REWIND 12 months and Sam Ricketts is looking forward to the big end-of-season climax.
"It was Telford's two-legged FA Trophy semi-final against Canvey Island," recalls the former Conference defender.

"We lost on penalties in the end. But it was still pretty much the highlight of the season for me."

No disrespect to those non-league minnows, but a year down the line and Ricketts has far bigger things on his agenda.

For starters, the 23-year-old is on the last lap of a promotion race Swansea City are desperate to be leading once again.

But, most astonishingly when you consider where he was this time last year, he's on the verge of playing in two World Cup qualifying matches.

For Ricketts, today's tasty-looking promotion shoot-out at Northampton will form the hors d'oeuvre to the back-to-back games against Austria on which Wales' miniscule chances of making the finals in Germany depend.

Unsurprisingly, the former Oxford man still thinks he's in dreamland having made such a swift journey from Conference football at cash-strapped Telford to the biggest competition of them all.

"It's incredible to think I could be playing in two World Cup qualifying matches," admits Ricketts, recalled to John Toshack's squad for the double date with Austria after making an unlikely international debut in last month's 2-0 friendly win over Hungary.

"It's not something I could've imagined happening when I was at Telford 12 months ago.

"The FA Trophy game was the high point of last season. But this year I've got a chance of winning promotion and possibly playing in two World Cup qualifiers. It's just amazing.

"I've come a long way in a short space of time. I thought I was capable of making this kind of progress, but I never thought it'd happen so soon.

"Obviously it's come about through circumstances, but everyone needs a bit of luck and I've had some this year."

A combination of a new manager keen to experiment and the absence through suspension of Wales' first-choice left-back, Ben Thatcher, has seen the international door swing open to Ricketts.

Though the ability of a League Two player to perform consistently at international level remains open to question, Ricketts clearly did enough against Hungary to earn another chance.

So, on his return from a crucial trip to Sixfields Stadium, he'll join the Wales squad to prepare for what he hopes will be two appearances against Austria, in Cardiff a week today and in Vienna on March 30.

"It was fantastic to be recalled to the squad," he says. "I don't know whether he (Toshack) will pick the same team, but it's wonderful just to be a part of the squad again.

"You're always going to look up to Premiership players. It's interesting to see what they do in training and in matches, and also how they conduct themselves in everyday life.

"When I was called up for the Hungary match, I thought to myself, 'This might be the only chance I get so I've got to try to take everything in, savour the moment.'

"Who knows how long it (his international career) will last. I'm just going to try and make sure I enjoy it.

"I know we haven't got much chance of qualifying for the World Cup, but it'd be good to be part of a team that puts a winning run together."

Ricketts' Welsh adventure means he'll miss Swansea's mouthwatering promotion tussle against Macclesfield at the Vetch on Good Friday as well as the trip to Cheltenham on Easter Monday.

"It's a big shame about that," says Ricketts. "I want to play in every game going. Ideally I'd play Friday, Saturday, Monday and Wednesday - but I'm not that fit!

"The Macclesfield game is going to be huge. Hopefully by the time they come to the Vetch, we'll have closed the gap on them at the top."

With Yeovil and Scunthorpe threatening to pull away at the top, Macclesfield - stubbornly clinging onto that coveted third automatic promotion place - are the team everyone within everyone's sights.

Given Brian Horton's surprise package are two places and two points above the Swans, the visit to Northampton has become a must-win affair for Kenny Jackett's team.

But Swansea have lost their last four away games, the defensive solidity that formed the bedrock of their success earlier in the season having crumbed in recent weeks.

"A few clean sheets wouldn't go amiss at the moment. Just tightening up at the back a little bit would probably give us the kick-start we need," Ricketts said. "It's not as if we've become a bad side who can't win. We know we're a good side, but we just haven't been doing it away from home.

"A few weeks ago, we were six points clear, so to be two points adrift with nine games to go is nothing."

Ricketts and co will come up against a Cobblers side desperate for three points that could nudge them back into play-off territory.

Colin Calderwood's men are strengthened by the £125,000 capture of Boston striker Andy Kirk, but Jackett hopes Garry Monk will be fit to return to the heart of the Swans defence.

SWANSEA winger Brad Maylett has joined Boston on an initial month's loan with a view to a permanent move.

Kenny Jackett says now is the time for his Swansea City players to prove they are good enough to climb out of the Football League basement. Jackett's team have picked up only six points from a possible 24, with the result that they go into tomorrow's big clash at Sixfields in fifth place.

Swansea lie two points behind Macclesfield who currently occupy the third automatic promotion spot.
Jackett's side - along with Yeovil Town and Scunthorpe United - have been favourites to secure a top-three spot come May for most of the season.

But their poor run of form - especially on the road - has seen Swansea drop away and the former Wales and Watford man wants to get the promotion train back on track, starting tomorrow.

''I am a great believer that in the league you get what you deserve,'' he said.

''In the cups it's slightly different because you can play well, lose and then go out.

''You can't have much say over injuries and suspensions, but you can have some input when it comes to performances.

''I spoke to Rochdale manager Steve Parkin after we played them last week and he said that we had improved since we played them earlier in the season.

''But at home it has been different.

''You can see where our problems lie and it's away from the Vetch.

''We have lost four on the trot on our travels and that's not promotion form.

''And I shall be saying to the players: ''Come on fellas, we have got to pick it up.''

While Jackett is a firm believer that you make your own luck, he is hoping that if there is any good fortune going around, his team will benefit.

He reckons the Football Association of Wales's decision to overturn Lee Trundle's three-match ban following last week's sending-off, could just be a catalyst for some better times ahead.

''If we are due a bit of luck we will get some. It's as simple as that,'' he said.

''I certainly hope that if it has been going against us it does change and change quickly.

''But if you put in the performances then the luck, hopefully, should go with you.''

Northampton came to Vetch Field on the first day of the season and went away with a 2-0 win to confirm their pre-season favourites tag.

Colin Calderwood's side have been a little inconsistent since then and are ninth, two places outside the play-off spots, but only on goal difference.

The Cobblers go into tomorrow's big clash on the back of two defeats against Rochdale and Rushden & Diamonds.

But Jackett knows just how dangerous Northampton are.

''They are a good side with some good players,'' he said.

''They have just bought a centre-forward (Andy Kirk from Boston) for big money and they have Josh Low back on the right wing who I know is a strong performer.

''That first game seems a long way away, but on the day I thought they edged it.

''In professional football your next game is always important whether you are at the bottom scrapping for points or at the top pushing for promotion as we are.

''Positions do not matter all that matters is that we have got to win it.''

As well as Trundle's reprieve, Jackett should be boosted by the return of influential central defender Garry Monk.

Monk has trained well after missing the last two games with back problems and the manager is expecting him to be fit for tomorrow.

Kenny Jackett says now is the time for his Swansea City players to prove they are good enough to climb out of the Football League basement. Jackett's team have picked up only six points from a possible 24, with the result that they go into tomorrow's big clash at Sixfields in fifth place.

Swansea lie two points behind Macclesfield who currently occupy the third automatic promotion spot.

Jackett's side - along with Yeovil Town and Scunthorpe United - have been favourites to secure a top-three spot come May for most of the season.

But their poor run of form - especially on the road - has seen Swansea drop away and the former Wales and Watford man wants to get the promotion train back on track, starting tomorrow.

''I am a great believer that in the league you get what you deserve,'' he said.

''In the cups it's slightly different because you can play well, lose and then go out.

''You can't have much say over injuries and suspensions, but you can have some input when it comes to performances.

''I spoke to Rochdale manager Steve Parkin after we played them last week and he said that we had improved since we played them earlier in the season.

''But at home it has been different.

''You can see where our problems lie and it's away from the Vetch.

''We have lost four on the trot on our travels and that's not promotion form.

''And I shall be saying to the players: ''Come on fellas, we have got to pick it up.''

While Jackett is a firm believer that you make your own luck, he is hoping that if there is any good fortune going around, his team will benefit.

He reckons the Football Association of Wales's decision to overturn Lee Trundle's three-match ban following last week's sending-off, could just be a catalyst for some better times ahead.

''If we are due a bit of luck we will get some. It's as simple as that,'' he said.

''I certainly hope that if it has been going against us it does change and change quickly.

''But if you put in the performances then the luck, hopefully, should go with you.''

Northampton came to Vetch Field on the first day of the season and went away with a 2-0 win to confirm their pre-season favourites tag.

Colin Calderwood's side have been a little inconsistent since then and are ninth, two places outside the play-off spots, but only on goal difference.

The Cobblers go into tomorrow's big clash on the back of two defeats against Rochdale and Rushden & Diamonds.

But Jackett knows just how dangerous Northampton are.

''They are a good side with some good players,'' he said.

''They have just bought a centre-forward (Andy Kirk from Boston) for big money and they have Josh Low back on the right wing who I know is a strong performer.

''That first game seems a long way away, but on the day I thought they edged it.

''In professional football your next game is always important whether you are at the bottom scrapping for points or at the top pushing for promotion as we are.

''Positions do not matter all that matters is that we have got to win it.''

As well as Trundle's reprieve, Jackett should be boosted by the return of influential central defender Garry Monk.

Monk has trained well after missing the last two games with back problems and the manager is expecting him to be fit for tomorrow.

KENNY JACKETT has issued his Swansea City players a challenge ahead of tomorrow's crunch League Two trip to Northampton, "Prove you deserve to win promotion."
The Swans boss admits his side's away record over the past six weeks - four defeats in a row - is not the stuff of genuine top-three challengers.

Though they've hardly been in imperious form at home, Jackett insists Swansea's bout of travel sickness is the main reason they will head for Sixfields Stadium playing catch-up in the race for automatic promotion.

Overcoming a play-off chasing Northampton side on their own patch might seem a tall order, but - with the Swans two points and two places shy of the top three - Jackett understandably wants nothing less than a win from this away day.

"We've got to sort ourselves out away from home because four straight losses isn't promotion form," he said.

"Looking at our recent run of results, it doesn't take a genius to work out that away from the Vetch is where our problems lie.

"I find that disappointing because four away defeats in a row doesn't reflect our season as a whole.

"Up until recently, we had a good record away from home. Even in the games we lost, we were competitive and hard to beat.

"Northampton, as tough as the match is going to be, presents us with an opportunity to get back to that."

Though next Friday's Vetch showdown against third-placed Macclesfield is likely to prove pivotal, Jackett knows the extent to which Swansea can improve their fortunes on the road will have a major bearing on whether they avoid the dreaded play-offs.

And if Swansea do end up outside the top three, admits Jackett, it will be because they don't deserve to finish any higher.

He said, "I'm a great believer that as far as the league is concerned, you get more or less what you deserve. By the end of the season, you finish where you should.

"Perhaps we haven't been getting much luck of late and I hope that changes quickly. But if we get our performances right, luck doesn't really come into it.

"It's exactly right that people will say if we keep dropping points away from home, then we don't really deserve to be promoted.

"So perhaps it's time for the players to go out and prove that they do deserve to win promotion."

Northampton, though, have become something of a bogey team for the Swans in recent seasons. You have to go back five years for Swansea's last victory over the Cobblers - a televised 4-1 Vetch Field success two months before they clinched the old Third Division championship in 2000.

"Thanks for pointing that out," said Jackett, whose side made an inauspicious start to the current campaign with a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Colin Calderwood's men.

"Northampton are a very good side. They've just bought a striker in (Boston's Andy Kirk) for £125,000 and they'll have Josh Low (former Cardiff winger) back on the right-wing who's a good player.

"But these bad runs are there to be broken. If we're going to beat them, now would be a very good time to do it."

Swansea are boosted by the fact Garry Monk should be fit to return to central defence, while top scorer Lee Trundle will also be available after the threat of a three-match ban following his red card against Rochdale last weekend was lifted.

Winger Brad Maylett, meanwhile, has opened talks with Swansea's League Two rivals Boston over a possible move to York Street.

The 24-year-old former Burnley flier signed a new two-year contract at the end of last season but has struggled to break into Jackett's side this term, making only a handful of starts.

"Brad's very frustrated at not playing first-team football," said Jackett.

"Boston have made an approach for him and I've told him he can talk to them. This gives him an opportunity should he wish to take it."

As for any possible arrivals at the Vetch ahead of next Thursday's transfer deadline, Jackett said he believed there was no urgent need to add to his Swans squad.

He said, "I'm always looking (for potential signings) and keeping abreast of what's in the market, but I wouldn't say there's someone out there I'm desperate to bring in.

"Should we get injuries, that might change the situation. But at the moment I'm pleased with my squad. Barring anything happening externally, I want to push on with the players I've got."

FORGOTTEN star Josh Low has told how his lost years at Cardiff and John Toshack's appointment as Wales boss give him the drive to fire Northampton to success.
Colin Calderwood's Cobblers face Swansea City in a six-point promotion shoot-out at Sixfields this Saturday and ex-Welsh U-21 international winger Low is convinced that a draw would simply advantage both clubs' rivals.

Form suggests the Swans, who've won just once in eight League Two dates, picking up the seven victories from their remaining nine fixtures that manager Kenny Jackett demands to swerve a play-off lottery is, at best, a long shot.

And Low, now 26, once seen as a key youngster in Cardiff's future as ex-Wimbledon controller Sam Hammam completed a £3.1m buyout of the Bluebirds five years ago this September, said, "It's very tight at the top of the table but Swansea and ourselves have been going through blips of late. We've lost our last two matches away at Rochdale and Rushden, which is very disappointing.

"Realistically it's almost a winner-takes-all situation at Sixfields on Saturday. I don't think one point will be much use to the Swans or us at this stage. I'd expect Swansea to come flying out of the traps looking for the win - this has the makings of a real humdinger."

The Swans, who've dipped on their last four league outings on the road - at Mansfield, Leyton Orient, Darlington and Notts County - should welcome back classy central defender Garry Monk.

But Northampton have been strengthened with the arrival of £125,000 raider Andy Kirk from Boston - the lively Scot pairing in a potent warhead with 16-goal Scott McGleish and ex-Huddersfield attacker Martin Smith.

"This is a massive game for both clubs," reflected Low, pictured, "We need to kick on now and I think we will. The signing of Kirk is an indication to everyone else in the section of our ambition."

Burning ambition burns deep inside Welshman Low now. The tall flyer was tipped as a possible senior international as he starred alongside Danny Gabbidon, Rhys Weston and Robert Earnshaw in the Cardiff team that clinched Division Two soccer after a 3-3 result at York in spring 2001.

But a mixture of personal problems helped stunt his progress at Ninian Park - the Bristol-born Welshman's career tailing off with a low-key switch to Oldham two years later.

Low had made 84 City appearances in 32 months but he admitted, "In the quieter moments I do think back to my time at Cardiff and how it all went wrong for me.

"I was at the club before Hammam came in and I saw change happen so quickly - we used to have new faces at training almost every day. Alan Cork really trusted me but I stagnated and let everyone down - including myself.

"My brief period with Iain Dowie at Oldham restored my self belief. I was eventually ready for the new challenge that a £165,000 move to Northampton brought two years ago.

"Swansea defender Sam Ricketts' selection for my country has given me hope that Wales do recognise talent in League Two where I have the third or fourth highest goal assist rate - maybe that proves my final ball into the box has improved.

"But realistically Northampton must get promoted for me to have any chance of fulfilling my ambition of winning a full Welsh cap."

Low hopes the Swans clinch a top-three spot for Welsh football but the wide-man will show no benevolence should the Cobblers meet Jackett's charges in a play-off.

SWANSEA CITY received a major boost last night when the three-match ban hanging over top scorer Lee Trundle was lifted.
The Swans striker was red-carded during Saturday's 2-2 draw against Rochdale for an apparent two-footed lunge on defender Jamie Clarke.

But an FAW disciplinary panel yesterday accepted Swansea's appeal against the decision, agreeing that video evidence proved there was no malice.

The FAW said the red card would still stand on Trundle's record, but crucially, the 20-goal striker is free to play in Saturday's crucial promotion shoot-out at Northampton.

Swansea City must put an end to their awayday blues if they are to keep on course for promotion to League One. That is the message manager Kenny Jackett will be drilling into his players ahead of Saturday's crucial clash at Northampton.

A miserable four straight defeats on their travels against Mansfield, Leyton Orient, Darlington and Notts County have helped to derail Swansea's promotion push.

But before the 1-0 reverse at Field Mill on February 8 Jackett's men had clocked up three consecutive wins at Kidderminster, Rushden & Diamonds and Boston.

Ten goals came in those victories and Jackett wants his team to return to that sort of form, starting at Sixfields.

''No points out of 12 from those four away games is not good enough,'' he said. ''That has not been what we have been about all season on the road and we have to put an end to it.

''We have lost to Mansfield, Leyton Orient, Darlington and Notts County and, no disrespect to those clubs, we should be getting results against them.

''If we had got at least a draw in three of those as we should have then we our position would be looking a lot better.

''We did put in a reasonable performance against Darlington but in the other games we showed nothing.

''Our problem has not been at home. We have put in decent performances against Scunthorpe and Rochdale and four points out of six is a decent return - although it was frustrating not to have six after Saturday's game.

''That's promotion form, but it's not been the same on the road and we have to do better and I will be telling my players that.''

Jackett should be boosted by the return of the dependable Garry Monk for the trip to Sixfields.

The 26-year-old defender has missed Swansea's last two games with a back problem, but he is back in training and Jackett says he is delighted to see the ex-Southampton man back.

''You are always going to miss someone like Garry because he's a good player,'' he said.

''For the last few games I have had to chop and change at the back. Hopefully now we will able to have a settled back four.

''What we have been working on all season is being tight at the back. That was helped by having a settled defence.

''We certainly need that if we are to push on again.''

Lee Trundle, meanwhile, has had the yellow card he picked up against Leyton Orient on February 12 rescinded.

A disciplinary panel of the Football Association of Wales met at the Holiday Inn in Chester on March 4 to consider the referral from referee Fred Graham to consider video evidence of the caution, which was for a dive by Trundle.

After considering the written and video evidence submitted by the referee, the panel decided the caution should be wiped off.

TWO points is all that separates Swansea and third spot - but boy, does it feel like a million miles away.

And the frustrating thing for manager Kenny Jackett and the Vetch Field faithful, it shouldn't be.

Certainly not in terms of performance anyway as again Swansea showed the type of quality and gritty determination at times to prove why they deserve to be classed in the top three sides in this division.

But the reason why they're not - and why that third place seems so far off - came home to roost in the dying stages of this match.

Many theories have been offered: lack of confidence, pressure, other teams raising their games, lack of concentration, and many more.

But it seems apparent that after picking up just six points from a potential haul of 24, the answer is simple - Swansea have forgotten how to win.

Sure, the vital victory over Scunthorpe at the Vetch a mere fortnight ago may suggest that is not the case. But in the final minutes of that slender 2-1 win, the hosts did their utmost to allow the Irons a way back into the game by failing to kill off the game.

The same happened for Saturday's visit of Rochdale, only this time the opponents gleefully snapped up the invite to attack.

"We sat back and you could sense a little anxiety out there," admitted Jackett. "I don't know if it was a lack of belief because there were times when they were queuing up at the back post and that's nothing to do with confidence.

"Maybe it's a case of the pressure getting to the players and if it is the we have to come through it together."

Frustratingly, Swansea had bounced back after Grant Holt had given Steve Parkin's side the lead through Andy Gurney and a Holt own goal.

But Ricky Lambert pounced on 90 minutes to leave Jackett's target tally of 80 points standing still while the number of games to reach it in ebbs away.

"It's along way off but its' still possible," insisted Jackett. "We have a good enough side to go on a run of wins.

"It was frustrating because that was a winning performance but we have to pick ourselves up and keep at it.

"I think there is an element of things just not going for us but that's too easy an excuse to use. I take responsibility for my team and so should the players and we have to improve, if we do that the luck will look after itself.

"I'm a great believer in my own team and the last two games we have played very well. But we've not won away from home from our last four away games and having been tough to beat on our travels for the majority of the season that's something we have to address.

"We had to win against Rochdale but we didn't and we go into every game looking to win. But at Northampton we have to be stronger and more competitive."

Jackett looks like having to do that without talisman Lee Trundle, sent off for a two-footed challenge on 37 minutes. The decision looked a little harsh and Jackett confirmed he will ask the referee to review the footage as the dismissal spells a three game ban for the top scorer.

But Jackett will risk lengthening the ban should his appeal fail and that is the last thing the methodical manger needs right now.

"Will losing Lee be a disappointment? Well, that's an understatement!" he said. For if anyone in Jackett's ranks can close out a game it's the 20-goal man.

"We needed to either put our chances away and put the game out of reach or lock the back door," added Jackett. Swansea did neither against Rochdale.

And the frustration for Jackett stemmed from how well the team had dragged themselves back into the match. They had been in charge from the off, Paul Connor relishing his recall against his former side.

Kevin McLeod looked his liveliest in a Swans shirt while Marcus Bean and Kris O'Leary both hustled, bustled and broke the lines on numerous occasions.

But against then run of play came the opener as impressive Rochdale keeper Matthew Gilks hoofed the ball to striker Paul Tait who then flicked on to one-time Swans target Holt. The former Sheffield Wednesday man lashed home past Gueret leaving little wonder to why Jackett tabled a £75,000 bid for him and why he would easily have to double that offer before Rochdale even start to listen.

Six minutes later and things got a little silly; Trundle went in to a tackle on Jamie Clarke a little enthusiastic and a little high to give referee Trevor Parkes the perfect chance to get his name in the newspapers.

A straight red came but Parkes had another chance to wave his cards around a minute later, Tait walking for an incident that escaped the attentions of most in the Vetch although later described as a high arm aimed at Andy Gurney.

Swansea roared out of the interval, Gurney driving home low to get things rolling after fifty seconds of the restart before Holt nodded McLeod's corner into his own net six minutes later.

For all intents and purposes the game seemed won as Rochdale lost their shape and Swansea raised their tails.

And it probably was until the panic set in and Rochdale were given more and more opportunities to probe as the Swans sat deeper and deeper.

They took several; with Gueret saving brilliantly from former Swan Gary Jones, but it was just the one they needed to silence the home support. Holt squaring top Brisco whose initial shot was cleared by Iriekpen only to fall to Lambert.

LEE TRUNDLE'S Easter holiday plans lay in the hands of referee Trevor Parkes after Kenny Jackett admitted he will appeal against the strikers' sending off.
Trundle receives an automatic three-game ban after a two-footed challenge on Rochdale defender Jamie Clarke earned him a 37th minute red card.

And as well as next week's crucial visit to Northampton, the suspension would see Trundle missing out on the must-win Good Friday visit of Macclesfield plus the Easter Monday trip to Cheltenham.

"It would be disastrous," admitted Trundle. "The last thing I want to do is miss three games, especially at this stage of the season.

"The referee didn't speak to me but he told one of the other lads it was a two-footed lunge but that definitely wasn't the case so I'm hoping the club will appeal and get it overturned.

"I haven't spoken to the gaffer about it in depth but we'll watch the video and go from there."

Jackett will have to inform West Midlands official Trevor Parkes by noon today if he feels the dismissal was unfair and ask him to reconsider his decision.

And Trundle insists the video evidence will prove it was nothing more than a striker's challenge.

"I was in a little tangle just before but as I've got away I've been tripped, knocked the ball too far and gone in for the tackle," recalled Trundle. "I thought I got the ball and although I had one foot off the floor it definitely wasn't in a dangerous position or height.

"There was no malice there and I haven't gone in to hurt the lad and their players have said the same.

"But as soon as I saw him (Parkes) running over and whistling I knew exactly what he was going to do."

And Trundle reckons his decision to hand Rochdale's Paul Tait his marching orders seconds later proves his sending off was not warranted.

"I'm left hoping know he puts his hands up and admits he's made a mistake," he said. "But I think he's already done that by evening things up and sending one of theirs off."

That both sides were reduced to ten men was of little consolation to the Scouse striker who had to watch from the sidelines as his team-mates blew their chance to catch up with the promotion pack.

But the 28-year-old still insists the Swans are good enough to nick an automatic spot before the season ends.

"It wasn't the nicest to be watching that from the sidelines because we thought we had rescued the win," he said. "But then that goal was a real killer for us.

"It's disappointing because we thought the game was won so it's real blow to only pick up a point.

"But now we've got to pick ourselves up, go to Northampton and put in a performance there.

"We're not looking at the playoffs, we're still capable of stringing a run together and going for the top three."

ACTING Swansea skipper Andy Gurney refused to beat around the bush after this latest disappointment and insisted only wins will do from now on.

Gurney had grabbed his first goal for the Swans as Jackett's men came out firing in the second half.

But after conceding a sloppy last-ditch goal to share the points Gurney admitted things have to improve - starting at the Sixfields.

"We knew we had to beat Rochdale, in fact we knew we had to win all our home games," said a dejected Gurney. "But we haven't done that and we have to change things around quickly.

"We have to look at this game and say it's probably two points dropped but we've got to go again.

"And what we have to do is go to Northampton and win - a point there is just no good to us now."

Gurney admitted the Swans were guilty of sitting too deeply and allowing Rochdale an escape route in the dying stages of Saturday's clash.

And the battle-hardened Bristolian claims it was the desperation to claim all three points that eventually cost them.

But the full-back still reckons an automatic promotion finish is on the cards for Jackett's men.

"In the last 15 or 20 minutes we've probably sat back too much and didn't do what had got us the goals in the first place," he said. "Ultimately we paid the price.

"It's frustrating because we've played quite well but let in two sloppy goals which recently we've been doing far too often.

"We didn't purposely sit back but you could feel a little anxiety about the place and they put us under pressure and got the goal.

"We wanted three points so badly we were just defending and defending and some times you do that and they sneak one because you're on the back foot.

"There's nothing we can do about it now but we're not exactly in a purple patch right now - we have to keep going and hopefully it will come.

"Of course we're still looking for the top three, there's nine games to go and Macclesfield have to come here.

"We'd love to be in the top three but we're not - simple as that. Keep grinding away and the quality we've got will get us through - but we've got to do it quickly."

Swansea City were today set to appeal against Lee Trundle's red card in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Rochdale with the Scouse striker pleading innocence. Kenny Jackett faces the miserable prospect of losing his 20-goal top-scorer for the next three matches unless Swansea can prove Trundle was not guilty of a two-footed tackle on Rochdale's Jamie Clarke.

And Trundle has called on West Midlands referee Trevor Parkes to rescind the sending-off, claiming the challenge was one-footed and that he won the ball.

''Even the Rochdale players were saying they couldn't believe I got a red card so hopefully the ref will change his mind,'' Trundle said.

''I knocked the ball a bit far so I just went in to try to win it. You could see I got the ball because it went across to the other side of the pitch, and I didn't go in with both feet.

''One was on the ground and the other was in the air, but it wasn't dangerously high. If you can tackle without lifting your foot off the ground then you're some tackler.

''There was no malice in it and if I end up getting a three-game ban for that I'll be bitterly disappointed.''

Kenny Jackett went into work today with a bumper to-do list and not many reasons to be cheerful. First up this morning was a phone call and a fax to his friends at the Football Association of Wales, whose help he needs to prevent Lee Trundle, his star player, missing Swansea City's next three matches.

Then it was off to the training ground, where there is much work to be done with a set of players who have lost the mean defensive streak that made them so strong.

Yes, there was a hint of misfortune about their latest setback, but an increasingly desperate run of one win in eight matches cannot all be down to bad luck.

Next up for Jackett might be a glance at next weekend's opponents.

Oh dear, it's Northampton.

It gets worse. It's away.

Back in the office, time perhaps for a few calls to rival managers. Transfer deadline, after all, is only days away.

It is just a pity Steve Parkin, the Rochdale boss, probably won't budge.

What a lift Grant Holt's arrival at Vetch Field would provide, for there are not that many things for Jackett to smile about just now.

For 70-odd minutes, his team actually played quite well on Saturday.

But if Trundle's early departure delivered a first-half bodyblow, Rickie Lambert's 91st-minute goal felt like one of the Rochdale powerhouse's size 10 boots crashing into the nether regions.

''I am very frustrated,'' Jackett conceded.

''Not by our performance, because I felt we put in a winning performance, but by the result.

''And to say losing Lee for three games won't help, well that's an understatement.''

It would be safe to say Jackett did not enjoy his supper on Saturday night, for he was still trying to digest the loss of two more League Two points.

His team had not been beaten, but seeing Rochdale head for home with a share of the spoils had been difficult to swallow.

It felt like a defeat.

''We were very unlucky to be behind at half-time,'' Jackett pointed out.

''We played very well. We dominated and created all the chances but they scored with their only shot.

''Then we continued to play very well at the start of the second half. The difference was that we took our chances, but then in the last 10 or 15 minutes there was a lot of anxiety throughout our team.

''Once we got in front, we either had to go on and score a third goal or keep the backdoor locked. The anxiety came and we did neither.''

To his credit, Jackett did not blame bad luck.

''I do think there's an element of things not going our way at the moment,'' he said, ''but that's not an excuse we will use.

''We have to look at ourselves and try to improve. Usually when you do that the luck goes your way.''

That probably means a bit of finishing practice this week, particularly if Trundle, Swansea's best taker of chances, is banished to the stands.

It also means a reminder of Jackett's basics.

What success Swansea have had this season has been built on a solid rearguard and, if the club's last season at Vetch Field is to have a happy ending, the old miserliness needs to come back.

''There were a couple of set-pieces at the end,'' Jackett groaned, ''when the ball came down with snow on it and yet we had nobody within five yards of the man on the ball in our own penalty area.

''That's poor.''

Things could all have been so different. Trundle, as so often, might have made the headlines for the right reasons had Mathew Gilks not beaten out his 12th-minute shot, or if Kris O'Leary had taken the glorious chance the Scouse striker had laid on before the half hour.

O'Leary's shot was saved, while a header went narrowly over the bar. Paul Connor had also had a shy by the time the outstanding Holt cracked Rochdale into the lead with his side's first sight of goal.

No wonder Parkin told Jackett to clear off when he offered £75,000 for the former Sheffield Wednesday forward last month.

His price tag bulged a little further over the weekend, even though he headed through his own net to put Swansea in front.

Andy Gurney had supplied the home side's equaliser, his first goal for the club, with a sizzling 20-yard drive only 50 seconds after the break.

Football had resumed at the turnaround after a chaotic end to the first 45, when Trundle walked for an alleged two-footed tackle on Jamie Clarke.

In what looked suspiciously like a case of levelling things up to keep the crowd quiet, referee Trevor Parkes sent Dale striker Paul Tait for an early bath inside a minute after he clashed with Gurney.

Swansea might have stretched their lead, through Connor or Andy Robinson, a lively late substitute.

But the visitors remained within sight, and finally clawed Swansea back with Lambert's tap-in after Willy Gueret had acrobatically denied Gary Jones and Ernie Cooksey had inexplicably shot into the side netting.

And so Jackett's men are still 19 short of their 80-point target and have only nine games left to play.

''We can still get there,'' he insisted.

''I still believe we have got the side who can go on a run which will get us automatic promotion.''

The time has come to start showing it. There's another point for Jackett's list.

Readers Letter

I Have read with interest the variety of comments in readers letters about the Swans and their years at their home - Vetch Field. One player mentioned was Frank Swift. My earliest memories of the late great Frank Swift take me back to the occasion he played at The Vetch and received the plaudits of an appreciative crowd.

When leaving the ground he was surrounded by youngsters requesting an autograph. He lined them up into a single line and obliged every one before boarding the team bus. He showed he cared for the young supporters.

In those days, I was 13 years of age; the adult supporters would shepherd us out in front of the terracing where we would have a clear view of proceedings.

Some of the stars I watched play include Raich Carter and Jimmy Hill with Fulham. The then super prospect Alick Jeffrey, of Doncaster, who was a 16-year-old debutante to the football league (the Rooney of those days).

Over the years many famous names have graced the pitch but no one compared to the modest and brilliant Ivor Allchurch. His sheer skill and shooting power were legendary.

On the question of volume of support, I recall crowds of 32,000 down to 28,000 being regularly achieved.

I remember too being devastated when unable to obtain a ticket for a cup match which was all ticket.

Those were the days when football was family supported and free of modern-day hassle and violence.

Names of the most popular players, managers etc come to mind quite readily and I hope that any records kept will be a full and complete history of these time.

I hope a few impressions will stir the happy memories of supporters as previous letter writers did for me.

Des Southall

Heol-y-Gwrgan

Margam, Port Talbot

IN a match that had everything the Swans trudged off the Vetch Field turf without the one thing they wanted most - a win.
A flurry of red cards, sensational strikes, an own goal and a last-minute equaliser - not much was left on the football enthusiast's checklist.

But having thrown away the chance of three ever-so-vital promotion points, the abundance of incidents will mean little to the scores of disappointed Swans' fans this morning.

The hosts had undeservedly gone behind to one-time transfer target Grant Holt before things got decidedly worse when star striker and top scorer Lee Trundle saw red for a two-footed challenge.

Things were evened up not long afterwards when Paul Tait joined him in the dressing room and the Swans bounced back in the second half via Andy Gurney and Holt's second - this one in his own net.

But then came the killer blow, Ricky Lambert swooping just as the fat lady got ready to sing. It all added up to a very frustrating day for Kenny Jackett.

"I'm frustrated because that was a winning performance," said the Swans boss.

"I thought we were unlucky to go a goal down. We had been dominant, created chances and done everything but put those chances away.

"And we carried on in the same vein in the second half, got two quick goals and could have scored more.

"But you could sense a little bit of anxiety at the end and we've given away a soft goal."

Unfortunately for Jackett, deserving maximum points but only picking up one counts little to the men who compile the Football League tables.

The Swans have collected just six points from 24 and are now looking for the results of Macclesfield, Southend and Northampton as opposed to Yeovil and Scunthorpe.

Nobody will admit the top three places are out of reach at the Vetch and the two points (ignoring Macc's game in hand) between the Swans in fifth and third mean it is hardly an impossible target.

But Jackett's own personal points tally of 80 means his side need to rack up 19 from the remaining nine games.

In all fairness, for 89 minutes the performance looked worthy of bringing that elusive 80 a bit closer.

Swansea started eager to put their bad patch to bed.

Marcus Bean drove from midfield and was unlucky not to get on the end of a neat one-two with Trundle as Jackett's men set the tempo.

Bean's midfield partner Kris O'Leary got in on the act, his bullet header just going over the bar from Kevin McLeod's free-kick, before another one-two with Connor put the Port Talbot boy through on goal. If O'Leary had gone with his instinct and blasted the ball, perhaps Swans would have taken the lead, but his cool finish was equalled by Matthew Gilks in the Dale goal.

But one long ball was all it took to put Swansea on the back foot on 31 minutes, Gilks finding Tait who flicked on to strike partner Holt, who finished well past Gueret.

Six minutes later and the first red card came. Trundle, having brushed off one challenge, went in wholeheartedly - and a little high - seconds later and was soon marching down the tunnel.

The dismissal did seem harsh - and Jackett signalled his intent to appeal - and in an apparent nod to his rashness, referee Trevor Parkes made it all square.

Andy Gurney saw Tait raise a hand to his face and off went Tait, much to the delight of the North Bank.

The home support were more inspired, though, by the action the other side of the interval, Gurney given too much space on the right of the Rochdale box before firing low into the bottom corner - all within fifty seconds of the restart.

Six minutes later and Swansea were in the lead, Holt turning villain as he headed home McLeod's corner past his own keeper. But even though the Swans looked in control and saw several half-chances come their way, they sat further and further back to invite the visitors to attack. It's not the first time it's happened this year as a few sides have almost snatched wins away from the Vetch in the dying stages.

When sub Ernie Cooksey hit the side netting and Gueret saved brilliantly from former Swan Gary Jones, the Swans thought they had got away with it again.

Not so, as Holt crossed to Brisco and after Izzy Iriekpen thought he had cleared, Ricky Lambert blasted home from close range on 90 minutes.

LOAN ranger Marcus Bean claims Swansea City can get over their worrying wobble to win promotion.

And the midfielder says you only have to look at Queens Park Rangers to see how it's done.

Bean was part of Ian Holloway's side that clinched Championship football last season, one year on from their Millennium Stadium heartbreak at the hands of Cardiff.

But, just as Swansea have started to flag as the finishing line approaches, it wasn't all plain sailing at Loftus Road either.

After looking like certainties for an automatic spot all year, the R's struggled to find wins as the season drew to a close. But eventually the Londoners rediscovered their form to go up in second place and 20-year-old Bean insists the same can happen at his new home.

"We've had a few disappointing results recently," admitted Bean, on loan at Swansea until the end of the season. "But I remember the same happening at QPR last year.

"We were winning at home and then going away and struggling because teams would raise their game against us.

"In the end we went on a run and got promoted and, hopefully, the same can happen here."

Bean recalled how Holloway's men received a much-needed kick up the backside when they lost to challengers Bristol City last April, forcing them to refocus.

But the Hammersmith-born schemer admitted Swansea have already been dealt enough warnings to shape up fast or lose out on their season-long goal.

"To be fair, we were higher up than Swansea are now," said Bean. "But it was really close and Bristol City were pushing us all the way.

"The loss at Darlington should have kicked us into gear before Notts County, but we've stamped out the problems from set-pieces and hopefully we can go on.

"It's difficult because the finishing line's there, but we have to take one game at a time. Rochdale is the biggest game until the next week and that's all that matters."

The Swans should take note though, QPR's home record was bountiful and Jackett's men won't be able to drop any points should they still harbour top-three aspirations.

But, with his former QPR coach currently directing the Swans' strategy, Bean is positive his new team-mates are in good hands for the final push.

Jackett's Mr Methodical played an important role next to Holloway's Mr Madcap in QPR's resurgence and Bean is sure he can be just as successful single-handed.

"You couldn't get two more different people," laughed Bean on his two bosses. "They're completely the opposite ends of the scale. Ollie is really loud and pretty mad at times where Kenny was the calming influence. But they say opposites attract and it worked well at QPR.

"I can't see much difference in Kenny now, there's some slight changes because he's the main man here and not second in command, but the attributes he had are still there and it seems to be working because - even though we've had some disappointing results - we're still right up there."

And, even though a future at Shepherds Bush still beckons at the moment for Bean, the youngster is only concentrating on living up to Jackett's estimations of his influence at the Vetch.

"Ian Holloway has told me I still have a future with them, but I haven't spoken to him since I came here, so I'll just have to see," he said.

"I can get on with things, play well for Swansea and hopefully go back there and break back in the side. If that doesn't happen then we'll have to see.

"But all I'm thinking about is doing a job for Swansea at the moment.

"Helping Swansea win promotion is good for me personally but I want to help the club and help Kenny.

"The fans haven't seen the best of me yet but hopefully that will happen soon and I can pay back Kenny."

KENNY JACKETT believes Swansea City need 20 points - or a minimum of five victories - from their last 11 games to clinch automatic promotion.
The fourth-placed Swans are currently on 60 points as they prepare for today's crucial League Two trip to Notts County.

And boss Jackett is predicting another 20 points should be enough for Swansea to go straight up to League One.

That means the Swans need a bare minimum of five victories from the remaining 11 games, which would mean they'd also have to pick up six draws and no defeats.

Six victories and two draws might be a more realistic target for the Vetch Field side, but, rather than spend hours number-crunching, Jackett is keeping it simple.

"As long as you reach the points target, it doesn't really matter how you do it," he says.

"And I think that if we can get to 80 points - which means picking up 20 out of the last 33 available - that should be enough for a top-three finish."

Jackett will be mindful, however, that Huddersfield finished fourth last season despite amassing 81 points.

The Yorkshire club missed out on the top three on goal difference to Torquay, eventually securing promotion via the play-offs.

That is not the route Swansea want to go down, yet it is so congested at the top that Swansea can ill afford to drop many points if they are to avoid the play-off lottery.

Having spent most of the season nicely cushioned inside the top three, Jackett's men are currently just outside it and level on points with three of their rivals.

But Jackett continues to show no signs of worry. "I'm not disappointed that we're outside the top three because I'm confident about what will happen in the near future," he said.

"It's very tight at the top, but it's also very exciting. It's better to be fighting that way than fighting at the bottom of the division."

If Swansea's five-match winless streak during February raised fears the promotion dream was about to disintegrate, last Saturday's 2-1 win over Scunthorpe has refuelled optimism among the fans.

So too has the fact Jackett's squad is stronger than it has been at any other stage this season, with a number of experienced first-team men unable to make the subs' bench even.

Keeping people happy, though, is clearly not what it is all about at this stage of the campaign.

"I haven't had any problems with people so far," said Jackett, who took the bold step of dropping club captain Roberto Martinez from his matchday squad last weekend.

"They've all been very professional. I'm sure they realise how high the stakes are for the club.

"It's a case of players putting their personal situations and ambitions to one side for the time being. The club has got to come first."

Midfielder Andy Robinson returns to the squad for the first time since his public order offence in a Swansea city centre nightclub that earned him a £300 court fine.

"Andy made a mistake and has said he's sorry for what happened," said Jackett. "He'll learn from the experience."

A CAREER as a United Nations diplomat surely awaits Swansea City club captain Roberto Martinez when his playing days are over.
Once regarded as the club's most influential player, the former Real Zaragoza midfielder is currently struggling to make it onto the Swansea subs' bench.

For the second time this season, Martinez has been frozen out of the first-team picture, dropped from the squad for last Saturday's 2-1 win over Scunthorpe despite starting 30 of the previous 37 matches.

Having been a pivotal figure in Swansea's successful fight against relegation two years ago, Martinez could be reduced to an onlooker as the club attempt to depart League Two at the right end.

But, while some lesser mortals might have given vent to their misery, you'll never hear Martinez - who could be handed a first-team reprieve today with Kristian O'Leary possibly dropping back from his midfield berth to fill in for the injured Garry Monk - utter a word of complaint.

The 31-year-old - who some Swans fans believe no longer commands a regular spot in the side - is diplomatic on his recent exclusion from Kenny Jackett's team ahead of the trip to Notts County.

"It's part of football," he says when asked how he felt at being parachuted from the squad last weekend. "I will always say that what counts more than anything else is the team winning and what's best for the club as a whole.

"It's not the right time to talk about personal situations. The time to look back and reflect is when the season has ended.

"We are into the last 11 games of the season, it's been a fantastic season so far and we want to finish it off.

"It's all about Swansea City. Anything else doesn't count.

"All any player can do is try to work as hard as they can and be available. I'm no different."

Opinion is divided on Martinez's influence on the Swans these days.

While he is lauded in some quarters for his passing ability and for having a calming influence on the team, others argue he is not the midfield anchor man he was when he first arrived at the Vetch from Walsall in February 2003.

But the Spaniard, who was axed at the start of the season before returning to play almost every game for the next four months, is not unhappy with his form.

"I'm really proud how the season has gone," he said. "It was hard at the beginning (when he was dropped), but then I started more than 26 games.

"I've been happy with the way thing have gone. When you're part of a team that's been in the top three the whole season it must be because we've done something well. And some of the football we've played has been fantastic.

"But, as I said, personal situations aren't important at the moment. What's important are these last 11 games which will determine whether this is a season to remember."

Whatever his current first-team fortunes, Martinez is likely to still be on board next season after clinching a new 12-month contract based on appearances.

"I'm delighted to have got an extension to my contract as Swansea City is the club I love," he said. "I got really attached two seasons ago and it's been fantastic to be involved in a club that's had such a change of direction. We were fighting to avoid relegation and now we're fighting for promotion. It's an exciting time for the club and you're going to want to be a part of that."

With Jackett's squad depleted by the absence through injury of defenders Kevin Austin and Alan Tate, Martinez could resurface at Meadow Lane.

It is a stage in the season when every game gets labelled as 'crucial,' but if ever three points looked imperative during Swansea's promotion campaign, it is now.

The Swans are level with three automatic promotion rivals - Scunthorpe and Macclesfield above them and Southend below them - and need to regain their top-three place.

"We're in a fantastic position and this is a great stage of the season," said Martinez ahead of the tie against the 19th-placed Magpies.

"We've got an opportunity to put a little distance between ourselves and a few other sides and show the true quality of the side.

"The win over Scunthorpe was massive and now we have five big matches in March to contend with.

"Notts County is an important one because in February we averaged a point per game - our lowest average of the season - and we have to improve on that."

As well as Martinez, midfielder Andy Robinson is expected to return to the squad after being left out for two matches for the public order offence in a Swansea nightclub.

With Austin ruled out through hamstring trouble, Andy Gurney will slot into the back four at right-back, with either O'Leary or Stuart Jones - who hasn't started in the first team since August - deputising for back strain victim Monk

Kenny Jackett was today fretting over the fitness of Garry Monk with Swansea City facing a possible defensive crisis at Notts County this weekend. The Swansea boss was anxiously waiting for news of Monk, who had to be carried off the training ground yesterday after injuring his back.

Losing Monk, arguably Swansea's most consistent centre-back this term, would leave Jackett short of options after Alan Tate damaged ankle ligaments in training on Wednesday.

The former Manchester United youngster is facing a month on the sidelines, while Kevin Austin (hamstring) also misses out tomorrow after limping out of last Saturday's victory over Scunthorpe.

Monk's problem is not serious and he was expected to travel north with the squad this morning.

But there are concerns over whether he will feature at Meadow Lane, meaning Jackett may have to drag Kristian O'Leary back from midfield or call on forgotten youngster Stuart Jones.

''There was no contact, but Garry twisted awkwardly and ricked his back and it's now a question of how quickly it settles down,'' Jackett said.

''He was in a lot of pain and it's obviously a concern because he is a very good player.

''Sometimes back problems can ease very quickly and we hope that is the case here with Alan and Kevin definitely out.

''I've said we've been lucky not to be hit by injuries in the same position this season. Maybe I spoke to soon, but we do have options with Kris, who was excellent last week, and Stuart, who impressed me in the reserves on Wednesday.

''We'll just have to deal with it if Garry misses out.''

With 60 points banked and 11 games remaining this season, Jackett believes his side need seven more wins to be certain of achieving their automatic promotion goal.

The history books suggest the task might not be so difficult.

Since four teams began being promoted from the Football League basement nine seasons ago, an average of 77 points has been enough for a top-three spot and 71 for a play-off place.

''I would think 80 points would do it,'' Jackett said, ''so that means we need 20 from the last 33 on offer.

''That will be a tough task - we're going to need everyone available if possible and we're going to need to produce our best form.

''But 20 more points is what we must aim for. Usually you need two points per game to get promoted from any division, and that's the case for us now.''

County, beaten 4-0 at Vetch Field over Christmas, are unbeaten in four games and look to have banished the relegation fears which haunted them earlier in the season.

They have not won on home soil since January 22, however, and Jackett admitted: ''We've got some tough games to come and we must be positive and try to win tomorrow.

''They have some dangerous players, but we're more worried about ourselves. We set a standard in our win over Scunthorpe and we must match that from now on.''

Tickets for Swansea's trip to Northampton on March 19 are now on sale from the William Street office. There is no restriction on the number of tickets per person.

LEE Trundle's goal-scoring feats could see him join an elite Swansea City club at Meadow Lane tomorrow.
The Scouse striker needs just one more goal to become only the ninth Swan since the war -and the first in over two decades - to plunder 20 league goals in a season.


Reach the milestone, which he hopes to do against a Notts County side boasting a fairly miserable home record this weekend, and Trundle will be a long-awaited addition to a list which includes some revered names from Swansea's past.
Two Vetch Field greats, Alan Curtis and Jeremy Charles, achieved the feat as the club began the rise to the old First Division in the late 1970s.
And the most recent of the 20-goal heroes, Bob Latchford, hit the headlines during the all too brief top-flight days.

"I've looked it up myself," Trundle admits, "and to score 20 goals in a league season is something I've been looking to do since I came to Swansea.
"I think I would have got there last year if I hadn't missed so many games through injury, so hopefully I can reach the landmark by getting on the scoresheet this weekend."

A supporter at Goodison Park as a youngster, Trundle continues: "I was only young when he was around, but Bob Latchford scored a lot of goals for Everton as well as Swansea so to be the first one since he did it to get 20 would be nice.
"And to be on the list with some great Swansea players would be fantastic for me. "We've still got 11 games to go, so hopefully I can go on and get a few more than 20." Assuming he stays fit and free from suspension, few would bet against the 28-year-old hitting his targets.

For Trundle has made life in front of goal look easy since switching to South Wales from Wrexham two summers ago.
A class act at the wrong end of the Football League - Four Four Two magazine named him the best player in the bottom division this week - he will match last season's tally of 21 strikes in all competitions when his next goal comes.
"I believe in my own ability and I'm a confident player," he adds, "and things have gone well for me ever since I joined Swansea.
"When you move clubs it can be difficult to settle, but I started off well and thankfully the goals have kept coming."
So what has changed since Wrexham, where his best tally in a season was a relatively meagre 12?
"Up there I was playing deeper in more of a support role," he says. "The ball would come to me and I would knock it off to someone else or try to play someone else in.
"But at Swansea there are different kinds of players like Paul Connor and now Lee Thorpe.
"They are both good in the air and can win the knock-downs for me to try to feed off. "That's what I'd rather be doing and I think the goals have shown that."
There has been no better example of Trundle's prowess than when tomorrow's opponents came to the Vetch earlier in the season. He helped himself to his second Swansea hat-trick - and the third of his relatively short professional career - in Christmas week as County were ripped apart.
This has been a difficult season for the Magpies, their first back at this level since relegation from what was Division Two.
Their form has improved under player-manager Ian Richardson, but in 19th place their campaign looks to be drifting towards a lower mid-table finish. Unlike Swansea.

"We're full of confidence after beating Scunthorpe last weekend," says Trundle. "We really played them off the park at times and that's given us the lift we need going into the final push.
"What we must do is build on that result tomorrow." With some testing fixtures to come, Trundle accepts, Swansea have to target games like this for wins if they are to secure automatic promotion.
"To end up in the play-offs would be a massive blow," he warns. "We've been at the top all season and would be on a low if we ended up going down that route, whereas the teams who just sneak into the play-offs at the last minute will be on a big high.
"So we've got to get into the top three.
"It's not going to be easy. In most games at this stage of the season teams are scrapping for something and it can be pretty tense for everyone. "But with the players we've brought in recently, I don't think there's a squad that's as strong as ours anywhere in the division.
"We need another 20 points or so which is a hard task from 11 games, but it's one we feel we can achieve."

Notts County player-boss Ian Richardson reckons his players will need little incentive to beat Swansea City tomorrow. The Magpies were thrashed 4-0 at Vetch Field on December 21 with Lee Trundle hitting a hat-trick and Paul Connor notching another.

Central defender Richardson, who is still sidelined with injury, says the manner of the loss still lingers on.

And even though they appear to have little to play for - County lie 19th but are well clear of relegation - his team will have a point to prove.

''I am sure the lads will remember the Swansea defeat in December,'' he said.

''It wasn't the greatest of performances and it was the first time I lost it with the lads after a game.

''We were outclassed that day and I am sure in their minds a few of the lads will want to prove a point.''

County have gone four games without defeat, gaining two wins and two draws in that sequence.

But it is at Meadow Lane where they have been struggling, having won only four on their own patch in the league this season.

Only Chester have scored fewer goals than the Magpies' 15 on home soil, while Cambridge and Kidderminster are the only sides to have lost more than County's seven games at home. Richardson is hoping that his team can build on last week's 2-1 win at Wycombe.

''Swansea are at the top of the table and we seem to raise ourselves for these sort of matches,'' he added.

''Hopefully we can see a vastly improved home performance and that can lead to a home win too.''

Swansea Council has dismissed cash flow concerns at the city's new £27 million stadium. The authority has agreed a £2 million loan to StadCo, the company set up by the council and the city's football and rugby teams to manage the facility.

It will be used to buy equipment to fit out the stadium and cover the budgeted £800,000 that was expected to be generated through naming rights at the stadium.

This week an annual price tag of £250,000 was placed on the deal, raising concerns that there was a serious cash shortfall.

But a council spokesman played down the concerns.

He said: "The £800,000 is a total budget for the naming rights sale, not an annual figure.

"So it is entirely consistent with the quoted estimate of £250,000 per annum being our targeted value."

There have also been concerns about the security of the £2 million loan to StadCo.

A source at Swansea Council, who didn't want to be identified, said: "Some are worried that two of the three parties making up the company, the Swans and the Ospreys, have no sizeable assets so if StadCo was to fail to make the repayments only the council would have any worthwhile assets."

But the council spokesman insisted that public money was not at risk.

He said: "The loan from the council to StadCo will be at a full cost recharge rate, that is no cost to the council.

"The business plan for StadCo allows for the cost of payment of the loan repayments and interest. The detailed loan terms will ensure that the repayments and interest must be met by StadCo with a legal charge on the equipment in favour of the council.

"In the unlikely event of default on the payments, then the equipment would revert to the council."

Council bosses have also insisted there are no problems with the marketing of the stadium.

Bastion, the company now in charge of selling the naming rights, this week announced it was opening the bidding process and was expecting firm offers from major brands.

It says it expects to be able to name a headline sponsor by the end of June and said that the £250,000 price tag would buy £500,000 worth of advertising.

Lee Trundle, the man who single-handedly demolished Notts County at Christmas, believes Swansea have their promotion push back on track.
The free-scoring forward struck twice last weekend to take his tally for the season to 20, helping the Swans to a 2-1 win over promotion rivals Scunthorpe.

It was a first win in five outings but puts them level at the top of League Two.

Now Trundle, who hit a hat-trick as Swansea hammered the Magpies 4-0 at Christmas, says confidence is high.

"Beating Scunthorpe should mean our bad spell is over and hopefully we will prove we have put it behind us in the next few weeks," he said.

Defender Kevin Austin is out with a hamstring injury, meaning a return for Andy Gurney. Midfielder Andy Robinson also returns.

SWANSEA (probable): Gueret, Ricketts, Gurney, Monk, Iriekpen, O"Leary, Forbes, McLeod, Bean, Trundle, Thorpe, Murphy, Britton, Connor, Tate, Robinson.

Swansea City top scorer Lee Trundle senses he is hitting top form at the perfect time to spearhead the push for automatic promotion to League One.
"It's important to have everyone on form, but especially your strikers because they are the ones that get the goals to win games," said Trundle.

"I feel I'm coming into a good run now. I scored two last Saturday so my confidence is high."

The Swans are one of four teams six points behind league leaders Yeovil.

Kenny Jackett's side travel to Notts County on Saturday hoping to repeat the performance that brought a 4-0 win when the sides met at the Vetch in December.

Trundle grabbed a hat-trick that day and is looking to inflict more pain on the Magpies, who are on a four-match unbeaten run.

It's tight at the top of the league and it's all about whoever holds their nerve and keeps their confidence

He said: "We know it's going to be a tough game but we're going there with confidence and believe we can come away with a win.

"I need one goal to beat last season's record so I'm pretty confident I'll do that before the end of the season.

"It's important because it means you're getting better as a player and as a goalscorer if you keep beating last season's tally.

"Since I've been a professional I think I've done that every season."

Trundle is desperate to play at a higher level having tasted life in League One during two and half successful seasons at Wrexham.

He has a contract with Swansea until 2007 and insists he would be willing to play another season in League Two.

But with just 11 games to go and a new 20,000-seater stadium awaiting them, Trundle says failing to secure a top three finish would be bitterly disappointing.

"Promotion is massive for us - especially with us moving to a big ground next season," Trundle added.

"Everyone wants to get out of this division. With the side we've got, we think we deserve to be playing at a higher level and that's what we want to achieve.

"It's tight at the top of the league and it's all about whoever holds their nerve and keeps their confidence.

"We've got players coming back from injury and we've got one of the best squads in the league.

"That'll give us a big boost and a push to go on."

LEE Trundle has been given a clean licence to fire Swansea City to promotion glory after having the threat of suspension lifted from his head.


Swansea's top scorer, named today as one of the leading players outside the Premiership, is one of two players - Kevin Austin is the other - to have been booked four times this season.

A fifth, if picked up before the end of last month, would have resulted in a one-match ban. But with the cut-off for suspensions passing on February 28, Trundle will now be available to Kenny Jackett until the end of the season - provided, of course, he does get sent off or picks up an injury.

"?That is great news," said Jackett. "Lee has been sitting on four bookings for a little while now so it's good the deadline has passed.

"Like most clubs at this stage of the season we were walking the tightrope a little, but now we can all start afresh." If Trundle and Austin do receive yellow cards from now until the end of the season, they will be warned as to their future conduct by the league.

Jackett has already seen Paul Connor, Andy Robinson, Willy Gueret, Alan Tate, Kris O'Leary, Adrian Forbes, Roberto Martinez, Andy Gurney and Sam Ricketts miss games this season after totting up five cautions.

Gurney, Robinson and Garry Monk have also been banned following sendings-off. Jackett recognises that a bad disciplinary record could have affected the season, but is pleased to note that his players have responded well.

"We did have a little bad patch around the Shrewsbury game," Jackett conceded. "We have improved our record over the season and that's good. What I want is my players to be competitive and to get stuck in," he added, "but I also want them to get the balance right and not to be silly.

They need to realise what they can and can't do and they have done that." Robinson has picked up eight cautions while Gurney, Forbes and Martinez all have seven yellow cards. They all run the risk of a two-match ban if they reach 10 bookings before the second Sunday of April, while a sending-off will still carry a ban until the end of the season.

Trundle, meanwhile, has been named one of the best players outside the Premiership by football magazine Four Four Two. A panel of players, managers and football analysts voted on the top 50 as debate rages about the number of foreign players dominating elite levels of English football.

Trundle makes it at No. 13. The survey names Reading midfielder Steve Sidwell, from the Championship, as the best player outside the Premiership, while Cardiff City's Danny Gabbidon is at No. 5. Trundle is ahead of West Ham's Nigel Reo-Coker (14), Nick Barmby (24) and Paul Ince, who is at No. 30.

Jackett said:"?That's good news for the club, but it's better news for Lee. It gives the club some recognition, but it also gives Lee the reward for some good play this season. "He did it last year scoring 21 goals. But they always say that continuing to perform well in your second year is even harder. Lee has done that."

ANDY Robinson made a scoring return to Swansea City action but it was not enough to earn the second-string a deserved win against local rivals Cardiff City at Vetch Field last night.

It was the first time the midfielder had pulled on a Swansea shirt following his much-publicised off-field problems and his 82nd-minute penalty should have been enough to see Kevin Nugent's side earn the points in this keenly contested Pontins Holidays Combination clash.

But a Danny Thomas spot-kick three minutes from time earned the Bluebirds a point after former Swan Jamie Rewbury was bundled over in the box.

Robinson was given a generous round of applause from a healthy Vetch crowd at the kick-off and was soon in the action with a decent cross which was just too close to Cardiff keeper Martyn Margetson. The midfielder was at his bustling best and led from the front in a Swansea side which included 10 players with first-team experience. And it was three of those who combined well as Nugent's team looked to take control.

Paul Connor's header freed Mark Pritchard down the left and he squared the ball for Brad Maylett who somehow missed from close range with the goal at his mercy.

Pritchard was looking lively and his cross found Leon Britton in space soon after. But once again the experienced midfielder skewed wide when he should have done better. Swansea's midfield quartet of Robinson, Maylett, Britton and Gary Fisken would not have looked out of place in their first team and they continued to pull the strings with Robinson once more to the fore.

His snap volley was blocked before he curled a free-kick into the defensive wall as the first half wore on. Robinson was involved in most of Swansea's best moves and after combining well with Britton, he was only denied by Cardiff stopper Margetson, a summer target for Kenny Jackett.

Opposite number Brian Murphy had not been tested in a first half dominated by the experienced home team. But deep in first-half stoppage time - which surprisingly ran into four minutes despite the fourth official's board showing only one - Jamal Easter freed Stuart Fleetwood down the left and his first-time left-foot shot gave Murphy no chance. Swansea took only eight minutes to earn a deserved equaliser and once more Robinson was at the heart of the move.

He combined well with Fisken before freeing Connor, who fired low into the corner. It was the first goal conceded by Cardiff for four matches at reserve level and was no more than Swansea deserved. But they failed to push home their territorial advantage and the game looked as if it was drifting towards a tame draw until the final eight minutes when two dubious penalty decisions made for an exciting finale.

Maylett was adjudged to have been brought down by Rewbury and Robinson stepped up to send Margetson the wrong way with his spot kick. That goal looked as if it would earn Swansea the points, but a mix-up in the home defence saw Vetch youth product Rewbury go down under Stuart Jones's challenge and Thomas made no mistake from the resulting spot-kick.

It was not the win that Robinson was looking for, but a goal and a decent performance meant the returning Swansea man was once again grabbing the headlines for all the right reasons.

Swansea striker Lee Trundle is backing former Everton midfielder and fellow Scouser Kevin McLeod to play a pivotal role in helping Kenny Jackett's side win promotion.

After collecting just two points from their previous five games, Swansea beat promotion rivals Scunthorpe 2-1 on Saturday courtesy of Trundle's double.

McLeod has impressed during his three games at the Vetch Field after signing last month from Championship outfit QPR.

Now Trundle, who has 20 goals to his name this season, is backing the 24-year-old to fire the fourth-placed Swans into League One.

He said: "Kevin being here shows that the club is moving in the right direction because he has been brought up at Everton, played in the Premiership and of course helped QPR to go up last year.

"It's nice having a fellow Scouser here and he has fitted in with the dressing-room banter straight away. Hopefully Kevin's quality and experience can help us to go up now."

A NEW survey has confirmed what Swansea City fans have been claiming for some time - striker Lee Trundle is one of the best players outside the Premiership.

Trundle joins a host of big names such as former England trio Teddy Sheringham, Nicky Barmby and Paul Ince in a list of the top 50 players plying their trade outside the top flight.

An influential panel of players, managers and football analysts voted on the Top 50, which is published in FourFourTwo magazine's April issue.

Cardiff City's much-admired Wales defender Danny Gabbidon came in at No 6 in the poll.

But Swansea top scorer Trundle, who was voted 13th, is the only League Two player in the top 20.

Trundle comes above Hull City's former England midfielder Barmby, who is 24th, as well as Wolverhampton Wanderers veteran Ince, who is 30th.

But Trundle's lofty position in the list will come as little surprise to those aware of his exploits at the Vetch since he arrived from Wrexham in the summer of 2003.

As well as hitting 21 goals in his debut season at the club, the 28-year-old Liverpudlian repeatedly caught the eye with a touch and skill on the ball that few in the bottom division were able to match.

He also gained widespread national recognition with his collection of memorable goals in Swansea's run to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

And the flamboyant striker has continued in a similar vein this season, hitting 20 goals so far and continuing to entertain the Swansea fans with his acts of showmanship.

"To be named in the top 50 players outside the Premiership is a fantastic achievement for him and for the club," said Swans boss Kenny Jackett.

"He had an excellent first season at Swansea, but I feel he's really proved himself this year.

"Quite often your second season at a club is your most difficult as opposition players tend to know what you're all about by then.

"But Lee has had no problem this year and, hopefully, he's got a lot more to contribute."

Jackett added, "The fact Lee is so high up this list just underlines the ability he possesses.

"He's a very good goalscorer and he's got a great touch.

"We're just glad that we've got him at Swansea."

Earlier this season Trundle put pen to paper on a new contract that keeps him at the Vetch until 2007.

His goals have been a major factor in Swansea's quest to achieve promotion to League One in time for their summer move to a new stadium at Morfa.

The campaign resumes on Saturday when Jackett's side travel to Notts County hoping for a win that could lift them back into the top three in League Two.

A nervous end to the season awaits Swansea since they are level on points with three of their automatic promotion rivals.

But, with just 11 games to go, Jackett has the luxury of being able to pick from virtually a full squad.

Ahead of last night's scheduled reserve team clash against Cardiff at the Vetch, just three players - defender Kevin Austin and strikers James Thomas and Kevin Nugent - were sidelined through injury.

Andy Robinson has spoken for the first time since the worst week of his Swansea City career and declared: "I'm sorry." And the midfield star has pleaded with Swansea's fans not to view him as a big-time Charlie after he committed a public order offence in a city nightclub when he should been resting up ahead of the club's next game.

Robinson's indiscretion cost him £350 at Swansea Magistrates' Court and a maximum club fine of two weeks' wages.

And he said: ''I just want to apologise to everyone involved. That means everyone at the club, my family, the police officer involved and especially the fans.

''We all make mistakes and I've made a stupid one, but I can definitely say I've learned from all this.

''I had a disagreement with a police officer which got out of hand and obviously, I shouldn't have been out anyway because our next game was only 72 hours away.

''But I've been punished and I just want to put all this behind me.''

The 25-year-old Birkenhead product had to be restrained by police after taking exception to door staff searching his girlfriend at Time in the Kingsway. He pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive words or behaviour in the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, February 20 after his man-of-the-match performance in Swansea's goalless draw with Grimsby.

But he said: ''The quote which came out in the papers was: 'What can you arrest me for? I'm a footballer.'

''That was taken out of context and I want to set things straight because I don't want the fans to think I'm some sort of big-time Charlie whose going to walk round town with his chest stuck out.

''My girlfriend and I were taken into a room inside the nightclub because the door staff had found some pills in her bag. They were slimming pills, not drugs.

"What I was saying to the doorman was that as a footballer, I would never have come into a club carrying drugs because I would have had too much to lose.

"I pleaded guilty because I didn't want to waste any more of the club's time or the court's time and I just wanted to put the whole thing behind me.

"There were a few things said that I disagreed with in court, but I didn't want to waste any more time.

"I think people in football and people who know me will know I would never have said that.

"They know that I realise how lucky I am to be a footballer, particularly as I came into the professional game late, and that I've worked hard to get where I am.

''But for the public outside that quote makes me sound like a bad character and I hope they won't see me like that in the future.

''I've had a good relationship with the Swansea fans since I came here and I don't want that to change. I just want to get back to doing well playing football.''

Having been left out of Swansea's last two first-team games, Robinson returns to the pitch tonight when the reserves take on Cardiff at the Vetch tonight (7pm).

Wales's proposed friendly with Slovenia to mark the opening of Swansea City's new stadium could be scrapped. The Evening Post understands there has been a disagreement over how proceeds from the game will be shared between the Football Association of Wales and Swansea.

But Vetch Field chairman Huw Jenkins is still hopeful John Toshack's men will play at Morfa as part of the new 20,000-seater stadium's opening celebrations.

"We're hopeful that Wales will play in Swansea," he said.

"It's just that things like this take a long time to sort out.

"Negotiations are on-going between ourselves and the FAW to try finalise a deal to bring international football to our new home."

Toshack's men will definitely play a friendly in August ahead of World Cup qualifiers against England and Poland in September.

FAW chiefs have indicated that Swansea would be the preferred venue, but the failure so far to rubber stamp the fixture has left them looking at other options.

"We have been offered friendlies abroad and it may be that we have to look elsewhere," said an FAW source.

"We all hope we can play at Swansea's new stadium - it would be terrible not to mark its opening with a Wales game.

"But something has to be sorted out soon.

"As time goes on, you would have say that the game is increasingly under threat."

Burial urns holding the cremated remains of Swans fans are to be dug up from Vetch Field and moved to the club's new Morfa base, it has emerged. The urns have been under the hallowed turf for years, holding the ashes of some of the club's most ardent fans.

Now, with the Swans about to leave for their new £27 million Morfa home, they want families to come forward to claim them.

Swans director David Morgan said many people had either had their ashes buried in urns under the pitch, or scattered on the famous turf itself.

However, no proper records have been kept about how many people have been laid to rest at the ground, or exactly where the urns may be buried.

He said: "Over the years people have been laid to rest here but nothing was really written down.

"We need help from the families involved."

The club says it is anxious to make the proper arrangements for the ashes before the ground is redeveloped.

Urns will be removed at the end of the season. They will either be returned to relatives or taken to the new stadium and reburied, depending on the preference of the families.

One of those buried under the pitch is former Swans manager Harry Griffiths, who died in 1978.

His family have confirmed that they want the ashes to go to the Swans' new home. His urn is to be reburied at Morfa.

Relatives of people who had their ashes scattered on the pitch have been told a section of grass will be dug up, taken to the new stadium and relaid.

Club chaplain Kevin Johns will be present when any work is done.

He said today: "When we move an urn and when we take the section of turf, I will be present to conduct a short service of dedication.

"And "I'm working with the Ospreys' chaplain to ensure everything at Morfa is correct."

Mr Morgan said the club was aware of the importance of the Vetch to many fans.

He added: "This club, and the Vetch ground, have meant so much to people over the years.

"I am appealing for anyone who has relatives whose ashes are at the Vetch to get in touch with me at the club. We are very sensitive to people's feelings on this subject."

THIS is the first proper look at the lavish new home for Swansea City and the Ospreys ... the only purpose-built joint soccer and rugby venue in Britain.

The two clubs unveiled the first pictures of how the £27m Morfa venue will look when it opens this summer, as bidding rights began to find a name for the stadium.

The consortium behind the project are seeking a big-name sponsor for a naming rights package believed to be worth around £250,000 per season.

And the first sight of the wonderful-new ground, coupled with the success of the Swans and Ospreys, is bound to attract interest from the business community.

The pictures of the 20,000-seater venue were released on St David’s Day as Ospreys and Welsh rugby sensation Gavin Henson announced he was signing a bumper new four-year deal to remain with the Celtic League leaders.

And the Swans hope to continue the west Wales boom factor by kicking off in the stadium next season as a promoted League One club.

Beaming officials from the Swans and Ospreys reckon only the Millennium Stadium is a better venue in Wales.

They say the facilities at the new Swansea ground make it one of the best outside the Premiership and they are confident they will go from success to success playing at the venue.

Officials say tentative discussions have already taken place with a number of major brands, companies interested in having the stadium named after them.

But the consortium in charge of the stadium project is also inviting official tenders, hoping to announce a headline sponsor by June 30.

“From 3Com Park in San Francisco to the Reebok Stadium in Bolton, major sponsors are buying the naming rights to the homes of successful sports teams,” said a spokesman for the project.

“Already being heralded as one of the best in Europe, the new Swansea stadium will be home to sides we expect to go from strength to strength.

“The stadium features some of the best facilities outside the FA Premiership and is the perfect home for two of Wales’ best sides.

“With more than 500,000 passionate fans expected to watch the Ospreys and the Swans next season, we’re looking to work with the right brand to ensure success on and off the field.

“This is a huge opportunity for a major brand to really work with two highly-ambitious clubs and become part of the city’s social fabric.

“We’ve worked hard to get this right from the start, from the state-of-the-art pitch to the focus on providing fans with a great match experience.”

The Jacks are going up . . . well the television voice of British football reckons they are. John Motson took time off from his preparations for commentating for the BBC on Sunday's Carling Cup final to drop in at Vetch Field for the top-of-the-table clash against Scunthorpe.

And he liked what he saw from Kenny Jackett's side.

''I was very impressed with Swansea, particularly in the second half,'' said the man behind the microphone on Match of the Day.

''The game itself was a really good contest. You could sense how anxious both sides were in the first half.

''It was a little frantic early on because both teams knew what was at stake. It was a classic six-pointer.

''I thought Swansea upped a gear in the first 20 minutes of the second half and for me they deserved to win.''

Swansea currently lie fourth in the table on goal difference behind Macclesfield, but Motson believes that Jackett's team have shown over the season that they have the pedigree to take one of the top-three spots.

''I have said - looking on from a distance - that Yeovil, Scunthorpe and Swansea are the sides who are going to get the automatic promotion spots,'' he added.

''There are one or two clubs, like Macclesfield and Lincoln, who will be there or thereabouts, but I would say the top three will be Yeovil, Scunthorpe and Swansea.

''I don't know in what order they will finish, but from what I can gather those three are the ones who deserve to go up.''

Motson was full of praise for Swansea's Lee Thorpe and reckons his more illustrious partner's second-half winner could be the catalyst for a rise to League One.

''People will always talk about Lee Trundle and I can understand that, but Thorpe was unselfish, made some good runs and had a great attitude,'' said Motson.

''In Trundle, Swansea have someone who has got tremendous ability, a fantastic left foot and knows where the goal is.

''He has got an unpredictable streak. You don't quite know what he's going to do next - then I don't suppose he does either.

''It was difficult circumstances in which to take the penalty because there had been such a delay, but that could turn out to be one of the most important goals of the season.''

As well as a final visit to the Vetch, Motson was given a tour of the new stadium at Morfa.

He was impressed there, too, and while he says it may be a wrench to leave their current home, the club has to look to the future.

''We have all got nostalgic feelings about old grounds,'' he said, ''but I have been to a lot of clubs who have moved and it's amazing how quickly supporters attach themselves to a new stadium.

''Having seen the facilities for both the normal fans and corporate-wise, I can see it's a big project.

''I think it's a case of moving on - all clubs have to do that.

''I thought the new stadium looked really well and I would think the club would love to get into it as soon as they can, especially if they get promotion.''

Kenny Jackett is predicting a photo finish in the race for promotion with four sides neck and neck at the top end of League Two. Swansea City share second place with Scunthorpe, Macclesfield and Southend on 60 points while leaders Yeovil are five points clear ahead of this evening's trip to Northampton.

And with just 11 games - Macclesfield will be the one exception after tonight with 12 - to decide who will make the top three, Jackett is forecasting a nail-biting climax.

''It looks like being hold on to your hats time for the fans, the players and the manager,'' the Swansea boss conceded.

''I remember winning my first promotion with Watford in what's now known as League One.

''We were top for most of the season, but it wasn't until the second to last game of the season that we went up, and we only won the title on the final day.

''Even when things look good for sides right through a season, it isn't usually until the very end that anything is decided.

''There aren't many teams who go up with six games left and then starting putting the youth team out.''

Should Jackett's theory prove correct, the Vetch Field's final game against Shrewsbury on April 30 promises to be a tense affair, so the party to mark Swansea's move to a new home at Morfa may have to put on hold.

''Very rarely can you relax on the penultimate weekend,'' Jackett added.

''With four teams on 60 points, these are exciting times for the neutral and they are also exciting for us.

''Two years ago this club was fighting against relegation in the final game of the season.

''Now we're fighting to go up and we have a fantastic opportunity.

''Of course I would rather be out in front instead of Yeovil, but I still don't think any of the positions are settled.

''Macclesfield and Southend are on terrific runs. Now our aim is to produce one of our own to keep up with them. We believe we are capable of doing that but even then it will probably go right down to the wire.''

Kevin Austin is certain to miss Saturday's trip to Notts County but could return for the home game with Rochdale on March 12 after damaging a hamstring in the 2-1 win over Scunthorpe.

Swansea's second string, meanwhile, take on their Cardiff counterparts at the Vetch tomorrow night (7pm).

And bookings are being taken at the William Street ticket office for official travel club coaches to Notts County for next Saturday's league game and for TNS, who Swansea face in the FAW Premier Cup a week tomorrow.

FOR Swansea City, the last two months of the season are going to be tense. Very tense.
With 11 games left to go, the Swans are just outside the top three and level on points with three of their automatic promotion rivals.

A glance at Swansea's remaining fixtures - they must travel to top-six challengers Lincoln and Northampton as well as face third-placed Macclesfield at the Vetch - suggests their fight for that coveted top-three spot is destined to last right to the end of the season. But veteran striker Steve Claridge, himself battling to get into the play-offs with Wycombe Wanderers, is tipping Kenny Jackett's men to go straight up to League One.

Claridge, who made his Wanderers debut in the club's 2-2 draw at the Vetch on January 15, believes the Swansea squad - on paper at least - is too strong to finish outside the automatic promotion zone.

"Yeovil are certainties to go straight up - they're the best side in the division and they'll probably finish top," said the 38-year-old, a veteran of almost 600 League appearances. "But I'd put Swansea as next favourites for automatic promotion. Out of all the teams currently at the top, Swansea are best equipped to go up.

"Kenny Jackett has already assembled a decent squad that includes two good goalscorers.

"And Swansea have got a bit of finance behind them and, if push comes to shove, they could probably go out and bring in a couple more players just to make certain."

The Swans head into the final two months of the season level on points with Scunthorpe and Macclesfield - who are second and third respectively - as well as fifth-placed Southend.

Things would have been a lot more comfortable for the Welsh side had they not had such a poor February.

Saturday's 2-1 win over Scunthorpe was their first win in six matches, bringing an end to an inauspicious run in which they frittered away a six-point cushion inside the top three.

While Swansea were stumbling, Macclesfield were busy taking advantage, creeping ahead of the Swans on the back of a magnificent six-game winning spurt.

But Claridge says that, as long as they start performing to their potential on a regular basis once more, Swansea will steal back their top-three place off Macclesfield.

"It surprises me that Swansea have slipped up recently," said Claridge, who has scored four goals in as many games to help push Wycombe to within two points of seventh place.

"They went a few games without winning, but they've clearly got the players to do better. They proved that earlier in the season.

"If you look at Macclesfield, we played them a few weeks ago and they were nothing spectacular. They've got a big man and a little man up front and all they basically do is knock the ball up to the big man, Jon Parkin, who's scoring goals for fun at the moment.

"With all due respect to Macclesfield, they're the sort of team that has one good year in five... and this is their good year. Unlike Swansea, who are on a firm financial footing, Macclesfield's success is unsustainable because of their financial restrictions.

"They're on a great run, but I'd back Swansea ahead of them because they've perhaps got a bit more in their armoury.

"However, what you can't argue with is the fact Macclesfield are the form side of the division.

"That being the case, you can fully expect them to take advantage if Swansea and Scunthorpe don't recover from their blips by putting winning runs together."

But Macclesfield, who are due at the Vetch on March 25 for a promotion contest that looks increasingly important, aren't the only side Swansea have to worry about.

Only a superior goal difference keeps them above Southend, while Lincoln, those perennial play-off challengers, are hovering only five points behind in fifth.

And while Northampton might be eight points adrift of the Swans in seventh, crucially the Cobblers have two games in hand - the first of which is tonight's visit of leaders Yeovil.

Throw in the fact Swansea must still travel to Sixfields Stadium on March 19 and Sincil Bank on April 9 and it is difficult to see the promotion issues being settled much before the May 7 climax.

"Looking at Swansea's remaining fixtures, Northampton and Lincoln are two difficult games away from home," Claridge said. "But it seems to me there's very little difference between playing teams at the top of the table and those at the bottom. Any away match is going to be difficult. It might be a cliche, but everyone is beating everyone else in this league.

"The thing about this league is you just can't pigeon hole teams."

Claridge added, "Everyone currently in the top seven has got a chance of going up. Northampton, Lincoln, Southend... they're all decent sides at this level.

"As for ourselves, the opportunity is there for us. If we can put a winning run together, we could sneak into the play-off places.

"But if you're asking me to put my head on the block, I'd say Swansea are the side best equipped to win promotion. You've got to fancy them to do it."

Lee Trundle believes Swansea City are back on track for promotion after victory over Scunthorpe blew the race for League One wide open. Kenny Jackett's men are level with three other sides - Scunthorpe, Macclesfield and Southend - on 60 points behind leaders Yeovil, whose shock defeat at Grimsby keeps them within touching distance on 65.

Goal difference means Swansea sit fourth, but Trundle is convinced they will push on in the last 11 games of the season to win a place in the all-important top-three.

''Beating Scunthorpe should mean our bad spell is over,'' the 20-goal striker said, ''and hopefully we will prove we have put it behind us in the next few weeks.

''We were desperate to get all three points after the recent run of results and we've done that by producing a good performance.

''To lose at Darlington was disappointing because we played well but went down to two set-pieces.

''But we've got the performance and the result this time and it's a massive win for us.

''We've pulled Scunthorpe back into the fight for the three automatic promotion spots and it's given us some confidence back.''

Trundle scored both goals as Swansea recorded their solitary victory in February, a deserved 2-1 success which ended a worrying five-match winless streak.

He added: ''We needed a game against a top side to get the fans behind us again. They expected us to beat Grimsby by two or three goals in our last home game, but they knew Scunthorpe would be difficult and they were brilliant.''

The one negative on Saturday was a hamstring injury which forced Kevin Austin off at half-time and should sideline him for between two and three weeks.

But Jackett's squad is in good shape otherwise, leaving the Swansea boss in upbeat mood after the worst stretch of the season.

''The performances against Darlington and now Scunthorpe tell me that the blip is over,'' he said.

''This was a vital win for us. We have achieved our first target which was to pass last season's points total (of 59) and we now have 11 games to achieve the next one, which is to finish in the top three.

''And I still believe all the places are up for grabs. Yeovil are a freescoring side and quite often they have won games this season when they have been 1-0 or 2-0 down.

''They've strengthened their squad again with the signing of Rory Fallon, and clubs like Scunthorpe and Macclesfield have also gone for it by bringing in new players.

''They will all be pushing right until the end of the season and there could well be a few twists and turns to come.''

Andy Robinson returns to the fold this week ahead of Saturday's trip to Notts County following his off-field troubles, while Austin's absence should mean Andy Gurney reclaiming his starting spot.

A Win that could revive a season achieved and a week before their next game, Swansea City's players were entitled to a celebration on Saturday night. No chance of Kenny Jackett buying the drinks, though, even if a trip to the bar would not have been breaking the manager's rules.

''I'll be at home tonight, probably watching a Noddy video,'' said the Swansea boss.

''I'm on babysitting duty because my wife's off to the ballet in London and to be honest, it's not really my thing.''

All smiles for Jackett, then, at the end of his team's worst run of the season, and yet another week when football has not been the only topic on the agenda at Vetch Field.

There has usually been something to discuss this season, with the latest talking point Andy Robinson's night out after the previous home game, the deflating goalless draw with Grimsby Town.

Robinson, Jackett explained, should not have been on the town as Swansea had another match ahead in 72 hours, and his rule states that socialising should be saved for seven-day breaks between games.

And so as part of his punishment, one of Swansea's most talented players was banished to the stands for Scunthorpe United's visit.

He was joined by another.

Roberto Martinez, more of a ballet fan's footballer perhaps, was dropped and Kristian O'Leary recalled after 10 and a half weeks out with injury.

Club captain Martinez, in fact, could not even find a place in Swansea's 16.

It was a bold decision by Jackett, one which might have seen flak flying in his direction if things had not worked.

While Martinez may not have rediscovered his very best form since his own injury lay-off, he is an undoubted class act in the view of many Swansea fans.

Remember the uproar last time he was left out?

There were few complaints this time.

What we will never know is how Martinez would have performed had he been involved this weekend.

What we know for sure is that O'Leary thrived, driving his team on with what was probably the best showing of an already impressive season.

''Kris was fantastic,'' Jackett enthused.

''I think he's a terrific player who is very, very under-rated.

''I left Roberto out because for this game I felt Kris and Marcus Bean would be the best combination for us in central midfield.

''In another game if I feel Roberto is the right man to play, I will have no hesitation in bringing him back in.

''Sometimes you need to make changes for certain games. That's what I felt going into this one and I feel what I did was justified because the performance was right.

''When you consider how long Kris has been out for, you have to say he played very well.

''He's a whole-hearted player and he has that ability to get the ball, which is a big thing.

''He also has fantastic character. I thought I would have to substitute him after an hour or 70 minutes. I picked my subs with that in mind, but there was no way I was going to take him off.

''He kept going right to the end and he really drove the side on.''

All things being well, it is probably safe to assume O'Leary's contract will be extended when it expires this summer.

If there is anything to negotiate then Swansea's longest-serving player - he is due a testimonial - would be well advised to cite Saturday's match video.

Aware that his team had been bullied all the way to the most comprehensive of 1-0 defeats when they went to Scunthorpe in December, Jackett turned to the player he has converted from a centre-back.

Despite O'Leary's lengthy spell on the sidelines, the gamble paid off.

''It's good to do something constructive again on a Saturday afternoon,'' said O'Leary, another who, with a young family, has probably had his share of Noddy in the last couple of months.

''I've been going to the gym and then taking my kids to watch my mates playing local football.

''It's been a bit frustrating really, so to get out there and have a decent game was great for me.

''I got an early challenge in and it just went on from there.''

The first O'Leary crunch set the tone on a day when Jackett's men appeared determined to end their five-game winless streak.

Garry Monk, another returning to the side, saw his captain's armband fall off inside the first couple of minutes but still led admirably from the back.

Swansea triumphed in the midfield battle and their strikers might have made the win more comfortable.

The two Lees, Trundle and full debutant Thorpe, had already threatened four times between them when Izzy Iriekpen flicked on Kevin McLeod's 25th-minute corner and Trundle scored a rare headed goal.

Scunthorpe were not the only ones struggling to keep up with Swansea's attacks in the opening half - the assistant referee who had been chasing Trundle and Co up the line limped off with a pulled muscle.

On came the fourth official - they do have a purpose - to see Trundle's 40-yarder gathered by a worried Paul Musselwhite.

Saved from embarrassment, the Scunthorpe keeper was soon celebrating as Swansea crumbled at another set-piece and Andy Butler lashed home.

But this was to be the home side's day, even if they did need a little assistance to take one of the string of chances they created in the second half.

From Trundle's through ball, Thorpe chipped the ball over Musselwhite but was denied the glory by Stev Angus's clumsy challenge.

With Angus in the early bath, Trundle dispatched his 20th goal of the season from the penalty spot and, despite some injury-time pressure, Swansea had the victory they desperately needed.

Yes, they remain outside the top three, but the slide has ended and suddenly the race for the top-three looks winnable again.

''It's a massive result for us,'' O'Leary said.

''We're level on points with Scunthorpe now and hopefully our bad run is behind us.

''This league is always tight, but when you look at our squad and see how positive we are it makes you think we will do well.''

So the champagne's on ice? It is probably a bit early for all that - and too late.
There are only five days to go before Swansea's next game.

SWANSEA suffered their first stalemate in 32 league games and were booed off the pitch - but Kenny Jackett isn't worried.
The moans and groans of dissatisfaction around the Vetch Field in the wake of their goalless bore-draw with Grimsby is testament to Jackett's success as Swans manager.

When he replaced Brian Flynn last April, Swansea were nothing more than lower-league also-rans - but, in the space of just 10 months, Jackett has transformed the Swans into automatic promotion contenders.

Sure, yesterday's performance was dismal and the game could be used as a cure for insomnia, yet despite their worst winless sequence of the campaign with no victory in four, Swansea still occupy a top-three spot - albeit by the skin of their teeth success yesterday ensured the Moss's coat-tails and all the Swans' promotion rivals tasted victory, while the Vetch faithful witnessed probably the worst spectacle they'll see in the historic ground's final season - and Jackett can sympathise with their disgust.

"There were a few boos, but that's only due to the expectation levels we've built up ourselves," Jackett said.

"We can understand that as our fans come here wanting us to step on and towards promotion.

"Perhaps it is the promotion jitters. But it seems a little bit early for that with 13 games remaining.

"We need about 75 points to get into the play-offs and 80 to perhaps be in the top three. It's up to ourselves to get the points.

"We're disappointed with a 0-0 draw at home and we're disappointed with the lack of wins in this sequence, but I'm confident I have the players, with a little bit of fortune, to win promotion.

"If we get the performances right, wins will come. Our performance level has dipped and the poor run is down to a culmination of factors. We've had a little bit of bad fortune, off-the-ball we haven't been as solid, so it was good to get a clean sheet yesterday as we've conceded four in back-to-back away defeats.

"There's always a high expectation level at Swansea, and if you do lose the fans will voice their opinion - and I'm comfortable with that. They're a passionate crowd but they shouldn't panic.

"Now is the most important time to go on a unbeaten or winning run and we're due one. We just need to stay solid and pose attacking threats."

Yeovil and Scunthorpe have now edged away five and three points respectively away from Swansea, but Jackett should be more concerned by the teams below them.

But Jackett insisted: "I can't worry about what other sides are doing, I have to concentrate on ourselves getting the points.

"Other sides are building momentum and Macclesfield are on a terrific run, but what they are doing is very much secondary in my mind. It is about what we're doing.

"Our points cushion in the automatic promotion places has gone, but we're clinging onto third spot valiantly."

Although Grimsby didn't score for the third successive game, they had two early optimistic penalty shouts while Swansea had one late on.

The Swans, couldn't break through and the fact Paul Connor's half-chance on 21 minutes, which didn't really test visiting keeper Anthony Williams, was their first and only real chance of the opening first period, spoke volumes.

Connor and Lee Trundle fed on scraps all game as the midfield created very little and the Vetch crowd soon grew anxious, frustrated by their side's lack of guile and application.

The game quickly descended into a slugging match of poor quality football. It was mispass, miscontrol and tackles galore but Jackett knew only too well that home fixtures against strugglers like Grimsby have got to be won, however that may be.

Succeeding in scrappy encounters is the mark of a promotion-winning team. Yet Grimsby's striking double-act Martin Gritton and Michael Reddy should have put Russell Slade's warriors in front 10 minutes before the break.

Gritton sped from lacklustre Kevin Austin but hesitated at the crucial time and Willy Gueret saved. The ricochet fell to Reddy, but his shot was cleared off the line by Izzy Iriekpen. Ex-Premiership frontman Reddy again escaped from Austin just before half-time - again Gueret leapt to the rescue.

Former Sunderland striker Reddy could have had a hat-trick and a more prolific hitman would have. But he's only managed five goals in 33 games this season and it showed. He should have punished Alan Tate - on as a sub for groin injury victim Iriekpen - as the former Manchester United youth defender missed a header, but the Grimsby man shot wide.

Jackett made it a hat-trick of Vetch debuts as Kevin McLeod, a £60,000 capture from QPR, followed starter Marcus Bean and fellow sub Tony Thorpe into the action - and ex-Everton midfielder McLeod made an instant impression, skipping past Simon Ramsden to whip in a dangerous cross that Thorpe agonisingly headed wide.

The Swans bombarded the Grimsby goal with a late rally; And top-scorer Trundle was only denied by a superb goal-saving tackle by Torrell Forbes. It was too little, too late.

A stern test failed, 100 per cent improvement is required when fellow promotion rivals Darlington and Scunthorpe visit The Vetch this week - and Jackett concluded: "It's a big week but we've got a run coming."

Jackett is statistic-mad - so he'll know his Swans have only beaten one of the top seven all season.

Shrewsbury came from 2-0 down to beat midlands rivals Kidderminster 4-2 in a Coca-Cola League Two relegation battle.
The win moved the Shrews two places up the table to 19th and left Harriers further adrift of safety after what proved a crushing collapse.

The visitors got off to a perfect start at Gay Meadow, Chris Beardsley and Blair Sturrock scoring after 10 and 27 minutes respectively.

But Darren Moss scored two in seven minutes to level the match and Kelvin Langmead completed the spectacular turnaround in first-half added time after Moss turned provider.

Striker Luke Rodgers added a fourth to rub salt in Kidderminster's wounds in the second half.

At the other end of the table a 2-0 away win against struggling Chester ensured leaders Yeovil maintained their stronghold at the top while their hosts dropped a further two places to 21st.

Arron Davies' 12th-minute opener put Chester on the back-foot and Phil Jevons made it 2-0 after 31 minutes, scoring from the spot after he had been fouled by Richard Hope in the penalty area.

Second-placed Scunthorpe had Andrew Keogh to thank as his 68th-minute goal earned them a narrow 1-0 win at home to Leyton Orient.

Macclesfield moved level on points with third-placed Swansea as the Silkmen romped to a 3-0 home victory against Rochdale.

Matthew Tipton scored two early goals before sealing his hat-trick with a third in stoppage time.

The Swans, meanwhile, only managed a goalless draw at home to struggling Grimsby.

Julian Baudet's 53rd-minute penalty provided a quick response against Rushden after the visitors had taken a second-half lead in the division's other relegation tussle.

Billy Sharp had put the Diamonds in front six minutes after the break but after Kevin Wilson's foul resulted in a penalty, Baudet kept his composure from the spot to level two minutes later.

Southend came from a goal behind to win 2-1 at fellow play-off hopefuls Northampton.

The seventh-placed Cobblers took the lead against the Shrimpers, who sit one place higher, when Martin Smith found the breakthrough after seven minutes.

The visiting supporters were made to wait for a real response, though, but it came when the prolific Adam Barrett brought his side level with 13 minutes left before hitting the winner in injury time.

Lincoln remain fifth after a 2-1 win a the deadlock after 17 minutes and strike partner Gary Taylor-Fletcher doubled the lead less than 10 minutes later.

Daniel Webb gave the visitors a fighting chance early in the second half but they were unable to build on his goal.

A last-gasp Tommy Mooney goal handed Oxford a priceless 1-0 win at Cheltenham.

Veteran Steve Claridge scored for Wycombe as they drew 1-1 at home to Darlington.

Another old-timer, Clyde Wijnhard, had given the Quakers the lead after 34 minutes but well-travelled Claridge scored his second goal for the Chairboys two minutes later.

Bristol Rovers and Boston shared the spoils after Junior Agogo cancelled out Andy Kirk's second half strike, while Adam Murray and Adam Rundle scored either side of the break as Mansfield beat Bury at Gigg Lane.

TO say Kenny Jackett has options for today's home clash with Grimsby Town would be a grave understatement.
The Swansea City chief has three new faces to choose from in striker Lee Thorpe, winger Kevin McLeod and midfielder Marcus Bean.

Not only that, he has three key players back from injury - utility man Andy Gurney, midfield destroyer Kris O'Leary and wideman Adrian Forbes.

So Jackett probably spent much of last night deciding which of his bumper 26-man squad will start against the Mariners at the Vetch.

"This is the biggest group of players I've had to choose from since I came to Swansea," said Jackett, whose side has only picked up one point from the last nine.

"Out of all the players we've got, the only ones we're missing are Kevin Nugent, James Thomas and Garry Monk.

"If we can keep everyone fit and available then that would be terrific - but I'll reveal the team at 2pm on Saturday."

Nugent and Thomas are both injured, while Monk is suspended after picking up his third red card of the season at Mansfield.

The latter will be back for next Saturday's promotion shoot-out against Scunthorpe at the Vetch.

"I've got Kris back after eight weeks and Adrian Forbes and Andy are both available too," explained Jackett.

"I'm convinced the players who have been out injured are over their injuries. The only question mark hanging over them is their match fitness."

Following Swansea's recent wobble, Jackett will be delighted to have so many options available to him.

But new boys McLeod - provided he has fully recovered from laryngitis - and his former Queens Park Rangers team-mate Bean will both start against Grimsby.

The Swans paid a reputed £60,000 with add-on clauses for ex-Everton man McLeod, while Bean is on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent deal.

But Jackett dismissed suggestions they are panic signings in the wake of Swansea's back-to-back defeats at Mansfield and Leyton Orient.

"These are two lads that I know and worked with then I was at QPR. I'm comfortable with both of them," he said.

"Kevin is a natural left winger, an attacking player. I don't look at him for defensive qualities.

"He has got a lot of pace and he can create and score goals. He's a very good addition to our squad.

"Marcus is an all-round midfield player who can do a little bit of everything. He's very combative and competitive.

"They were out of the team at QPR and that was good news for me.

"I can understand people thinking we've signed them because of our recent results.

"But I was always looking to build and improve the squad. It just so happens it has been done at this time.

"It's not a situation where I've brought these players in just because of our last two results.

"I was always looking to improve my squad, and I've always had the funds to do that.

"Kevin is a wide left player and I've been looking for a wide left player all season."

Two questions remain for Jackett to answer - who will play alongside McLeod and Bean in midfield and who will partner Lee Trundle in attack, Paul Connor or Thorpe?

Connor has formed a potent partnership with Trundle, but has gone off the boil in recent games, while Thorpe staked his claim last week by coming off the bench to net in the 3-1 defeat at Leyton Orient.

"I like Thorpe's heading ability. He can improve us if we can put crosses in for him. He's a good option for us," said Jackett.

"If you look at the successful sides in our division, they have good target men up front. Yeovil have got (Bartosz) Tarachulski and Scunthorpe have got (Steve) Torpey.

"And if you look at past seasons (Leo) Fortune-West has got a few sides promoted."

After Grimsby, the Swans - third in League Two and three points off leaders Yeovil - travel to Darlington on Tuesday before that Scunthorpe showdown.

"Looking at it, you have to say it's a massive week for us," said Jackett.

"We're looking to bounce back and we're looking for a big points total over the next week.

"Our last couple of results have been disappointing, but we haven't lost ground at the top.

"We're three points off the top and there are 14 games left. That tells me it's in our hands and that there is still everything to play for."

WELSH goalkeeper Anthony Williams plans to deepen Swansea City's misery when he arrives home on a revenge mission today.

The former Wales Under-21 keeper will be between the posts for Grimsby Town when the struggling Mariners visit the Vetch Field for a crucial League Two clash.

Kenny Jackett's side are desperate to get their promotion push back on track after suffering successive away defeats.

But Maesteg product Williams, who had a short loan spell at the Vetch in 2003, will be trying his hardest to ensure Swansea suffer another miserable afternoon.

Especially since he believes the Swans conned their way to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at Blundell Park on October 30.

"They got away with murder that day," claims Williams, who won 16 under-21 caps between 1996 and 2000.

"Kevin Nugent fell over in the box and the referee gave Swansea a penalty (which Lee Trundle converted to earn Swansea a point).

"I think Swansea would agree it should never have been given - Nugent was laughing about it after the match!

"It would be nice if we could get our revenge with a win at the Vetch. It's always nice coming home to play in Wales and it'd be even better to end up on the winning side.

"Swansea might be going through a bit of a sticky patch, but we'll be just as determined to get a result as we've also lost two on the bounce."

Williams, 27, is enjoying a settled spell at Cleethorpes after spending 12 months on the sidelines at Hartlepool.

For his club, things haven't gone according to plan, Grimsby being stuck in the lower reaches of League Two following relegation.

"We'd like to be up near the top but the problem was we only had four players at the start of the season, so the squad had to be rebuilt," says Williams. "But our season isn't over just yet."