TLG Stat-Pack – Swansea City in 2004/5

Kristian O'Leary has been ever-present in Swansea's rock-like defence

After losing their opening match of 2004/5, and then the third, 1-0 to Macclesfield Town, Swans fans seemed to be clamouring for the head of manager Kenny Jackett, only installed on a full-time basis in the summer after the departure of Brian Flynn, who had left by mutual consent after failing himself to get the Welshmen in the old Division Two.

A 1-1 draw with Cheltenham Town followed, as well as a 3-0 Carling Cup defeat at Loftus Road to Championship Queens Park Rangers, and the writing could well have been on the wall. Tenth place was not good enough for the baying masses at the Vetch Field in 2003/4, and the signs were that the sort of dodgy defending that was evident as Southend snatched an improbable 3-2 victory against the Swans in December, finishing the game with just eight men, was back.

The doubters have quickly been silenced. Consecutive 1-0 wins against Cambridge and Lincoln were followed up by a single-goal defeat to fellow automatic promotion hopefuls Yeovil Town at Huish Park, which was no disgrace. Since then the Swans have won four and drawn one of their next five games, including smashing three past Kidderminster Harriers.

Defence has been the base on which City have built their season – goalkeeper Willy Gueret and defenders Andy Robinson, Sam Ricketts and Kristian O’Leary are all ever-present, and in League Two Swansea have conceded just five goals. It may be the first time in four years that Blues have scored more goals than the League leaders – when, ironically, the Welshmen were top again – but they would happily swap the ten places that currently separate the two clubs. Saturday’s match will go a long way to deciding if the Shrimpers have that play-off mettle this time around.

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com