.

"This season we've been pretty much in there for large periods now.

"It's nice to be there but there's a lot of football to be played and we don't get carried away.

"We want to make sure we are carrying on the way we are and if we do that the results will come and at the end of the season, hopefully things will look good."

SWANSEA CITY will defend the Football Association of Wales charge that they failed to control their players at Derby County on Saturday.

An 18-man brawl erupted in Swansea’s 1-0 win after Gorka Pintado’s reckless tackle on former Wales midfielder Robbie Savage.

The Spaniard received a straight red card, the second player sent off in a bad-tempered affair with Derby defender Jay McEveley earlier dismissed for two bookable offences.

But Swans boss Paulo Sousa is adamant that his players have nothing to answer for.

He said: “We will be defending ourselves because we didn’t do anything wrong.

“After Gorka’s tackle there were a lot of Derby players around him, pushing him to the ground.

“My players arrived later to separate things and protect Gorka, who was on the ground.

“I saw my team’s solidarity and, as far as I am concerned, the position is very clear that they didn’t do anything wrong.”

In a highly-fraught game, Derby were lucky not to be down to 10 men after McEveley’s crunching tackle on Joe Allen.

Despite the severity of the challenge the Liverpudlian only picked up a booking.

“I think if you look back to the bad tackle on Joe Allen none of our players reacted, even though they all thought it was a red card,” said Sousa.

“We will state our case to the FAW and I am sure we will have a fair hearing.”

Swansea have until March 5 to send any evidence to the FAW relating to their defence, while Derby must submit any evidence to the Football Association by March 9.

SHEFKI Kuqi will give international duty a miss next week in a bid to boost Swansea City's promotion hopes.

Kuqi was called up for Finland's friendly in Malta on Wednesday.
But the 33-year-old targetman has asked to miss the match so he can focus on preparing for a busy month with his new club.

Swansea face seven fixtures in March, starting a week on Saturday with a top-of-the-table clash at Nottingham Forest.

And Kuqi, who has made a fine start to life in Wales, feels it is important to concentrate on Swansea's attempt to reach the Premier League.

"I spoke with the coach in Finland (Stuart Baxter) and he understood my situation," said the much-travelled striker.

"We have seven games in March so it is a very busy time for us.

"There is going to be a lot of travelling involved and, as the game in Malta was only a friendly, I asked if I could be left out of the squad.

"To be fair he was happy for me to stay behind and I am grateful for that."
Kuqi has two goals, both of them matchwinners, in three starts since arriving at Swansea during the January transfer window.

Signed on a free from German outfit TuS Koblenz, the 60-cap striker has given Swansea extra power in attack and looks like being a useful asset as Swansea go for the top flight.

And Paulo Sousa admits he is pleased the veteran will not be jetting across Europe next week.

"I am grateful to Shefki for staying with us because we can now prepare with him," said the Swansea manager.

"It's an important decision for us, especially with so many games in March.
"And it's very important that Finland made a compromise in this situation. I am also grateful to them."

Kuqi's presence over the next few weeks is even more significant for Swansea given that Gorka Pintado faces a four-match ban after his red card at Derby last weekend.

As well as Peterborough on Saturday and Forest, Pintado will miss the trip to Watford and the home game with Sheffield Wednesday.

PAULO SOUSA could be pressed into handing Dutch star Ferrie Bodde his big Swansea City comeback this Saturday as he deals with a double injury scare.

Bodde has not been seen in a Swans shirt since September when his first start after returning from a serious knee injury ended in agony.

Bodde limped off after just eight minutes of the Liberty Stadium clash with Sheffield United on September 26 having damaged the same knee ligaments he first ruptured 15 months earlier.

It had been initially feared the £5m-rated playmaker would miss the entire Championship campaign.

But the 27-year-old avoided a second operation on the knee and completed an intensive rehabilitation programme to return to the first-team picture, taking his place on the bench for last weekend’s 1-0 win at Derby.

Bodde was not used in the victory at Pride Park – but could now be thrust into action against Peterborough with injury doubts over central midfield duo Joe Allen and Andrea Orlandi.

Orlandi is believed to be nursing a hamstring problem after limping off just 15 minutes into the fiery clash with Derby.

And Wales international Allen is a doubt after he was forced off following a horror tackle from the Rams’ Jay McEveley.

Both underwent scans yesterday, but it is not yet known how long the pair are out for.

But it is doubtful they will be in contention for the visit of bottom-of-the-table Posh.

Sousa’s concerns in the centre of the park could be added to should Leon Britton not shake off the back complaint that has seen him miss the last three games.

Mark Gower can deputise in the middle, but it remains to be seen whether Sousa can call on Jordi Lopez, the Spaniard absent for the past month with an unspecified injury.

Ashley Williams and Jazz Richards have both featured in midfield this season, but both will be needed at the back with Garry Monk out of the Peterborough game with a calf injury, Fede Bessone, out with a similar problem, and Albert Serran sidelined with a hamstring injury.

There has been no update on the availability of long-term injury victims Cedric van der Gun and Craig Beattie meaning Sousa’s squad will be stretched for the arrival of a side yet to record an away win this term.

And it could force Sousa’s hand by reintroducing Bodde to the fray, a player who has managed just 52 minutes in more than a year.

Bodde needed reconstructive surgery after he injured his cruciate ligaments against Birmingham in November 2008 and mustered three substitute appearances earlier this season before returning to the sidelines.

But he has insisted he has returned stronger this time around after teaming up with former Den Haag coach Rob Meppelink, who oversaw his rehab in Holland.

Sousa has already acknowledged Swansea’s play-off hopes can be boosted if Bodde returns to form for the end-of-season run-in, the former Holland youth international one of the star performers in the club’s first year back in the second tier.

Despite his injury concerns, Bodde’s performances last term were enough to tempt Bolton Wanderers into a big-money bid last summer, while former Liberty chief Roberto Martinez also made a £4m offer after his switch to Wigan.

But the player has spoken of his desire to fire Swansea into the top flight – and could get his chance to aid their top-six hopes on Saturday.

Fellow midfielder Darren Pratley is fully fit having been nominated for the Championship’s PFA player of the month for the fourth successive time.

Pratley is Swansea’s leading scorer this term after his strike against Plymouth last week.

HUW Jenkins believes the key to winning the ultimate promotion is exactly the same now as it was when Swansea City achieved the feat almost three decades ago.

And Jenkins is confident Paulo Sousa's current crop can join Swansea's most celebrated side in the history books by delivering a place in the top flight.

"Football is a simple game," the Swansea chairman says.

"Clubs are always looking to do things differently, trying this or that in the hope that it will improve them.

"But in my view, nothing has really changed in football compared to the way things were 50 years ago.


Spirit

"Okay the game is a bit faster and players look after themselves better, but success is still about team spirit.

"Football is not about individuals.

"It's not about how much money you spend on certain players because, as many clubs have proved, paying big transfer fees brings no guarantee that you will do well.

"What you do is build a team and find players who will suit that team.

"There is no secret that at Swansea City our players stick to a certain pattern of play and that has worked very well for us."

So well, in fact, that Swansea are serious contenders to be crowned the achievers of the season in the Championship.

It is no great surprise to see the likes of Newcastle and West Brom competing for automatic promotion, while Nottingham Forest looked a decent bet last summer given their combination of shrewd manager and financial clout.

But Swansea in fourth? Even blind optimists wearing black and white would have needed some convincing in pre-season.

"We have to be pleased and proud of what we have achieved so far this year when you consider what happened last summer," Jenkins concedes.

"What went on could have sent us backwards many years, but what we have done just emphasises the spirit we have within this club."

And so while Roberto Martinez frets over staying in the Premier League, Sousa's Swansea are contemplating what it would be like to get there.

Competing in the same division as Manchester United, Chelsea and the rest was not on the agenda at the Liberty six months ago, but a remarkable run of two defeats in 26 league games has Swansea believing.

Garry Monk, Alan Tate and Leon Britton could conceivably do in the next couple of months what Alan Curtis, Robbie James and Leighton James did in 1981.

"When you watch us play, you can see the belief is there and the character is there for us to do whatever we want to do," Jenkins adds.

"Anything is possible over the next 14 games.

"I know a lot of other clubs will believe that as well, but the belief is certainly there within our squad.

"Players like Garry Monk and Alan Tate have grown into very strong characters within our club, which is fantastic.

"And you'd say that every player has really contributed. That's part of the reason why the spirit within the team is getting stronger and stronger."

Swansea have found extra resilience this season, and anything they do achieve will be based on their stubborn rearguard.

The goals rarely flow for Sousa's team, but that is not a problem because they concede so sporadically.

Much of the credit for that must go to the man in the dugout.

"I'm not saying we wanted to be in the position where we had to look for a new manager last summer," Jenkins continues.

"But once that opportunity presented itself, we felt there was a chance to add certain ingredients we lacked last season.

"We wanted to find someone who could add something while sticking with the strong football philosophy which we always want to keep.

"We knew we needed a level of will to win.

"We needed to toughen up, to be more physical and to compete.

"We brought Paulo in and I think he has grown into the job.

"He is a strong personality who knows what he wants.

"He demands a winning mentality and I think that has got through to the players."

If Sousa has played a central role in making Swansea hard to beat, Jenkins feels the club's owners are reaping the benefits of their approach over the last few years.

Having climbed from League Two to the second tier, Jenkins and Co have resisted the temptation to throw money at an attempt to emulate John Toshack's Swansea team.

Instead, impressively, they have found a way of competing in a division where there are some big transfer fees and fat wage packets without splashing too much cash themselves.

"We have always had strong a belief that we do the right things," says Jenkins.

"We make sure we keep everybody's feet on the floor, which is the common sense approach.

"No matter who is here, we always remember that there is nobody bigger than Swansea City.

"We try to keep that attitude running throughout the club and the players have responded to that.

"They enjoy playing for Swansea."

As Jenkins the businessman might say, a happy workforce is a productive one.

Swansea's current staff could soon produce something very special.

A THIRD of the season to go and four points between them – but the decisive numbers could be in the dressing room for Cardiff and Swansea’s promotion hopes.

Perfectly placed as the end of season approaches, there is little to separate the Welsh rivals occupying two of the Championship’s top six spots.

Yet, while there seems to be an energy about Swansea right at this moment in time, that cannot be said of the Bluebirds.

Tired, jaded, leggy – words that have cropped up when casting an eye over recent outings from Dave Jones’ men.

And perhaps it is not surprising when glancing at the bodies available to the two bosses.

Jones has admitted on more than one occasion that he has needed fresh faces in at Leckwith – a claim backed up when you see only one other club has used fewer players than Cardiff this term.

Sousa, on the other hand, has been able to tinker and rotate from game to game, using a total of 32 players on the way.

Should it be any wonder that one squad appears in a better shape for the final furlong?

Yet has this happened by accident?

Jones made the conscious decision to go for strength up front when shelling out a huge sum of money on re-signing Michael Chopra, the majority of his pre-season budget spent on making his switch from Sunderland permanent.

Others came in, but more to replace than reinforce.

And, despite a lack of depth being Jones’ main reason for previous season’s stutterings, he obviously planned to use the January transfer window which has just gone to “kick-on” – only for off-the-field events to deny him that option.

Although he would not have been able to predict the cash crisis that has enveloped Cardiff this winter, it was still a gamble to wait for the window to strengthen his squad.

What it has meant is that the injuries that never seem to leave Leckwith have had a far bigger impact than they have had at their rivals.

But Jones has not been alone in misfortune when it comes to fitness.

Swansea have had their issues – Ferrie Bodde, Darren Pratley, Craig Beattie just three who have had big absences over the campaign – but Sousa’s desire for depth has stopped it becoming a reason – or excuse – for falling away.

While the club’s meagre transfer record has been broken twice, there was no marquee signing after the sale of Jason Scotland, but an influx of several players to give the side a strength in depth.

It has enabled Sousa to not only rest through rotation, but also to vary his team selection based on the demands of a particular game.

A change of system away to Plymouth was certainly a case in point.

But bigger is not always better.

Too many players coming in and out can offer inconsistency (Derby) or give away the lack of direction at a club (QPR, Peterborough).

At the other end of the spectrum, having a small band of men is not always an issue ... as proved by Nottingham Forest.

Whether they have been more fortunate when it comes to fitness than Cardiff is another matter, but Forest’s push for automatic promotion suggests it’s better to be balanced than just simply bigger.

Jones has come under fire for the lopsided nature of his numbers and while the retirement of Ricci Scimeca and the sidelining of Stephen McPhail and Joe Ledley suggest there is sympathy over the central midfield issue, it is difficult to defend a decision to go into the season with only two senior wide midfielders.

Our stats show the breakdown of the two Welsh clubs’ squads – although the figures don’t tell the whole story. Like the number of youngsters included on the respective squad lists, the likes of Johnathan Meades having earned a Cardiff squad number this term.

Things can also be clouded when players such as Ross McCormack can double up in their roles – but for a team that utilises their wide men so well it seems strange Cardiff have not opted for greater options in that area.

Swansea, meanwhile, are certainly being rewarded from being able to chop and change out wide with Nathan Dyer and David Cotterill looking as fresh as daisies at Derby last weekend.

Such factors have enabled Swans supporters to look ahead at the side’s next six games with genuine optimism, starting with relegation-haunted Peterborough on Saturday before a real test of promotion credentials away at aforementioned Forest.

Cardiff, meanwhile, still have the disappointment of Barnsley hanging over them as the look to a batch of six games that includes the visit of former top-flight side Middlesbrough and three away trips, one of which at top-six rivals Leicester.

Yet if there is one thing that could give the Bluebirds a boost is the firepower that Jones has put so much confidence in.

After all, it has been the quality rather than quantity that has put Cardiff in the promotion hunt to begin with.

And, for the many players at Sousa’s disposal, he still needs to find the one man who will start converting the chances and improve their grim goals for record.

Which approach brings the top-six finish each manager covets remains to be seen.

THE Premier League seemed a million miles away when Alan Tate lined up for his Swansea City debut.

Tate made his Swansea bow at Scunthorpe United, the on-loan Manchester United youngster emerging as the visitors' best player in a gloomy 2-0 defeat.
It was November 2002, and the result meant Brian Flynn's Swansea stayed bottom of the Football League.

"It's fair to say that I probably wasn't thinking about playing in the top flight with Swansea then," Tate says.

"We were adrift at the bottom of what is now League Two and, even after we beat Hull to stay up, we still wouldn't have dreamed of the Premier League.

"I probably didn't think it would ever be possible for Swansea back then, but here we are now in with half a chance.

"No-one could have asked for any more than what we have done as a club over the last eight years."

With Kristian O'Leary recently departed, Tate is the sole survivor at Swansea of the side beaten on a bleak day at Glanford Park.

Among his team-mates that afternoon were Matt Murphy, Steve Watkin and Jamie Wood, while there were around 50 fans on the away end.

Scunthorpe were on their way to victory when Jason Smith gave away a penalty which left Swansea raging at the referee.

Some things, it seems, have not changed that much, but Swansea's status has been transformed.

When Tate started out as a Swan, the club were staring into the non-league abyss.

Today they are peering towards the Promised Land that is English football's top division.

When Tate left Manchester United for good in early 2004, joining a Swansea side who remained in the bottom tier, Sir Alex Ferguson told him he had the ability to make it all the way back up.

That seemed a long shot at the time, but now it is genuinely conceivable that Tate could be a Premier League player come August.

"I wouldn't jump the gun," warns Tate. "But it's possible, of course.
"If we can get into the play-offs, there's no reason why we can't go and give it a good go in the two legs of the semi-final and then go on and win the final.

"But for now that's a long way off.

"We have Peterborough on Saturday and then seven games in March, so there is a lot of work to do."

With 14 regular-season fixtures still to come, Swansea need their fine form to continue for a while yet if they are to hang around in the promotion picture.

But excitement and anticipation are increasing week by week right now because of the consistency shown by Paulo Sousa's players.

Unbeaten in their last 11 Championship fixtures, they have lost only two in 26 since a grim reverse at Preston on September 12.

Currently fourth, Swansea's cushion to Blackpool in seventh is six points after last weekend's fine win at Derby.

Looking in the other direction, second-placed Nottingham Forest are now only eight points away, and Swansea have a game in hand.

Automatic promotion would be a sensational achievement but, as Tate accepts, it is not merely a pipe dream with two-and- a-half months of the season to go.
"It's not out of the question," he says.

"We will just try to keep things going along nicely and hopefully, if others slip up, we will be there to take advantage.

"But it's a big ask to get into the top two, and we are not even thinking about that really.

"We are just trying to cement a place in the play-offs, which just shows how far we have come.

"No-one would have given us a prayer of even doing that at the start of the season."

Nor indeed on the sorry trip to Scunthorpe all those years ago.

Huddersfield Town trail young Cliftonville striker - along with Leicester City, Swansea City and Bolton Wanderers

HUDDERSFIELD Town's scouts were reported to have been in Northern Ireland on Saturday keeping tabs on a young striker with a big reputation.

Town's men were among a crowd watching young Cliftonville striker Liam Boyce.

Cliftonville boss Eddie Patterson is predicting a bright future for Boyce, who is still just 18 — and he insists that any cross-channel club that swoops to snap him up won’t be taking a chance.

Town are just one of host of clubs keeping an eye on the 14-goal hitman. Leicester City are already interested, while newspapers in Northern Ireland say it is understood that Swansea City have made an enquiry about the youngster.

Mortonand even Premier League Bolton Wanderers were all represented as Cliftonville, nicknamed the Reds, went down 2-0 against Portadown on Saturday and further scouts are expected to monitor Boyce between now and the end of the season.

“Liam Boyce will be a star,” is Patterson’s bold prediction.

“He has great vision, pace, skill and a scoring touch. Signing him would not be a gamble for any club. With full-time training he would get physically stronger and and although he is technically very good already, that would improve very quickly as well.

“He would really benefit from full-time training and if he gets that he can be as good as anyone.

“We’re aware that Leicester City are interested and Gerry Taggart has watched a number of our games.

“Other clubs have watched him and one has been in touch.”

SWANSEA CITY and Derby County have been charged with failing to control their players in Saturday’s stormy encounter at Pride Park.

An 18-man brawl erupted during Swansea’s 1-0 win when Gorka Pintado recklessly challenged former Wales midfielder Robbie Savage from behind.

The tackle provoked a furious response from Derby players and Pintado was sent off after some pushing and shoving between the two sets of players.

Derby defender James McEveley was sent off earlier for two bookable offences, though he was fortunate not to see a straight red for his rash tackle on Swans midfielder Joe Allen.

The left-back has been charged with improper conduct following his angry response to being sent off and the charge will be heard by the Football Association on February 25.

A Football Association of Wales statement said Swansea’s charge relates to a “mass confrontation between players from both clubs”.

Swansea have until March 5 to respond to the charge.

Derby were similarly charged by the FA over the same incident, though they have until March 9 to respond to the charge.

Swans winger Nathan Dyer, meanwhile, believes Paulo Sousa’s men must be “clever” when the tackles are flying.

“Sometimes we need to be a bit clever and know when things are right and when they are not,” said Dyer. “But I think emotions start running high when the first tackle goes in and then the rest start going in.

“We’ve just got to try and keep a cool head in those situations.

“There was a couple of sending-offs, which is bad for both teams, but we did well to compose ourselves after that and hold on to the win.

“Derby is always going to be a hard place to come to. We just had to grit our teeth and make sure we came away with a win.”

The victory moved fourth-placed Swansea four points clear of Cardiff, though the Bluebirds do have a game in hand.

And Swansea are now six points above the play-off line – with a game in hand on seventh-placed Blackpool – and rock bottom Peterborough are next up at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.

“It was a massive win for us,” said Dyer. “A few of the teams below us didn’t win so it gives us a bit of a cushion now.

“We can prepare for the next game on Saturday and kick on from there.”

Finnish striker Shefki Kuqi was the match-winner at Derby – the second time his solitary goal has proved crucial following his winner against Crystal Palace.

And Kuqi believes eight wins from the last 14 games will secure Swansea’s place in the Championship play-offs.

“I think 75 or 76 points will guarantee us a place in the play-offs, so there is still plenty of work for us to do,” he said.

“This is a tough, tough league and anything can happen.

“You look at some of the big clubs who are down at the bottom, and also how tight things are in terms of points between the sides up and down the table.

“You might not need as many points as usual to get to the play-offs because it is so tight. Everybody is beating everybody and teams keep dropping points.

“Derby have just beaten Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, and I don’t think you can say at the moment who is going to finish in the play-offs and who will end up in the top two.

“But our job is to keep trying to keep working hard and trying to get as many points as we can from each game we play.

“We have got unbelievable spirit in this team.”

THE Football Association of Wales have charged Swansea City with failing to control their players following an incident in the Championship match at Derby on Saturday.

The charge relates to a mass confrontation between players from both clubs. Separately, the FA have also charged Derby with the same offence.

Derby defender James McEveley has also been charged with improper conduct following his dismissal in the same fixture.

Robbie Savage has branded Swansea striker Gorka Pintado's horror tackle on him at Pride Park as "horrendous" and "idiotic".

The Spanish striker was shown a straight red card just nine minutes after coming on as a substitute in the Swans' 1-0 victory after a cynical lunge on the Derby skipper.

Pintado's challenge led to a mass melee, and Savage felt his team-mates were right to confront the Swansea striker.

"That is one of the worst tackles I have ever seen," Savage said.

"I don't know what he was doing - maybe he was trying to make a name for himself. It's a man's game and I expect bad tackles but not as bad as that. It was horrendous.

"I saw him and heard him coming. If I hadn't seen him and had my foot planted, I would have had a broken leg, without a doubt," he added.

"It was an idiotic challenge and that's a three-game ban from the FA. I hope he appeals and gets another one."

Swansea's Gorka Pintado (sitting) is shown a red card during the melee
Derby and Swansea have been charged with failing to control their players in Saturday's clash at Pride Park.

The charge follows a mass confrontation between both sets of players sparked by Swansea's Gorka Pintado who was sent off for a lunge on Robbie Savage.

Derby have until 9 March to respond to the FA while Swansea have until 5 March to answer to the FA of Wales.

The Rams earlier had James McEveley sent off and he has until Tuesday to reply to an improper conduct charge.

SHEFKI Kuqi reckons the bar may be lowered in the race for the Championship's top six — but wants Swansea City to target a minimum 75 points.

Kuqi, who twice reached the second-tier play-offs with Ipswich Town, believes the competitive nature of the division this season could mean fewer points are required to send Swansea's season into overtime.

But the powerhouse striker is demanding at least 22 points from Swansea's 14 remaining league fixtures to make sure of a play-off spot.

The average points tally required to finish in the top half-dozen at this level over the last 10 season is just 72.4.

But Kuqi said: "I think 75 or 76 points will guarantee us a place in the play-offs so there is still plenty of work for us to do.

"This is a tough, tough league and anything can happen. You look at some of the big clubs who are down at the bottom, and also how tight things are in terms of points between the sides up and down the table.

"In my opinion you might not need as many points as usual to get to the play-offs because it is so tight — everybody is beating everybody and teams keep dropping points.

"Derby have just beaten Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, and I don't think you can say at the moment who is going to finish in the play-offs and who will end up in the top two.

"But our job is to keep trying to work hard and trying to get as many points as we can from each game we play."

Swansea chalked up a maximum at Derby on Saturday thanks to Kuqi's second goal in three starts for the club since arriving during the transfer window.

It was gritty victory at Pride Park, where Swansea were never at their fluent best but still found a way to make it 11 league games without defeat.

"We have got unbelievable spirit in this team and a great attitude," Kuqi added.

"We don't want to lose and, if we keep going like this, anything can happen for us.

"We were disappointed not to win the games against Plymouth and Newcastle, but we showed what we are all about at Derby. A couple of teams have gone there and been punished quite badly, but we showed our desire."

Swansea's success came at a price — Gorka Pintado is facing a four-match ban after being sent off for a wild challenge on Robbie Savage which sparked a mass brawl.

Derby had earlier been reduced to 10 men when Jay McEveley was booked twice in 11 second-half minutes, although the left-back was lucky to escape a straight red when he saw a first yellow for a lunge on Joe Allen.

"I think the reds were both fair, although their guy was lucky not to go for the first challenge," Kuqi said.

"Luckily Joe's leg was in the air and not on the ground, otherwise he could have broken it.

"I don't think Gorka went to hurt Robbie Savage. It looked bad, but I think the one by Shaun Derry on me (at Crystal Palace) the other week was worse and we didn't even get a free-kick."

Swansea are monitoring the fitness of Allen and Andrea Orlandi after both left the field this weekend with hamstring injuries.

They hope Garry Monk and Leon Britton will be available to face Peterborough next Saturday after both missed Derby with back problems.

Getting the headlines, but it's still not for the right reasons

GORKA Pintado's crazy challenge on Robbie Savage meant the focus at Pride Park this weekend was taken away from a fine Swansea City victory.

The Bull's china-shop moment, plus the stampede of Rams which followed, was the chief talking point, leaving Swansea's success to slide under the radar.
But then what, some at the Liberty might ask, is new about that?

Swansea's terrific season continues, yet few outside these parts seem to be paying much attention. Still.

It is as if those on the outside do not believe Paulo Sousa's team will last the pace in the Premier League, that they will no longer be in the picture when the finishing line is in sight.

That may indeed prove to be the case, but it is looking ever more unlikely.

With each week that goes by just now, Swansea look more and more like genuine promotion contenders.

Poor relations they may be in a division where there are many wealthier clubs, but Swansea are in the shake-up for the ultimate prize.

"We are looking good for the play-offs," Sousa conceded for the first time this weekend.

Clever

"We have been in a good position for a long time. We want to stay there, but there are a lot of games still to go. We are going to have to be strong and clever."

There was nothing clever about Pintado's horror tackle on Savage, which made life more difficult for Swansea than it should have been.

A goal and a man to the good in the final quarter, Swansea needed to keep their heads.

Pintado did not manage that, the striker launching into a lunge which had red card written all over it.

Sousa later pointed out that Pintado got a touch on the ball, but this was irrelevant given that he had left the ground and scythed Savage down from behind.

TV pundit Steve Claridge claimed the Spaniard should be banned for four months rather than just four games, the suspension Pintado can expect following his second dismissal of the campaign.

There was certainly nothing pretty about the incident, and what followed was not too clever either.

Midfielder Paul Green and goalkeeper Stephen Bywater led a posse of Derby players in confronting Pintado, who ended up being bundled to the ground.

Swansea's players soon joined in the pushing and shoving, and both clubs can expect a rollicking from their respective Football Associations after stewards and even the police showed an interest in the melee.

Sousa was in antagonistic mood himself afterwards, defiantly suggesting that the officials had let Swansea down once again.

"We played against 14," said the Portuguese, who could face action himself for suggesting the referee and his assistants were on Derby's side.

"We had 12 because our supporters were outstanding. They were a help to us at a difficult place to play.

"Against 14, the win is what we deserved. We are stronger than ever — we are well organised and we are hard to break down even when we have difficult moments in games.

"And we choose the right moments to go and hurt the opposition. It is difficult to beat us."

Swansea must be a seriously tough nut to crack if, as Sousa suggests, an in-form Derby team cannot triumph even with the whistle blowing for them.

Miserable

Referee Steve Tanner had a pretty miserable afternoon, but it was not obvious to those on the outside why Sousa felt so strongly that he had aided the Derby cause.

If there was one big call that went in the hosts' favour, it was Tanner's decision not to dismiss Jay McEveley for an ugly, studs-first challenge on Joe Allen. It was the first of the day's wild tackles, and McEveley was fortunate to escape with a yellow card.

If Swansea were unhappy about that, they were delighted when McEveley's next contribution was a block on Nathan Dyer.

Booked again and shown red, the former Blackburn defender ranted at the ref before putting his boot through Derby's box of water bottles.

Home frustration would very soon intensify, as David Cotterill whipped in the free-kick which followed and Shefki Kuqi headed the only goal of the game off the far post.

Swansea have not often been clinical in the last couple of years, but they certainly were here given that Kuqi's was one of only two sights of goal they had in the whole game.

Derby created a little more, with Rob Hulse denied by a smart Dorus de Vries save and Michael Tonge hitting the bar with a free-kick at the death.

When Shaun Barker spooned the rebound over the top, Swansea were celebrating an 18th clean sheet of their league campaign and an 11th Championship game without defeat.

With a six-point gap to seventh-placed Blackpool, a play-off place is secure for now and, remarkably, the top two are not out of sight.

Pride

"It's very hard to beat us," Sousa reiterated with some pride.

"We have the winning mentality that you need and we are more mature than we have ever been.

"Derby is a difficult environment to come to, but we are ready to come and win these games."

And to do so without the likes of Leon Britton, Garry Monk and Craig Beattie, and despite losing Andrea Orlandi and Joe Allen to injury during the game.

Ferrie Bodde's imminent return — he was an unused substitute here — could be well timed in the circumstances, for Swansea do not want fitness problems to ruin their top-six bid.

They could do without any more needless red cards, too. Victories are hard enough to come by anyway in a league as tight as the Championship.

Swansea should avoid making life trickier for themselves.

OUTSPOKEN former Wales international Robbie Savage has launched a scathing attack on Swansea City’s Gorka Pintado, claiming the Spaniard could have ended his career.

In a fiery encounter at Pride Park, striker Pintado was sent off for a terrible challenge on Savage in the 72nd minute.

And the veteran Derby midfielder was left fuming by a tackle which he believes could easily have broken his leg.

Initially claiming Pintado deserves more than the mandatory three-match ban for a straight red card, a statement he later retracted, Savage was in one of his notoriously feisty moods after the final whistle.

And, while suggesting many fans in British football may have been happy he was on the wrong end of Pintado’s recklessness, he let the Spaniard know exactly what he thought of him.

“That was a career-ending tackle,” he declared. “It was one of the worst I’ve ever seen. It’s a good job I used my experience to get out of the way.

“If I hadn’t done that I would have had a broken leg and that would have ended my career.

“He should get banned for more than three games for that.

“I play on the edge but that was terrible. He knew he had to go.”

Blaming Pintado – who declined to comment after the game – for the 18-man brawl that followed the incident, Savage said: “If the guy hadn’t lunged from 40 yards, two-footed and thigh-high, that wouldn’t have happened.

“Most people will be glad it was on me. But what I want to see, as captain, is all my teammates coming in and sticking up for me.”

Savage, already unpopular with Swans fans because of his well-publicised spat with club legend and Wales boss John Toshack, also took a swipe at manager Paulo Sousa.

The Swansea boss was less than impressed with Derby’s robust challenges and the fact referee Steve Tanner regularly let them go unpunished.

But, as far as Savage was concerned, the Portuguese was complaining too much.

“Paulo Sousa was on the sideline, appealing for everything,” he said. “But it’s a man’s game.

“That’s why I got up and shook Pintado’s hand. I wasn’t hurt so I got up. I might get a bit of credit for that. But I doubt it.”

As for what he thought of the game itself, in which Rams defender Jay McEveley also saw red, Savage added: “We’re disappointed with the result.

“But Swansea are a good team. It was a horrible game. The pitch wasn’t conducive to playing good football and the atmosphere was quiet.

“Nothing really happened, apart from the sendings off and a 1-1 would have been fair. Nobody deserved to win.”

AN 18-man brawl is not something you ever want to see on a football pitch. But, for Swansea City this season, it seems even the most unsavoury scenes can have a silver lining.

No-one condones the mass ruck that marred this precious victory.

And, with both the police and stewards having to get involved to break up the angry melee, there’s every danger charges of failing to control their players could soon follow for both clubs.

But for Swansea supremo Paulo Sousa, there were two clear positives to take from the incident as he tries to steer his troops to a top-six finish.

Not only is the Swans fighting spirit clearly as strong as ever, but it also seems his talented squad are fiercely united in a common cause when it comes to scrapping for every point available.

While they still have the capacity to play some of the best football in the league, the soft underbelly that sometimes undermined last season’s campaign is gone.

Sousa has retained much of the flair that typified predecessor Roberto Martinez’s reign, but he has also added a gritty determination, a darker side to the men in white, that has seen them almost master the art of winning ugly.

As anyone who saw this game, in which both sides were reduced to 10 men, will testify, the football isn’t always as good to watch.

But, in a business where results are all that really matters, a look at the Championship table has tended to be much better viewing this season.

With emotions boiling over following a horrendous 72nd-minute tackle from Gorka Pintado on Robbie Savage, the steely side of Swansea was definitely tested to its limit.

But, as stand-in skipper Alan Tate proudly pointed out, while a mass brawl may get his team in trouble, the all-for-one mentality it illustrated could go a long way to getting them promoted.

“This was definitely a prime example of how this team will always fight for each other,” he said.

“We have got a good team spirit amongst us and we have really needed it this season.

“In games like this one in particular, when it felt like we were up against 14 men, our togetherness has been vital.

“We’ve learnt to deal with these things and we don’t shirk the challenges.

“Even when you look at what happened in the corner (with the fight), it just shows we all stick together.

“The spirit that we have got is unbelievable and it is getting us through games.”

Acknowledging the need for that spirit as the Swans fended off a late Derby onslaught that saw Michael Tonge’s 89th-minute free-kick crash off the crossbar, Tate admitted it wasn’t the prettiest of games.

“We had the grit to get through it – and it says a lot about this team,” he said.

“We are showing we can mix our game up and that is vitally important.”

Among Tate’s comments, one key point stands out. The experienced defender’s suggestion that Swansea were against 14 men was a very thinly-veiled blast at referee Steve Tanner and his assistants – whose respective performances should be one of the main talking points.

While all players involved in the brawl must accept they responded poorly, much of the blame must be firmly put at Tanner’s feet.

In a game with few other talking points, his awful display allowed tensions to simmer and, when he could have nipped any trouble in the bud, his poor decisions inevitably just made things worse.

After an uneventful first half, dictated by the dismal condition of Derby’s pitch, the game sparked to life for all the wrong reasons.

Tanner had been letting late or poor tackles go unpunished and, as the foul count gradually increased, it was only a matter of time before someone went too far.

That man was Rams defender Jay McEveley shortly before the hour mark. Having lost the ball to David Cotterill, the Scotsman’s rash attempt to win it back saw a ridiculously high foot send Joe Allen crashing to the floor.

As the young midfielder writhed in agony, Tanner rushed over and went straight to his pocket seemingly ready to give McEveley the red card he deserved.

Inexplicably the Somerset-based official only produced a yellow, though, clearly enraging the Swans and leaving them with a deep sense of injustice.

In the end, McEveley was dismissed 10 minutes later when he received a second yellow for an off-the-ball challenge on Nathan Dyer.

And, while the resulting free-kick saw Shefki Kuqi expertly head home Cotterill’s cross, Tanner’s lenience had done the damage. Bad blood was always going to spill over.

That proved to be the case when Pintado, with a challenge that was as needless and stupid as it was dangerous, took out Savage.

The angry undercurrent Tanner had allowed to develop erupted and the consequences ensured it wouldn’t be football that stole the headlines.

“The tackle on Joe was probably 10 times worse than Gorka’s,” Tate claimed.

“The lad has gone way above the ball and could seriously have hurt a good, young player’s career.

“It was a bad challenge that deserved a red. If Gorka got sent off, I have no idea why he didn’t for that challenge. You just want consistency.”

Sousa, refusing to go into specifics about the two sendings-off, added: “This was like playing against 14 men – but we had 12 men because our supporters were outstanding.

“They helped us once more because this was very difficult for us.

“It was difficult to play on this pitch and we played against 14.

“But we got what we deserved. I was looking for our spirit and we saw it.”

Asked what he thought of Sousa’s comments about the referee, Rams boss Nigel Clough wryly responded: “I think I will let Paulo explain that one to the FA on his own.”

The Swans boss may well have some explaining to do. But, even if any disciplinary charges come his or the club’s way, the fact Swansea have the stomach for a fight is all that really matters for the next three months.

Swansea goal-scorer Shefki Kuqi says Derby County's James McEveley should have been sent off earlier in their fiery clash at Pride Park on Saturday.

The Swans were in disbelief as McEveley was yellow carded for a bad tackle on Joe Allen. But McEveley was then sent off for a challenge on Nathan Dyer.

Gorka Pintado was also banished for his bad challenge on Robbie Savage, which the Swans did not contest.

"It should have been a straight red [for McElevey]," said Kuqi.

"But he got away with it. I don't think he [Pintado is] that type of player but Savage got straight up.

"I don't think he meant to hurt him. I'm pleased it wasn't anything bad.

"He's going to be suspended for a couple of games but I'm sure he'll be back again."

The Rams were furious at the Pintado challenge on Savage and their their players had to be restrained as a mass brawl involving at least 18 players was sparked.


Angel Rangel cannot believe James McEveley was not sent off for his challenge on Joe Allen
But Pintado was the only player referee Steve Tanner took action against.

"He should get banned for more than three games for that tackle, that was horrendous," a furious Savage told the BBC.

Finnish international Kuqi's second-half header off David Cotterill's free kick kept Paul Sousa's men on course for the play-offs.

He joined ahead of the January transfer window deadline following ill-fated move to Germany from Crystal Palace and says the move has been good for him.

"I'm really pleased, not just because of the goal but because of the three points after the lads put in so much effort," said the 33-year-old.

"We've been practising free kicks and corners every day in training and it paid off.

"We've got a really good group here, the gaffer has created an unbelievable atmosphere.

"I'm really happy to be part of this team. We're looking for a really exciting end of season.

"I had other options when I came here. But there was something that clicked with me straight away.

"I'm really happy to be here now."

SWANSEA CITY showed they will be no play-off pushovers this year after standing up to Derby’s bully-boy tactics and bagging a big victory at Pride Park.

The Swans saw their top-six hopes disappear last season when they were knocked off their stylish stride by rivals looking to rough them up.

But here Paulo Sousa’s side showed they won’t fall for the same trick twice as Shefki Kuqi’s second-half header helped the visitors rise above it all to take the three points.

Swansea showed a steel to hold their nerve when the clash descended into chaos, starting when Jay McEveley was given his marching orders on 65 minutes and reaching boiling point when Gorka Pintado joined him in an early bath just seven minutes later.

The latter sparked an 18-man brawl that could yet have repercussions for both sides, Derby goalkeeper Stephen Bywater lucky not to be caught in the act when he appeared to lash out at Pintado.

But if Sousa gets a letter on his desk for failing to control his players for the brawl that saw stewards having to intervene, it’s doubtful the Portuguese will be too bothered.

Yes, he insisted he wants his players to keep emotions in check – and it’s likely Pintado will get an earful about keeping his Latin temperament under control.

But there will be a sense of pride that there is a willingness to stand up and carry on with the passing game whatever the Championship throws at Swansea from now until the end of the season.

Doing just that at Pride Park kept Swansea in fourth – and a healthy six points clear of seventh with a game in hand – thanks to Kuqi’s second goal since arriving last month.

And while there will still be the concerns over a lack of goals for a top-six side, if the flying Finn can be at the right place at the right time in contests of little chances then it will matter little.

There wasn’t much for either goalkeeper to do here as the majority of the action took place between the goalmouths rather than in them.

But when David Cotterill swung in the free-kick that followed McEveley’s red card, Kuqi’s glancing header found the right side of the post and gave Swansea the lead to hold on to. It also gave the 33-year-old an excuse to showcase his iconic Swan-dive celebration – right in front of the travelling support who seemed to recognise just what an important win this may be.

Not because they had beaten a rival for the play-off spaces – although Derby’s recent wins over Newcastle and Preston suggests they are one of the teams to beat right now – but because the way their side showed they can fight fire with fire when they have to and come away with a result.

The fact they would have to be prepared for a battle might have been obvious before the kick-off with former Wales midfield pain Robbie Savage at the heart of the home team.

Ready to run and run and run, Savage typified the work the hosts were prepared to do to stop Swansea gaining any early rhythm.

Although it was 100mph with little room for skill, it was an enthusiastic approach that was clearly having an effect and doing its bit to disrupt Sousa’s side.

Paul Green was copying his captain in harassing every player in a Swans shirt, while the visitors were not helping matters by dropping deeper and deeper without keeping any noteworthy possession.

A good 35 minutes had gone before Swansea finally found their feet and began to knock the ball around, but Derby had definitely been enjoying the better of things.

Yet they had not worked any openings past the centre-back pairing of Alan Tate and Ashley Williams, superb in their decision-making with Garry Monk laid up following a back spasm.

In response, the little kicks from Derby had been building up and would only get worse after the interval when Savage began to show tired legs and allowed the likes of Joe Allen the time to start slowing and sparking passing moves.

But referee Steve Tanner had refused to take a control of things, fussy when he needn’t have been, not firm enough when things began to get cynical rather than simply physical.

And there is little doubt McEvely should have gone for his 54th-minute leg-breaker on Allen, a horrible challenge that Savage and Green somehow felt the need to defend.

He was instead given a yellow but Nathan Dyer sensed an opening, teasing the full-back down the wing as McEvely walked the tightrope, his cross on the hour having to be scrambled away.

Then came the turning point, McEveley and Dyer tangling off the ball and the second yellow brandished – prompting a tantrum of schoolyard proportions from the Scotland international, screaming abuse at the linesman before kicking out as he made his way down the tunnel.

His reaction almost suggested he had been hard done by – although he had waived the right to complain following that first challenge on Allen.

But the double punishment for Derby came when Kuqi rose to flick Cotterill’s free-kick home seconds later.

With Swansea very much on top, their control was needlessly risked when Pintado foolishly dived into a challenge on Savage at the corner flag.

Yet how there weren’t more sendings-off after the brawl only Somerset official Tanner can answer, while the authorities may choose to examine video evidence before the week is out.

Swansea recovered to keep their heads – deserving the slice of luck when Michael Tonge’s late free-kick struck the woodwork before the rebound was put over by Shaun Barker with just two minutes left.

Derby manager Nigel Clough defended his players after they were involved in another mass brawl in an ill-tempered 1-0 defeat to Swansea at Pride Park.

At least 18 players were involved in a melee near Derby’s right corner flag sparked by a wild two-footed lunge from substitute Gorka Pintado on Robbie Savage.

Pintado was sent off and although referee Steve Tanner took no action against any of the other players involved, Derby could still be in trouble because they are already facing an FA charge after a touchline flare-up during last month’s game against Nottingham Forest.

But Clough, who had earlier seen Jay McEveley sent off for a second yellow card, said: “Our players did nothing out of order.

“The officials were right there in the corner when it all kicked off and didn’t show one yellow card to any other player.

“They are right there and didn’t see anything at all and they are the ones who are meant to be in control of it.

“We don’t want our players to walk away from that situation, we expect them to support their team-mate in the manner they did.

“No-one wants punches thrown or anything like that but they are entitled to be there to support a player, especially after a tackle like that.”

On the two dismissal, Clough added: “Jay has said the little lad (Nathan Dyer) just ran into him but I don’t think there was any dispute about the second one.

“It was a two-footed challenge from behind, feet off the floor and I think that in itself led to the problems in the corner.”

Swansea manager Paulo Sousa made a thinly disguised attack on the officials when he said: “We played against 14 but we had 12.

“Our supporters were outstanding to help us on a difficult pitch, it was difficult to play like I said against 14.

“We showed our spirit more than ever and it is difficult to beat us, we are well organised and I am very happy and proud of our lads.”

When asked about the sending-off of Pintado, he said: “I don’t want to speak about that. I say we play against 14 and I don’t want to explain.

“I have already spoken with the players. We need to control our emotions much better. If we control our emotions we don’t commit stupid fouls.”

There was no sign of what was to come in a first half that was largely forgettable but the game threatened to boil over shortly after the interval.

McEveley was fortunate not to be sent off for a late lunge on Joe Allen in the 54th minute but received his marching orders for a second yellow 10 minutes later when he dragged down Dyer out on the Swansea right.

McEveley was furious at the decision and kicked over the drink bottles on his way to the tunnel but his team were trailing by the time he reached the dressing room.

David Cotterill swung the ball to the back post where Shefki Kuqi glanced a header inside the right post.

But Swansea were down to 10 men in the 70th minute when Pintado’s lunge was rightly punished.

Swansea regained their discipline enough to stretch their unbeaten run to 11 Championship games, although Derby came close to an equaliser in the 89th minute when a Michael Tonge free-kick from 25 yards rattled the crossbar.

PAULO SOUSA hit out at referee Steve Tanner following his side's 1-0 victory at Derby County.

Tanner sent off Jay McEveley for the hosts and Gorka Pintado for the Swans, failing to prevent an 18-man brawl with punches thrown.

"This was like playing against 14 men - but we had 12 men because our supporters were outstanding. They helped us once more because this was very difficult for us," said Sousa.

"It was difficult to play on this pitch and we played against 14 - but we got what we deserved. I was looking for our spirit and we saw it.

"We are strong, we are well organised and we are hard to beat - and we can choose the right moments to win., We know we can score more, we know we have to have more quality in some of our decision-making - but I am proud."

"It's hard to beat us, we've reinforced that now. Expectations come with our results but we know our position and what we want to achieve.

"We have a winning mentality and there is a long way to go - but we have stayed in the top six for a long time and we have shown our maturity."

Sousa admitted Ferrie Bodde will soon be ready for a start after he was named on the bench at Pride Park, but there will be scans on hamstring victims Andrea Orlandi and Joe Allen this morning.

SWANSEA CITY star Angel Rangel has confirmed he has signed a one-year contract extension with the club.

And, adamant all has been forgiven and forgotten after his recent transfer stand-off, the Spaniard immediately insisted he is now fully focused on helping to bring Premiership football to the Liberty Stadium.

Rangel, widely considered to be one of the Swans’ prize assets, triggered an automatic extension to his current deal when he made his 23rd start of the season against Plymouth on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old, who signed from Spanish minnows Terrassa two and a half years ago, is now contracted to stay in South Wales until the summer of 2011.

While the extension, which has been well documented in recent months, will come as little surprise to Swans fans, the fact Rangel was so happy to sign it might. It was only three weeks ago that the highly-rated right-back publicly blasted chairman Huw Jenkins, accusing him of stalling his career by rejecting a deadline-day bid from Premiership regulars Fulham.

Suggesting he was wrong to speak out, Rangel claims any fall-out from that day is now in the past, though. And, with his short-term future secured, he is determined to make the most of life at the Liberty.

“I am very happy to sign the extension,” he declared. “It was never a concern for me.

“I have always said that Swansea gave me my opportunity in British football and I am so grateful for it. Now I see the opportunity to reach the Premiership with Swansea, which has always been my aim.

“Apart from a few days at the end of January, that has always been my main focus.

“Two seasons ago I wouldn’t have believed I would be in this position, but we have been in the play-offs for a while and really do have a good chance to get promoted.

“The good thing at Swansea is that not many players have been in the Premiership so everyone is really hungry to get there. It would be a dream for everyone here and it’s very exciting.

“Instead of moving on and trying another club, the best thing in the world would be reaching the Premiership with Swansea. I think everyone is working hard towards that and I am very happy to be a part of it.”

Adamant he has moved on from his deadline-day disappointment, Rangel continued: “Before everything happened in January, I said I was looking forward to getting my extension. The Fulham thing is now forgotten and I was glad to sign.

“Fortunately I have played the 23 games (to get the extra year). I am just happy to have it sorted.

“The team is doing well, we are in a good position in the table and I’m back in the starting XI again. That’s important to me and I feel everything is going really well.

“I never thought about leaving Swansea, but, when the chance came, there was only one day to think about it and it was a difficult situation. Perhaps I shouldn’t have spoken to the press about it, but everyone makes mistakes.

“Everything is forgotten now anyway. I am 100 per cent happy here and looking forward to enjoying my football.”

As well as expressing his happiness at earning an extension, Rangel also moved to clarify any confusion over the automatic nature of his extra year. There had initially been some suggestion that he could choose whether or not to accept it, but the Spaniard revealed he always knew that wasn’t the case.

While admitting he didn’t fully understand some of the complex legal terms used in his contract, Rangel insists he got the deal he wanted at the last round of negotiations.

He always wanted the security of a third year and, providing he started 23 games, knew he would get it.

“The contract is written in English legal terms which is quite difficult to understand,” he explained. “You need lawyers for it. But, when I signed the new deal, I asked for three years. They gave me two with an option of one more which was what I wanted. So I am happy with what has happened.

“And I always knew that, if I played the 23 games, I would get the extra year.

“It was never like I had the option to sign or not sign. It was automatic and I always knew that.”

Hoping the extension will put any speculation surrounding his future to bed, at least in the short-term, Rangel is now focussed on getting back to top form with the Swans.

The Spaniard admits he hasn’t hit the heights of his previous two campaigns this season and is desperate to get back on track.

He is quick to point out the drop in form is completely unrelated to any uncertainty over his future, though.

Adamant his mind has always been on doing the best job possible for Swansea, Rangel believes the fact he spent much of the summer recovering from a painful heel injury was the true cause of his difficulties.

“You have to remember that, because of my injury, I didn’t have any pre-season training,” he said. “I came straight back into games and it took a while to get my fitness back.

“Then, once I had it back, I played for a couple of months without stopping and the heel was a slight problem again.

“I had a couple of weeks rest in January, though, and I feel much better for it.”

Hoping to get back to his best for the business end of the season, he continued: “I definitely don’t think the speculation affected my performances.

“Obviously I have not had as good a season as my first two, but I am doing my best and giving 100 per cent for the club.

“That’s the most important thing for both the club and myself.

“Now I have a great chance to keep my place in the team and I’m looking forward to playing as many games as possible.”

Spanish defender Angel Rangel has committed his future to Swansea City by signing a one-year contract extension at the Liberty Stadium.

The full-back's deal was due to expire at the end of the season and he was the subject of interest from Fulham during the January transfer window.

Rangel had expressed his disappointment at being denied the chance to join the Premier League club, but has now opted to stay with Swansea.

He was entitled to a new 12-month contract once he had started 23 games in the Championship this season, with the Spaniard reaching that figure in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Plymouth Argyle.

Rangel, who has made in excess of 120 appearances since joining Swansea from Terrassa in 2007, is delighted to have resolved his future.

"I am very happy to sign the extension," the 27-year-old told the club's official website.

"I have always said that Swansea gave me my opportunity in British football and I am so grateful for it, and now my aim is to reach the Premier League with the club.

"And now I have played the 23 games I am just happy to have it sorted."

ASHLEY Williams insists Swansea City will head to Derby a stronger team in the wake of their Plymouth choker.

Swansea were left furious and frustrated by the twice-taken penalty which cost them victory at Home Park.

It was the second time in four days Paulo Sousa's side conceded an equaliser in the dying minutes of a match after last Saturday's draw with Newcastle.
But Wales defender Williams claims the double disappointment has galvanised Swansea ahead of their trip to play the in-form Rams.

"The gaffer summed it up when he said on Tuesday and last Saturday, 'this can only make us stronger'," said Williams.

"We're all together a little bit more, we're in the trenches a little bit and it'll make us stronger as a team.

"We only got one point from Plymouth, but the frustrating thing is we don't feel it's because of anything we've done.

"We got our goal, we defended like men and then the lead got taken away from us."

Swansea took the lead at Argyle through Darren Pratley early in the second half and stood up well to a physical Plymouth response.

But Andrea Orlandi handled with three minutes to go and after Dorus de Vries saved Jamie Mackie's penalty, referee Keith Hill ordered a retake and Damien Johnson netted at the second attempt.

"I think Plymouth should concede that in the second half, the referee spoilt the game," said Williams. "I don't know what he was thinking because you watch 100 penalties and goalkeepers come off their line.

"I'm sure if every penalty decision where the goalkeeper strayed off the line got pulled up, they wouldn't do it.

"Dorus has pulled off two brilliant saves and the second one went straight back to their player. That's something we couldn't do anything about."

Williams added: "It wasn't just the second penalty. The number of times he gave them a foul was just embarrassing.

"Any kind of decision he was giving to them and it seemed like we were going to play until they scored a goal.

"But their players were happy with a draw at home, so maybe it shows how far we've come."

Paulo Sousa says star midfielder Ferrie Bodde is ready to return to first team action with Swansea City after five months out with a knee injury.

The £5m-rated Dutchman scored in a 59-minute appearance for the reserves on Wednesday, although he insists he does not want to rush back.

But Swans boss Sousa has refused to rule out including him in Saturday's trip to in-form Derby County.

"He is ready to play, he is training with us every day," said Sousa.

"Like at the rest of the squad and he can be in the first 11, but we will see what happens.

"We will think what is the best strategy [for Derby] and choose the best players to start the game against them."

Bodde returned last September from 10 months out with cruciate ligament damage but but two weeks after making his comeback in a reserve match, he pulled up eight minutes into his first league start in the 2-1 win over Sheffield United.

It was first thought the 28-year-old had suffered a reoccurrence, but a second scan revealed he did not need an operation and Bodde underwent rehabilitation in his homeland.

Throughout his rehabilitation he trained six days a week with Dutch fitness expert Rob Meppelink for six hours a day in a bid to return to full strength.

And now former ADO Den Haag player Bodde is hopeful of playing again before the end of the campaign and helping the Swans fight for promotion to the Premier League.


Swansea City defender Ashley Williams
"I'm feeling fit at the moment but I want to take it slowly," he said last month.

Fourth-place Swansea, unbeaten in 10, would welcome in-demand Bodde's return for the final run-in as they push for a place in the Premier League.

Bodde was the subject of two failed £4.5m bids from Wigan and a lower bid from Bolton in the summer despite still being out at the time from his original injury suffered in November 2009.

But he remains at the Liberty Stadium and it is expected he would at best earn a place on the bench for Saturday's trip to in-form Derby.

The Rams have taken 10 points from the last 12 including home wins against Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United.

"It will be much more tough than when we played them at the Liberty [a 1-0 win in November]," added Sousa.

"The have reinforced themselves, they are stronger, more aggressive and have great quality.

"Hopefully we can get what we want in the end - three points."

A team of Alan Tates? Great at the back — but not so strong up front


ALAN Tate chuckles at the prospect of Swansea City fans ever seeing their dream become reality.

"I'm not sure that a team of Alan Tates would actually be much good," he says.
The song Swansea's supporters have taken to singing got its latest airing at Plymouth Argyle in midweek after Tate made a crucial clearance.

Inspired by Liverpool's 'Team of Carraghers' and sung to the tune of Yellow Submarine, the Welsh version is about dreaming of a whole starting side made up of Tates.

"I love it when the fans sing it — it makes me laugh," Tate adds.

Singing

"The Swansea fans have been great to me ever since I first came down here and it's nice for any player to hear them singing his name.

"But I don't know how many results a team of Alan Tates would get.

"We'd try hard, that's for sure, but we probably wouldn't be that pretty to watch.

"I'm not bad in goal and I've played all across the back four, so we might get the odd clean sheet.

"But I'm not sure what would happen when we went forward.

"There might be a couple of long-range efforts, and we might score one goal every season or two.

Effort

"We would be closing down all the time and there would be plenty of effort and tackles going in, but our finishing wouldn't be up to much."

Tate speaks with a smile which reflects the fact that he has plenty be happy about.

Well settled in these parts despite having roots in the North East, Swansea's utility man showed his commitment by agreeing a new deal which should eventually run for five years last summer.

And life is good under Paulo Sousa, for whom Tate is one of the first names on the team sheet each week.

Consistency was not always Tate's strongest suit in his early career, but these days he can be relied upon to put in a shift every time Swansea take the field.

Hence the manager keeps on picking him — he has been left out of only one league game this season by choice — and hence supporters sing that song.

"I think the fans know that there will be nobody trying harder than I do on the pitch," Tate says.

"Yes, I will come up against better players than me at times, but I don't think I'll ever face someone who has got a bigger heart.

"The desire to do well is a big thing for me and I think the fans recognise that."

Whether it's at left-back or in central defence, Tate will get his next chance to fight for the cause at Derby County tomorrow.

Swansea head to Pride Park with mixed feelings after two draws that might easily have been victories.

"To have the penalty retaken at Plymouth was really disappointing, as was the fact that the second rebound dropped straight back to their player," Tate concedes.

"Anywhere else and we would have cleared it and been celebrating the win we deserved.

"You don't mind the Newcastle equaliser as much, because that came from a good cross and a good header.

"But it's frustrating to have lost four points over the two games, because they would have put us in with a shout of automatic promotion.

"As it is at the moment, we are still scrapping to secure a play-off place."

The fact that Swansea players are even mentioning the Championship's top two in February is remarkable when you consider how this season started.

In truth automatic promotion looks a long shot given the power of the current top three, although the next five weeks will tell us much more about what Swansea might achieve.

"We've got Derby and then Peterborough left in February and then we've got seven games in March," Tate points out.

Ridiculous

"Seven in one month is ridiculous really, but we have to deal with it because March will go a long way towards deciding where we end up.

"Apart from Christmas, this is going to be the most important period in our season and we just have to hope that we have everyone fit."

Their return dates will be staggered, but the likes of Leon Britton, Ferrie Bodde, Craig Beattie and Cedric van der Gun could all be back involved soon.

If that lot represent the cavalry, the good news is that Swansea are already doing very nicely without them — even if this week has left a sour taste.

Swansea's extraordinary shut-out record might have been even better than it is ahead of the Derby trip, but their defence remains the foundation for any success which may come this spring.

"We could have had another two clean sheets, but 17 so far in the league is not too bad," Tate says.

"I don't want to curse anything so I'm not going to say any more, but we've done okay defensively.

Record

"I'm not just talking about the back four — it's the whole team who have earned that record."

A team where there is only one Alan Tate, but one that could yet realise that other Swansea fans' dream — Premier League football.

SWANSEA CITY have been handed a huge boost after Dutch ace Ferrie Bodde made a goalscoring return to action with the club’s reserve team.

Bodde, who is understood to be targeting a return to first-team action by the end of the month, took just 23 minutes to find the net during a 2-1 win over Bristol City reserves.

The skilful midfielder collected Daniel Sheehan’s pass before firing a clinical finish into the bottom corner from just outside the box.

While the goal, and numerous other glimpses of his true class, will naturally be a huge confidence boost to Bodde, it was not the biggest positive to come from yesterday’s clash at the Gnoll.

The fact the influential 28-year-old came through 59 minutes of action unscathed will be far more important to Swans boss Paulo Sousa and everyone at the Liberty Stadium.

After suffering a recurrence of his cruciate knee injury back in September, Bodde has spent the last five months on the sidelines.

And, with his previous first-team comeback lasting just nine minutes, the club are understandably cautious about his return this time around.

The player himself recently admitted that, while scans and specialists were saying everything was fine, he still didn’t completely trust his knee.

Bodde insisted he needed to test himself in competitive action and specifically targeted yesterday’s clash with the Robins’ second string.

Having passed the test with ease, he is now likely to look for at least one more reserve outing before he is available for the first team.

If everything goes to plan, the home fixture against Peterborough on February 27 is a strong possibility.

News of Bodde’s progress will come as a huge boost to Sousa’s squad.

With Swansea looking to secure a top-six finish, the Dutchman’s impact , both in terms of his eye for goal and all-round play, cannot be underestimated.

LUCKLESS Swansea City keeper Dorus de Vries has bemoaned the bizarre and controversial circumstances that saw him save two vital penalties and still concede a late equaliser at Plymouth.

With his team leading 1-0 and having barely touched the ball, de Vries was given a chance to play the hero on Tuesday when a mindless handball from Andrea Orlandi saw him face an 87th-minute penalty.

The Swans were on course for a crucial three points in their play-off push and, after they dominated the game and overcame the Pilgrims negative approach and substandard pitch, it was up to the big Dutchman to ensure they got their rewards.

Considering he saved not one but two penalties, you would assume de Vries is now basking in his own glory.

But, with referee Keith Hill ordering a retake of the first penalty and then Damien Johnson converting the rebound from his second save, there was not even a hint of a smile to be seen on the 29-year-old’s face.

It’s not just that the Swans stopper disagrees with the referee’s claim that he had come off his line for the first penalty, which was taken by Jamie Mackie. It’s more the fact that, having repeated his heroics against Johnson, lady luck then decided to give him a huge slap in the face.

“I’m absolutely gutted,” a furious de Vries revealed. “When you are in a game like that, 1-0 up at a difficult place with a terrible pitch, you need something to go your way.

“I really wanted to save them for the team. It was a big game, we wanted the win and normally, if you save two penalties, that’s what happens.

“I hadn’t had much to do in the game so the penalty is a chance to make myself important. If you save it then you are a big part of the win.

“I saved the first one, but the referee said I moved off my line. I watched the replay and, if anything, it’s a couple of inches.

“I did exactly the same with the second one and managed to save it. It was just pure bad luck that the ball went straight back to his feet.”

Admitting his emotions got the better of him after Johnson converted the rebound, the former Den Haag man continued: “I was already annoyed after the referee ordered a retake, but then, having saved the second one, to see the ball go straight back to the striker was unbelievable. I exploded a little bit after that.

“It shouldn’t have even been a retake because so many keepers come off their line and get away with it. Take a look at any penalty that has ever been taken, and you will probably see that, 90 per cent of the time, the keeper moves more than I did.

“Sometimes a keeper does come yards off his line, make the save and get away with it. I was only inches and I got punished.

“They should either be really hard on that rule and punish everyone or take another look at it. You need something consistent, though.

“I honestly believe that 95 per cent of the time the referee just accepts that as a save. Then we would have got the clean sheet and the result we deserved.”

De Vries was not the only Swans player to be left distraught by Tuesday’s result. Having cost his team two valuable points, Orlandi naturally cast a sombre figure after the final whistle.

The key difference was that, while de Vries bemoaned his bad luck, Orlandi knew he only had himself to blame. The Spaniard was well aware he had made a stupid mistake and insisted no-one would could chastise him more than he was already doing himself.

Revealing that he doesn’t even remember how the handball happened, the midfielder admitted all he could do now is try to make amends when Paulo Sousa’s men take on Derby this weekend. As devastated as he was, Orlandi knows self-pity won’t do him or the Swans any good.

“I’m very upset with myself,” he admitted. “I don’t know what happened or why I did it.

“I have apologised to all my team-mates, but these things happen sometimes. I am very sorry, but it was just an instinctive reaction and sometimes you don’t know what you are doing.

“I was gutted when I came off the pitch. You feel really guilty because we had been working hard for nearly 90 minutes and then something like that happened.

“I just have to get over it now. I am sorry for the fans and my team-mates, but there is nothing I can do about it now.

“I will just try to put it right with my next performance. Hopefully I can make this up to the team, the gaffer and the fans.”

FERRIE Bodde returned after five months out with a goal as Swansea City reserves saw off Bristol City.

The Dutch midfield ace has played only a handful of games in 15 months after snapping his cruciate ligament and then breaking down on his comeback last autumn.

But he came through 59 minutes with no problems as he took a first stride towards a first-team return.


Bodde was set to feature on the original date for this fixture a week ago only for the game to be postponed because of the cold weather.

And he was soon enjoying his first taste of competitive action since September, getting on the ball and looking to inspire Swansea going forward.

After David Cornell saved well from Robins frontman Nathan Livings in the early stages, Bodde announced his return in style.

Collecting a pass from Daniel Sheehan, the 27-year-old turned his marker in style before stroking he ball left-footed into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the area.

Swansea almost doubled their lead when Guillem Bauza struck a post, but the visitors equalised when Henry Muggeridge drilled past Cornell.

The advantage lasted just three minutes, Besian Idrizaj winning it for Swansea with a spectacular, curling effort from 20 yards.

Swansea: Cornell, Alfei, Sheehan, Walsh, Burgin, Collins (capt), Bodde (Finselbach 59), Bond (Prosser 83), Bauza, Orme (Edwards 85), Idrizaj. Subs not used: Smith, Whatley.

Swansea scorers: Bodde 23, Idrizaj 57.

DAMIEN Johnson's first goal in almost three years earned Coca-Cola Championship strugglers Plymouth a valuable point at home to Swansea.

There was late drama at Home Park as Argyle were awarded a penalty when Andrea Orlandi was adjudged to have handled in the area.

Jamie Mackie stepped up to take the spot-kick which Dorus de Vries saved. However, referee Keith Hill felt the keeper had moved too far off his line and ordered the kick to be re-taken.

Johnson took responsibility this time, and although de Vries saved this penalty as well, the midfielder knocked in the rebound to cancel out Darren Pratley's sixth goal of the season and secure his side a share of the spoils.

Second-bottom Plymouth went into the game buoyed by a 3-1 win at Barnsley last time out, while the Swans were looking to preserve a nine-game unbeaten run in the league.

Swansea, who made five changes from the side which drew with Newcastle at the weekend, had the first chance of the night in the fourth minute, Pratley firing a shot straight at Argyle goalkeeper David Stockdale from close in.

Plymouth responded with Rory Fallon sending a weak header into the arms of de Vries and Luke Summerfield blazing over from distance.

But it was the high-flying Swans who were dominating the early stages as Gorka Pintado brought a decent save from Stockdale with a 12-yard drive.

Johnson's ambitious shot from 30 yards was gathered by de Vries, while Orlandi forced another impressive stop from Stockdale after good work from Pratley as the chances continued to flow.

It was the home side who were on top as half-time approached, with Karl Duguid letting fly from 35 yards and Johnson firing over from the edge of the box.

But Swansea snatched the lead within seconds of the restart.

Pratley looked suspiciously offside when Angel Rangel sent him clear, but he kept his cool to slot the ball home, his sixth goal of the season.

It was all the visitors as Pratley's 18-yard attempt was parried away by Stockdale and a Thomas Butler strike was well held by the keeper.

Fallon left the action to be replaced by Kenny Cooper on the hour as Plymouth looked to get back into the game.

But it was Swansea who continued to create the better chances, Pratley again breaking through, only to fire straight at Stockdale.

Argyle defender Kari Arnason saw a shot blocked in the box before the late drama unfolded.

Johnson was in the right place to tap in the rebound from his spot-kick.

Swansea almost snatched it at the death, but Pintado's drive from the edge of the area fizzed inches wide.

Last Updated: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:18

Swansea boss Paulo Sousa was less than happy with referee Keith Hill after he ordered the Plymouth penalty to be retaken.

Dorus de Vries had saved the first spot kick but Hill ordered it to be retaken after adjudging the keeper to have been off his line. And, although he saved the second attempt, the rebound was smashed home.

Sousa had no complaints with the penalty but was fuming with Hill's call for a retake.

He said: "Everyone in the ground could see what happened. I have watched a replay of it since and the keeper's foot is on the line.

"Dorus did well to save to save them both and showed what he can do when he is called upon although we have not needed him for the past month or so.

"We dominated the game for long spells but we needed two or three touches on that pitch when normally we would only need one and we were not able to play the way we wanted - and pass it quickly."

Feb 17 2010 by Chris Wathan, Western Mail
Add a commentRecommend Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Swansea City

SWANSEA CITY handed Plymouth Argyle a last-gasp share of the spoils after a moment of madness from Andrea Orlandi just four minutes from time.

The Swans midfielder inexplicably punched a Plymouth cross with just minutes remaining to give Argyle the chance to level from the spot.

And, after looking set for an impressive three points after Darren Pratley had opened the scoring moments after the restart, it meant Swansea were denied in the closing stages for the second time in four days.

The Swans were stopped from securing victory against Newcastle on Saturday when Andy Carroll pounced three minutes from time.

And the identical time was on the Home Park clock when Damien Johnson beat Dorus de Vries to leave Swansea ruing another opportunity missed.

To make matters worse, the equaliser only came after Swans stopper de Vries had kept out Jamie Mackie’s initial effort - only for Devon-based linesman Michael Mullarkey to rule the Dutchman had encroached off his line.

When former Birmingham man Johnson stepped up for his chance from 12 yards, de Vries kept it out again but could only watch in anger as the midfielder smashed the rebound into the roof of the net.

With play-off rivals Cardiff City and Leicester City drawing, Swansea’s night was not made any worse as they held onto their fourth spot.

And Sheffield United’s defeat at Nottingham Forest means Paulo Sousa’s side are still five points ahead of the pack below sixth, with a game in hand.

But that will no doubt simply supplement the frustration for Sousa’s side after their hard work had looked to have delivered an important win.

They had dug-in as required, making a difficult task look simple by keeping it simple.

Sousa knew this would be a battle – and so it proved – so was not ashamed to tell his players to go more route one than normal with their passing, using two up top for only the second time this season and employing Ashley Williams as a central midfield destroyer.

The ploy had paid off – or had seemed to – when Pratley hammered home a 46th-minute opener.

And although Plymouth were relentless in their aerial bombardment, Swansea did everything required to hold off – before Orlandi swatted a Yala Bolasie corner under no pressure to concede the penalty.

It was foolish – but the result was still unfortunate given the way Swansea had controlled things with their change of approach.

It wasn’t pretty, but it was pretty darn effective as the visitors racked up chance after chance inside the first 20 minutes.

Happy to make the Plymouth back line turn with a lofted pass every so often, Argyle’s players and supporters were thankful that on-loan Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale found himself able to palm and parry the shots on his goal.

The first was just four minutes in, Trundle interchanging with the advancing Pratley that enabled the midfielder to try shoot in towards the near post.

There was little in response and so Swansea kept coming, Pratley again the problem for the Pilgrims but Gorka Pintado the man frustrated by the hosts’ stopper this time.

Pintado would get a further opportunity soon after, Pratley’s cross from the right of the box finding the Basque forward running on from the far post but his effort was too close to Stockdale.

The chances dried up, but if the openings became less, the possession did not. While the extra man in midfield had been done away with. Swansea were still able to keep hold of the ball with a comfort that disguised the disgraceful surface.

Still confident enough to play it out from the back, Swansea were happy to look wide to take it out of a centre pitch battle with Angel Rangel at his probing best.

Youngster Jazz Richards, in for the injured Fede Bessone, was also holding his own although Orlandi was not having the best of evenings ahead of him with the ball at his feet having been shifted out wide.

But Plymouth were determined to bring things down to their level and while they were also playing against the conditions, it was clear what their intentions were from an early stage.

Kari Arnason, while not quite the full Rory Delap, was doing a pretty good job of imitating the Stoke midfielder’s deep throw, aiming for the aerial threat of former Swan Rory Fallon.

The big Kiwi was a handful that Garry Monk just about coped with. Although with every set-piece being hurled high into the box the odds of one of the balls presenting Plymouth with a chance were high.

Still, de Vries’ only tests were coming from the crosses rather than from any pot shots as Swansea held a firm line.

And the home fans’ biggest cheer was restricted to a moment of humour when referee Keith Hill took a Plymouth hoof smack in the face, former Wales international Carl Fletcher cheekily calling for a replacement with the official having not endeared himself to the home crowd.

But Home Park fell silent 37 seconds into the second half as Pratley finished with venom.

The stinging strike, his sixth of the season, made him Swansea’s top scorer this season – but he was unfortunate not to increase his tally just before the hour mark when he raced onto another Rangel ball, Stockdale stopping well from an equally excellent shot.

As Plymouth chased, the game became increasingly – and almost literally – bogged down in the centre of the field, yet Swansea were happy to keep dinking balls over the top, the Argyle defence needing to be strong to stop them forcing their way through on goal.

And it was enough to give the Green Army hope and their chance to pump ball after ball, set-piece after set-piece into the box to try and tempt the mistake.

On 75 minutes they came close, de Vries not getting enough on his punch from Kenny Cooper’s free-kick and the excellent Alan Tate having to make sure he was in the right place at the right time to head Arnason’s effort away from the exposed goal.

But there was little Tate or anyone else in a white shirt could do when Orlandi handled, Johnson eventually securing the point for Plymouth.

Paulo Sousa brings a touch of his Mourinho swagger to SwanseaPaulo Sousa has made Swansea the Championship's most stylish side – but they need to find the net more often

Swansea City's manager, Paulo Sousa, has built on Roberto Martínez's legacy by developing the team's reputation for flair. Photograph: PA Wire/PA

Thought for the week
Swansea City's Paulo Sousa is the Championship's most glamorous, innovative and interesting manager and, move over Mourinho, the former Portugal midfielder is possibly among the most conceited too. Jose is a good friend of his compatriot but he is not the only 'Special One' in their relationship. Instead Swansea's manager recently declared: "I feel very, very special."

Happily people who know this member of Portugal's 'Golden Generation' say Sousa is anything but a pain and that confidence should not always be mistaken for arrogance. They maintain Sousa is an absolutely charming man whose Swansea side are playing the best football in the division.

He has certainly done plenty right since succeeding Roberto Martínez at a club who look a good bet to reach the playoffs. On Saturday Swansea were unlucky to be held to a draw by Newcastle United thanks to a late headed equaliser from Andy Carroll.

That goal was only the ninth to be conceded by Sousa's side at home all season. "Swansea play a system different to anyone else in this division," Chris Hughton, Newcastle's manager, said. "It gives them a lot of possession; you need to be brave playing against them."

"We were much better than Newcastle in everything and we deserved to win by miles," said Sousa, once again exhibiting his hallmark modesty. "We were tactically and technically perfect."

Not quite, Paulo. The downside to a 4‑2‑3‑1 formation, which gives Swansea wonderful control of midfield, is that they tend to pass the opposition to death while failing to turn possession into goals. Sousa's side may be refreshingly comfortable on the ball – their centre-half Ashley Williams has a lovely delicacy of touch – but they have scored only 27 in their last 30 games and registered 14 in 17 home fixtures.

At best Swansea's games can prove an aesthetic joy; at worst, watching Sousa's team turn football into tactical chess can be strangely reminiscent of a dull, woefully low tempo, Champions League group game. But then Sousa himself is a man of paradoxes. Surprisingly the former Juventus and Internazionale midfielder hails a Swede as his biggest inspiration – Sven-Goran Eriksson, the then Benfica coach who converted him from a more attacking force into that stellar defensive midfielder who would be capped more than 50 times.

"Sven was very important to me, he invested in me, in my position, in my playing, he gave me a lot of motivation," said Sousa who, among others, also played for Marcello Lippi. "What he gave me most of all was to recognise in myself that I can do everything that I want to do. He talked to me, sometimes for hours, one on one."

At 39, Sousa has plenty of time for managerial self-improvement and after a turbulent stint at Queens Park Rangers, is really blossoming in south Wales. "The Championship is the fifth biggest league in the world," said the man coveted by Burnley before Brian Laws eventually replaced Owen Coyle. "After what happened at QPR it might have been easy to go home but it made me even more determined."

Happily, he seems to have found the right chairman in Swansea's Huw Jenkins. "I work for the club but really I work for the players," said Sousa. "If I can develop them, the team will develop too. I invest time in them, just like Sven and also Lippi once invested in me. I'm lucky here that I'm given the chance to do it my way."

So far it is working out very nicely. "Swansea just pass you off the park," admitted the Newcastle striker Leon Best. "Swansea is a tough place to come because they've got good players who keep the ball and work you. They make you tired chasing the ball. We want to win the league but you've got to look at a point at Swansea as a good result."

It is not impossible that Sousa's Swansea could be hosting Newcastle again next season – this time in the Premier League.

Another stage in the development of rapidly improving midfielder

LINING up for kick-off against a power- packed Newcastle United last weekend, Joe Allen looked like something of a fragile figure.

And, metaphorically at least, the 19-year-old had big shoes to fill as he replaced Leon Britton at the heart of Swansea City's midfield.

But what the Narberth product lacked in stature, he made up for in spirit as he took another stride in an ever-progressing career.

Already a full Wales international, Allen went toe to toe with former Manchester United star Alan Smith and ex-Bolton Wanders captain Kevin Nolan when the Magpies visited the Liberty.

Depth

But despite the big names in the Newcastle side, the Swansea youth-team graduate never looked out of his depth.

"The holding midfielder is a position I like to think I can do as well as an attacking midfielder," Allen says.

"It's something I want to try to improve on in my game and there's no one better to learn from than Leon Britton.

"If I'm anywhere near as good as him, I'll be happy.

"Playing that kind of position requires more discipline and more responsibility, and Garry Monk and Ashley Williams had to keep talking to me because sometimes I was a little too keen to get forward.

Successful

"It's a learning curve and I think it was a successful day at the office."

In Nolan and Smith Allen faced opponents with vast Premier League experience.
Smith has 19 England caps to his name, while Nolan has made over 250 top-flight starts.

Both are physically imposing players, relying in part on their strapping size to dominate opponents.

But it was the diminutive Allen who punched above his weight last weekend.
The teenager was one of Swansea's star performers in a rousing display.
"Smith, and in particular Nolan, know how to put their foot in. It was a good test and one I enjoyed," he says.

"In some situations I held my own, maybe not so much in the air, but I was happy with my performance.

"Personally, it was an amazing experience and in league terms they were the biggest club I've played against. These are the type of games you look forward to.

"It was exciting to play against big players, but as a team there's no one we've been in awe of.

"There are a lot of players that I respect the ability of and you can learn from playing against them.

"These are the kind of teams you want to mix it with week in, week out."
Allen has proved himself a fast learner since bursting on to the first-team scene with a substitute appearance against Blackpool in the final game of 2006-07.

He went on to feature a handful of times for Swansea in the league, FA Cup and League Cup during the League One championship-winning season before a brief but impressive loan spell at Wrexham.

There he scored a stunning long-range goal during one of two games for the Blue Square Premier club and featured more regularly on his return to Swansea.

Allen went on to make 20 league and cup starts last campaign and also made his senior international bow for Wales against Estonia.

He has continued to go from strength to strength this term, and is expected to make his 16th start of the season against Plymouth at Home Park tonight with Britton doubtful once more because of a back problem.

"As players we don't think there are any teams better than us. Obviously there are teams above us in the league, but we go into every game thinking we can win," Allen adds.

Better

"We've said we don't think there's anything better than us in the Championship. We go into every game thinking we can win.

"That's a great feeling to have and it gives you great confidence."

Allen was part of a near-complete Swansea performance against the Toon that would have resulted in victory but for Andy Carroll's late leveller.

That cancelled out David Cotterill's spectacular strike after Swansea had failed to build on their lead.

But Allen insists Paulo Sousa's side can take heart from their showing against the Championship promotion favourites ahead of their trip to the second-from-bottom Pilgrims.

Dominated

"We have to take a positive from the fact a big team like Newcastle came to us and I felt we dominated them for most of the game," said Allen.

"We need to maybe get the second goal and kill teams off. That would be ideal, but there were more positives than negatives.

"We said going into the game that maybe we showed them too much respect when we played them away.

"We wanted them to fear coming here, and to play to our tempo and our style. I think we did that."

SWANSEA City have been hit by news that Fede Bessone faces a spell on the sidelines.

The left-back has just enjoyed his best run in the side since joining Swansea at the start of last season.

But Bessone looks set for a lay-off after suffering a calf strain in last Saturday's draw with Newcastle.

"It's a disappointment because Fede has played something like 15 games in a row and he has improved no end as a player," said team-mate Garry Monk.

"But we have had to cope with a few changes in the back four already and we should do it again because we all know our jobs and we've been together a long time.

"You saw that when Angel Rangel came on against Newcastle and slotted straight back in."

Options

Bessone's injury means Swansea are a little short on defensive options.
Rangel should start at right-back at Plymouth tonight, with Alan Tate switching to the left flank of defence, but there is little cover available with Albert Serran (hamstring) on the sidelines.

With Marcos Painter on loan at Brighton, youngster Jazz Richards is the next in line to feature at the back.

But if there are any more injury problems, Swansea will have to consider recalling Painter or dipping into the loan market.

Former Swansea City left-back Tommy Williams has joined Preston on loan for the rest of the season.

Williams, who has been out of favour at Peterborough, had a loan spell at Queens Park Rangers earlier in the campaign.

ALAN Tate has warned Swansea City that relegation-threatened Plymouth Argyle will pose a very different threat from promotion-chasing Newcastle United.

Swansea head to Home Park tonight encouraged by their weekend draw against the Magpies, despite conceding an equaliser just three minutes from time.

But Tate has told Swansea there is no room for complacency against Paul Mariner's side, who come into the game after a morale-boosting 3-1 win at Barnsley.

"Plymouth will be a totally different game," he said. "They're scrapping for their lives so it's going to be a tough one for us.

"Newcastle like to come and pass the ball and we like to pass the ball, but Plymouth will be a scrap on what's an iffy pitch to say the least.

"It's a different type of challenge and one that we have to rise to."
Ex-Swan Rory Fallon scored one of Plymouth's goals against the Tykes, boosting them ahead of Swansea's visit.

But Swansea are in buoyant mood after the Newcastle draw made it nine league games without defeat.

"You take heart from it, but we're disappointed when we don't take three points, whether it's against Newcastle or someone else," said Tate.

"It's happened a few times this season when we've played well and not got the three points.

"We're up to fourth so we've got a good chance. Now we've just got to keep it going.

"The Newcastle lads were saying at the end when we were all shaking hands that we deserved better, and it's good recognition.

"(Fabricio) Coloccini probably cost more than our team put together and our stadium.

"That shows the difference in money and on paper, but you don't play on paper.
"It shows how far we've come. I think when we got promoted nobody would have said we had a chance of getting in the play-offs this season.

"There's been a large rise in expectations and that's good for us and good for the fans.

"It keeps us on our toes and promotion is something we want to achieve."

Ashton admits West Ham owners must be frustrated over his contract
West Ham No1 Green: Zola a wonderful man. We all want to do well for him Former West Ham United, Swansea City and Hamilton Academical defender Izzy Iriekpen is no trial with MLS club Chicago Fire.

The 27-year old played in yesterday’s friendly against Vancouver Whitecaps and the Fire are monitoring him for a potential place on the playing roster for 2010.

Iriekpen was most recently with English Championship club Peterborough United in the reserves after his stint with Scottish club Hamilton.

Prior to that he played with Scunthorpe United, Swansea City and had loan spell with Cambridge United and Leyton Orient when he was with West Ham who he joined in 1998.

GARRY MONK may still be nursing the bruises from his tussle with the Toon, but he heads to Home Park tonight expecting more of the same.

Shortly before he watched Andy Carroll hand Newcastle a somewhat fortunate share of the spoils on Saturday, Monk had been on the wrong end of an unsavoury aerial challenge from the striker.

Yet with former team-mate Rory Fallon part of a Plymouth side ready to scrap it out next in line, there is little time for the centre-back skipper to feel sorry for himself.

For after leaders Newcastle, a different challenge awaits as Plymouth prepare to slug it out.

But Monk insists Swansea can fight fire with fire when they have to, even without left-back Fede Bessone, who is a doubt after coming off injured at the weekend, and Leon Britton, still nursing a back strain that ruled him out of the Newcastle game.

“We know what we’re going to have to do,” said Monk ahead of the trip to face a Plymouth side only kept off the foot of the table by seemingly-doomed Peterborough.

“They are a side fighting for every point and we know how hard it is up against them at their place after last year.

“On top of that, we’ve seen the pitch down there and it looks horrendous. I don’t think our football is going to be the biggest priority down there.

“It’s going to have to be a similar performance as the Palace game last week, especially in terms of attitude.

“We’re going to have to roll our sleeves up and show the character we’ve got in the squad to grind out a result if we have to.”

For as pleasing as the passing was against Newcastle, the way Swansea earned their victory at Selhurst Park last Tuesday was equally impressive.

Neil Warnock’s men wanted to make a fight of things, Swansea responded, resisted the onslaught and returned home with three points.

“I’m not sure we would have won that game last year,” Monk added.

“Perhaps that’s the difference in terms of the management, Roberto would probably have thrown another two strikers on and gone for the second goal!

“You can tell where Paulo has played in the world, like Italy, where there’s a bit more defensive-mindedness.

“He’s happy for us to see games out when we have to.”

Perhaps more importantly is the experience of the Swans squad after 18 months in this division, the players more aware of when to play it and when to mix it.

Without dismissing the forward steps made by Argyle under new man Paul Mariner, it looks like being a case of the latter tonight.

True, the 3-1 win at Barnsley last weekend has been described as the best under the former England striker. Yet there can be little doubt they will be out to stop Swansea playing.

And Monk knows only too well the kind of physical encounter that awaits him with former team-mate Fallon leading the Pilgrims’ line.

“He’s a big lad and he’s not afraid to hand out a few digs that’s for sure,” he said.

“He’s an important player for them. Maybe he didn’t quite settle here as much as he would have liked.

“But he moved up to the Championship while we were still in League One and he’s done well there ever since.

“He’s done well at international level too, going to the World Cup this summer. So it shows he’s progressed since he was here and it’s nice to see.”

Indeed, Fallon was the toast of New Zealand when he grabbed the decisive goal in the World Cup play-off against Bahrain, sealing the All Whites’ place in South Africa this summer.

And the confidence gained since is obvious judging by the way he picked his spot from 35 yards at Oakwell to seal a hope-lifting weekend win.

“It’s going to be strange seeing him out there this summer,” said Monk.

“But he’s a great lad and it’s a great experience for him. I’ll definitely be watching him and cheering him on.

“I sent a text when he scored that goal telling him well done and that I was proud of him, and I’ll send him another to wish him all the best.”

Tonight, though, the pleasantries are on hold. And, according to Monk, that’s just fine by Swansea.

Captain Garry Monk says Swansea are prepared for a crucial week as the promotion chasers gear up to battle at struggling Plymouth and Derby.

"We said in the dressing room it's the biggest week of the season," he said.

"We can either extend the gap on the teams below us or be dragged back into the chasing pack.

"It won't be pretty at Plymouth [on Tuesday], the pitch looks like a cow field and they're expecting heavy rain, but we've shown the character for it."

The Swans said that any disappointment they felt at conceding a late equaliser against Championship leaders Newcastle after an impressive performance on Saturday has been set aside.

"There was an initial disappointment with two points dropped after a dominant performance, but we're all focused on Plymouth then on to Derby," Monk told BBC Sport Wales.

"It will be a completely different approach [from Newcastle] at Home Park, we'll try to grind it out.

"[Plymouth's ex-Swansea striker] Rory Fallon is a big, physical player. We know each other inside out.


Monk is ready for a match-up with former team-mate Rory Fallon
"The first thing is to match them in the battle - we're not just a pretty side playing pretty football.

"If we can pick up four points [this week] it would be great, but it's hard to set targets. We just go into each game and try to win.

"Every game is a big one now, but if we can get a good points tally away from home it will make it a lot easier.

"The good thing is that the teams below us are all playing each other so a few will definitely drop points."

GARRY Monk insists Swansea City have earned the right to sit at the Championship top table.

A goal from Andy Carroll in the dying minutes grabbed a share of the spoils for Newcastle United on Saturday after Swansea had dominated the match and led through a David Cotterill goal early in the second half.

It was a cruel blow for Swansea, who had been in control of a star-studded team containing the likes of £10 million Argentinean international Fabricio Coloccini.

And while encouraged by the performance, Monk believes Swansea are past the point where just matching the Championship's high-profile teams is enough.

"I think we're over the stage where we're surprised by ourselves, we're at a stage where we should be competing with these teams and beating them," said the Swansea skipper.

"We showed that on Saturday in our performance. There was no fear from us.
"We said before the game it's great to be involved in these matches and I said to the boys in the huddle to go and express ourselves.

"We were disappointed with the goal, especially after we'd dominated the whole game.

"We'd limited them to practically nothing and then were hit with a sucker punch, so it's a bitter pill to swallow.

"We can take heart from that performance, but it feels like a loss right now because we should have won the game.

"Football wise we know we can probably better any team in this league — West Brom are probably most similar to us in terms of football.

"We know that on our day we can give anyone a game and it should have been three points — their players were saying the same."

The result was even more cruel on Swansea as Carroll would not have been on the field if referee Andy Woolmer had taken a harsher view of an earlier clash with Monk.

There were suggestions the Toon striker had elbowed Monk after the pair went up for an aerial challenge and the Swansea captain ended up face down on the pitch.

"He said afterwards that he didn't do it deliberately, but I didn't really see it coming so I couldn't tell," said Monk.

"I'll have to see the incident again on TV because I haven't seen it yet. Obviously he's made contact with me, but I wasn't really facing him.

"It's not a big deal. It's not the first one I've had and it probably won't be the last."

DAVID Cotterill praised the Paulo Sousa factor after scoring his third goal for Swansea City.

Cotterill struck early in the second half to put Swansea ahead against Newcastle on Saturday before Andy Carroll replied three minutes from time to rescue a point for the visitors.

And the former Sheffield United man credited his manager for his second goal in three games.

"He comes across nice and calm and he just wants his players to be confident," said Cotterill.

"That's working out for me at the moment and if that continues hopefully I can keep improving.

"He's given me different tips about how to play on the left wing because normally I've played on the right.

"I knew Swansea played great football from when (Roberto) Martinez was here, but obviously the gaffer now has played for Portugal, he's been around and he knows his stuff.

"As soon as I spoke to him I knew he'd improve my game and I really want to be part of this team.

"I felt I settled in straightaway because I knew a few of the lads already.

"But learning the way Swansea play football takes time, it's totally different to Sheffield United and other teams I've been at."

Cotterill made his loan move from The Blades permanent in January and insists he is settled after returning to South Wales.

And the Cardiff-born Welsh international has vowed to continue his goalscoring contribution as Swansea look to cement a play-off place.

"It was nice to score against Newcastle and hopefully I can keep chipping in with some more goals and get the boys the results that we all want," he said.

"It's not just down to the lone striker — I know Darren Pratley's scored a few goals — but it's not just down to those two.

"The players out wide can also chip in with a few goals."

PAULO Sousa declared Swansea City "miles" better than Newcastle United, then explained that in Portugal the word is "kilometres".

Whatever the lingo, Sousa was right. Swansea were more impressive than the mighty Newcastle this weekend — and by some distance.
So it was a major frustration that for all their style and all their class, Swansea ended with one point rather than three.

"Sometimes football can be cruel," Sousa reflected.

The Swansea manager was left licking wounds on Saturday afternoon thanks to a painful late goal. His team had set the pace throughout only to find Newcastle catching up, undeservedly, on the final bend.

But for all the frustration Andy Carroll's late leveller brought, Swansea can look back on a positive weekend.

The big fish of the Championship came to town and Sousa's men had them flapping.

Blown away at St James' Park in November, Swansea outplayed the Football League's biggest club here.

"I said from the beginning they are the best side in the division," Sousa added, "but we are the best football team."

This was big talk from Sousa, but the evidence is there. Alan Smith, the former Manchester United star anchoring Newcastle's midfield, apparently lauded Sousa over his team's approach.

Swansea don't tend to get too much credit beyond South West Wales, but Smith would not have been the only outsider saying nice things about them this weekend.

The satellite TV cameras came to town and Swansea reached for the stars.
Though their team snatched a point at the end, Newcastle's followers were left grumbling about the Toon's performance, with the suggestion being this was the worst they have been since relegation from the Premier League last year.

But while the likes of Smith and Kevin Nolan failed to live up to their big reputations, credit was due to the home side.

It seemed it was all about the Toon's failings for those who had travelled from the North East, but Swansea deserved praise for dictating the course of the game.

"We were well organised and were perfect tactically and technically," Sousa said. "We enjoy playing football and we are getting better all the time. We were the better side in this game and we deserved more than we got.

"But we shouldn't be frustrated. We need to be proud of the way we played and because we were the better side."

As disgruntled as they were to concede late on, Swansea emerged from the draw with their heads held high.

There was disappointment, but there was plenty to be happy about too.

Newcastle may be in the same division as Swansea just now, but the two clubs are, as they say in Sousa's homeland, kilometres apart.

Smith, for instance, probably earns more in a week then Swansea's starting XI this weekend bank between them.

But Swansea have proved over the last couple of seasons that their passing approach can cause problems for any team in the second tier.

And such is their consistency right now that they could conceivably join Newcastle in the Premier League.

The Geordies are feeling a little jittery just now, having seen a large lead at the top closed by West Brom and Nottingham Forest.

But there is no need for nerves at Swansea because Sousa's men are punching well above their weight.

It is now nine games unbeaten, the best stretch by any side in the division.
Swansea have lost only two of their last 24 matches, a remarkable achievement for a team who started the season with a wobble.

If they can maintain their form over the last 16 games of the campaign, Swansea will be in the play-offs, three games away from the top flight.

In his programme notes at Crystal Palace last week, Neil Warnock suggested that Swansea were in with a chance of achieving the ultimate promotion for the first time in their history.

His mistake merely highlights what an unfashionable club Swansea are, and what a fabulous achievement it would be to reach the Premier League.

Sousa, typically, was not contemplating playing in the same division as Manchester United and Chelsea this weekend.

He may consider Swansea the best footballing side at their level, but once again he shied away from big predictions.

Where could Swansea's quality take them?

"If we can win every game between now and the end of the season, we can finish very high," Sousa said.

Sixteen victories is probably asking a bit much, but Swansea look good enough to bank the 25 or so points which should clinch a place in the top half-dozen.

As against Preston seven days earlier, their display against Newcastle was close to complete.

The only thing lacking was the second goal Swansea's efforts merited.
When it didn't come, Newcastle rolled their sleeves up and salvaged a point they did not deserve thanks to Andy Carroll.

"We didn't have the luck of the game," Sousa said. "I don't think Carroll should have been on the pitch."

Sousa reckoned Newcastle's powerfully-built centre-forward ought to have been sent off for an elbow on Garry Monk.

Replays suggested there was not too much malice in the challenge, so the yellow card shown was probably about right.And Swansea would not have been grumbling had Carroll not scored, rising above Angel Rangel to head home Leon Best's cross, with just three minutes of the game to go.

It was only the second chance of the game for Newcastle — Nolan headed wide in the first half — and Chris Hughton's suggestion that the visitors were worth a point was a weak one.

Swansea had dominated, pressing on a couple of occasions through Andrea Orlandi in the first period before driving forward after the break.

Nathan Dyer was prominent, going close himself before cleverly leaving Darren Pratley's pass for David Cotterill.

The increasingly impressive Welsh international swallowed up the half-chance in style, stepping inside Danny Simpson before curling the ball beyond Steve Harper.

"It was a great goal," Sousa said. "We had other opportunities to score but didn't take them, and in the end we conceded a bit too much space.

"We allowed the cross and they equalised. Sometimes football is unfair, because we were the better side all over the pitch."

And so to Plymouth Argyle tomorrow night. Play like this again and Swansea will be very unfortunate to miss out on victory again.

DAVID COTTERILL admitted even a man-of-the-match display against Newcastle might not be enough to keep his place in the Swansea City starting line-up.

And, considering he was dropped to the bench the only other time he has won the award since moving to the Liberty Stadium, he should know.

After capping a quality all-round performance with his third goal for the Swans, Cotterill was picked as the sponsors’ man-of-the-match against the Magpies.

Along with the likes of Darren Pratley and Ashley Williams, the winger was easily one of the best players on the pitch and he got his due reward.

But Swansea’s record signing certainly isn’t resting on his laurels. He was also man-of-the-match in the 2-0 win over Preston the previous weekend but, having started the next game against Crystal Palace on the bench, he faces an anxious wait to see if history will repeat itself at Plymouth tomorrow.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” he said with a wry smile.

“The gaffer has a lot of faith in all of his players so I will just have to see what happens.

“If I’m not in the team I just have to stay confident and support the boys.

“We are a tight group and I’m sure whoever plays will do a great job.

“Paulo likes to rotate the squad because he believes in everyone.

“That can be a good thing and we have a lot games coming up so, whatever he decides, I’m sure it’s for the best.”

With two man-of-the-match displays in his last three games, it seems Cotterill has now firmly settled into life at Swansea.

The former Sheffield United man is justifying his £750,000 transfer tag and is already becoming a favourite with the Jack Army.

But the Wales international insists he still has plenty of room for improvement.

And, admitting he still needs to fully adjust to Swansea’s free-flowing style, Cotterill is confident his best is yet to come.

“I’m still learning the system and the gaffer is always talking to me about the left wing position,” he said.

“He knows the game inside-out and I just have to keep listening to him and become a better player from it.

“I settled in with the lads straight away because I knew a few of them before and the rest are a great bunch.

“But I still had to learn the way they play football because it’s completely different to other clubs I have been at.

“I just have to take everything on board that the gaffer says. Hopefully then I will improve as a player.”

ASHLEY WILLIAMS has urged Swansea City to ignore the short-term pain and focus on the long-term gain after being cruelly denied a historic win against Newcastle.

Williams, who had one of his best games to date in a Swans shirt, knows as well as anyone that you don’t always get what you deserve in football.

You can dominate, have the best chances and still walk away without three points.

With Andy Carroll’s 87th-minute header cancelling out David Cotterill’s sublime strike, that’s exactly the position Paulo Sousa’s men found themselves in on Saturday.

They outplayed a team many consider to be the best in the league, but, having defended staunchly throughout, just fell short at the final hurdle.

While it shouldn’t be the case, conceding so late can naturally make even the best of performances feel like a defeat.

Having been so close to three points, not to mention a victory that would have sent out a real statement of intent to the rest of the league, settling for one isn’t the easiest thing to do.

But, adamant Swansea had proved their promotion credentials against the Magpies, Williams insisted they had to look on the bright side.

Carroll’s equaliser may have been a bitter pill to swallow at the time, but, as far as the impressive Wales international is concerned, it can’t take away from the positives for his team when they look at the bigger picture.

“We can’t let the goal put a downer on things,” he said. “The boys were still quite buoyant in the changing rooms afterwards.

“We weren’t too down. Letting the lead slip hurts a little bit, but we can still take a lot of confidence from the way we performed.

“Our focus here is always making sure that we perform well. I think that’s what we did.

“Hopefully that performance can now push us on. Now we have to win at Plymouth (tomorrow night) to make sure this result remains a good one.

“It’s important that we don’t let conceding so late affect us. We just need to try and go again.”

Admitting the late leveller had inevitably taken the shine off one of the best displays of the season, Williams felt it was a “great performance.”

He said: “It was pleasing, but then it’s also sour as well because we couldn’t finish the job.

“We are all about the 1-0 victories, especially at home. That’s what we wanted against Newcastle because a clean sheet would have made a big statement to the rest of the league.

“Anyone who watched the game will see that we made a big statement anyway, though. It’s just a shame we didn’t get the three points.

“The disappointing thing is that we only let it slip for one chance.

“We knew they had that threat with Carroll and we needed to stop it.

“We probably needed to do a bit better in that moment to stop him scoring.

“But, other than that, we were comfortable and it was just like any other home game for us.”

The fact Swansea were so comfortable is far more impressive when you put it in the context of what happened against Newcastle in the earlier fixture at St James’ Park.

That occasion got the better of Sousa’s men, they went 3-0 down within half-an-hour and never found a way back.

Despite the Sky television cameras being in attendance, there was never a danger of history repeating itself this time around.

Newcastle’s multi-million pound squad were put under pressure from the very first whistle and, if Swansea wanted to show they could handle any team in this division, they proved their point.

“We definitely exorcised most of the demons from that trip,” Williams said with a smile.

“"We wanted to win to put the record straight.

“Hopefully we have done that now anyway. I think the boys have got it out of their system.

“I know that result hurt us. We watched the video again on Friday and it was a big motivator for this game.”

As for his own performance, Williams added: “I was happy with it. There’s obviously a few little things I could improve on, but, on the whole, I thought I did well.

“I knew Andy Carroll is a good player, a hard guy to mark. But, up until the goal, I was happy with how we managed him.”

It wasn’t just Carroll that the Swans had under control at the Liberty Stadium.

Whether it was Williams and skipper Garry Monk in defence, Joe Allen and Andrea Orlandi in midfield or Cotterill and Nathan Dyer going forward, Sousa’s men won the majority of their individual battles.

Chances were still few and far between, with a 22nd minute Orlandi free-kick the closest either team came to scoring early on.

Kevin Nolan also had a good chance for the Magpies on the half-hour, but, with his header drifting over, neither keeper was really tested.

Swansea were playing the better football but, for all their dominance, they were struggling to find a way through a Newcastle defence possessing Argentina international Fabricio Coloccini.

The two meanest defences in the league were being pitted against one another and, to start with at least, a stalemate looked inevitable.

That all changed in the second half when the Swans really started to turn the screw.

Dyer and the superb Darren Pratley both went close before the latter’s clever ball reached Cotterill, who then cut inside Fitz Hall before curling a sublime shot past Steve Harper to give his side a 56th-minute lead.

The goal naturally opened up the game. And, while Chris Hughton’s Magpies pressed for an equaliser, a second Swansea goal looked just as likely.

With the clock ticking down, it looked like neither would happen.

But, for all their efforts, the Swans were agonisingly denied the win they deserved when Leon Best’s cross drifted towards Carroll at the back post.

The Geordie striker took his chance with aplomb, leaving the Swans to settle for a share of the spoils.

As Williams pointed out though, that in itself is no mean feat against Newcastle.

A Way to go, but ex-Swan Darren fighting back after crash that almost killed him

DARREN WAY made his name for the way he went into tackles.

Scampering around the football field often in a blur of bravery, the way the diminutive Way would challenge the biggest rivals helped earn him his big move to Swansea City back in 2006.

It was his way of life.

If it hadn’t been, it’s doubtful whether the 30-year-old would even have one right now.

For instinct took over when the vehicle Way was travelling in 14 months ago smashed head-on into a 4x4.

“I could see the crash coming, I still can now,” says Way. “I was prepared for it and the way I did it was as if I was going in for a tackle.

“It’s why all the injuries came down one side – I went in for the biggest tackle of my life.

“But I still don’t know how I survived it.”

There was every chance Way would not survive the collision.

That he did brings a strange sort of irony to the whole sorry event.

While at Swansea, supporters would often pity the blond battler’s fortune when it came to fitness after a string of injury problems affected his impact at the Liberty.

Yet here he is, all too aware he is lucky to be alive.

“I remember everything, just sat there and not being able to move,” he recalls. “When you’re in that situation, the first thing in your mind is that you’re going to die.

“The first person there was a girl called Zoe Sheppard, from Cardiff, who had been in the car about three vehicles back.

“She came up to me and I just told here to tell my wife and two kids I loved them because I was convinced that was it and I wasn’t going to see them again.

“But she asked me what their names were and how old they were. It was better than any drug they could give me. It made me realise I had to fight.”

And fight he did, stabilising after being air-lifted to Dorchester Hospital and beginning a long, trying road to recovery.

Nine operations followed in the next nine months – many of which including pinning, screwing or plating shattered bones back in place – all leading to what many would claim was an inevitable retirement for Way.

Not that he saw it that way, now able to appreciate that many others around him played along as they sensed a belief he could one day lace up a football boot again would give him a better chance of recovery.

“That’s all that was on my mind,” admits Way, despite the battle he would face having to walk again.

His list of injuries included a dislocated and fractured hip, fractured and dislocated elbow and wrist, a fractured femur, fractured kneecap and severe lacerations of his shins.

“I had to be positive; if I didn’t have that determination I wouldn’t have had anything.

“The whole fight in front of me was much about the mental thing as it was the physical. People could see that and would back me.

“Not one person ruled me out of making a comeback. No one gave up on me, so I wouldn’t give up on them.”

Way accepts that the positivity about a playing return may have been futile, but at the very least it stopped him feeling sorry for himself and dwelling on the life-changing events.

“Everyone around me was superb,” says Way, who was just settling back into life as a Yeovil player following a return switch from Swansea when the crash happened.

“I had the chairman from Yeovil at my bedside within 45 minutes, the lads from Swansea came down too; and the support I had from people back in Wales was incredible.”

And the Wales captain, it seems.

“We’ve been friends since we were youngsters at Norwich,” reveals Way of his relationship with Manchester City and Wales star Craig Bellamy.

“My wife Kelly and Craig’s wife are good friends too so he came up soon after it all happened.

“He was playing for West Ham at the time and he knew my hero as a kid was Gianfranco Zola. So here he was, just a few hours after playing on a Saturday, with a Zola shirt for me.”

All fuel for Way’s fire and that burning desire to play again. But while he went from bed to wheelchair after a month (“a huge step in itself”) before painstakingly pulling himself to his feet, the next step was just one too far.

“I think the moment I realised was when I took my boy Mason down the park for a kick-around,” says Way, who also has a one-year-old daughter Ava.

“I was side-footing the ball and I could still feel real discomfort.

“I’d been jogging again, running in a straight line, but after all the work I’d put in I couldn’t kick a ball to my three-year-old. I think the seeds were sown then.”

The decision was announced at the same time Way was confirmed as part of Terry Skiverton’s management set-up at Huish Park, taking on the role of technical coach. Way has also been working on a website for young hopefuls, www.playfactor.tv, that Bellamy and Paul Scholes have lent their support to.

All part of what Way describes the next chapter in his life.

Yet he concedes the fact he is fighting a legal battle against the other driver involved for compensation – there is still a dispute over responsibility – allows the frustration over what happened to remain.

As much as he knows he should count his blessings, Way admits it’s difficult not to be bitter.

“At 29, I should have been going into my prime,” he says. “It doesn’t enter your head that anything like this could happen and take your career away.

“Football was all I knew, but it was taken away, the only way I knew to provide for my family was taken away.

“That has been as difficult a thing to deal with mentally as the injuries have been.

“I’ve been difficult to live with and thank God for Kelly; yet she’s been through it as well.

“What must she have been thinking when those police officers knocked on her door to tell her I’d been in a crash?

“I know I was lucky to have played as a professional, I enjoyed every moment.

“My time at Swansea was disappointing because of the injuries, but I loved every minute and I’m glad I did it. Any footballer should.

“But it’s still hard to deal with the fact that it’s over.

“In the end perhaps it was a bit of relief because I know I can say I gave it every ounce of energy I had to come back.

“The frustrating thing is that you want to move on, but I’ve got to fight again with this legal battle – and I will.

“And I’ll go into my new chapter with the coaching like I did as a player, with 100%.”

You get the impression, if he approaches his new job like the last year or so, there’s no danger of football hearing the last of Darren Way.

EVERY source available is telling Swansea City’s Ferrie Bodde he is ready to play again.

But, with a potential comeback less than a fortnight away, the doubt still lingers in the most important place of them all – his own head.

After more than four months out with a recurrence of the cruciate knee injury that previously sidelined him for another 10 months, it’s no surprise Bodde is cautious when it comes to nailing down a date for his highly-anticipated return.

If everything goes to plan, it is understood Swansea’s trip to Peterborough on February 27 is a realistic target, but, as the influential Dutchman explained to Wales on Sunday, even that contains several caveats.

Confident the Swans will do just fine in his absence, the 27-year-old’s biggest concern is his own state of mind.

Doctors have given him the all-clear, but, admitting he rushed his comeback last time round, Bodde is still seeking confirmation from within.

While he is now running at 100% and striking the ball as well as ever, the mercurial midfielder admits he still doesn’t truly trust his knee.

And, until that happens, he made it clear he won’t be playing again.

“If I am really honest, while I want to come back as quickly as possible, I need to be right in my head first,” he said.

“I still need to feel like I’m ready again and that everything is good.

“Everything looks good on the scans, in the photos and when I talk to the specialists. But you need to be right in your own head.

“It has to feel right and if it doesn’t I don’t want to start playing again. That’s what I’m waiting for now.

“It’s not a fear as such, but I have to stop myself getting carried away. Last time, when I came back, I couldn’t wait and I maybe rushed it a little bit.

“I didn’t care, though. I just thought, ‘if people say I’m fit, I’m fit’.

“But you have to be honest with yourself. If it doesn’t feel right or you don’t have faith in the knee, you can’t play.”

Having established he won’t return until his head is in the right place, the obvious question to ask Bodde is, how does he get there?

Fortunately for Swansea fans, the answer is a simple one.

All the former Den Haag man wants is a couple of reserve games under his belt. Training is fine, but, with team-mates understandably treating him like he is wrapped in cotton wool, he needs the competitive edge to see if his knee is really up to the challenge of first-team football.

The frustrating thing is that the weather is holding up any progress. A frozen pitch put paid to last Wednesday’s reserve clash with Bristol City, while the forecast for the next five days offers little grounds for optimism.

With Swans boss Paulo Sousa giving him all the time he needs, Bodde is just hoping the elements won’t keep him waiting any longer.

And, if he does get to play midweek, the Dutch ace is confident it won’t be long before even he agrees it’s time he made his mark on the Championship once again.

“If I can come out of the reserve games OK, it will make a big difference,” he said.

“It was the same with my first training session back.

“It was a hard pitch, but it went really well. There wasn’t any pain, no inflammation, nothing.

“That gave me a lot of confidence and I could trust the knee. It was really important to me.

“But I can’t target a comeback date for the first team until I have played for the reserves.

“It will all be clearer after that because, once I have played a proper game, I can see how I feel the next day and check there are no problems.

“I need the proper contact of a competitive game. I keep telling the boys not to take it easy on me in training, but they don’t listen.

“I have to be able to take challenges and I tell them not to worry about the injury. I think they are still scared of injuring me again, though.”

Taking time to praise Sousa’s approach to his recovery, Bodde added: “The gaffer has been very patient with me and that’s what I needed.

“I’m happy that he has trusted me to do my rehab in Holland and just let me do it my way.

“I wanted to be back with the boys, but I needed to be in isolation.

“If you are around the team you can’t help wanting to rush back and people immediately start setting dates for your return.

“I didn’t need that at the start of my recovery.

“Now I am in a position where I can set the date and I feel much better about the whole situation.”

PAULO SOUSA insisted Swansea City were the best footballing team in the Championship after being denied at the death by leaders Newcastle United.

Only Andy Carroll’s late equaliser denied Swansea a famous victory, but Sousa believes it did not mask the true picture.

“Football is cruel sometimes,” said the Swans boss. “I think everyone agrees with me when I say Newcastle is the best side in the league – but we are the best team to play football.

“We are well-organised and tactically and technically perfect.

“We enjoy playing all the time and we are getting much better.

“We were the best side and we deserved much more than we got.

“We should not be frustrated by the result, we should be proud of the way we played because we were a better side than them.

“You need to confront all the best sides and I’ve said all along this is the best side in the Championship.”

But Sousa was again left rueing his luck against the Toon Army following Swansea’s defeat at St James’ Park in November.

“When we lost 3-0 up there we deserved more as we played well for 55 minutes,” he said.

“But once more we did not have the luck of the game.

“We lost Leon Britton this morning and Federico Bessone at the beginning of the game, both to injury.

“But it was still one of our best performances because we played good football.

“Our football is stronger than ever, it is very mature with great quality.”

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton felt his men deserved a draw because of their strong finish when they were chasing the game.

“Credit to our players, we got braver in the way we pushed,” he said. “We knew that was going to make it a very open game at the end and you were either going to see us equalising or Swansea scoring a second.

“On the balance of play and the way we approached that last period – and Stevie Harper wasn’t troubled too much in our goal – I was pleased.

“You look at us being the away team and take the last period into consideration and we’re delighted with a draw.

“Swansea are a very good side. They’ve taken a dip but they’ve come back strong and I expect them to be up there at the end of the season.”

SWANSEA CITY were cruelly denied the win they deserved against big-spending Newcastle as a late Andy Carroll equaliser forced them to accept a share of the spoils at the Liberty Stadium.

Looking to avenge a 3-0 humbling in the return fixture, the Swans were the dominant team throughout on their home turf. And, when a super strike from David Cotterill gave them the lead in the 52nd minute, it looked like they were going to get their just rewards.

But, having defended their lead resolutely for more than 20 minutes, Paulo Sousa's men were caught out late on. Wayne Routledge's chipped cross came through to Carroll, who powered home an 87th minute.

The result was certainly harsh on the Swans because, considering the disastrous start Swansea had at St James' Park, it was an entirely different story this time round. Newcastle were 2-0 up after 20 minutes last time whereas on this occasion they had barely left their own half in that time.

In a game of precious few chances, the hosts were playing the better football and went close with an Andrea Orlandi free-kick. But, with the two meanest defences of the league pitting themselves against one another, there was very little for either team to work with in the final third.

It was a pattern that was to continue until half time. But, with Nathan Dyer and Darren Pratley going close, business soon picked up after the restart.

Swansea then got the goal they deserved on the half-hour mark and it was one of the highest quality. Joe Allen fed Pratley down the right and, when his superb ball across the box came through to Cotterill, the Welshman cut inside Fitz Hall and curled a superb finish past Steve Harper.

The goal naturally opened up the game. And, while Newcastle pressed for an equaliser, a second Swansea goal looked just as likely.

In the end, despite their best efforts, the Swans just couldn't hold on. The ball broke for Routledge in midfield and, as his cross drifted the back post, Carroll was on hand to ensure Sousa and his troops had to settle for a share of the spoils.

SWANSEA: De Vries, Tate, Monk(Cpt), Williams, Bessone (Rangel 7); Allen, Orlandi, Pratley; Cotterill, Dyer (Butler 80); Kuqi (Pintado 75).

Subs not used: Cornell, Richards, Gower, Trundle.

Goals: Cotterill 56

NEWCASTLE: Harper, Simpson, Coloccini, Hall, Van Aanholt; Guthrie, Smith (Cpt), Nolan; Routledge, Lovenkrands (Best 66); Carroll.

Subs not used: Williamson, Taylor, Pancrate, Krul, Kadar, Ranger.

Goals: Carroll 87

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire)

Att: 15,188

SWANSEA CITY boss Paulo Sousa has demanded better support from the club’s fans, insisting it’s time they truly made their presence felt at the Liberty Stadium.

Sousa, who has previously issued a rallying cry imploring fans to improve disappointing attendance figures at the Liberty, now insists it is quality not quantity that is the issue.

The Portuguese has been delighted with the support his troops receive on their travels, but wants to see it mirrored on home turf.

While a full-house and frenzied atmosphere is expected when big-spending Newcastle bring their array of former Premiership stars to South Wales tomorrow, Sousa is keen to see the Liberty packed out on a more regular basis.

And, after being impressed by the Crystal Palace faithful during his side’s 1-0 win at Selhurst Park on Tuesday, he wants those fans that do turn up to pile the pressure on visiting players and referees.

Perhaps the most important thing for the former Champions League winner, though, is that the Jack Army support his own players from the first whistle to the very last.

Knowing there is still a long way to go in Swansea’s play-off push, Sousa wants his team’s superb efforts on the pitch to be matched by those they play for in the stands.

“The fans can do much more at the Liberty,” he explained. “This is what I expect because it can help us to grow.

“They need to keep supporting the players all the time. Not just when we score goals.

“You can see how other fans influence referees and their players. We need our fans’ support when things aren’t going so well.

“It hasn’t happened very often on our pitch this season. But, when it does, we need the fans.

“We are very happy to see the away support we get, our fans are fantastic in that sense even when there is just 150 of them travelling a long way. This is what I want to see at home.”

Pointing out that it’s not just a case of fans raising their game when the likes of Newcastle come to town, he continued: “The fans need to look forward to all the games. Not just the ones against big teams.

“When you see the Crystal Palace fans on Tuesday, the way they encouraged their players and pressured the referee throughout the game, that’s what we want. In difficult moments you can see it makes the difference.

“I want that in every game, not just tomorrow. We already know Newcastle is a big game that will have a great atmosphere so I’m not worried about it.

“I care about the other games, the ones in which we need the fans’ help. They need to help us build a strong club so that we can play against the big teams every week.”

While some fans may object to Sousa’s comments, it should be acknowledged they were said with the best intentions. The Portuguese has always spoken about the Swansea family and this is simply just his way of trying to cultivate it.

Admittedly the Swans boss is coming close to one of football’s cardinal sins, criticising your own fans. But, with an average attendance of just over 15,000 in a 20,000 stadium, perhaps he has a point.

Despite two superb seasons since their promotion to the Championship, the first time the club has graced the second tier in 24 years, there are precious few occasions on which Swansea have sold out their ground.

Much of that is to do with poor away support, but, even if you ignore the lack of travelling fans, there are usually plenty of empty seats in the home allocation.

Whether Sousa has a point when questioning the quality of support is another matter entirely.

Yes the Liberty crowd can be quiet at times, especially when compared to the Swans travelling contingent, but at least they are far less hostile than a large number of their Championship counterparts.

If anything, the best word to describe the Swansea faithful is ‘patient.’ They could be far more vocal in their support, but, with goals often at a premium this season, they could also be far more critical.

Either way, with Newcastle providing one of the sternest tests of the season, it’s highly likely they will need that patience tomorrow.

And, whatever fans think of their manager’s comments, the Magpies’ visit is certainly an occasion that calls for a united front.

Few will forget how, with expectations high, an 11-game unbeaten run came to a crashing halt inside half-an-hour in the return fixture at St James’ Park.

Sousa later admitted the occasion got to his men and, while they went on to prove they could more than match Newcastle’s plethora of multi-million pound signings, it was too little too late.

As they sit on a new run of eight league games unbeaten, the Swans now have a chance to set the record straight. And, insisting his team are more than capable of securing three points against the second-placed Magpies, Sousa is confident they will take it.

HE’S the modern day king of the King’s Road – and Cardiff City have been warned there’s little chance of Frank Lampard’s crown slipping come tomorrow’s FA Cup clash.

Voted as one of Chelsea’s greatest ever, named as one of the top players in the world, and described as a midfielder who’s got the lot; little wonder Lampard’s regarded as the man to stop all Bluebird hopes of a shock.

And all because of a desire to be the best... that was made in Wales.

Former Bluebirds boss Frank Burrows insists it’s no accident the player he coached as a talented teenager at West Ham has gone on to be the player Cardiff fans should be fearing the most at Stamford Bridge tomorrow, citing an incredible work ethic to leave him a cut above his counterparts.

But Burrows claims it was a spell with Cardiff’s arch-rivals Swansea City that really helped shape the success Lampard enjoys to this day.

“He’s just a fabulous player,” said Burrows, part of Harry Redknapp’s coaching set-up at West Ham when a young Lampard first came on to the scene.

“He’s someone who’s got the lot – even the looks!

“ I’d always make sure he’d be on the good-looking team when I picked the five-a-sides in training, although Rio Ferdinand has never forgiven me for putting him on the ugly side.

“He’d have a laugh like that, but he’s someone who would always work hard at what he had.

“One of the best things that he did was get out and experience football away from London, get out of his comfort zone and away from the environment he was used to.

“His dad, who was with us at West Ham, was a clever man and he knew Frank would need to get away and grow up, learn to stand on his own two feet.

“He was an East End boy, born in the East End, reared in the East End and playing for West Ham – the East End’s football club.

“Going to Swansea, going into digs, meeting knew people and having to knuckle down and work made sure he grew up down there. He had matured when he came back and I think he’s carried that attitude about hard work with him all the way through his career.

“Harry got it right sending him away because he’s had that determination to succeed ever since.”

After he made a £11m move to west London in 2001, six years after that stint in South Wales, that success has kept coming and coming.

Premier League titles, Champions League finals, European and world player of the year nominations and – ominously for Cardiff – two FA Cup winners’ medals; all honours that have accompanied Lampard’s time in Chelsea blue.

But it’s not come by fluke for a player who’s worked his way up to the top.

“I think saying he’s worked at it is nailing it on the head with Frank,” admitted Burrows, reflecting on the journey Lampard’s undertaken from figure-conscious kid to 31-year-old England international.

“He hasn’t just become one of the best, he’s worked to become one of the best.

“When he first came in to us at West Ham he was aware of what he needed to do, and he was conscious of his weight for one.

“But he got on with it, he put in the effort and worked for what he’s now got.

“Take his ball-playing for example – he’s a right-footed lad, but if you watched him play it’ll be difficult for you to work out which was his stronger.

“He’s always had the potential to be a great player, but he’s the one who’s made it happen.

“And I think the fact he’s been voted one of Chelsea’s best ever players says more about him than I ever could. But it’s really no surprise for me to see him do as well as he is – he is up there with the very best in the game.”

With Carlo Ancelotti’s aristocrats still planning a league triumph as well as eyeing progress in the Champions League, there’s every chance Lampard could be given a day off for tomorrow’s fifth-round affair.

But as the side’s heartbeat – and the century of goals he’s got from the middle of the park – no manager would take the decision to drop the midfielder easy.

And, given the fact he was involved against Preston in the last round along with fellow first-team stars Joe Cole, Michael Ballack and Nicolas Anelka, suggests a threadbare Bluebirds could be up against the boys in Blue’s best come the noon showdown.

So, with Cardiff experiencing somewhat of a shortage in the centre of midfield, how to stop Lampard driving Chelsea to victory once more?

“I think you’d better ask Dave Jones that, he gets paid a lot more money than me so I’ll leave it up to him to work that one out,” chuckled Burrows, who managed Cardiff in two spells in the 1980s and ’90s, not to mention a five-year tenure in between at Swansea just before Lampard’s Vetch experience.

“He’ll have his game-plan and he’ll make sure his players know it and what he expects.

“And, if Cardiff have a very good day and Chelsea have a bad one, then who knows.

“But, in terms of stopping Frank, it’s difficult because he’s an influence on almost every game he plays in.

“I don’t want to tempt fate, but he’s the type of player who seems to be available and fit for selection every week which is what managers want – he’s a player that managers can rely on and build around.

“He’s been able to be such an important part of that side he’s involved in everything they do.”

And, as much as Cardiff are desperate to dethrone the cup holders, it’s the reason Lampard remains Chelsea’s king.

GARRY Monk has blasted Crystal Palace skipper Shaun Derry for his horror tackle on Shefki Kuqi during Swansea City's victory at Selhurst Park.

And the Swansea captain also launched a broadside at Palace boss Neil Warnock's tactics.

Derry made into a two-footed lunge on former team-mate Kuqi 72 minutes into Tuesday night's clash. The challenge left deep stud marks on both of the Finnish striker's shins.

Referee Graham Scott did not even blow for a foul following the incident, which looked even more dangerous on replay.

When play did pause, outraged Swansea players rushed to confront Derry as Kuqi lay sprawled on the ground.

"That was a disgrace. I had a clear sight of it and I was really mad about it," said Monk.

"He's so lucky not to have damaged Shefki properly.

"But when it's as blatant as that it's embarrassing. He shouldn't be on the pitch.

"He got away with it and he always seems to get away with it, but that's Warnock's team for you."

Kuqi had earlier put Swansea on course for victory with a sharp sliding finish after 14 minutes. The win keeps Sousa's team fifth in the Championship.

And Monk revealed Swansea had been given extra pre-match motivation after Warnock pinned a local newspaper cutting on their dressing room door.

It contained quotes from Paulo Sousa suggesting clubs like Palace who go into administration should be not be deducted 10 points, but relegated.

"Warnock had stuck something on our door — something about what Paulo had said in the week — so we knew we had to start well because they were going to come out firing, and we did that," said Monk.

"Warnock being Warnock, he moaned all game. I think he was the only voice I could hear on the pitch, so it was great to shut him up for once — that was nice.

"Everyone's got their own style and I can't knock him as a manager, he's been there, seen it, done it.

"But it's not a team I'd like to play in and I don't think it's a team even their players want to play in, but you have to play somewhere.

"Our principles are to play nice football and to stroke it about, but with a purpose as well.

"We had to show discipline, which we did, and got a great result," he added.

KEVIN NOLAN believes the best way Newcastle can get over seeing their 15-game unbeaten run end is by producing another one, starting at Swansea on Saturday.

The Magpies lost in the league for the first time since October at Derby on Tuesday night, crashing to their worst defeat of the campaign.

Nolan revealed the players had convened as a group immediately after the 3-0 reverse at Pride Park, determined to put things right at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.

“We knew there was going to be a low before the end of the season and the Derby game was it. Hopefully we are not going to have too many more,”

said Nolan.

“We’ve got to make sure we respond to it, that’s what’s been said as a group. We need a reaction, we want a reaction and that is what we intend to give against Swansea on Saturday.

“The good thing about this league is you don’t have to wait long to get it out of your system.

We’ve got three days to make sure we do the job we should do away from home.”

Despite their impressive run prior to Tuesday, Newcastle have failed to win in six games away from St James’ Park.

They will be boosted by the return of defender Fabricio Coloccini on Saturday, and Nolan believes the Magpies are the victims of their own success this season on their travels.

Nolan said: “We know things are always going to be tough for us when we’re playing away. Everyone raises their game against us and that’s because we are Newcastle United and we bring at least 3,000 fans wherever you go.

“We were so sorry for the fans who travelled on Tuesday night because the performance wasn’t good enough from start to finish.”

“We must remember, from now until the end of the season, we have to stick together and do whatever it takes to get us back into the Premier League.”

TICKETS for Swansea City's home clash with Newcastle on Saturday have been placed on general sale.

Previously fans could only buy Newcastle tickets when they bought tickets for the game with Peterborough on February 27, but the club have now decided to scrap that scheme.

"We would like to apologise for the decision linking the Newcastle and Peterborough fixtures," said Swans vice-chairman Leigh Dineen.

"At the time of the decision, the Newcastle game was due to take place at 3pm on Saturday with no live television coverage. Now that Sky has chosen the game to be screened live and brought forward the kick-off to 12.45pm, this will clearly impact on ticket sales.

"We sincerely hope that those supporters who have purchased link tickets will keep them and use them for both games.

"However, should any supporter be unable to attend the Peterborough game on February 27, full refunds will be available at the ticket office from next Monday."

SWANSEA City's fans are still waiting to witness Shefki Kuqi's swan dive after the striker kept his celebrations to a minimum at Crystal Palace.

Kuqi took just 14 minutes of his maiden Swansea start to score his first goal for his new club.

But the 550 away fans at Selhurst Park were denied the chance to see the big Finn's trademark celebration — because he didn't want to upset the natives.

"Out of respect for the players and some of the fans at Palace, I didn't want to do it," Kuqi said.

"It's my former team and I have a good relationship with a lot of people at the club, so it wasn't a place to celebrate.

"I am just glad that we got the victory, because Palace is the sort of place where you have to go and get a result if you are going to achieve something."

Kuqi's return to South London threatened to turn sour when Palace skipper Shaun Derry launched into an ugly two-footed challenge on his former colleague.

The tackle left Kuqi with heavy stud marks on both legs, but he went easy on Derry, saying: "He came to apologise after the game and I accepted that.

"I know him well. It's something he has done a lot of times and he is someone who cannot change.

"It was a horrible tackle, but what can I do? I am not going to start a fight about it."

Kuqi had the last laugh as Swansea clung on to the advantage his goal had secured.

"I think we can play better football than we did, but the Palace game was about desire," Kuqi said. "We needed a willingness to defend in what was always going to be a tough game, and we showed that."

ARGENTINE defender Fabricio Coloccini could be ready to boost Newcastle United ahead of Saturday’s trip to Swansea City.

Coloccini missed the 5-1 Championship victory over Cardiff and Tuesday night’s visit to Derby with a hamstring injury.

In his absence Newcastle’s rock-like defence crumbled at Pride Park as a 3-0 defeat saw West Brom take advantage to leapfrog the Magpies at the top of the Championship.

But manager Chris Hughton is confident he will have him at his disposal once again as Newcastle attempt to bounce back at the Liberty Stadium.

Hughton said: “Fabricio will be fine for Swansea.

“That’s a boost because he has been a consistent performer this season.”

New signings Mike Williamson and Fitz Hall have been paired together at the heart of the Newcastle defence in Coloccini’s absence.

Toon keeper Steve Harper was incensed by Newcastle’s poor defending at Pride Park.

“It’s a massive wake-up call for everybody to do with the football club who thought we just had the right to go straight out of this league.

“We have to earn it, and (at Derby) we didn’t do that.

“That’s this league – it’s what the Championship’s like.

“It’s a massive wake-up call, and we have to demand a response from everybody on Saturday.”

Reflecting on Derby’s victory, he said: “They were poor goals.

“From a free-kick, we’ve been turned, and you can’t give Rob Hulse a free header.

“And the second one’s a needless penalty. He wasn’t going anywhere, and we brought him down.

“For the third one, we’ve cleared it, and, after we’ve won the initial header, we’ve had two chances to clear it, and the lad’s hit it through a crowd.”

And, after reflecting on Newcastle’s last league defeat back in October against Scunthorpe, Harper hopes Newcastle can deliver another 15-game unbeaten run.

He said: “We’re together – there’s not going to be any splits in the camp – and we need a response on Saturday.

“At Scunthorpe, we demanded a response, and we’ve got to do that now.”

CITY skipper Garry Monk has hit out at Crystal Palace counterpart Shaun Derry, insisting his challenge on Shefki Kuqi could have ended the big Finn’s career.

Kuqi enjoyed a dream return to former club Palace on Tuesday, scoring the only goal in a tense affair at Selhurst Park.

But, in a fiery second half, his evening could so easily have turned into a nightmare following a blatant two-footed challenge from the Eagles skipper.

With Kuqi writhing in agony on the floor, Monk was one of several Swans players left incensed when repeat offender Derry escaped without even a booking from referee Graham Scott.

And, warning that such tackles could easily end a player’s career, he didn’t pull any punches when insisting there was no place for them in football.

“It was a disgraceful tackle,” he declared. “I had a clear view of it and, football aside, I was pretty mad about it because that sort of tackle ends people’s careers.

“If he catches Shefki in the wrong place, he could have done some proper damage. He was so lucky that didn’t happen.

“I told him that but he just admitted it was, so what can you do about that?

“When it’s as blatant as that, it is just embarrassing. I didn’t like it all and that sort of thing shouldn’t be allowed on the football pitch.”

As angry as Monk was, you would expect victim Kuqi to be even worse.

Yet the softly-spoken striker, who knows Derry well from his time at Palace, refused to add fuel to the fire.

Revealing Derry had apologised to him after the game, the Swans new boy insisted the 32-year-old is simply unable to stop himself diving in for rash challenges.

And, despite the gashes the challenge had left on both his shins, Kuqi did his best to play down the incident.

“I know Shaun well and he came to apologise after the game,” he explained.

“It was an awful tackle but it’s something he has done a lot of times and he is someone that just can’t change.

“I’m not an idiot, if something had happened to me I might say something different now.

“But thank God it didn’t and now we just get on with it.

“I accepted his apology, what else can you do? I’m strong enough to be OK after such a tackle.”

While Derry’s tackle may have been a major source of bad blood between the two clubs, Monk revealed it wasn’t the only one.

With Palace boss Neil Warnock reacting angrily to pre-match comments from Swans manager Paulo Sousa – who had claimed any club that went into administration like the Eagles should be relegated – there was always going to be some added needle in South London.

Monk explained that Warnock was so enraged with his opposite number that he had posted a response to Sousa’s comments on the away team’s dressing room door.

But, hinting that the Palace boss isn’t the most popular figure within the Swans camp anyway, the skipper insisted it was a futile act that made victory sweeter.

“When we walked into the changing room, Warnock had stuck something on our door talking about what Paulo said in the week,” he said.

“So we knew they were going to come out firing.

“Paulo was just talking about the way it has been in other countries he has played in.

“I don’t think he meant that he directly wanted Crystal Palace relegated.

“Warnock being Warnock though, he made it an issue. I think he moaned throughout the whole game – he was the only voice I could hear on the pitch!

“So it’s great to shut him up for once.”

Warnock was not to be silenced though. And, in his post-match interviews, the former Sheffield United boss lambasted Sousa for publicly criticising the Eagles’ financial plight.

“Paulo is a good manager but he should keep his mouth shut,” he complained.

“If he wants to find out what has happened (at this club), he can ring me up.

“Anybody can spout off when they are fifth in the league but I didn’t hear him doing it when he was at QPR.

“There is a time and a place for managers to talk about these things and it’s not in the press.”

Sousa, seemingly acknowledging his comments had upset people at Palace, responded: “This is a historical club and I have a lot of respect for it.

“Sometimes I am misunderstood because my English is not so good.”

SHEFKI KUQI returned to haunt former club Crystal Palace as Swansea City ended a 90-year hoodoo at Selhurst Park.

In a game that could have gone either way, Kuqi’s 14th-minute strike made the difference.

But, as Swansea recorded their first away win at Palace since 1920, it was a staunch defensive effort that really deserved the credit for a win that was far more about grit and determination than the flair normally associated with the Swans.

One of the big differences in the Paulo Sousa regime has been a new-found ability to win ugly on a more regular basis.

And, with Palace living up to the “horrible” tag Ashley Williams had given them in his pre-match interviews, Sousa had to watch on as his troops were forced to scrap for 90 minutes in order to get their first Championship win against the Eagles.

Having taken the lead so early, the Swans earned their three points by repelling wave after wave of attack.

The second half, in particular, saw Swansea constantly under the cosh but, notching up their 17th clean sheet of the season, they stood firm.

For all the credit they will get for such a solid team performance, it’s still Kuqi’s first goal for the club that will grab the headlines.

The Swans new boy left Palace on bad terms with former boss Neil Warnock and, while he denied it before the game, it’s hard to believe the big Finn wouldn’t feel like he had a point to prove last night.

Adamant Warnock never gave him a fair chance, Kuqi will have been delighted to be the man that condemned the outspoken Palace boss to defeat.

His strike will also have done his Swansea chances plenty of good and, having been given his first start as one of three changes to the Swans team that beat Preston on Saturday, he looked keen to impress from the opening minute.

But, while Kuqi was certainly throwing his weight around early on, it was Andrea Orlandi testing Eagles keeper Julian Speroni after just three minutes.

Fede Bessone found the Spaniard just outside the hosts’ box but, while his volley was well struck, it was straight at Speroni who gathered the ball at the second attempt.

Orlandi and Kuqi then combined to make sure the big man made his point though. Nathan Dyer hit a hopeful high ball to the edge of the area and, when Orlandi’s clever header put Kuqi through, the 33-year-old shrugged off Johnny Ertl before squirming the ball past Speroni.

Sousa’s men then looked to take control, with Dyer and Gower causing problems.

But they were soon reminded their night’s work was a long way from over as a Palace breakaway in the 20th minute eventually saw Nick Carle’s effort deflect wide off Orlandi.

The Eagles certainly seemed to grow in confidence after that chance and it wasn’t long before a barrage of long balls forward started to test the Swans back four.

Alan Lee, in particular, was causing problems but, with Swansea largely mopping up any knock-ons, there was little to test Dorus de Vries.

Chances were still coming at the other end too though and Dyer went close again on the half-hour mark.

The lively winger did well to cut inside when fed into the box by Orlandi but, with the angle against him, he curled his effort into the side-netting when a cross may have been the better option.

While Swansea were clearly playing the better football, Palace were just about looking the more likely team to score as the half progressed.

But, with former Cardiff striker Lee unable to make the most of their best chance, Warnock’s men went in for the break knowing they had it all to do in the second half.

As it turned out, had it not been for Speroni, their plight would have got much worse just five minutes after the restart.

Orlandi played a lovely one-two with Alan Tate and, when the return pass put him through on goal, the impressive midfielder was only denied by a superb low save from the Palace keeper.

That was the only joy Swansea were to get in the next 20 minutes though.

The Eagles were putting their lead under increasing pressure and, when Calvin Andrew and Kieren Djilali came on for Lee and Danny Butterfield on the hour mark, they suddenly faced a very different kind of attacking threat.

The new duo combined almost immediately to create Palace’s best chance of the half. Andrew flicked on a hopeful ball forwards and, when Djilali got the wrong side of Bessone, Swansea were lucky to see his lobbed effort drift over.

With the exception of a half-chance from Bessone, the siege continued as the half progressed. And the hosts so nearly got their reward in the 75th minute when Ertl flicked on Shaun Derry’s free-kick only to see Darren Ambrose volley wide across goal from six yards.

For all their pressure and possession, it was a rare chance for Palace.

As it has for most of this season, Swansea’s defence was coping with almost everything that was thrown at them.

While there were some late breaks for the Swans, they were still forced to defend until the very last minute though.

Palace looked desperate to avoid their first defeat since going into administration and they battled to the very last.

In the end Warnock’s men just couldn’t find a way through though. And, with other results going their way, Swansea held on to finally get one over on Palace and give themselves a six-point buffer in the play-offs.

Neil Warnock felt he could not have asked for anything more from his brave Crystal Palace side as they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Paulo Sousa's classy Swansea.

Warnock, who tasted defeat for only the second time in 11 games, heaped praise on his makeshift backline after a series of injuries disrupted his plans.

Former Palace striker Shefki Kuqi scored the only goal of the game 14 minutes into his first start for the Swans.

Warnock said: "You can't ask for any more than that really.

"I'm disappointed with the goal. They are already one of the best sides in the division, so to give them a goal gave them a lift. I was glad to get to half-time.

"But I thought we were super in the second half. I'm delighted with the effort we put in and you can't ask for any more from them.

"We lost two centre-halves [Claude Davis and Matt Lawrence] this morning. Johnny Ertl has not trained for two weeks and he ends up playing 90 minutes.

"But they'll take some stopping, will Swansea."

The Welsh play-off contenders simply outclassed their south London hosts.

Kuqi took full advantage of a defensive mistake to slide home past Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni after Andrea Orlandi's nod down.

Orlandi should have doubled the advantage soon after the break but forced a fantastic save from the busy Speroni.

A desperate late rally from the Eagles almost paid off.

Substitute Kieran Djilali fired just over the bar before Darren Ambrose drove his venomous volley wide of the mark.

Swansea manager Paulo Sousa said: "It was important to win here against a difficult opponent.

"We are more mature, we are suffering pressure better and are more consistent.

"To win games, sometimes you need to be always strong and focused 100% on doing the right things, and that's what we've done here."

Sousa was delighted with Kuqi on his first full start.

He said: "I'm very happy. I wanted to bring him in at the start of the season, then tried a month before he arrived. He is someone who can come in and help us with different football and different characteristics."

Warnock, who released Kuqi last summer, warned Sousa that the Finnish international's form may only be temporary.

He said: "He always starts well at a club, so I'm sure he'll do well for a few months. We'll have to see.

"I never had a problem with Shefki. It wasn't his fault that somebody paid stupid money for him."

Warnock was critical of Sousa for his comments in the build-up to the game regarding Palace's administration.

He said: "Paulo is a good manager, but he has a lot to learn. He should keep his mouth shut when he doesn't understand the circumstances."

Sousa insists he was misquoted over his apparent claim that Palace should be relegated for entering administration, and insists he has a "deep respect" for the club, but Warnock fumed: "But it's already done. You write the story and then say sorry after.

"Anybody can spout off when you're fourth in the league, I didn't hear him spouting off at QPR.

"There's a time and a place for manager to say something and that's not in the press."

LEON Britton has urged his Swansea City team-mates to focus fully on football as the sharp end of the season approaches.

Swansea head to Crystal Palace tonight to play the first of 18 games that remain between now and the end of the campaign.

They travel to Selhurst Park boosted by an impressive 2-0 win against Preston on Saturday.

And after the transfer window shut last Monday, Britton insists the players can concentrate on a Swansea play-off push.

"We're in February now, so there's February, March and April left, there's only one league game in May," he said.

"We're coming to the final run-in so we want to kick on, keep getting results and stay in the play-offs.

"Now the window's shut it's settled everyone down. We've stayed much the same as we were at the start of the season.

"I think now everyone's happy that the deadline's passed and we've managed to keep everyone together."

Swansea drew 0-0 with Palace at the end of December in a game marred by a controversial early red card for Albert Serran.

That hit Swansea's hopes of victory and it took a battling display to secure a point.

Since then Neil Warnock's side have been deducted 10 points after going into administration and have lost star player Victor Moses to Wigan.

Lucky

"We didn't play Palace that long ago, when we went down to 10 men really early. That was a tough game when we were lucky to come away with a draw," said Britton.

"They've had a bit of trouble off the field, but it's going to be a really difficult game.

"They've come through adversity and come together because they think everyone's against them. Their team spirit will become stronger.

"I know they've lost Victor Moses, but I don't think they've lost anyone else. He's a big loss, but it's going to be mainly the same team that played us last time."

Britton was also the subject of Wigan interest, while Darren Pratley caught the eye of Nottingham Forest and Fulham wanted Angel Rangel.

But neither Britton nor Pratley showed any signs of being unsettled by speculation surrounding them during Saturday's victory, while Rangel sat out that game and is also likely to miss the trip to London with an Achilles problem.

"I'm glad just to be playing football and getting back into a match routine," said Britton.

"The last few weeks have been a bit of a busy time with a lot of speculation, but I just wanted to get back out on the pitch because that's where I'm happiest."

DARREN Pratley has warned Swansea City not to expect an easy ride when they tackle crisis club Crystal Palace.

Palace have tumbled down the Championship table after being deducted 10 points for entering administration.

They have slipped from the play-off fringe to 16th and seen prize asset Victor Moses leave for Wigan.

But Pratley said: "They won last week against Wolves and are a good side," he said.

"They've lost Victor Moses, but I don't think they're a one-man team. We've lost big players here and it doesn't seem to be affecting us at the moment.

"It was a tough game when they came here this season and they beat us twice last season.

"It doesn't matter what's going on off the pitch, they've got good players and players don't become bad because the club are in administration."

Palace triumphed at Scunthorpe last Saturday to stretch their winning run to three games, and were the only side to complete a league double over Swansea last term.

"We haven't got a point to prove. If we beat Palace it doesn't mean we get promoted," said Pratley.

"We want to go there and get three points, which will set us up nicely for Newcastle on Saturday.

"We've got five more games to play in February so it's going to be a big month.
"A team that goes on a good run can set themselves up nicely for the rest of the season."

Swans new boy Kuqi seeking to put one over on old Palace boss Warnock


SHEFKI KUQI sparked the end of his Crystal Palace career when he stuck two fingers up to the Selhurst Park crowd.

Now, as he prepares to return to his old stomping ground tonight, the Swansea City striker is more likely to offer a round of applause.

Because while the flying Finn’s time with the Eagles brought about its fair share of bad blood, Kuqi has nothing but admiration for those still smiling through administration.

The hand of friendship may not extend to manager Neil Warnock who Kuqi claims did not give him a fair chance at Palace.

But the 33-year-old has plenty of respect for the fans and former team-mates who are upsetting the odds amid a financial crisis that has seen the club deducted 10 points and in desperate need of a new buyer with debts estimated at £30m.

“It’s not nice to see what’s happening there now,” said Kuqi, who arrived in South Wales via Koblenz after a three-year spell in South London.

“They have big problems and it’s sad to hear the sort of things that have come out in recent weeks.

“I know a lot of the players there and it’s very difficult for them.

“So you have to give the players a lot of credit. Despite the situation they are in yet they are still managing to pull out results.”

Having shocked top-flight Wolves in the FA Cup last week, Palace continued their good league form by beating Scunthorpe last weekend – a result that would have put them in the play-off places if not for that 10-point penalty.

“It would be easy for them just to give up like so many other clubs have done when they’ve been in similar situations,” Kuqi added.

“You see sides get points taken away and all the worries that come with administration and then they’re not bothered about losing games on a Saturday.

“But that’s not been the case with them, they’re getting the results even when they must be wondering if they are going to get paid or whatever.”

But searching for a first start and a first goal for his new club after signing in the January transfer window, Kuqi is in no mood to get soft with sympathy come tonight’s kick-off.

“They are doing a great job through it all but when it comes to kick off I cannot have any sympathy,” said the burly striker.

“What is done is done with me and Palace and I am here to help Swansea and give my best for this club.”

Kuqi has twice made an impact off the Swansea bench with his rampaging frontline style and should edge out Gorka Pintado for a start tonight.

And while he might not openly admit it, it’s difficult to imagine Kuqi wouldn’t love to get one over on his old boss.

While the striker has since patched up his differences with the Palace fans after he once responded to supporters’ jeers with a obscene hand gesture, he hit out at Warnock when he left London in the summer.

The outspoken veteran manager forced the Finn to train with the youth players and warned him he would never play for the club again – before recalling him for end-of-season play-off push.

A new contract was on the table for Kuqi, but only on vastly reduced terms leaving Warnock to claim the forward was only interested in money when he turned it down.

But he smiled: “I have no point to prove to their fans or to the manager.

“My time there was mixed – at the start of the season I wasn’t playing at all and told I would never play again for them.

“Then I came in and did well but was never offered the contract I deserved.

“I felt I never got the chance to give everything for them – but now I’ve moved on and what’s done is done.”

Joe Allen impressed on Saturday but Swans boss Paulo Sousa’s tendency to tinker could see a recall for the refreshed Andrea Orlandi.

Craig Beattie – the player Warnock wanted to sign to replace Kuqi when he was transfer listed – is out, leaving the Finn to battle it out with Pintado and fans’ favourite Lee Trundle.

Crystal Palace's Matt Lawrence is likely to miss tonight's game against Swansea City after injuring his hamstring.

The defender, who was man of the match against Scunthorpe United on Saturday, was forced off with a minute left after feeling his hamstring and manager Neil Warnock confirmed the 35-year-old is unlikely to make the team sheet.

"Matt Lawrence is probably going to be struggling for tonight," he said.

"He's got a tight hamstring and he had a scan on it yesterday.

"It's a shame for him as he did ever so well on Saturday and has done brilliant since coming back into the team."

Lawrence's absence means Clint Hill will partner Claude Davis in the centre of the defence with Lee Hills coming in at left back.

Johnny Ertl trained yesterday for the first time since injuring his hamstring against Newcastle United two weeks ago but it unlikely to be risked.

Palace have lost just once in 10 games and tonight's match is their sixth in 18 days, a schedule Warnock is not too worried about.

"It's a good thing we have got so many games in such a short space of time with the run we are on at the minute," he said.

ANGEL Rangel has revealed he is set for clear-the-air talks with Huw Jenkins after the Spaniard hit out at the Swansea City chairman.

Rangel accused Jenkins of blocking his deadline-day transfer to Premier League side Fulham and preventing him from furthering his career.

Jenkins has since insisted that no fee had been agreed with Roy Hodgson's side and all that was on offer was a loan move to Craven Cottage.

Rangel was not involved in Saturday's win over Preston and will also sit out tomorrow's trip to Crystal Palace after suffering a recurrence of an Achilles injury.

But he will meet with the Swansea supremo early next week in a bid to draw a line under the episode.

"The only thing I can say is that there has been a misunderstanding so the best thing I can do is see the chairman, have a conversation and sort things out like that," said Rangel. "We have different points of view and something's wrong so we'll see what that thing is.

"I showed my frustration, I think that was obvious, but I never said I didn't want to play for Swansea City.

"I said that if there was an offer from a Premier League club I'd like to consider it, but in this case I didn't have any chance to discuss things.

"But I have to respect the club, I have to respect the fans and everything because Swansea City have given me the chance to be here and I'm very pleased with that."

The defender, who joined the club from Spanish side Terrassa in the summer of 2007, insists he remains committed to the Swansea cause.

Criticism

"I have had criticism from so many people because no-one liked what I said, but I was only being honest," said the 27-year-old.

"But I don't think it's going to affect me because I always give 100 per cent for the club every single game.

"Fulham are obviously a massive club and I think every player would like to go and play in the Europa League, the fifth round of the FA Cup and the Premier League.

"It would have furthered my career, but that is in the past and now I have to refocus and I'm concentrating 100 per cent on getting my place back in the team."

WELL beaten by Preston, Swansea City traipsed off the pitch with shoulders slumped and minds on a relegation battle.

Five months on, Paulo Sousa's players remained on the turf long after the final whistle, savouring victory and looking ahead to many more.

This time it was Preston who were well beaten, and this time Swansea chests were puffed out.

Once more the focus is on getting out of the Championship, but now it is on sneaking into the Premier League rather than sliding into League One.

The tables have turned since that bleak defeat at Deepdale, and the table has turned too.

Only four teams were worse off than Swansea after Preston's 2-0 success in September, which left Sousa's men with just five points from their first six games of the campaign.

Today there are only four teams doing better. In 22 fixtures since the Preston beating — when Dorus de Vries, tellingly, was his team's best player — Swansea have banked an impressive 40 points.

There have been just two league defeats in that sequence, away at leaders Newcastle and at home to another of the automatic promotion contenders, Nottingham Forest.

It looks like Newcastle, West Brom and Forest will scrap it out for the top two spots in the Championship, with the rest competing for a play-off place.

And as the days start to get longer and the points become ever more precious, Swansea are in good shape.

"We are pleased to be where we are and we want to stay there," Sousa said in the wake of a triumph which cements his team's top-six spot.

"We want to keep on improving, but we have plenty of confidence in ourselves."
Belief is justified. Still Swansea lack firepower, and still there are some who question their chances of going the distance in the play-off chase.

But Swansea have come too far already for their progress to have been a fluke, and there is no doubt now that they have the quality to finish up ahead of some of the division's bigger spenders.

An extraordinary defensive record is the foundation for Swansea's success, with this weekend's shut-out making it 16 clean sheets this season for de Vries.

No second-tier side has more — Newcastle's record is the same — and with so few goals going at one end, Swansea do not need that many at the other.

Saturday saw something of an avalanche, as Swansea managed more than one goal on home soil for the first time since Cardiff City were beaten 3-2 way back in the first week of November.

It is safe to say the Liberty's nets are not going to wear out any time soon, but no-one will mind if Swansea can remain as resolute as they have been up until now.

In truth, mid-table Preston did not look too interested in examining Swansea's defences this weekend. Instead, Darren Ferguson set his team up to cancel out their hosts and return to Lancashire with a point.

The plan didn't work.

Swansea ripped into Preston almost from the outset and, impressively, never eased off.

"It was a complete performance," Sousa purred. Maybe we could have scored more goals, but we showed great organisation, great mobility, good understanding and good communication.

"There was a lot of aggression, and we had players looking to get into space and to create space.

"We want to keep going like this, because that will bring us more success.
"This was one of our best performances because we were consistent throughout the game.

"It won't be easy to repeat it because different opponents give you different challenges, but if we can stay like this we will be a stronger side than ever."

If they continue dominating games like this, the play-offs are a certainty.

Swansea bossed every aspect of a one-sided contest and might have secured a greater margin of victory.

Nathan Dyer, one of the many attacking players who had a field day, should have scored when through on the keeper but dragged wide and might also have had a penalty.

Joe Allen forced Andy Lonergan into a sprawling stop and David Cotterill smashed a long-ranger against the post.

By the time the woodwork rattled, the game was already won thanks to a pair of Cotterill set-pieces.

The first was a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area which the £600,000 man curled into the top corner for his first Swansea league goal.

The second was delivered from wide on the left for another Welsh international, Ashley Williams, to head across Lonergan and inside the far post.
"We have worked a lot on set-pieces because 35 per cent of goals come from them," Sousa said.

"When we have teams coming to the Liberty and dropping deep there are a lot of fouls, so it's important we improve our free-kicks. They can help us open games up."

With Ferrie Bodde still out, Cotterill looks like being a useful set-piece weapon in a team which is short on specialists.

"He kicks the ball well," Sousa pointed out.

He was not the only footballer kicking the ball well at the Liberty on Saturday. Swansea's rearguard had a fairly easy time of it, thanks largely to a midfield which took control of the contest.

Among them was Leon Britton, who remains a Swan for now and, according to his manager, was a player transformed against Preston thanks to the closure of the transfer window.

"Leon is happy," Sousa added. "He looked a completely different player after a great week.

"Everyone could see that after the window closed, and this is the person and the player I'm looking for.

"If he continues to play like that, it will be massive for us."

Britton, who has had yet another fine season, may be surprised to hear that his manager thinks he might have done more.

Whatever the midfielder's thoughts, Swansea are delighted that he is still around post-window and that he will be on board for a few more months at least.

The same goes for Darren Pratley and Angel Rangel, who was missing this weekend because of an ankle injury, and not because of his criticism of the chairman last week.

Rangel hit out because he wanted a chance in the Premier League.

If Swansea continue to play as they did against Preston, he might just get that opportunity in Wales.

SWANSEA City's derby clash with Cardiff on April 3 will be shown live on Sky Sports.

The Easter Saturday clash will now kick-off at 5.20pm.

Swansea's youngsters, meanwhile, are through to the last eight of the FAW Welsh Youth Cup after Casey Thomas's double helped them to a 2-1 win Cwmaman Institute.

Paulo Sousa could name an unchanged side when in-form Swansea face Crystal Palace in the Championship on Tuesday night.

The Swans outclassed Preston in a 2-0 victory at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday to stretch their unbeaten run to seven Championship matches.

Sousa has no new injuries or suspensions to contend with and full-back Angel Rangel (ankle) will come back into contention if he passes a fitness test.

Cedric van der Gun is nearing a return from the hamstring injury that has kept him out since the beginning of January, but the Dutch forward is unlikely to feature at Selhurst Park.

Striker Craig Beattie will definitely not be involved due to an ankle problem, while defender Albert Serran remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Recent signing Shefki Kuqi is expected to be on the bench in what will be his first return to Selhurst Park since he left the club in the summer.

Kick-off 8pm.

DAVID Cotterill praised Paulo Sousa's managerial style after scoring the free-kick that set Swansea City on the road to victory against Preston on Saturday.
Cotterill netted his second goal for the club when he curled a set-piece into the top corner.

And he was quick to pay tribute to his boss, having sealed a permanent switch to South Wales during the January transfer window.

"Personally, the manager has been great with me and helped me get to where I want to be," said Cotterill.

"He knows the game inside out and he's been there for me. Hopefully, if I can keep working on the way he wants us to play, I can improve as a player and help the team improve.

"He doesn't shout and bawl, it's instructions about getting it right.

Nod

"We'll have to wait and see about whether I can get the nod at all the free-kicks, but it was nice when I did get the chance to see it hit the back of the net."

Swansea dominated the clash against their opponents, claiming a deserved 2-0 win that might have been more emphatic.

It cemented their place in the Championship top six ahead of tomorrow's trip to Crystal Palace, and Cotterill admitted the result had given the whole squad a boost.

"I definitely enjoyed that one," he said. "We bossed the game and passed the ball extremely well from start to finish and it gave all of us a lift.

"Nathan (Dyer) was causing havoc down the other wing and got us some good early chances, but getting an early goal was massive for us because we've seen how sides come here and try to frustrate us.

Confidence

"We got that and it gave us confidence to make sure we got the result.
"Sides come here and sit back, but Preston couldn't live with us — and they are a good side themselves so it just shows how good we were.

"But we need to keep hitting those levels and if we do we can do a lot in this league."

The win kept Swansea fifth in the Championship after 28 games.

"There's been a lot of talk about the lack of goals and it's fair because we haven't scored enough at times this season," said Cotterill.

"And even here we scored two but we could have had a few more.

"But we've taken a step in the right direction, played well and got our goals and it's up to us to keep building."

He added: "We've stayed in the top six after dropping a few points in recent weeks and now we've won there are a few points between us and sixth and seventh.

"If we can build on this confidence, we can start pushing on even further.

"We can't get ahead of ourselves so we have to only look at the next game. But we are getting there."

SWANSEA CITY’S time in the Championship has seen them labelled a lot of things for the way they play their football.

But set-piece specialists has not been one of them... not at least until this weekend.

The set-play not been an attacking strength at any stretch for the Swans since arriving back at this level, previous manager Roberto Martinez once claiming he did not want his side to rely on such a contrived way of scoring.

But, when faced with a distinct lack of goals and against teams happy to frustrate, the current man at the helm has clearly no issue in using every avenue available to ensure his side’s play-off push continues.

And it paid off on Saturday when the two goals needed to reward a dominant display came from mixing things up with the dead ball.

“When you look at the statistics, 35 per cent of goals come from set-plays these days,” said Paulo Sousa, whose side played their part in such number crunching after David Cotterill curled home a superb free-kick opener before Ashley Williams headed home from a dead-ball delivery. “So, when that is the case, it is an area for us to improve in.

“When teams come to the Liberty they drop and defend deep, they stop us progressing and are prepared to foul us and concede free-kicks.

“So we have been working very hard to be improve. It’s something we want to be stronger than ever at because it’s something that can help us to open the game more and give us the possibility to play at our level.”

So much so the squad have been subjected to drill upon drill on the training ground, with Sousa understood to have brought in a specialist coach to help his men get an edge in that area.

It has seen some bizarre ploys in recent weeks – such as all attackers staying outside the box at corners, running in en-masse to try and confuse the opposition.

And, when the confident Cotterill was up-ended by Youl Mawene following a slick Swansea start, it was time for another from the chalkboard. This time, five home players joined in the Preston defensive wall before diving out of the way as the Wales international curled past a baffled Andy Lonergan.

The second was a bit more straight forward; Williams losing his marker to meet Cotterill’s inch-perfect, dead-ball delivery following a foul out on the wing.

But if such hard work has been put in on that front, then no wonder Sousa was smiling after only the seventh game this season his men have scored more than a solitary strike.

Yet, despite the welcome goals at a time when the lack of them have come under scrutiny, Sousa’s true satisfaction will surely have come from the overall performance.

And, as much as the set-piece routines may be a bit of the new, the confident possession play was more the strutting Swansea style of old. Only seen on a couple of occasions this term, this was a display that screamed belief – especially in the final third.

That was something helped no end by the opener from Cotterill.

Although hardly giving Preston a kick in the first half-hour, there was a rumbling of concern around the stands that Swansea had been here before – on top but unable to come away with the goals when it mattered.

“Getting a goal when we did was massive for us,” admitted Cotterill, who shied away from talking about the set-piece drills being worked on in training, claiming it’s something for the Swans to keep in camp.

“We were bossing it, we were passing the ball well and Nathan Dyer was causing havoc down the other wing and got us some good early chances.

“But we’ve seen how sides come here and try and frustrate us and perhaps it can affect you and you can start thinking whether you’ll get that breakthrough.

“But we got our goal at an important time and it gave us a huge lift and confidence to make sure we got the result.

“Sides come here and sit back, but Preston tried it and couldn’t live with us. They are a good side themselves so I think they way we played from start to finish just shows how good we were and we can all get a lift from that.”

It appeared so as Swansea never once looked in danger of letting Darren Ferguson’s side into the contest, much to both their ire and admiration.

“It’s always a very difficult place to come at the best of times,” Ferguson said of his Liberty visit.

“They are a very good football team, and the way Swansea play you know at times that they are going to have a lot of possession.

“They have got the belief and the confidence to play the way they wanted to play and they do it well.

“So you’ve just got to try and frustrate them if you can.

“ I want my teams to play a certain way and the way Swansea play and pass it around is something we should maybe aspire to.”

Praise indeed from a man who knows good football when he sees it thanks to a certain family connection.

He had tried to frustrate by matching up in midfield, only to see Joe Allen add a tad more creativity than seen in recent games in between the tempo-setters of Leon Britton and Darren Pratley.

The one negative – yet again – was the fact that chances were spurned too often once more, Nathan Dyer, Pintado and Allen himself should have all added to the scoreline, even though the result was always safe with a 16th clean sheet of the season never in doubt.

But that won’t have stopped the boost in morale following a trying few weeks when things hasn’t been fully clicking for this side, something they must look to take into tomorrow’s fixture at Crystal Palace before facing the ultimate test of promotion credentials when Newcastle arrive in South Wales on Saturday.