Press cuttings

26th May 2006 SO CLOSE - IT'S JACKETT'S DREAM SCENARIO

Evening Post Kenny Jackett has pledged to make Swansea City a force in the top tiers of English football ahead of tomorrow's League One play-off final. The Swansea boss admits victory over Barnsley would complete a "meteoric rise" for a club that three years ago was on its feet and staring into the Conference abyss. But Jackett insists his work will not be done if he masterminds a return to the Championship, a division bearing its third name since Swansea last played there more than two decades ago. "In terms of potential we are a Championship club," reckoned Jackett, whose side will be backed by 34,000 fans at the Millennium Stadium. "But we are not a club who have consistently been in the higher echelons of the four Football League divisions. "We've only been up there fleetingly - 25 years ago there was a meteoric rise, but then to be fair there was a meteoric fall as well. "We have not been up there consistently despite the potential and the catchment area this club has. "If we are lucky enough to get there tomorrow, then a big part of the job would be to establish ourselves in the top two divisions and not be a club who goes up and down. That's our aim." To emphasise his point, Jackett needed only to point to his surroundings. A thin black line of cameras had captured every moment of Swansea's penultimate training session of the season yesterday. As Lee Trundle and Co kicked, shutters clicked. Behind the snappers stood the press pack, gathered in numbers not seen in these parts in recent times. "Where've you lot been for the last two years?" Jackett chirped as he left the Jersey Marine pitch to answer questions about one of Swansea's biggest matches in a quarter of a century. "Getting to the Championship would complete a meteoric rise in a short space of time," he said. "Look at where we are now. We're stood talking in a green hut, we cannot offer you press guys a cup of tea and there are no changing facilities for the players at our training ground. "That just shows you how far we've come." With the Liberty Stadium now feeling like home, Swansea's Monday-to-Friday facilities should be next on the agenda for the club's hierarchy. For now, though, Jackett is keen to focus all energy on events in Cardiff tomorrow. "To have the chance to go into a division where we would be competing with the likes of Sunderland and Birmingham is a massive opportunity for us," he added. "The players are dreaming about it - there are young kids here watching them today and my players will have been dreaming about big games like this since they were that age. "But really it's for you guys in the media to say 'Is it going to be Sunderland or Carlisle for the Swans next season?' "We have to focus on doing our job which, of course, is winning the game." Swansea's manager looks like relying on the same starting XI which served him so well at Brentford 12 days ago to carry out that task. He hailed the 2-0 win at Griffin Park as the best performance of his reign, so plans to keep the likes of Trundle, Roberto Martinez and Bayo Akinfenwa in reserve once more are hardly surprising. There could be a solitary change on the bench - Kevin McLeod is pushing hard for inclusion after his rapid recovery from a broken ankle. Barnsley also produced one of their performances of the campaign last time out to turn the tables on Huddersfield in the semi-final. "We had a decent run-in to the end of the season," said boss Andy Ritchie, whose side lost only once in their last nine to finish a point clear of Swansea. "And it was very pleasing to come through our semi the way we did. "We're keeping things low-key until the last minute going into the final, but then I want the lads to come out as if they've been shot from a cannon." Hard hats at the ready, then, for Garry Monk and company. Nothing new there, they might point out, after the bombardment at Brentford led by the high-flying Sam Sodje. The aerial approach is not likely to be so much in evidence this weekend - Barnsley's approach is more akin to the eye-catching style Swansea have produced on their better days this season. "I think it will be a good game to watch," Jackett said. Can't watch more like. Play-off finals are usually knife-edge affairs - Watford's cruise past Leeds last weekend was out of the ordinary - and while one set of fans will finish ecstatic, celebrations are sure to be preceded by at least 90 minutes' worth of nerves. For the loser, it will feel like getting dropped off at the dentist at the end of a flunked driving test. No fillings for the winner, though, just the enjoyable kind of crown. "It would be a fantastic achievement for me," Jackett conceded. "How would I look back on the season if we were to lose? That's a difficult one. "That depends on whether your cup is half-full or half-empty. "But hopefully we won't have to think about that. "If you'd offered me one game against Barnsley to get promoted last July, I probably would have taken it. "It's a fantastic opportunity for us. Now we have to grasp it with both hands."

26th May 2006 WE CAN DO IT JUST LIKE IN '81

Evening Post Swansea City great Alan Curtis today paid the ultimate compliment to the class of 2006, revealing: "I've got the feeling we had in the glory years." Kenny Jackett's men bid to seal back-to-back promotions in tomorrow's League One play-off final against Barnsley. Even if they do triumph, Jackett's men will have a way to go to equal the feats of Curtis and Co, who climbed from the basement division to the top of the Football League inside four seasons under the guidance of John Toshack. But Curtis has confessed that he senses a similar mood now to the one which engulfed Swansea in the golden era of the late 70s and early 80s. "It's very similar now to when we were going up through the divisions all those years ago," Curtis said. "You just knew that things were going to happen for us back then, it was almost in your blood, and I get the same feeling today. "Some things are meant to be and it's almost if it's this team's destiny to get up to the Championship. "It's going to be a tough game - Barnsley will carry a threat going forward - but the confidence is running so high now. "There's a belief among the supporters like there was 25 years ago. That transmits back to the players and then back again. You can't say you're sure they'll do it, but I'm more than positive we'll be playing Championship football next season." Curtis, now part of the Wales coaching set-up, admits he is revelling in Swansea's success. "I've been with the under-21s and the senior team in the last couple of weeks and, with the exception of the Cardiff lads, they're all delighted with Swansea's progress," he smiled. "It's nice to be able to give the Cardiff lot a bit of stick."

26th May 2006 ROBERT SICK AT MISSING SHOWDOWN

Evening Post Swansea shop manager Robert Kendall is, to use football parlance, 'sick as a parrot' at having to miss Saturday's showdown. Instead of being at the Millennium Stadium, he will be manning Moustache menswear store in Bellevue Way, city centre. But to help him feel part of the action he has decked the shop window out Swans-style. Footballs, flags and posters adorn it, while all the clothes on display are either black or white, or both. "My boss who owns it is a big Swans fan and is away for a wedding," said Robert. "As he is away I have got to work and I am a Swans nut. We are both gutted. "We are going to have the radio on in the shop. Lee Trundle and Kevin McLeod are regular customers. "After it is all over, we plan to get the footballs signed and auctioned off for charity." As for the result? "Hopefully we can do it," he said. "I am confident because I think we belong in the championship."

26th May 2006 GIGGS BACKS SWANS

Evening Post Wales soccer star Ryan Giggs has pledged his support for the Swans - by sending a message via one of their young fans. Evan Pearson, aged nine, from Killay, has now framed the hand- written note which he hopes will bring his team luck in tomorrow's League One Play-off Final in Cardiff. Evan, a pupil at Hendrefoilan Primary School, said: "I love the Swans and I love watching the Wales team, so it was great when Ryan sent me the message. "My dad met him, and when Ryan heard I was a fan, he wrote me the note. "He also signed a Man United shirt for me." Evan will be cheering on the Swans at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow. He added: "I watched them win the Football League Trophy in Cardiff, so I'm hoping they'll win this time so we can be in the championship. That'll be great."

26th May 2006 JACK ARMY MARCHES INTO BATTLE

Evening Post John O'Conner is doing it. So is Tony Santore, Phil McLeman and Tom Nielson! But they are reckoned to be just the tip of the iceberg. Ex-pats in their hundreds are expected to help swell the Jack Army for tomorrow's crunch championship promotion decider against Barnsley at the Millennium Stadium. They are coming from far and wide, flying into Wales from all over the world for the big day. Around 34,000 Swans fans have got their hands on tickets. Now, exiled fans are doing whatever it takes to be at tomorrow's game in the hope that the referee's final whistle will signal Swansea City's elevation into the Coca Cola Championship. It has not been easy for some of them at this 11th hour of the season, while others have had to settle for following it from afar, any which way they can. Tom Nielsen, aged 29, from Helsingborg in the south of Sweden, works on environmental issues such as soil remedies and water purifications. But the only environment interesting him tomorrow is the Millennium Stadium and the only issue the match. He will be there on a 24-hour stopover. "I guess I'm not really an exile because I'm actually from Sweden with parents from Sweden and Denmark," he said. "I started supporting Swansea in the mid-90s and have been over three times before and watched the Swans at The Vetch. "I'm trying to see them once a year but haven't really had time this year. But when they reached the final there was really no option but to be there. "As for the match, there is no other option than we will win. I don't want to think about going home with no money and no Swans in the Championship. That doesn't exist." Retired teacher, attorney and university professor Tony Santore flew into Bristol today from Pennsylvania. "The home I'll be coming home to is a spiritual one because I'm a Yank, born and raised and living in Pennsylvania," he said. "I'll be staying in Cardiff this time because this visit will be a short one, although I normally stay longer in or around Swansea so I can visit friends and enjoy that great city. "I'll be there primarily for the game this time. I've been a Swans supporter for going on 11 years now, and this game is just too important for me to miss, especially at my age. "I'll be at the game wearing a white Swans top. On Sunday, I plan to take a quick train trip to Swansea to have lunch with some friends. "I also have to find an hour or two for some grocery shopping for HP sauce, Ploughman's Pickle, PG Tips and such." He revealed how the club came to mean so much to him. He said: "I became interested in the Swans when three young football coaches came to my town with a group called Britannia Soccer for a clinic. My young stepsons attended. A couple of the coaches were from Swansea, so I went to the internet to find out about the team and get some information for my boys. "I found myself going back more and more often to Swans sites, and the next thing I knew I found myself hooked and making trips over for games. "I have a special and private reason for wanting the Swans to be promoted - beyond the usual ones. Setanta Sports brings Championship League games to us as a regular feature, so I won't have to live with highlights, or wait days to watch a videotape of the games televised over there. "I think it's going to be a high-scoring and terrifyingly exciting game, which the Swans will win by one or two goals. "That will really make it all worth- while." Peter Mallory is from Port Talbot but his career with a pharmaceutical firm took him to Germany. That was more than 30 years ago, but he is over for the match as well. He said: " I can't wait. It is going to be the match of the decade for thousands. "Nothing was going to keep me away." French resident John O'Connor is coming over from Paris while Rob Williams is leaving Finland behind for a few days. Others are heading for Cardiff from Holland, Belgium and Spain. Simon Williams, son of Swans legend Herbie Williams, is unable to make it back from Shanghai in China but will be doing his best to follow the game on the internet or television. So will Steve Coal, from Sydney in Australia, while former Post football writer Phil Dillon, who settled in Albany, Western Australia, just over a year ago, will be doing the same. Nick Rees, from Mayals, Swansea, has worked in Moscow for the past 11 years. And although the managing director of an international recruitment agency has nipped home for big games before, this will one will reluctantly pass him by. "I am too busy in work but I have got about 20 mates together in a friend's house to watch the game on Sky in a party atmosphere," he said. Phil McLeman, 49, originally from Ynystawe but who has been living in Munich for more than 20 years where he works in commerce, added: "I have followed the Swans for most of my life. "The trip home means missing one business meeting and being apart from my wife and our two children for the best part of five days. "But when it comes to the Jack Army and May 27, there is only one place I can possibly be."

26th May 2006 Fallon promises to silence boo-boys

Western Mail SWANSEA CITY striker Rory Fallon has warned the Barnsley boo-boys that he plans to silence them once and for all. Fallon was a fresh-faced teenager when a lonely round-the-world journey from his native New Zealand ended in the cold northern football outpost of Barnsley. The Kiwi spent three years in South Yorkshire - "wrapped up with the heating on" - but believes he never got the credit from the Oakwell faithful he deserved. And, with fate reuniting Fallon and Barnsley in tomorrow's League One play-off final at the Millennium Stadium, the 24-year-old has revealed, - How he suffered the taunts of cruel Barnsley fans who "battered" him at every opportunity - Why he was so pleased to eventually leave the Tykes and head south - Why his relationship with Swans strike partner Leon Knight has blossomed - How text messages from his World Cup coach father inspire him to make a living out of football 12,000 miles from home "I was always surrounded by football as a kid," said Fallon, whose dad Kevin steered the New Zealand 'All Whites' to their solitary World Cup finals appearance, in Spain in 1982, and elder brother Shaun spent three years at Liverpool in the early 1990s. "So it was a dream to come to England and I went to Barnsley because a guy called Colin Walker - who played for my dad for the All Whites - was youth team coach there. "Barnsley had just dropped from the Premiership and were in the first division, so it was a great platform for me to start." But Fallon's dream soon turned into a nightmare with wise old heads like Neil Shipperley, Mike Sheron and John Hendrie around and in front of him. Barnsley fans were reluctant to give youngsters time to flourish and Fallon was a target even though he managed 11 goals in 33 league starts. "I didn't feel I was treated well enough by the fans," he said. "I was a young kid and they probably expected too much of me. "As a targetman, I feel I'm getting better with age. But I was only a kid there and I got battered. "They usually do it to the hometown boys, but they didn't give me a chance. "It's a hard place to play and I still remember the times I was taken apart. It was really difficult to take as a young kid. "If I'm honest, I think they took it too far when I was trying to make my way in the game. "So after a few years I thought it was time for me to leave - and I'm glad I did. "I had two good years at Swindon and that's where I really established myself. "I kicked on from there, especially this season, and I believe the move to Swansea is starting to pay off." By his own admission, Fallon was slow to settle at the Liberty Stadium after his £300,000 move from Wiltshire in January. The 6ft 2ins forward ended his goal drought in the FAW Premier Cup final defeat of Wrexham at the end of March, but had to wait 11 games for his first league strike. He was also cup-tied for the triumphant march to the Football League Trophy final and had to take a back seat as Swansea celebrated their 2-1 success over Carlisle in April. But two goals in the penultimate league game with Southend revived his self-belief and he followed that with another at Chesterfield, his crucial header helping book Swansea's place in the play-offs. "When I scored that goal in the Welsh Cup (from a yard) I nearly missed it," he said. "That how bad it got. "But I have gained so much confidence from those goals against Southend. "When I came to Swansea there was a lot of pressure on me to perform and it was difficult. "But I've settled in and Swansea feels like my home now. The gaffer and the lads just told me my time would come and, once I got going, I knew I would score goals. "It was the same at Swindon. It took me a little while to settle, but once I did the goals came." Fallon enjoyed some happy times at Swindon, reaching the League One play-offs before being beaten in the semi-finals on penalties by Knight's Brighton. Now the two men are on the same side again, seeking to inflict more damage after linking up for England youth sides, which Fallon qualified for through his family background. "I've known Knighty since I was 17," he said. "So we've known each other for a long time and we just gel. "We're good mates off the field and I think that helps as well. We're just pleased that we've hit form together at this stage of the season." Having missed out on gracing the Millennium Stadium twice, Fallon is delighted to be fulfilling that ambition. But though the campaign could end on a glorious note, Fallon regrets that his father - who persuaded him to join Swansea when he was in the UK in January - will be on the other side of the world and unable to watch him in Cardiff. "My dad can't make the game as he coaches a college team and a club team back in Gisborne," said Fallon. "He's just so passionate about the game, he loves it so much and he'll probably do it until he dies. "But he'll be watching the game on the internet at two in the morning. "It's hard for him doing that, but I know he'll be there in spirit with me. "We've been busy texting each other this week and he's given me all the inspiration I need, as he's always done. "Hopefully it won't be the last time I'm at the Millennium Stadium and he'll get to see me play there one day."

26th May 2006 'We're bigger than Cardiff' - McLeod

Western Mail We've got a better team, a better ground and better fans, claims Kevin McLeod SWANSEA CITY star Kevin McLeod claims winning promotion at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow will enable the Swans to prove they are a "bigger and better" club than Cardiff City. In an interview with the Leeds-based national news agency The Press Association, the Swans winger spelt out what he believes a play-off triumph over Barnsley would mean to Kenny Jackett's team. Three years ago, the former Everton trainee was part of the Queens Park Rangers side beaten by Lennie Lawrence's Bluebirds in the 2003 Division Two play-off final in Cardiff. McLeod told The Press Association of how, the night before the game, he and his team-mates had their preparations ruined by convicted Cardiff hooligan Neil MacNamara. The fire alarm on the 10th floor of the Celtic Manor Hotel was smashed by MacNamara in the early hours of the morning and woke the sleeping QPR players. Three years on, McLeod is in line to return to the Millennium Stadium to help the Swans negotiate a route into the Championship in the League One play-off final. The 25-year-old winger told PA Sport, "To do that you've got to be daft about your team, but, saying that, Swansea have got daft people as well who can do it. "People are already asking me 'Where is Barnsley's hotel?' so they will find out where they are. "But I will give that bloke a round of applause for booking himself in, being a guest in the hotel and setting the fire alarm off. He is passionate about Cardiff City, but it didn't really concern us. "Myself and Tommy Williams were in our room and we just woke up and saw there was no smoke or fire, so went back to sleep." However, while McLeod insists he bears no grudge towards MacNamara, he reserved some strong words for the Bluebirds. The rivalry between the two clubs was underlined with the way Swans striker Lee Trundle and team-mate Alan Tate celebrated winning the Football League Trophy at the Millennium Stadium last month. And McLeod stated, "My aim is to get into the Championship with Swansea and become a bigger club than Cardiff City. "When I played at the Millennium Stadium for QPR against Cardiff, they had 35,000 fans and that was on their doorstep. "But I look at Swansea and we've already sold 32,000 tickets and they're still selling, so in my eyes, I think we are bigger. Full stop. "We've got a better ground and hopefully, touch wood, if we beat Barnsley, then we'll be in the Championship and you will see who has the better team. "And I think at the end of the day that we've got a better team and the better fans." McLeod's comments are hardly likely to endear him to Cardiff supporters, who will point out their team is already established at the higher level. Bluebirds bosses also yesterday reiterated their plan to take Cardiff "to the top of the Premiership and beyond." But in the Swans camp, there is a real buzz of optimism, not only about winning this weekend, but about Jackett's men making a mark in the Championship next term. McLeod, who has recovered from a broken ankle, will have to make do with a place as a Swans substitute against Barnsley tomorrow. "The play-off final was always my aim and the manager said I would be welcomed back if I made it. I'm over the moon," said McLeod. Boss Jackett has no injury concerns ahead of the game and is once more set to pick Trundle as a substitute, preferring Leon Knight and Rory Fallon as his front pairing.

25th May 2006 WOLVES COME TO THE LIBERTY

Evening Post Swansea City will host Wolves in a pre-season friendly on July 22 (3pm). The visit of Glenn Hoddle's team, potential rivals in the Championship next season, will be the only pre-season game at the Liberty Stadium this summer. Kenny Jackett's men will visit Carmarthen on July 18, while a Swansea reserve side go to Port Talbot on August 1. Two further away friendlies should be announced soon.

25th May 2006 EVANS TELLS KENNY TO STAY FAITHFUL

Evening Post Stick with what you've got - that's the message to Kenny Jackett from former Swans defender Wyndham Evans ahead of Saturday's play-off clash with Barnsley. The Swans are just 90 minutes away from the Championship, and the old Vetch Field great points to the players that dug deep during the run-in as the side that should start in Cardiff. Evans, who featured in the Swans' golden era under John Toshack, said: "Garry Monk has been outstanding at the back alongside (Alan) Tate, (Sam) Ricketts and (Willy) Gueret. "(Kevin) Austin has done a good job while coming in for Izzy (Iriekpen). Kristian O'Leary has been terrific for me. He has worked very hard and dug deep in the crucial games." But it is up front where Jackett will have his biggest selection headaches. Leon Knight and Rory Fallon have formed a strong partnership and have hit form just at the right time. The big question is whether Jackett throws fans' favourite Lee Trundle into the mix, or keeps him as a special weapon on the bench. Evans says he should keep the partnership united. "I think he will go with Fallon and Knight," he said. "To have someone like Lee Trundle to bring on is a huge advantage. No-one in the division has a player like Trundle to bring on from the bench. "If things aren't going to plan or if they need extra sparkle up front, then he is the man that will do it for you. "I think the Swans will do it. In one-off situations they can step up a level and that will prove the difference on Saturday." Queues built up at the Liberty Stadium as the extra 1,500 tickets allocated to Swansea went on sale yesterday. The club stress that tickets are still available today. Any remaining tickets will go off sale tomorrow at noon, with none available on matchday. Saturday's game is live on Sky Sports. Swansea's regular matchday host Kevin Johns will appear on the Millennium Stadium pitch.

25th May 2006 RORY: NO FAVOURS

Evening Post Barnsley may hold a place close to Rory Fallon's heart, but the Swansea City striker is ready to plot their downfall. Three years at Oakwell helped the 24-year-old New Zealander grow up, but sentiment will not get in his way come 3pm on Saturday. When Fallon grabbed his first goal at the Liberty Stadium against Southend United last month, the 6ft 2in striker threw his shirt off in delight. And even though the Tykes gave him his big chance five years ago, there will be no muted celebration should the North Islander be on target at the Millennium Stadium in two days' time. ''It would be unbelievable if I scored. It's what dreams are made of, scoring in finals,'' Fallon said. ''It would mean a lot to me and I will be doing everything that I can to score. ''Barnsley were my childhood team and they will always have a place in my heart, but all that is behind me. ''I'm just trying to treat this match as a normal game - I just want to win.'' The Gisborne-born forward left Oakwell in 2003 for Swindon after a three-month loan spell at Shrewsbury Town. Having scored 11 times in nearly 60 appearances for the South Yorkshire club, Fallon felt the time was right for him to sever ties with Barnsley. ''I don't think that I would have got any better had I stayed at Barnsley,'' he said. ''When I left it was the best move for me - it allowed me to progress.'' And Fallon is still working hard to make progress. With one of the biggest games of his career standing before him, the Kiwi striker is reluctant to leave the training field. Goal-shy in his first few months at Swansea, Fallon has started to repay Kenny Jackett's continual faith in him. After waiting 11 games for his first strike, Fallon finally ended his league goal drought at Port Vale in April, before three goals in the final two matches of the season helped Swansea secure a play-off spot. ''I spend a lot of time after training with Nuge (Kevin Nugent) practising my shooting,'' Fallon said. ''It has helped me no end. It helps keep you ahead of the rest by doing the extra. ''I may not be one of the first on the training pitch, but I'm definitely the last one to leave.''

25th May 2006 GET IT RIGHT ON THE DAY

Evening Post Former boss Jan Molby today urged Swansea City to succeed where his side failed, admitting: ''Play-off final defeat was the worst day of my career.'' Molby was player-manager when Swansea last came within 90 minutes of promotion the long way round at Wembley nine years ago. But their dreams of escaping the old Division Three were torn up in heartbreaking fashion by Northampton Town's stoppage-time winner. ''It was devastating,'' Molby remembers. ''They scored and the game was over - we didn't even have a chance to come back. ''The dressing room afterwards was horrible. The older players realised they'd probably never get a chance like it again and the younger lads all looked like they'd had their worlds shattered. ''For me, it was the worst experience I had in football. ''I lost in a couple of cup finals but, when the dust settled, that made no difference to league status. ''But if we'd beaten Northampton that day, Swansea City would have moved on a level and you never know what could have happened. As it was, it took quite a lot of people a long time to recover.'' Chilling words from Molby, who was sacked by Swansea just five months later. And the popular Dane sounds a further note of caution about the club's opponents this weekend. ''Barnsley have been a little inconsistent, but they can be an excellent side,'' warned Molby, who had a spell on loan at Oakwell shortly before arriving at Vetch Field. ''They have some good young players, a lot of mobility and two excellent passers in central midfield in Stephen McPhail and Brian Howard. ''In many ways the current team reminds me of the side I played in which not long afterwards reached the Premiership.'' Molby points to Swansea's attacking options as a strong point and stresses that there can no be favourites come Saturday. ''My biggest regret in '97 was that we didn't perform the way we knew we could,'' he added. ''That is what the play-offs are all about - getting it right on one particular day. ''The good news for Swansea is that they have already been to Cardiff this year and they've already won a couple of trophies. ''They probably have a little more experience in certain areas of the pitch and they'll have massive vocal backing. ''I hope they win it for those fans, because it would be wonderful for them to be back in the Championship.''

25th May 2006 Martinez just has promotion on his mind

Western Mail WIDELY thought to be approaching the end of his Swansea City career, Roberto Martinez insists emotional farewells are the last thing on his mind. The likeable Spaniard is one of the most respected players to pull on a Swans shirt in recent seasons, and will forever be cherished by supporters for the pivotal role he played in the club's escape from Conference oblivion in 2003. Ideally, then, Martinez would be afforded one last big hurrah in a Swans shirt if, as expected, boss Kenny Jackett points him towards the Liberty Stadium exit door this summer. However, it seems unlikely Martinez will have any major role to play in Saturday's League One play-off final given Jackett has omitted his club captain from the match-day squad in four of the last five games - despite handing him 34 league starts up to that point. But the former Real Zaragoza player has been around long enough to know sentiment plays no part in team selection. And, if he does end up parting company with Swansea after the Millennium Stadium showdown with Barnsley, Martinez simply wants to be able to say he left after playing a big role in their promotion to the Championship. "Regardless of what happens with my situation, if we finish in the Championship I'll be the happiest man on earth," said the 32-year-old midfielder as he approaches the end of his current Swans contract. "I came here when the club was six points adrift of safety in League Two and three years later we're 90 minutes from the Championship. "To see Swansea at that level would be mission accomplished for me. "Looking back, whatever happens I've had a fantastic time at the club and all I want is Swansea to be in the Championship. "From the first day I arrived, I could see we had the potential to be even higher than that. "We can't waste any time staying in League One. We must make what, for this club, would be a natural progression into the next division up." The ever-diplomatic player insists his puzzling omission from the first-team picture in recent weeks is not an important consideration as Swansea stand on the brink of promotion. And he said, "It would be a mistake if I was approaching this game thinking it was my last as a Swansea player. "It's too big a game and too important to be thinking about any individual situations. "It wouldn't be professional enough preparation for me to be thinking about farewells or what my future might be. "We've all got to push in the same direction - towards Swansea being the winning team on Saturday. That's all that counts. "After that, it will come down to personal futures. "Of course I would like to play a part against Barnsley, but it's something I've got no say in. "The manager picks the team and what I have to do is just make sure I'm fit and ready and available for selection. "I've played in nearly 40 league games this season, so I won't feel out of it if I'm not involved and the boys win. "To play 40 games in the league is a massive contribution." If he's not granted a Millennium Stadium run-out, Martinez (pictured) will be there to offer support. "I'll talk to the boys and pass on my experience," he said. "I was involved in three League One play-offs with Wigan , and you can't buy that kind of experience. "You can try to warn the players that sometimes it can take 20 minutes to get into it. "You've just got to make it a simple day. We know we've got the talent at this club to win." Martinez added, "I don't think Barnsley will spring any surprises. We know they always believe in attacking football and play with two wide players with a lot of skill and ability. "We know exactly what to expect. "It will be an open game with chances for both sides."

25th May 2006 Premiership dream could be on - Coleman

Western Mail CHRIS COLEMAN believes Swansea City could snowball all the way to the Premiership if they achieve their promotion dream this weekend. He might lead the high life as a Premiership manager, but Fulham boss Coleman will be going through the same emotions as all the other Swans fans when he takes his seat inside the Millennium Stadium for Saturday's League One play-off final. Excited, nervous... and, above all, anxious to see his hometown club secure a place in the second tier of the league for the first time in 22 years. "I'm excited by what's happening at Swansea at the moment, and I'm looking forward to seeing them hopefully win promotion to the Championship," Coleman told the Western Mail. "I was a Sky Sports pundit for the Watford-Leeds play-off final, but I'm going with some friends to see Swansea. I just want to enjoy this one." As well he might. You have to go back to 1984 - three years before Coleman made his Swansea debut as a 17-year-old rookie defender - for the club's last appearance at Championship level. The former Vetch Field favourite, now a successful top-flight manager at Craven Cottage, admits Swansea is barely recognisable from the club he first represented in August 1987 in the old Division Four. Tantalisingly, Kenny Jackett's class of 2006 are just 90 minutes from a division containing such celebrated names as Leeds, Southampton, Birmingham, Wolves and Sunderland - just 12 months after they climbed out of the basement division. And, if the Swans triumph against Barnsley to step up another level, Coleman believes Swansea would be equipped to keep on aiming upwards - and have a tilt at the Premiership as early as next season. "I don't know how far the club's ambitions extend at the moment, but if it were me, I'd say, 'Let's see if we can push for another promotion'," said the former Wales international. "Why shouldn't they aim for the Premiership? Swansea have a fantastic new stadium, the club's being run in the right way, it's got a great fan-base and there's a lot of positive vibes about the place at the moment. "They've got momentum behind them, and you know that if Swansea get into the Championship, the crowds would be higher. "They'd only be one step from the Premiership, and I really believe anything can happen once you're in the Championship. "Of course they'd have to invest money in the squad if they want to make a challenge. "It depends who Kenny Jackett is thinking of - he'd perhaps need three or four new faces. "You don't have to go mad and spend so much money that you end up strangling the club. "But you need to spend a bit to make sure you don't come straight back down. "If it were me, rather than simply consolidate, I'd say, 'Let's strengthen and see if we can take the next step.' I'd perhaps look at the play-offs." First things first. Before the Premiership can become even a possibility, Swansea have to negotiate a Barnsley side themselves no strangers to the top two divisions. But the mere fact Swansea are one game away from the Championship is enough to warm the heart of Coleman, who made more than 160 Swans appearances over four years before enjoying a distinguished career that took in spells at Crystal Place, Blackburn and Fulham and saw him collect 32 Wales caps. "The club's changed dramatically since I made my debut under Terry Yorath in the old Division Four," said Coleman, who has consolidated Fulham's top-flight position since surprisingly being appointed manager there in April 2003. "When I first started at the old Vetch, we were playing in front of 2,000 or 3,000 crowds and money was scarce. "In my first season we managed to win promotion through the play-offs and then finished 12th in Division Three. "But I don't think we ever really recovered from Terry Yorath leaving for Bradford in February that season. "Since then Swansea have been promoted, relegated, promoted again... they've yo-yoed between the bottom two divisions. "Now, though, it looks like they've got some good stability. "Swansea have got a decent team, and the club have got some money to spend. "Even when I was at the club, they were talking about building the new stadium, and I wondered whether it would ever happen. "The fact it has finally been built is so important in terms of the club making progress. "As much as people loved the Vetch Field, it wouldn't have been good enough for the Championship. "I think the club is generally more professionally run than when I was there. "The people in charge are doing a fine job." Coleman was there right at the start of Swansea's new era at the Liberty Stadium as he brought Fulham down for a pre-season friendly last summer. So it seems fitting that he should be in Cardiff on Saturday to witness the climax of all the hard work Jackett and his players have put in since then. "When we played Swansea last summer I thought, for that division, they'd have a good chance of being promoted," said the 35-year-old. "They were well-organised, creative up front and generally looked pretty strong to me. "Lee Trundle always gets the headlines and that's understandable as he's an eye-catching player. He's got great feet and he knows where the net is. "I like Sam Ricketts too. He's a very good full-back who I've seen play for Wales, of course, and there's no doubt he can play at a higher level. "I didn't think Swansea would be promoted automatically, but I thought they could reach the play-offs. "They hit a bad run with about 10 games to go, but I thought they'd stand a good chance of going up if they could sneak into the play-offs. "Obviously I'm biased aren't I, but I genuinely feel that, with 34,000 Swans fans behind them, which would be a fantastic turnout, they can do it on Saturday. "It's all set up for them."

24th May 2006 FANS WARM UP FOR THE BIG MATCH

Evening Post Swans supporters are pulling out all the stops for the final game on Saturday. But Swansea is not the only town going play-off crazy as this weekend's match at the Millennium Stadium approaches. Barnsley fans are also bracing themselves for a tough game when their club faces the city's players in Cardiff. The northern town is as hungry as its rivals for a place in the championship. Nathan Hemmingham, from weekly newspaper the Barnsley Chronicle, said it was a match that fans had hoped for. "Of all the teams we could have played, I think Swansea would have been the one that we would choose to play in a game like this. "The Swans' front three players are going to be tough but it is a game that we will be able to get into." He admitted the play-off fever had gripped the town as much as it had in Swansea. "There were mixed feelings in Barnsley as fans felt the team had blown a great chance of automatic promotion," he added. "But everybody is looking forward to Cardiff now. "People have got behind the team. Barnsley's average attendance this season was 9,000 but there have been 29,000 tickets sold for the final. "There have been a lot of companies saying they are putting coaches on for the game." Barnsley fans will be looking to out sing around 33,000 Swans fans on the big day. Tickets for the play-off final have been flying out of the Liberty Stadium ahead of the clash. The Swans have been enjoying bumper attendances during their first season in division one, and a packed Liberty Stadium watched the team secure a one-all draw against Brentford in the first leg of the play-offs. Thousands of dedicated fans made the journey up to Brentford for the return leg where Leon Knight's two goals secured Swansea a place in the final. The fans will again be out in force as the Swans push for promotion to the Coca-Cola championship. Mr Hemmingham said the Barnsley fans would be doing their bit to make sure the Millennium Stadium atmosphere is electric. He said: "A lot of people are very passionate about the club. "Unlike Sheffield, Barnsley only has one football club so there are no divided loyalties - everyone supports the one club. "When its fortunes are down, the whole town is down but when it is doing well then everybody is up."

24th May 2006 34,000 WILL FOLLOW CLUB

Evening Post Swansea City will be followed by around 34,000 fans at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday after an additional 1,500 tickets went on sale this morning. Most of the new allocation are £22 tickets in the bottom tier. There are various other tickets available in other parts of the Swansea end of the stadium. If any tickets are left, they will be taken off sale at noon on Friday and none will be available on matchday. Pre-ordered tickets should be collected from the Millennium ticket office in Westgate Street. Unlike last weekend's Championship play-off final, when God Save the Queen was played, no national anthems will be sung before Saturday's game because the clubs involved are from different countries. Swansea's fans are being urged to wear white in Cardiff. All 36 official travel club coaches are now full. They leave the Liberty Stadium at 11am. Strictly no alcohol is permitted. Limited parking is available behind the North Stand at the Liberty for fans using the coaches. The club shop will be open prior to departure, as will West Stand food outlets from 9am.

24th May 2006 MONK DEMANDS REPEAT OF BRENTFORD DEFENSIVE EFFORT

Evening Post Garry Monk is calling on his defensive colleagues to give Swansea City's crown jewels the chance to shine in Cardiff this weekend. Monk was the leading light in a superb defensive display in last week's semi-final win over Brentford. Now the 27-year-old, who is again likely to wear the captain's armband on Saturday, is demanding a repeat performance. ''It was a great effort defensively at Brentford,'' Monk says. ''When we were 2-0 up with about 20 minutes to go it was a case of 'Fair enough, they're going to throw everything at us and we've got to cope'. ''They put (Sam) Sodje up front and kept coming at us but we dealt with it. ''There was some great defending, not just from the back four but from the midfielders and even the strikers. ''We need the same again this Saturday. ''It's about the goalkeeper, the back four and the two central midfielders giving our attackers a base to play from. ''We have to give them a platform because if we don't, we won't give ourselves a chance of winning the game.'' After promotion from League Two last season was built on the miserliness of Monk and Co, this year has seen much more trouble at the back. The top scorers in League One, Swansea might have been promoted weeks ago but for a defensive record boss Kenny Jackett admits was not good enough. Only nine clean sheets were kept in the league campaign, and just one side - Huddersfield - in the top eight let in more goals than the 55 put past Willy Gueret. With just one conceded in the last three matches, though, Monk believes Swansea may have rediscovered their mean streak at just the right time. ''We've tightened up a lot in the last few games,'' he says. ''We've started working hard again and the whole team's looked much more solid. That's what's got us this far and hopefully we can produce it once more in the final.'' If Swansea do manage another shut-out - and the likes of Leon Knight, Rory Fallon and Lee Trundle can conjure at least one goal - Monk will enjoy the bragging rights over the club he left for South Wales nearly two years ago. ''Barnsley have great facilities and they're a big club,'' he adds. ''They'll be full of confidence and they'll expect to beat us on Saturday. ''They are a good attacking side but we are, too, so the key is going to be who comes out on top defensively. ''Hopefully that will be us, because reaching the Championship would mean everything. ''For the players, the coaching staff and most of all the fans, it would really be a dream come true.''

24th May 2006 WE BELONG IN THE BIG TIME

Evening Post Lee Trundle admits Swansea City can look forward to "a season of cup finals" if they come through Saturday's promotion decider with Barnsley. And Trundle insists Swansea will only be moving back where they belong if Kenny Jackett's class of 2006 clinch a return to English football's second tier more than two decades after the club last played there. ''You look at the fixture list we'd have in the Championship,'' the Scouse frontman said, ''and it's like a season of cup finals. ''They're all games players want to play in and fans want to see. But it's only where this club belongs. ''You look at our new stadium, the players and the supporters it has attracted, and you look at the way the city is buzzing now. ''Swansea should be in the Championship and we've been outside it too long. But we're on the way back now. We're moving forward and we believe we can keep on progressing.'' Trundle is also confident he can supply the goals required next season should Swansea triumph this weekend. ''I turned down a move to Sheffield Wednesday because I knew we had the quality to be competing at their level soon,'' he added, ''and that's where I want to be. ''I want to prove I can score goals at the highest possible level and I've always said I'd be able to do it in the Championship. People said I was talking myself up when I said I could do it in League One at the start of the season, but here I am with more than 20 goals and I know I can do the same again in the next division.'' One of the 29-year-old's 22 strikes this term came on Swansea's previous visit to the Millennium Stadium. A stunning volley helped Jackett's team to Football League Trophy glory last month, yet this time around Trundle looks set to start on the bench. Swansea's talisman is sure to play some part, though, and he admitted: ''It's the biggest game I've been part of in my career, as is the case for most of the lads. ''The cup final was massive last month, but this is about all the hard work of a whole season coming down to 90 minutes. We've gone through all the emotions this year, with the good start, the bad patch, squeezing into the play-offs and then coming through against Brentford. ''That means it would be even more heartbreaking to miss out now, but we're not thinking like that. ''Barnsley are a good, strong side, but I think we've got too many players who can turn on the style on the big day.''

24th May 2006 Swans' ticket boost for Saturday

Western Mail SWANSEA CITY now expect to take 34,000 fans to the Millennium Stadium on Saturday. The Swans received an extra 1,500 tickets from the Football League yesterday to meet the extraordinary demand from supporters keen to cheer on Kenny Jackett's side at the the League One play-off final. And the club say they have full confidence the extra tickets for the showdown with Barnsley will be snapped up. 'Our initial allocation of 32,452 was heading for a sell-out, so we asked the Football League for more tickets,' said Swans director David Morgan (pictured below). 'And they've given us an extra 1,500 by utilising areas that would've been used for hospitality or just netted-off. 'We're confident we'll now take 34,000 fans, which is a pleasant surprise to the club. 'It's a fantastic turnout which will hopefully make it feel like a home match for us. 'We've appealed for all our supporters going to Cardiff to wear white so half the stadium should be a mass of white shirts and scarves. 'We took 28,000 fans to the Millennium Stadium for the Football League Trophy final, but the fact there's a lot more hinging on Saturday's match is what's attracting 6,000 extra. 'It's clear how eager the fans are to see Swansea playing big clubs like Leeds, Wolves and Southampton next season rather than the likes of Scunthorpe and Chesterfield again.' The extra tickets go on sale at the Liberty Stadium ticket office from 10am today, and go off sale midday on Friday. Barnsley had sold around 22,000 tickets by close of business last night, but the Yorkshire club are confident they will sell their full allocation of 29,000 for a match they are hoping will mark their return to the second tier of the league for the first time since 2002.

24th May 2006 Jackett looks to shining Knight to deliver

Western Mail KENNY JACKETT admits he wonders whether Swansea City might have clinched automatic promotion had he picked goal hero Leon Knight earlier. Knight's sensational goal-scoring spree is what has propelled Swansea into Saturday's League One play-off final against Barnsley. The former Brighton striker struck a superb hat-trick at Chesterfield to secure the Swans a top-six finish before his magnificent double at Brentford sent them through to the Millennium Stadium. Having been restricted mostly to substitute appearances through March and April, Knight responded in emphatic fashion when he was selected for the May 6 trip to Chesterfield ahead of Lee Trundle, who has claimed only three league goals since mid-November. Jackett insists he doesn't regret his decision to persist with the 21-goal Scouser because he was always threatening and Swansea's overall goal record was impressive. But that hasn't stopped the Swans boss wondering whether including Knight in the side earlier might have prevented his team spluttering towards the finishing line and kept them in the hunt for an automatic promotion spot. 'I don't think I regret not picking Leon earlier,' said Jackett, who is almost certain to continue with a Knight-Rory Fallon strike partnership for the crunch match in Cardiff. 'I stuck with Lee during our difficult period and he had a spell of hitting the bar or the post, so it is not as if he wasn't getting chances. 'At the same time, though, you can't help but wonder whether we'd have scored more goals had Leon started more games. His form has been terrific. 'After our disappointing Easter run, when the side was out on its feet, I changed every position I could (including Knight replacing Trundle) to get something fresh and prevent our season falling away. 'We finished eight points off the top two, but if I'd made that shake-up two or three weeks earlier would we have perhaps got that second place? 'You definitely do wonder.' On Saturday Jackett will hope to mastermind the downfall of a Barnsley side who finished one place - fifth - above the Liberty Stadium side. Swansea's final league placing is something that irks Jackett given they were top scorers in the division with 72 goals. 'People always ask me about my strikers, but whoever's played up front has generally scored goals,' he said. 'I can't complain about my goals total. By six goals we were top scorers in the division. 'Lee has in his 20s (goals scored), Bayo Akinfenwa's on 14, Andy Robinson's on 17 and Leon's on 13. 'When you look at the figures, to finish sixth in the division is a bit disappointing. 'You look at that and think we should have finished higher.' One of the reasons they did not is the lack of clean sheets - just two in the last 17 league matches - but, inevitably, most of the focus will be on the offensive rather than the defensive at the Millennium. And, in the wake of his recent flourish, it would come as a surprise to no-one should Knight - play-off final hero for Brighton two years ago, stroking home the penalty that earned the Seagulls a 1-0 win over Bristol City - be the one who steers Swansea to promotion. Given the bad-boy reputation Knight rightly or wrongly earned previously in his career, many thought Jackett was taking a gamble when he splashed £125,000 on the Londoner during the transfer window. But the man who bought him has never shared that fear. 'I don't see Leon as a gamble - I only see a terrific amount of ability in him,' Jackett said. 'When he first came down I was quite impressed talking to him one-on-one about football. 'And what's impressed me since then is he's bought a house in the area. 'That shows commitment. It shows he wants to make it work in Swansea. 'He's moved 200 miles to be here, but he's not hedging his bets by going home to London twice a week. 'When times get tough, you've got to make things work. 'I have to say, though, that I've never had any problems with Leon's temperament. 'You look at the quality and the application of players in training, and he's been terrific.' Jackett insists it's that element of self-confidence, arrogance even, that makes Knight such a deadly goalscorer - and which will hopefully help fire Swansea up into the Championship at the weekend. 'Personality profiles fascinate me,' said Swansea's studious manager. 'Someone who has the confidence to do what Leon does isn't going to be shy. 'When someone puts you through on goal in front of 20,000 people, you can't doubt yourself. You need a certain strength of character. 'Extroverts, the strong ones, are usually centre-forwards and goalkeepers because they're the ones who often come under most scrutiny. 'You say 'He missed that one' or 'He didn't save that shot.' The focus tends to be on them and, therefore, their mentality tends to be stronger. 'Leon has that strength of character, and it's an asset to the team. 'Hopefully, we can use it to our advantage in Cardiff. If ever there was a time for strong characters, Saturday is it.'

23rd May 2006 LEON GRABS HIS CHANCE - AND HOW

Evening Post Ousting Lee Trundle from the Swansea City starting XI is no mean feat, but that is exactly what Leon Knight has done. Trundle, hero to so many here in South West Wales, has some fresh competition in the popularity stakes. And it comes in the form of a 5ft 5in, nine-and-a-half-stone sharp-shooter. Knight burst on to the scene back in January with a debut hat-trick against MK Dons following his £125,000 move from Brighton. The 23-year-old was then being tipped to fill Magic Daps' boots as rumour after rumour linked Trundle with a move away from Swansea. As the speculation about a Trundle transfer died down so did Knight's goalscoring - as did the 29-year-old Scouser's goals. Fast forward three months and Kenny Jackett delivers the message that most believed was the unthinkable - he dropped a fit Trundle to the bench. The beneficiary was the little man from Hackney. Given his chance to fire Swansea into the play-offs and beyond, Knight seized the opportunity. A second hat-trick in a Swansea shirt - and only his second in his career - at Chesterfield secured the Liberty Stadium side a double date with Brentford. A quiet match for Knight here in Wales was followed by an explosive 15 minutes at Griffin Park to book the diminutive hitman another Millennium Stadium outing with a brace in a 2-0 victory. "I'm trying not to think about the match too much," said Knight, who has played 23 times in a Swansea shirt, scoring 13 goals. "If you think about it a lot then that is when the pressure starts to build up. You need to be able to go home and relax." The former Chelsea trainee is no stranger to hitting the target on the big stage. Two years ago he drove a dagger through Bristol City hearts with an 84th-minute penalty to send Brighton into the Championship. And with his recent goalscoring exploits, Knight could be just 90 minutes away from writing his name in the Swansea history books. "The Championship is the place to be," he said. "No disrespect to the League One clubs but the grounds are that much better and you go into the FA Cup at a later stage. "You also get to pit yourself against teams who have just come down from the Premiership and you can use those to measure yourself against." While Knight is trying to stay relaxed off the field, he is keeping himself on the ball on the training pitch. But, having already been successful in the play-offs, he is not about to have a sudden change of routine. "It is important to keep things the same," Knight explained. "Come into training, work hard and sharpen up a few things and then go home." Knight-Trundle may sound like a dream team, with both sharp and raring to go in four days' time. The likelihood of them starring together is slim, though. Can Trundle place the spotlight back on himself or will Knight keep on shining? Only Jackett can decide.

23rd May 2006 A GOOD NIGHT'S KIP WILL SUIT KEVIN FINE

Evening Post Rudely awoken on his last visit to the play-offs, Kevin McLeod hopes the only alarm bells chiming this weekend will be in Barnsley's defence. Mcleod was part of the Queens Park Rangers side beaten by Cardiff City in the 2003 Division Two showpiece. Staying at the Celtic Manor the night before the game, McLeod and Co had their preparations ruined by Cardiff fan Neil MacNamara. "I was rooming with Tommy Williams," McLeod remembers. "It was about 4.30am when I suddenly heard this woman's voice in my sleep. "I thought 'What's going on here?' and she said the fire alarm's going off and you've got to get out of the building. "I think it was Sam Hammam's minder who set it off, wasn't it?" It was indeed. MacNamara, a former bodyguard to Bluebirds chairman Hammam, later admitted triggering the alarm, although he insisted he had done so in frustration after a row with his girlfriend. Whatever the truth, there was further misery ahead for Rangers when they got out of bed for a second time. Despite a strong Rs performance, Cardiff emerged victorious at the Millennium Stadium that afternoon thanks to Andy Campbell's extra-time goal. "We played well," McLeod says, "and I don't think you could say the better team won. "But Andy Campbell came off the bench and scored a great goal. Fair play to him, he got them promoted." For McLeod, Campbell's volley meant a sad end to a productive two-month loan spell at Loftus Road. Disappointed as he was then, though, the 25-year-old insists much more is at stake when Swansea City take on Barnsley this weekend. "I was only on loan at QPR so I wasn't really part of the club," he says. "Of course it meant a lot because I wanted QPR to go up and I felt sorry for the lads. "But personally I felt I'd played well in the game and done well. "This time it's a completely different scenario and there will be a different set of emotions for me. "It was a big experience for me last time - it was the biggest crowd I've ever played in front of. "But this time means a lot more. I've played for Swansea all season and I'm part of the club." Part of the club and, for all his off-field tribulations this spring, a popular figure with the fans. McLeod's spectacular talents are appreciated even if they have not been seen consistently enough since he followed Kenny Jackett down the M4 15 months ago. Likewise, the Scouse flyer appreciates the efforts of Swansea's supporters. "I drove down to the ground on Sunday with my girlfriend," he explains. "There were thousands of people queuing for hours and hours in the rain to get tickets for the final. You could see in their faces how much it meant to get a ticket for the game and as players, we've got to take that with us to the Millennium Stadium on Saturday. "I said to my girlfriend: 'If we can't do it for these people standing getting wet, I don't know who we'll do it for'. "If we can beat Barnsley, there'll be the biggest party in Swansea that anybody has ever seen." For a couple of nights at least, Jackett won't mind what his players get up to should they secure a second successive promotion. Even McLeod should get the all-clear to let his hair down, despite the fact that one ill-advised night out almost brought the curtain down on his Swansea career a couple of months back. Told to go by Jackett, McLeod saw a deadline-day move to Southend collapse because of red tape, then earned a remarkable recall as his manager rolled the dice a month later. Just a week after his return to action at Oldham on April 22, though, the former Everton youngster was struck down by a broken ankle. "I'd had my differences with the gaffer and then I got myself back in the side. For my ankle to go then, well I just thought these things must come in threes," adds McLeod, whose remarkable recovery gives Jackett a welcome option on the left flank. "But I said from the start that my target would be to get fit in time for the play-off final and I've done that. "It's up to the gaffer whether he puts me in now, but obviously I hope to play a part. "It would be one of the biggest games of my career."

23rd May 2006 Swans boss Jackett hopes to keep Hornets' buzz going

Ian Hunt, Western Mail IF Watford were Kenny Jackett's first love, he's hoping their promotion to the Premiership could prove a lucky omen for his current passion. The Swansea City boss spent more than 20 years at Vicarage Road as player, coach and manager and, in 1999, was part of the last management team to guide Watford into the top flight. So Jackett was naturally overjoyed to see current boss Adrian Boothroyd steer the Hornets into the Premiership with Sunday's thrilling 3-0 play-off final win over Leeds. And the former Wales international will seek inspiration from Watford's fairytale return to the big time when the Swans get their day under the Millennium Stadium spotlight in Saturday's League One play-off showdown with Barnsley. "I was very pleased to see Watford go up in the manner that they did and, who knows, perhaps it'll be a good omen for me at Swansea," Jackett said. "Time passes on quickly, though I had a bit of a flashback when they showed clips on the TV of the last time Watford got to the Premiership when I was assistant manager. "It was terrific winning promotion by beating Bolton at Wembley, though that year in the Premier League did bring us down to earth a little bit as we only managed something like six wins out of 38! "Hopefully Watford will do better than that next year. They certainly deserve to be in the Premiership after a fantastic win over Leeds. "To win the semi-final 3-0 (against Palace) and the final 3-0 is some achievement. "Other than the goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain, who is 41 now, I don't really know many of the players at Watford now. "Things move on quickly, and these days my thoughts are firmly set on Swansea." And you can be certain there will be only one thing occupying Jackett's thoughts until Saturday tea-time. Namely how to jump the final promotion hurdle and book Swansea a place alongside Leeds and all the other high-profile Championship clubs Watford have left behind. Having had a week to carry out initial planning, and for his squad to recuperate from their semi-final exertions against Brentford, Jackett's preparations for the big day in Cardiff have begun in earnest. Apart from the long-term injury victims, Jackett should have a full squad to pick from, winger Kevin McLeod in line for an unexpected return having made a speedy recovery from a broken ankle. And he will not be frightened to tinker with a winning side. "It's always a gamble to change a winning team, but you also have to look at the opposition and the occasion and pick the side for the day," he said. "Saying 'I'm a manager who doesn't change a winning side' closes down your options. "You can hang yourself with certain things you say. "I'll assess the players all this week and if I think someone is in form or out of form, I've got the option of changing things. "With a game like this, it's not necessarily a case of throwing in all those with experience. "You always need a balance of freshness, enthusiasm, legs and sometimes naivety - people who just go and play."

23rd May 2006 Flying high with Swans been battle for Britton

Ian Hunt, Western Mail IT all started on a miserable Saturday afternoon in Exeter in front of just 2,625 spectators. Less than four years later, it could be about to incorporate trips to Leeds, Southampton, Birmingham and Wolves and crowds as high as 35,000. Scarcely could Leon Britton have predicted his Swansea City career taking him from one extreme to the other in such a short space of time. Having arrived during arguably the bleakest period in the club's rich and varied history, the former West Ham scholar has to pinch himself that Swansea stand just 90 minutes from a division containing so many of English football's fallen giants. To get to the Championship, Swansea must find a way past Barnsley in Saturday's League One play-off final at the Millennium Stadium, but Britton is no stranger to this kind of make-or-break occasion. He was part of the side that preserved Swansea's Football League status with that monumental win over Hull in 2003, and he was involved again as Kenny Jackett's team clinched promotion from the bottom division at Bury 12 short months ago. There has never been a dull moment since the midfielder parted company with his beloved West Ham in December 2002 to bolster a Swansea side sliding towards oblivion. "I remember my debut down at Exeter - it was a horrible windy day and we lost 1-0, which was the start of a six-match losing run," said the 23-year-old, who initially joined on loan before signing a permanent Swansea deal in the summer of 2003. "Coming from West Ham, a little part of me wondered what I was doing, but mostly I was just happy to be getting first-team football. "Although that was a terrible season for the club, ending with us nearly being relegated to the Conference on the final day, I could see Swansea had a good fan base and that they could do something with the right people behind them. "Even so, it is hard to believe only a few years down the line we're just one game from the Championship. "When you look at what the club's done since those days... it's unbelievable really." Yet little more than 12 months ago it seemed Britton was heading for the exit door as the 2004-05 campaign saw him reduced to a bit-part role - a bitter contrast from his first two seasons at the club, when his dazzling displays ensured he was always one of the first names scribbled on the team-sheet. The twinkle-toed Londoner, whose silky ball-carrying skills were never perfectly suited to the rough-house nature of the bottom division, was seemingly not the kind of player Jackett wanted in his midfield. And Britton says he came close - very close - to walking out. "It was disappointing that I didn't play too much during the promotion-winning season," said Britton, who only made 16 league starts last term compared to 42 the previous season. "It was as early as November - just before we lost 3-1 at home to Bury - that I thought my days at the club were numbered. "We had a lot of injuries and suspensions for that game, but the manager still pulled me in on the Friday and said I wouldn't be playing. "I lost count of the number of conversations I had with my girlfriend about moving on. "I'd come back from training and say I'd had enough. That I wanted to go somewhere else to get first-team football. "You say things like that in the heat of the moment, but I was eventually offered a new contract and, after thinking things through in the summer, I decided I wanted to give it one more go." Britton has never had cause to regret the decision. Having won over an initially doubtful manager, the former Hammer has made 38 League One starts - chiefly on the right of midfield - and rediscovered the form that made him such a crowd favourite upon his arrival in South Wales. "It's fortunate that things have turned round for me," he said. "I think there are two things that have better suited my game this season - the fact there's a bit more football played in this division and the bigger pitch we've got at the new stadium. "I'd like to think I could step up into the Championship and compete at that level too. "I signed a two-year contract extension in December so I'd love to have two years in the Championship and hopefully stay here even longer. "When you look at the likes of Sunderland, Birmingham, Southampton and Wolves, there are some unbelievable stadiums we could be playing in next season. "The Championship would be a big step up for the club, but we've got a good squad, fantastic backing and I'm sure we'd spend a bit of money in the summer. I think we could hold our own." To get there, though, Jackett's men must negotiate a Barnsley side fiercely determined to return to the second tier themselves for the first time since 2002. But little Britton is confident more than 32,000 Swans fans will enjoy a big Millennium Stadium party come the final whistle. "We're confident we can beat any team on our day if we play to our full strengths," he said. "As we showed in the play-off semi-final at Brentford, it's all about performing well as a team. If we can do that again, we've got a great chance."

22nd May 2006 MCLEOD HOPING FOR A SILVER LINING

Evening Post Kevin McLeod's chances of being ready for Saturday's League One play-off final against Barnsley have been handed a major boost. The Swansea City winger came through last week's training sessions with no reaction to the broken ankle he picked up four weeks ago. The 25-year-old was stretchered from the Liberty Stadium pitch during the game against Southend United - the club he seemed poised to join in March - and was ruled out for the rest of the season. But having been on the treatment table for the past month, the Scouser has made a rapid recovery and is ready and waiting for the nod from boss Kenny Jackett. "Kevin came through the training sessions last week with no reaction to his injury," said Swans physio Richie Evans. "The last couple of days' training last week were at match tempo and he came through it, so I'm happy to let him go for it this week." It has been an astonishing couple of months for the former Queens Park Rangers man. Exiled from the team after a late night drinking session and then minutes away from joining promoted Southend, McLeod was called back into Jackett's XI when Swansea travelled to Oldham a month ago. In his second match on his return to duty, McLeod's revived season looked to be over. Now with only five days until the Barnsley clash, Jackett will be able to call on the one genuine left winger on his books as 90 minutes stand between Swansea and a return to the Championship after an absence of nearly 22 years. A return to action for McLeod will leave Jackett with no injury concerns for Saturday's winner-takes-all battle. However, the Swans boss has allowed 17-year-old midfielder Shaun MacDonald to join up with the Wales Under-21 squad to face Estonia at Wrexham's Racecourse on Wednesday night. With long-term casualties Izzy Iriekpen, Steve Watt and Darren Way also unavailable, Jackett has a near fully-fit squad to choose from. Barnsley have been handed a fitness boost of their own ahead of Saturday's big game. Defender Neil Austin is back in training after tearing his hamstring a month ago and could be in contention for a place in Andy Ritchie's side.

22nd May 2006 BIG KEV WANTS NO REPEAT OF THOSE LOSING EMOTIONS

Evening Post Having suffered play-off heartache during his time at Barnsley, Swansea City defender Kevin Austin is not planning to go through the same ordeal on Saturday. The 33-year-old one-cap Trinidad and Tobago international watched from the Wembley stands as the Tykes' bid to return to the Premiership faltered at the final hurdle six years ago. And even though ruptured Achilles tendons prevented the 6ft 1in defender from making a name for himself at Oakwell, he remembers all too well how the 4-2 play-off defeat to Ipswich felt. ''It was all doom and gloom after that match,'' Austin recalled. ''I remember that the lads had a fantastic season and everything was geared up for going back to the Premiership. ''Nobody wants to go to a play-off final and lose, so we have to make sure that Swansea don't experience the same.'' In five days' time it is not a place among football's elite but a place in the Championship that is on offer when Swansea go into a head-on battle with Barnsley. Austin, no longer wearing the red of the Yorkshire club but the white of the Jack Army, has seen this season disrupted by injuries and red cards. However, in the past seven weeks the former Bristol Rovers man has come back to the fore and been a part of some outstanding defensive displays by Swansea. The ex-Lincoln defender is now looking forward to his first appearance at the Millennium Stadium. Austin, an unused substitute in Swansea's Football League Trophy 2-1 triumph over Carlisle United, is eager to get a taste of what his colleagues have already sampled. ''If I get selected it is going to be a great day. I just have to train hard all week and wait and see what happens,'' Austin added. ''Of course I was disappointed not to have taken any part that day. ''But I had only just got back from injury and it wasn't just about me. ''The lads played extremely well that day and we would settle for the same scoreline on Saturday.'' Austin is one of several players whose contracts at the Liberty Stadium run out this summer. That, however, is not playing on his mind and he is ready to be at the heart of Kenny Jackett's defence once more. ''You don't need the incentive of trying to win a new contract to inspire you for games like these,'' he said defiantly. ''It wouldn't matter to me if I had two years to go or I didn't even have a contract - I would be just as focused.'' And it is that determination that won the 33-year-old praise from his defensive partner Garry Monk. Last Sunday, the club's vice-captain described Austin as a ''rock'' following Swansea 2-0 victory at Brentford. ''It nice when your team-mates say good things about you, but it wasn't just me who defended well that day, it was the whole team,'' Austin pointed out. A defensive effort of Griffin Park proportions will be needed to help secure Swansea's second successive promotion, and Austin is predicting a tough match. ''Barnsley will come straight at us from the start,'' he said. ''It will be a tough game and it is one we don't want to lose.'' Austin has only happy memories of his time at Oakwell, despite his two Achilles injuries. ''It is a great club and despite injuries I was sorry to leave,'' he added. ''When I came back from injury I struggled to get my form back, let alone a place in the side. ''I see Barnsley as a club very similar to Swansea - geared up for going to the Premiership.''

22nd May 2006 GIVE US SOME MORE

Evening Post Swansea City today approached the Football League for more tickets for Saturday's League One play-off final after selling all but 4,000 of their 32,500 allocation. With season-ticket holders, Premier Club members, 12-book voucher holders and supporters' trust members having snapped up 19,500 tickets, fans queued at the Liberty Stadium from 1am yesterday morning, nine hours ahead of their general sale release, to get their hands on their pass to the Millennium Stadium. And with Barnsley allocated only 29,000 tickets for Saturday's clash, the Swans are hoping that the Football League will be able to release extra tickets for Welsh supporters. ''We have been completely astounded by the fans and how quickly they have got their tickets,'' said club director David Morgan. ''The Football League have held back tickets for segregation and other clubs, so hopefully we will be able to get some more for our fans. ''We hope to know by tomorrow, and if we are successful then they will go on sale as soon as possible.'' The remaining tickets will be on sale from the ticket office only from 10am until 8pm or until they are sold, whichever comes earlier. When Swansea went to the Millennium Stadium last month they took 28,000 to the Football League Trophy final, and with a place in the Championship at stake, a travelling support like this has not been seen by the club since the 1964 FA Cup semi-final against Preston. Barnsley's sales have been going well, too, with the club passing the 20,000 mark over the weekend after putting their tickets on general sale yesterday, 24 hours early. The Tykes, who missed out on a place in the Premiership in 2000 after a 4-2 play-off final defeat to Ipswich Town, took 32,000 to Wembley that year, and while they will not equal that on Saturday they are also confident of selling out their allocation. Swansea City are planning to release another DVD after Saturday's play-off final. With the Millennium Diaries released following the Football League Trophy triumph, this DVD will focus on the club's play-off campaign. A date for the release will be announced soon, as will the price.

22nd May 2006 CALLS TO REVIEW STADIUM LOSSES

Evening Post An investigation into the huge losses at Swansea's Liberty Stadium is being demanded. Members of all political groups are calling for some kind of review into the money being poured into Stadco, the management company running the stadium, and the decision to write off the £2.3 million loan it was given by Swansea Council. The cash was handed to Stadco last year to allow it to finish fitting out the £27 million stadium. Councillors are now demanding answers over why Stadco was able to record losses of hundreds of thousands of pounds, despite the apparent success of the showpiece venue. The Post was first told of financial problems at the stadium last year, but was stonewalled by both Stadco and the council when it asked for details. There has been little or no information about the stadium's finances. Council leader Chris Holley was unavailable for comment on the row at the weekend. But a confidential report, seen by the Post, shows that Stadco made a £779,982 loss in its first year of trading. The report recommends that Swansea's cabinet should write off the £2.3 million loan it gave Stadco, and provide another £250,000 to help balance the books. It shows the council was aware of the money problems back in September, and brought in financial experts Deloitte to assess the situation and look at the business plan that was drawn up in March 2005. Swansea Council has blamed the massive losses on higher than expected bills for utilities, policing and stewarding, but claimed that Stadco should be making a £51,000 profit by next year. But concerns still remain over the financial future of the new stadium and answers are needed, according to local members. Councillor David Phillips, leader of the Labour group, said: "What guarantees have we got that it is still financially viable? "I am going to take advice on the legal implications of this and see whether this can be taken on by the Welsh Audit Office." Councillor Darren Price, leader of the Plaid Cymru group, said the project should have been properly costed beforehand and should not have needed a massive loan to bail Stadco out. He said: "It is very worrying that £2.5 million of taxpayers' money has been written off due to the incompetence of elected members both past and present. "I would question the wisdom of the current Lib-Dem led administration in actually loaning such a sum of money to the stadium company without the guarantee that it would be paid back. "We need to review the protocol with regards to capital project management, and I will be raising this." Councillor Stuart Rice, chairman of the council's finance and property scrutiny board, said: "Legitimate questions must be answered as to the robustness of the original financial and business plans put together by officials and councillors in the months and years preceding the opening of the stadium. "Ospreys rugby has played to Celtic League record-breaking crowds and the Swans have topped a year of success with sell-out matches. "What the council must now do is ensure that the success of the venue is underpinned by a firm financial settlement. "I will be asking the finance and property scrutiny board to take steps to hold an investigation into this matter." Councillor Ray Welsby said: "I find it disgusting that we have given this money away."

22nd May 2006 FAN-TASTIC WAY TO GO FOR FAMILY

Evening Post There's nothing like going posh when you have a special day out. And these Swans fans will be going up in style next week, even if their team doesn't! As the club prepares for its biggest game in a generation, supporters are planning an invasion of the capital. Cars, coaches and buses have long been booked up by fans for the League One play-off final against Barnsley at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday. A win would see the team return to English football's second tier for the first time since 1984, and the occasion is so momentous even the train companies are playing ball. They have promised to keep services running, much to the relief of fans who were last month left fuming because engineering works meant services were cancelled on the day of the team's Football League Trophy final win. But one family have decided not to risk rail at all, instead arranging to travel up in style. The Williams family, from Rhondda Street in Swansea, have hired a luxury stretch limo to take them to the big game. And to ensure a party atmosphere for the entire day, they've invited relatives, neighbours and friends to join them on board. Mum Janet Williams said: "We are a Swans-mad family and always have been. "We've hired a limousine for big games before, but they don't get much bigger than this. "We did it for the Football League Trophy final. "In fact, we're not so much Swans mad, as Swans simple." Children Andrew, aged 21, and Zoe, aged 18, will be joining mum and dad Peter, as will nephew and niece Ben and Becky Evans. A handful of friends and neighbours are also jumping on board, including neighbour Katy and her daughter, and youngest traveller Chantelle, aged just 3. The 20-strong group will be setting out early for the journey up the M4, to soak up the atmosphere, as well as the odd pre-match drink. And they are confident they will be returning to the city victorious. "It will be a close game, but we should already have gone up by now - we've just got to do it the hard way", said Janet, who is already planning alternative transport if the unthinkable happens. "If we don't win, I'm planning to go away on holiday for a week. "I will be flying off on Sunday to get away from it all. I mean it - I'm deadly serious."

22nd May 2006 Millennium quest is a derby race

Wales on Sunday SWANSEA CITY go deep into enemy territory for their biggest match in 25 years knowing they are close to re-igniting one of British football's fiercest rivalries. The Swans go gunning for Barnsley in Saturday's League One play-off final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium - and it's not just for the honour of promotion to English football's second tier for the first time in 22 years. Swansea are desperate to rekindle the South Wales derby with arch-rivals Cardiff City after seven long years. Their bitter rivals are way ahead in head-to-head combat; Cardiff have won 74 of the 150 derbies since the first clash on October 5, 1929 - a goalless Division Two draw at Ninian Park - with 35 draws. But Swansea hold the bragging rights in terms of league showdowns 18 to 16 and have only lost one of the last nine clashes between the clubs. Cardiff are hailed Wales' biggest club, even though it was the Swans who were last in the top-flight for two seasons between 1981 and 1983. Also, Swansea's average attendance of 14,155 at their new Liberty Stadium this season is 2,435 fans more than Cardiff's average gate. Swans supporters are eager to end the debate and so want to meet their old rivals next season in the second-tier of English football for the first time since 1984. Ex-Welsh international Andy Legg is one player who has crossed the great South Wales divide between these two proud rivals. But Leggy insists Cardiff are the No 1 team in Wales. "The new stadium factor has helped Swansea a lot this season," said Legg. "I saw they got 19,000 for their play-off semi-final with Brentford, but it's only this year that Swans fans have come out of the woodwork. "I just hope if Swansea and Cardiff do meet there'll be no major trouble. After the crowd violence in the 1990s, away fans were barred from derbies and that spoiled the spectacle."

22nd May 2006 I'll be our 'ard man

Wales on Sunday JUST a week ago a certain Scouse midfield dynamo single-handedly lit up the Millennium Stadium. Now former schoolboy pal Andy Robinson wants to follow Steven Gerrard's FA Cup final example by steering Swansea City into the Championship. Granted, a League One play-off final against Barnsley does not quite possess the same prestige or viewing figures as the world's most famous domestic cup competition. But that won't stop Swansea's own midfield maestro from running himself into the ground for the City cause. England superstar Gerrard scored twice in normal time and converted a spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out as Liverpool rose back from the dead to beat West Ham in one of the greatest finals ever. And Birkenhead-born Robinson admits he was happy to watch and learn as Gerrard put on a midfield masterclass. "It was Roy of the Rovers stuff," said Robinson. "Real top drawer. "It was an inspirational performance to me and I want to try and do the same thing if I can. "Of course, he's in a different league to anything else out there. "He was out on his feet after 75 minutes and yet he still believed he could do something. That kind of spirit comes from deep inside you. "Special players always believe they can do things when games are slipping from their grasp. "I believe I can do that at certain times in games. "I've told the gaffer before in games not to drag me off and it has paid off several times with me popping up with a goal or something else. "Every team needs players who can pull something out of nothing. We've got that with Lee Trundle and Leon Knight. I'm not a special player like them but I'd like to think that if things are hard I can do my bit. "If you believe you can do things it can happen." As a boy, Robinson played alongside Gerrard for the Merseyside under-16 representative side and before that, the two sparred in midfield on opposite sides in the Eastern Junior Sunday League. Yet even though many years have passed since then, the Champions League winning skipper still recognised his childhood chum when they crossed paths at the recent PFA awards dinner in London. While Gerrard was picking up the top honour as player of the year, Robinson was also celebrating after being named alongside Trundle in the League One team of the year by his fellow professionals. He admits to being almost dumbstruck with surprise when Gerrard greeted him. "It was nice for him to recognise me and say 'all right Robbo' because even though he is at the top of the game he is still level headed," said Robinson. "Some guys aren't like that." The comparisons between the two go beyond their schooldays together. Both players provide the heartbeat for their respective sides. Both score their fair share of goals. And both flit between central and wide midfield berths. Robinson has scored most of his 17 goals from the left but manager Kenny Jackett has recently preferred to see him calling the tune from the middle of the park. And the player himself even admits he is torn over which position he prefers. "It's a tough one because there are certain games where I need to be in the middle on the ball making things happen and others where I need to be on the wing taking advantage of one on one situations," he said. "We have spoken all season about whether I should stay out left or come into the middle. "But as I player I want to nail down a position as my own and say yes, that's mine." The 26-year-old former removal man only entered the professional game three years ago and was signed for the Swans by Jackett's predecessor Brian Flynn. Without question, this season has been his best so far and his sensational form is all the more impressive as he started the season sidelined through a five-match suspension, a hangover from his misdemeanours in Swansea's previous promotion campaign. But more importantly he has also had to carry the emotional burden of his seriously ill father who is battling against cancer. Sadly he is too ill to watch his son make his second appearance of the season at the Millennium Stadium. But Robinson, as he has done all year long, will try to put all thoughts of family to one side - but only for 90 minutes. "I wanted to establish myself as a top player in this league and I have nearly done that," he said. "I made the team of the year and now I want to take it to the next level where I can apply my trade. "I want nothing more than for it to be with Swansea. "It'll be exciting but we have to keep on an even keel and approach it like a normal game. "It's not of course, it's massive." But then that is just the way Robbo likes it.

22nd May 2006 I'll be our 'ard man

Wales on Sunday JUST a week ago a certain Scouse midfield dynamo single-handedly lit up the Millennium Stadium. Now former schoolboy pal Andy Robinson wants to follow Steven Gerrard's FA Cup final example by steering Swansea City into the Championship. Granted, a League One play-off final against Barnsley does not quite possess the same prestige or viewing figures as the world's most famous domestic cup competition. But that won't stop Swansea's own midfield maestro from running himself into the ground for the City cause. England superstar Gerrard scored twice in normal time and converted a spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out as Liverpool rose back from the dead to beat West Ham in one of the greatest finals ever. And Birkenhead-born Robinson admits he was happy to watch and learn as Gerrard put on a midfield masterclass. "It was Roy of the Rovers stuff," said Robinson. "Real top drawer. "It was an inspirational performance to me and I want to try and do the same thing if I can. "Of course, he's in a different league to anything else out there. "He was out on his feet after 75 minutes and yet he still believed he could do something. That kind of spirit comes from deep inside you. "Special players always believe they can do things when games are slipping from their grasp. "I believe I can do that at certain times in games. "I've told the gaffer before in games not to drag me off and it has paid off several times with me popping up with a goal or something else. "Every team needs players who can pull something out of nothing. We've got that with Lee Trundle and Leon Knight. I'm not a special player like them but I'd like to think that if things are hard I can do my bit. "If you believe you can do things it can happen." As a boy, Robinson played alongside Gerrard for the Merseyside under-16 representative side and before that, the two sparred in midfield on opposite sides in the Eastern Junior Sunday League. Yet even though many years have passed since then, the Champions League winning skipper still recognised his childhood chum when they crossed paths at the recent PFA awards dinner in London. While Gerrard was picking up the top honour as player of the year, Robinson was also celebrating after being named alongside Trundle in the League One team of the year by his fellow professionals. He admits to being almost dumbstruck with surprise when Gerrard greeted him. "It was nice for him to recognise me and say 'all right Robbo' because even though he is at the top of the game he is still level headed," said Robinson. "Some guys aren't like that." The comparisons between the two go beyond their schooldays together. Both players provide the heartbeat for their respective sides. Both score their fair share of goals. And both flit between central and wide midfield berths. Robinson has scored most of his 17 goals from the left but manager Kenny Jackett has recently preferred to see him calling the tune from the middle of the park. And the player himself even admits he is torn over which position he prefers. "It's a tough one because there are certain games where I need to be in the middle on the ball making things happen and others where I need to be on the wing taking advantage of one on one situations," he said. "We have spoken all season about whether I should stay out left or come into the middle. "But as I player I want to nail down a position as my own and say yes, that's mine." The 26-year-old former removal man only entered the professional game three years ago and was signed for the Swans by Jackett's predecessor Brian Flynn. Without question, this season has been his best so far and his sensational form is all the more impressive as he started the season sidelined through a five-match suspension, a hangover from his misdemeanours in Swansea's previous promotion campaign. But more importantly he has also had to carry the emotional burden of his seriously ill father who is battling against cancer. Sadly he is too ill to watch his son make his second appearance of the season at the Millennium Stadium. But Robinson, as he has done all year long, will try to put all thoughts of family to one side - but only for 90 minutes. "I wanted to establish myself as a top player in this league and I have nearly done that," he said. "I made the team of the year and now I want to take it to the next level where I can apply my trade. "I want nothing more than for it to be with Swansea. "It'll be exciting but we have to keep on an even keel and approach it like a normal game. "It's not of course, it's massive." But then that is just the way Robbo likes it.

22nd May 2006 'Glad I Brit bullet'

Wales on Sunday LEON BRITTON says he is glad he let his heart rule his head after seeing Swansea go from the brink of the Conference to the verge of the Championship. The former West Ham and Arsenal product joined the Swans three years ago as the club fought desperately to save its Football League status. Britton fell in love with the club after experiencing the Swans' last-match survival bid. And now he insists the change in club fortunes shows he made the right choice in dropping down the divisions. "It's unbelievable to be where we are," said Britton, 23. "I'm so proud to be part of a club that has come on so well over the last few years. "Swansea won my heart when I came here and we survived relegation and now I'm proud to call it my home. "The original plan was to return to West Ham and there's no way I thought it would turn out this way. "I dropped down from the Premiership and the idea was to slowly creep back to where I started. "But, even though I always knew the club were going to progress, to do it in such a short space of time is incredible." And with a second straight promotion in sight, Britton said: "We don't want to get carried away, but with Championship football at stake we know we have a massive opportunity on our hands. "But this team always seems to rise to the big occasion and hopefully it will this time."

22nd May 2006 Kristian values big time

Wales on Sunday KRIS O'LEARY has seen more pain than most at Swansea City. So it is hardly surprising that the club's current longest-serving player takes so much pleasure in the Swans recent revival. The former Vetch trainee has made 285 appearances for the Swans and is now in his 11th year at the club, during which time he has not just witnessed but played a part in all of the high drama. From Black Tuesday and the Great Escape to last year's promotion and this season's double date with the Millennium Stadium, O'Leary has lived and breathed it all. And there will be no prouder Swan on Saturday than O'Leary. "To think that when I signed we were in Division Two," said the Port Talbot-born player. "We had lost in the play-offs just before I signed but from then on the club started to deteriorate slowly as we slipped back down to lower leagues. "It's scary because three years ago we were playing just to stay in the League and now we are 90 minutes away from reaching the Championship. I don't think many people would have expected that." O'Leary is a survivor of one of the most infamous episodes in Swans history - Black Tuesday. Seven players were sacked on October 9, 2001, by a club on its financial knees and the midfielder was one of those told to take a 70 per cent pay cut or follow their teammates out the door. He stayed. Since then O'Leary has inscribed his name in Swansea folklore. "Not many people will have gone through what I've seen at this club, said the battle-scarred midfielder. "We've gone from the point where players were being told they had no jobs because the club could not afford to pay them, through so many managers (Kenny Jackett is his 13th), staying up on the last day of the season, winning promotion and then getting to the verge of the Championships. "It's pretty astounding stuff and not many people would even believe it, let alone go through it." In fact, O'Leary is one of those who is constantly pinching himself. "I don't think anyone expected us to reach the Millennium Stadium twice in one season, never mind twice in six weeks," he added. "It will be a completely different game to the last one (Football league Trophy final) and there is so much more pressure riding on it. "But I think the experience of April bodes well for us. We've been there and know what to expect." But, should they win O'Leary really will be stepping into the unknown. "I was looking at a list of the teams in the Championship and it's frightening," he said. "There are eight or nine who have been in the Premiership in the last few years. "We would be out of the Football League trophy and wouldn't enter the FA Cup until the third round. "It's things like that we have not been used to. That will change."

19th May 2006 Fallon: Knight friendship is key

Teamtalk Rory Fallon believes his belated friendship with strike partner Leon Knight could fire Swansea into the Coca-Cola Championship. The duo became acquainted seven years ago as England youth internationals but inflated egos prevented any kind of relationship from developing on or off the field. Following Fallon's £300,000 arrival in January from Swindon, however, the pair have been reunited and in recent weeks dovetailed to great effect for Kenny Jackett's side. They could again spearhead Swansea's attack in the League One play-off final against Brentford next weekend. The New Zealand-born Fallon, 24, said: "I've known Knighty since I was a kid in the England Under-16s team, but we never really got on back then. I think it was a case of our egos getting in the way. "There was myself, Jermain Defoe, Jay Bothroyd and Knighty who played up front for England from Under-16s to Under-20s. But I wouldn't have said there was much of a relationship with Knighty and I was never really mates with him."

18th May 2006 MORE BUS ROUTES IS TRUST AIM

Evening Post The Trust is looking to add to its transport scheme for ferrying fans to the Liberty Stadium. Its West Wales route has been in operation since the latter part of last season. Now the Trust is looking to set arrangements in place for any other routes which may be viable, and they are looking for input from supporters travelling from any areas who believe that there is a demand on a particular route for a service to be set up. Ideas should be sent via email to j.young@swanstrust.com, phone the Trust hotline 07977 382328 or write to Swansea City Supporters' Trust, 57 St Helen's Road, Swansea. Last weekend the Trust entered a team in a fundraising six-a-side tournament in Merthyr. Organised by Trust board members Becky Jones and Viv Brooks together with Ian Roberts and Jonathan Davies, the Trust team finished the 10-team tournament as runners-up. The players were Chris Hill, Sam Smith, Dean Roberts, Michael Jones, Chris Corteen, Jonathan Davies and Ian Roberts. This year's election for the Trust board is nearly upon us. If you think you can make a contribution then why not stand in the election? You can help to keep the club moving forward by serving on the board of the Trust. There are four simple steps. Check below to make sure you are eligible to stand or call 07977 382328 to register your interest and obtain a nomination form, which you should complete and return by June 15. Write a brief statement (100 words) about yourself for circulation to the members with the voting forms. If elected, you will serve for two years. The main qualification you will need is enthusiasm and a desire to see the Swans succeed through the club and the supporters working closely together. No experience is necessary. There is no pay and you will be expected to join the monthly board meetings and contribute what you can in between. This year Trust rules require that eight of the current 11 Board members stand down. This number is unusually high and is made up of five board members who have served their two-year period on the board and three further board members who, due to resignations earlier in the year, were made full elected members but have to stand at the next annual meeting. All eight are eligible for re-election although it is not compulsory for them to do so. The eight members are: Ron Knuszka, Huw Cooze, Debbie Rees, John Young, Viv Brooks, Stuart McDonald, Will Morris and James White. You are eligible to stand for election if: you are a paid-up member of the Trust; you are 18 or over; you are not subject to a disqualification order under the Company Directors Act; you have not been convicted of an indictable offence; you are willing to abide by the Trust rules for the conduct of the election. All candidates (including those seeking re-election) must complete a nomination form, which needs to be signed by six other Trust members who support your nomination. Nominations close on June 15 and ballot papers sent out by the end of June. Voting closes on July 15, and the results will be announced at the annual meeting in August. The nomination form hotline is 07977 382328, or you can write to Swansea City Supporters' Trust, 57 St Helen's Road, Swansea, SA1 4BE or via email.

18th May 2006 SWANS PLEDGE TO MOVE IN FOR NEW PLAYERS

Evening Post Swansea City are already working on a clutch of summer signings - and plan to land the same players whichever division they are in. With the League One play-off final against Barnsley still nine days away, Swansea are in danger of being left behind in the close-season scramble for new recruits. But chairman Huw Jenkins has revealed the club are already pursuing a number of targets. ''The way football works, there are agents contacting you about players who are going to be available in the summer a couple of months before the end of the season,'' he said. ''You get a list of players and there are a range of people phoning Kenny and myself telling us about players who want to come Swansea City. ''We can attract most players now and this summer is going to see a continuation of the squad strengthening we did in January. ''We believe the players we have targeted are people who will take the club forward, as the likes of Leon Knight and Rory Fallon have done. ''We will be doing that whatever division we're playing in. The result in Cardiff next week will not change anything.'' That may come as a surprise to fans who feel that if Swansea do overcome Barnsley, a spending spree will be required to ready the club for the Championship. But Jenkins added: ''Clubs at that level have spent big money and it hasn't guaranteed success. ''Swansea City can definitely compete in the Championship but it's not necessarily about spending huge sums on players. ''Look at Leon Knight, who we got for £125,000. It's about finding the right players at the right age and the right price. ''A lot of the so-called bigger clubs gamble a lot of money on unknown quantities and in my opinion that's a recipe for disaster. ''We will go along the same lines as we have always done.'' Jenkins pointed to the success of Knight and Fallon in recent weeks, and stressed that injury-plagued Darren Way, a £150,000 January recruit from Yeovil, will be as good as a new face come pre-season. And he said further additions could be made within a week of the play-off final. ''People like to get settled before the summer break so once Barnsley's out of the way, we will concentrate on making one or two decisions. ''It's got to be left until then, but the wheels are already in motion. That's the way the football world works.''

18th May 2006 EXTRA TRAINS FOR GAME

Evening Post More than 100 extra train carriages are being laid on to take Swans fans to Cardiff for the League One play-off final on May 27. Tickets for the special trains go on sale on Saturday and Swansea supporters are being urged to make their travel arrangements well in advance of the match, whichever way they intend to get there. Arriva Trains Wales and First Great Western are teaming up to provide 116 additional train carriages for those travelling to the Millennium Stadium. Return tickets for the special services are priced at £9.20 for adults and £4.60 for children and are available on a first come, first served basis from Swansea railway station. Fans must join the Cardiff Central queuing system within two hours of the final whistle to join special return services to Swansea. Peter Northcott, special events manager for Arriva Trains Wales, said: "We will be providing special direct trains for football fans travelling from Swansea station to the League One football play-off final at the Millennium Stadium. "As demand is likely to be extremely high, we are reminding fans to plan ahead. "Tickets for the special trains must be bought in advance and must be accompanied by a boarding card for use on outward special services. "Fans without boarding cards may not be guaranteed travel on outward special trains." No alcohol will be permitted on any train services between Swansea and Cardiff Central stations. Cardiff Central station will also be an alcohol-free zone. Swans director Dave Morgan said: "Swans will play in white kit, so fans are urged to wear white on the 27th."

18th May 2006 IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

Evening Post Thousands of Swans fans have crammed the Liberty Stadium to queue for hours and snap up a ticket for next week's League One play-off final. They began to form a line at 6am yesterday. By 10am it stretched almost as far as the eye could see, with everyone determined to bag their ticket for the winner-takes-all showdown at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, May 27. Stadium bosses even opened up the ground so that Swans supporters could wait their turn out of the pouring rain. Meanwhile, it has also emerged that behind-the- scenes talks are going on between Swansea City and the council to come up with an appropriate way of marking promotion to the Championship if the match goes the club's way. A victory parade is a popular option, although it would probably have to be put off until later in the summer with many of the players expected to fly off on holidays abroad within a day or two of the Cardiff decider. The Swans have been allocated 32,452 seats for the game. Most got what they wanted yesterday with ticket prices of between £22 and £55. Supporter Gareth Campbell, of Dyfatty, said: "I had to be here. I got to the ground at 7am thinking I would be right at the front of the queue. "I couldn't believe how many there were ahead of me." Fans lined corridors inside the stadium waiting for their turn. There were a few problems when some demanded the same seats as they had for the Football League Trophy Final at the ground last month. But it generally went according to plan. Fan Gavin Barton, aged 47, of Blackpill, in Swansea, said: "We all want to be part of the day on the 27th." Fellow supporter Gareth Maddox, of Cimla, in Neath, who waited three hours in the queue said: "Nothing would keep me away. I don't care how long I have to wait, I will get my ticket and be there in Cardiff cheering them on. I will also be at the front for any parade." A city council spokesman said: "We are talking to the club to coordinate an appropriate celebration for players and fans if they are promoted to the Championship." Ian Davies, who writes the Behind Enemy Lines column for unofficial website scfc.co.uk, said: "I think if they go up there should be a victory parade. And I think it will resemble the parades back in the 1980s when we did it then."

18th May 2006 MCLEOD MAY MAKE FINAL

Evening Post Kevin McLeod is in contention for a shock return to action in the League One play-off final just a month after breaking his ankle. The Scouse winger was initially ruled out until next season after hobbling out of Swansea City's draw with Southend on April 29. But McLeod has now been pencilled in to play a practice match this weekend. And should he come through it, the 25-year-old could force his way into Kenny Jackett's plans for the Millennium Stadium meeting with Barnsley in nine days' time. ''Kevin is making noises about being fit for the final,'' Jackett revealed. ''It would be a rapid recovery but, speaking to (physio) Richie Evans, there is a chance he could make it. ''Kevin would be an asset for us, of course he would, and if he can play in our practice game and then train on Monday and Tuesday, we will see. ''Richie is very pleased with his so progress so far so it's certainly a possibility.'' McLeod hopes to feature when Swansea have a full-scale run-out between themselves on Saturday. ''We need to keep things ticking over,'' added Jackett. ''We'll have an 11-a-side game so the lads won't have gone two weeks without playing by the time we face Barnsley.'' Swansea returned to the training ground yesterday after a mini-break following their stunning semi-final win at Brentford. ''Most footballers are on holiday by now,'' Jackett said. ''But we're delighted that we're not because of the fantastic opportunity that lies ahead of us. ''A few people have mentioned the two-week break between the games and how it might have been better to play sooner, but I've talked to the players about focus. ''We've had a couple of days off, but we'll be working now every day apart from Sunday. ''I stressed that we must stay in a football mentality and the players agree. ''They accept the time they've got to wait because they realise the prize on offer is massive.'' Swansea have no injury concerns aside from McLeod, with Andy Robinson expected to be available for Cardiff despite collecting a hamstring strain at Griffin Park last Sunday.

18th May 2006 Loan star Nardiello gunning for Swans

Western Mail FORMER Swansea City loan striker Daniel Nardiello plans to gun down his old colleagues next week as he plots a path back to his Premiership roots. Swansea was gripped by promotion fever yesterday as tickets went on sale for the first time for next week's showpiece League One play-off final against Barnsley at the Millennium Stadium. Season ticket and voucher holders spent up to five hours queuing for tickets at the Liberty Stadium in the hope they will witness their team clinch a place in the second tier of the League for the first time in 22 years. If Barnsley goal hero Nardiello gets his way, however, their dreams will be shattered. The former Manchester United trainee, who spent a month on loan at Swansea from October 2003, is confident Barnsley have the firepower to shoot down Kenny Jackett's side as he bids to climb back up the League ladder. "I was at Swansea for a month's loan so I know Lee Trundle well and I played with Leon Knight as a youngster with England schoolboys," said Nardiello, who struck the winning goal in the 3-1 win at Huddersfield on Monday that gave Andy Ritchie's side a 3-2 aggregate triumph. "In fact, I know a lot of Swansea's players from my time there, so it will be great to play against them. "But it will be a big day for Barnsley Football Club and we're confident we can go there and win promotion." The 23-year-old striker, whose father Donato won two Wales caps in the early 1980s, was an Old Trafford youth team contemporary of Swans defender Alan Tate. Nardiello had one loan spell at the Vetch Field, where he scored one goal in four starts, and two at Oakwell before joining Barnsley on a permanent basis last summer after being released by United. "Sir Alex Ferguson was great and gave me a few chances in the first team, but I just wasn't good enough to play for Manchester United," he admitted. "But the gaffer told me there were clubs I could go to and Barnsley were the one I chose because they treated me so well when I was on loan last season. "I had to get away and play games in the Football League and can hopefully now work my way up with Barnsley by getting into the Championship. "We've got a good squad here and we'd be more than confident of staying up there if we get promoted." Since a brief flirtation with the Premiership in 1997-98 and a Division One play-off final defeat two years later, Barnsley's fortunes have been in decline. But the Tykes are enjoying a renaissance under the astute guidance of former Manchester United forward Ritchie, who succeeded Paul Hart in the Oakwell hotseat in March 2005. While Nardiello has struck six league goals this season, another former Swansea loan striker, Marc Richards, has claimed 12 league goals to help the Yorkshire side finish fifth in League One. Injured Swans winger Kevin McLeod, meanwhile, has not given up hope of being fit for the final. McLeod resumed running for the first time yesterday - less than three weeks after breaking his ankle in the 2-2 draw against Southend on April 29.

17th May 2006 SAM: WE'RE READY FOR THE BIG TIME

Evening Post Sam Ricketts admits Swansea City would need to make great strides to challenge in the Championship next season - but insists they are not scared. A big fish in the small pond that is League One, Swansea would be relative minnows in English football's second tier should they triumph in next week's play-off final with Barnsley. Yet Ricketts is confident they would not be out of their depth. ''If we could get to the Championship, it would be a massive step for the players, for the club and for the city,'' the Welsh international said. ''There's a huge gulf between the division we're in now and the Championship. ''You're talking about top, top players at that level. ''And you look at the crowds. We're a big club now averaging something like 14,000. ''But you look at clubs like Southampton, Sunderland, West Brom and Birmingham. They get 25,000 or 30,000 and that just shows you that we've got a long way to go to challenge in that league. ''But we're not scared. ''As a player you want to be testing yourself at that level and, if we did go up, it would repay a lot of the hard work done at this club over the last couple of years.'' Ricketts and Co returned to training today ahead of their May 27 promotion decider. The glory of Sunday's superb win over Brentford must now be forgotten, with all eyes focused on overcoming a Barnsley side who finished one point and one place ahead of Swansea in the League One table. Kenny Jackett's men can take heart from their regular-season meetings with the Tykes - they beat Andy Ritchie's men 3-1 at the Liberty Stadium back in August and gained a creditable 2-2 draw at Oakwell in March. ''I'm not sure we really deserved to beat them as comfortably as we did at home,'' admitted Ricketts. ''It was at the time when we were winning games for fun, and the draw at their place was very hard. They have got some good players and we had to battle for a point after Kris O'Leary got sent off.'' Ricketts, scorer of Swansea's crucial first-leg equaliser at Brentford, is predicting a wide open Millennium Stadium final. ''They have good players going forward and they like to attack,'' he added, ''and we are exactly the same. ''Both sides will fancy their chances, but if you'd said to me at the start of the season that we'd have a one-off game against Barnsley to win promotion, I would have taken it. ''I would think we'll sell all our tickets and, with our crowd behind us, hopefully we can just edge it.''

17th May 2006 EX-SWAN DANNY IS CLEAR TO PLAY IN FINAL

Evening Post Danny Nardiello has been cleared to play in the League One play-off final despite collecting his 10th booking of the season at Huddersfield on Monday. The former Swansea City loan player feared the worst when he was booked in the dying minutes of Barnsley's semi-final win at the Galpharm Stadium. ''Further to discussions with the Football League, the club can confirm that Daniel Nardiello has been severely cautioned with regard to his future conduct,'' said a Barnsley statement. ''He will be available for selection for the play-off final.'' The reprimand is standard procedure after the second Sunday in April. Had it come earlier, Nardiello would have landed a two-match ban. Barnsley, meanwhile, have been allocated just 29,000 tickets for their trip to Cardiff - 3,452 fewer than Swansea.

17th May 2006 GOING UP?

Evening Post-GARETH VINCENT Huw Jenkins has indicated that Swansea City will look to increase the Liberty Stadium's capacity if they reach the Championship. The Swansea chairman is hatching ambitious plans to extend Swansea's home should Kenny Jackett's men come through next week's League One play-off final. After average gates of more than 14,000 at the Liberty this season, Swansea anticipate higher home attendances should they return to English football's second tier after a 22-year absence. And they also expect to welcome much larger away followings from clubs like Birmingham, Sunderland and West Brom. ''The question facing us now is whether our stadium is going to be big enough,'' Jenkins said. ''We have filled it around five times this season with very few away supporters coming, which is not something you'd expect if we were lucky enough to reach the Championship. ''And I have got no doubt that our fan base will continue to grow. It has done so significantly over the last 18 months and I'm sure it will continue because the support is there across South West Wales. ''With the calibre of teams we would be playing in the Championship and the volume of fans they would bring, I would think we'd be close to a sell-out every week. ''That would be a nice problem to have, of course, but we're not just going to sit back, do nothing and have fans not being able to get in. ''We would have to see how we could look at things because we want to keep on progressing as a club. ''If we get to the Championship next week, we are not going to think: 'We're at our level, let's settle for this'. ''We want to go on and try to challenge further. That's what we are all here for.'' The Swansea supremo is keen to point out that a second consecutive promotion is by no means a foregone conclusion. Jackett's side must first overcome a Barnsley outfit who proved their attacking prowess with a table-turning 3-1 win at Huddersfield on Monday night. But Jenkins is optimistic Swansea can triumph at the Millennium Stadium for the second time in two months. ''We're realistic and recognise that the final is going to be agonising for either ourselves or Barnsley,'' he added. ''We've been through a range of emotions already this season with the great start and then a poor spell after Christmas. ''But we seem to have come through that. We seemed as strong as we've ever been at Brentford and saw the sort of clinical finishing from Leon (Knight) that we have been lacking in recent times. ''It now boils down to whether we can reproduce that sort of form a week on Saturday.''

17th May 2006 Full train service for Swansea's play-off final in Cardiff

Western Mail SWANSEA City fans have been promised there will be no problems in ferrying them to the Millennium Stadium for the vital League One play-off final against Barnsley on May 27. Swans supporters had to travel by road to the Football League Trophy final at the Cardiff stadium last month, as Network Rail cancelled all trains from Swansea because of engineering work. But yesterday Network Rail gave assurances there will be a full service when the fans travel to Cardiff for the play-off final. And it is likely there will be extra train services. Swansea will receive 32,452 tickets for the final.

17th May 2006 Yorath backs Swans for Championship spot

Western Mail TERRY YORATH is certain former club Swansea City can clinch promotion to the Championship next week. Huddersfield Town No 2 Yorath is preparing for another season in League One after his side lost their play-off semi-final against Barnsley. But the former Wales manager has tipped the Swans to end Barnsley's promotion dream at the Millennium Stadium - insisting the quality of Kenny Jackett's strikers will see the Liberty Stadium side through. "I know Swansea can do it," said Yorath, whose side's promotion aspirations were ended with a 3-2 aggregate defeat against their Yorkshire rivals. "I put that down to the fact they've got such good variation with their strikers. "The likes of Leon Knight and Lee Trundle, who you can swap round, have the quality to see Swansea through. "Barnsley have got (Marc) Richards, (Daniel) Nardiello and (Paul) Hayes, but they're not prolific scorers. They're not like Knight and Trundle. "They're up-and-down centre-forwards. "If Swansea can get Knight running in the channels and Trundle on the ball, it'll cause Barnsley a lot of problems. "Their weakness is at the back. Their defenders aren't the quickest." At the start of the week it was looking like a Swansea-Huddersfield final as the Terriers took a 1-0 lead into the second leg of the semi-final at the Galpharm Stadium. But Andy Ritchie's side turned the tie on its head - former Swans loan striker Nardiello netting the decisive goal - to secure a 3-1 win on the night. So the Swans must now overcome a Barnsley side who finished one place above them to complete the step up into the Championship. "It should be an expansive final as both clubs try to play attractive football and both have players who like to get on the ball," said Yorath, who had two stints as Swansea manager from 1986-89 and 1990-91. "What you don't want is a team going in and playing negatively, holding back. "When we went to the Millennium a couple of years ago (Huddersfield beat Mansfield in the old Division Three play-off final) we decided to play as normal and attack. "That's what you've got to do and, to be fair, I can't see either Swansea or Barnsley being negative. "As well as the quality of their strikers, they've got creative midfield players. "I remember the lad (Andy) Robinson, for instance, playing very well against us. "I actually think Swansea are destined to go up. Kenny Jackett has done a tremendous job down there. "He's spent a few bob, but you need to. The board have backed him all the way and hopefully they will come through with promotion. "I think Swansea can beat Barnsley without needing extra-time next week. "I'll certainly be cheering them on now." Promotion will, of course, herald the return of the South Wales derby match - and Yorath, who also had a brief spell in the Ninian Park hotseat from 1994-95, knows all about those. "It'll be tremendous to see Swansea back in the second division, and the derby game will be even more special being at a higher level than in previous years," he said. "The fans love the derbies and I really enjoyed the few Swansea-Cardiff games I was involved in. "You can forget about the formbook in those games. It tends to come down to how the two sets of strikers perform." But Yorath, who managed Sheffield Wednesday in the second tier from 2001-02, warned Swansea that the Championship is a harsh environment to adjust to. "With the stadium they've got and an ambitious board running the club, the potential is there for Swansea to succeed in the Championship," Yorath said. "But stepping up a level will be a big test for them. They don't have a tradition of playing at that level in recent years - and I'm talking about the very recent years, not the John Toshack era. "You go up and all of a sudden players' salaries shoot up. It's an expensive business. "It's all down to the management. You've got to balance the books, but at the same time spend a bit of money to attract the right quality of player."

17th May 2006 Will it be Good Knight for Trundle?

Western Mail IT IS not often that anyone in Swansea has a bad word to say about Lee Trundle. Following in the golden footsteps of former Swansea idols like John Toshack, Alan Curtis and Robbie James, Trundle is one of those celebrated players who commands nothing but adoration and respect. The charismatic striker's fantastic goal record over three seasons at the club - 59 league goals in 104 starts - coupled with his awe-inducing artistry has meant he can do no wrong in the eyes of many fans. But things could be changing. For the first time since Trundle brought his golden boots down to South Wales from Wrexham in the summer of 2003, someone has come along and presented a challenge to his goal-scoring authority. An automatic choice for almost three full seasons, the arrival of a certain Leon Knight has seen Trundle cast into the Swansea shadows, the 29-year-old in the unprecedented position of starting four of the last five games on the substitutes' bench. An unpopular decision among the Swansea faithful? Hardly. Even the most die-hard of Trundle fanatics have had to concede that Knight seems a better striking option for Kenny Jackett's side at the moment than the Scouser who loves to entertain. Those opinions have been formed, of course, on the back of Knight's sensational run of goal-scoring form. Had the former Brighton man not smashed in a hat-trick at Chesterfield to secure Swansea a play-off place, and had he not netted twice at Brentford to send them through to the Millennium Stadium, Jackett would have been roundly criticised for leaving Trundle sitting on the sidelines. But Knight has performed so impressively in the past few weeks that most Swans followers would agree that he, rather than Trundle, has to start alongside Rory Fallon in the big play-off final meeting with Barnsley on May 27. Deciding who plays on current form alone - Knight has 10 goals in 12 starts since joining the Swans in January while Trundle has only three league goals since mid-November - could not be simpler. But Knight has won over his doubters to such an extent in recent weeks that he is also being seen as the better long-term striking option for the Swans - and the one most likely to thrive at Championship level. When Knight made his £125,000 move to the Liberty Stadium in January, pundits and fans alike were drooling at the prospect of a Trundle-Knight dream team. Clearly, though, it is not a partnership that whets the manager's whistle. Only once have Knight and Trundle started up front together, and that was in the Football League Trophy win over Walsall in January. It is clear what Jackett prefers - a big target-man to hold the ball up plus either Trundle or Knight alongside him. That means either Rory Fallon - who has played his part in Swansea's final surge into the play-offs, starting the last six games and scoring three goals in them - or Adebayo Akinfenwa will definitely be scribbled onto Jackett's team-sheet. Fallon and Akinfenwa each possess that physical presence, and that ability to hold the ball up and bring others into play, that Jackett wants from what might be termed a 'second' striker. Thanks to the flourishing form of Knight, however, Trundle can no longer be regarded as an automatic pick. You can't quibble with the Liverpudlian's record - 59 goals in 104 league starts for Swansea is an exceptional return from a player who cost the club nothing when he made the switch from the Racecourse. Don't forget, this is the man crowned League One player of the year, the man who responded to those who doubted his ability to prosper in the third tier by firing in 17 goals in 18 starts before they dried up. And it will be a long time before the image of Trundle's wonderful volleyed goal in the Football League Trophy final fades from Swansea minds. But Knight possesses the one priceless quality that's missing from Trundle's game - pace. Knight's explosive speed was used to devastating effect at Chesterfield and Brentford - would Trundle have latched onto Leon Britton's pass and netted that magnificent second goal at Griffin Park? Trundle brings different things, of course. Tricking and twisting defenders in knots is often how he often gets his goals. But, as managers like saying, there is no substitute for pace and Knight's nippiness is a quality which will be precious to Swansea if they're in the Championship next term. Trundle, say the sceptics, could find life harder as the defenders get better. It could also be argued that Knight just shades Trundle in terms of his finishing skills and his movement on and off the ball. It is not that Trundle doesn't knows how to finish - he showed the nation just how good he is with that Millennium Stadium wonder goal last month - but Knight demonstrated on Sunday that he is perhaps an even more lethal finisher than the Scouser. Whatever the relative merits of the two golden-booted strikers, both will hope to play their part in helping Swansea step up into the Championship next weekend. It is just that, in contrast to the starring role he played in the Football League Trophy triumph, Trundle could be an observer for a large part of this particular occasion. Will it be Knight or will it be Trundle? No-one could argue Swansea are not blessed with a luxury of riches up front. Tale of the tape LEE TRUNDLE Goal scoring: 8 Normally a prolific hit-man who superbly struck 17 goals in 18 games at the start of season before goals dried up - just three in the league since mid-November Pace: 5 The one thing Trundle does not have. Doesn't possess that burst of speed needed to beat defenders which is why he's not playing at highest level Skill level: 9 One of the most talented footballers to wear a Swansea shirt. Excellent ability to manipulate the ball and highly entertaining when his tricks and flicks come off Shooting: 8 Excellent set piece specialist who knows exactly where the net is - witness the stunning goal he struck at the Football League Trophy Final Finishing: 7 Excellent when chances are put on a plate, but lack of pace or desire to shoot with right foot sometimes prevents him finishing off a run Strength: 7 Shows good strength in and around the box to hold off opponents and get shots in. Weaker when dealing with the ball on his right foot Heading: 5 Rarely wins a header or scores from one. One of the reasons why Kenny Jackett prefers a big target-man plus either Trundle or Knight Teamwork: 8 General game keeps improving as he has set up chances for team-mates and held the ball up to bring others into play Big match experience: 7 Revelled in last month's Football League Trophy final at the Millennium Stadium and has thrived in Swansea's big league games Wow factor: 10 Idolised by Swans fans and one of the most familiar faces outside the Premiership. There are few more eye-catching or entertaining players outside top flight TOTAL 74 LEON KNIGHT Goal scoring: 8 Like Trundle, has averaged a goal every two games in his career. Red-hot at the moment - 10 league goals in 12 Swansea starts Pace: 9 One of the quickest strikers around, a quality which would help him thrive at a higher level. Defenders simply hate speed merchants Skill level: 7 Has a good touch and excellent close control, though does not possess the passing ability of Trundle and other contemporaries Shooting: 7 For someone who stands at just 5ft 5ins, he has a pretty powerful strike on him. Not as accurate as Trundle from distance Finishing: 8 Set him off on a run and he'll usually find the net - as with the two goals at Brentford. A first-rate finisher Strength: 8 His ability to hold off defenders and get away from them belies his size. Never easily pushed off the ball Heading: 7 You don't expect him to win balls in the air, but he often does. Aerial presence is superb for such a small man Teamwork: 7 When he gets the ball in a good position, he wants to go for goal, but he's not selfish as he brings colleagues into play and creates openings Big match experience: 7 Played in League One play-off final for Brighton in 2004 and slotted home the match-winning penalty. Like Trundle, has delivered in pressure-filled league matches Wow factor: 8 Doesn't have Trundle's star status, but a good scoring reputation. Hat-trick on debut, another treble at Chesterfield and the double at Brentford won over fans TOTAL 76

16th May 2006 Macari tips Swans star Knight for the top

Western Mail MAN UNITED legend Lou Macari insists Swansea hero Leon Knight belongs in the Premiership - dubbing him a better goalscorer than England stars Jermain Defoe and Darius Vassell. Swans fans and football pundits have been stumbling over themselves to hail Knight's explosive talents after he fired the club into the League One play-off final with two stunning strikes at Brentford. But it is unlikely the former Stamford Bridge trainee has received such high praise as that which has been lavished on him by the man who gave him his first extended taste of league football. Macari took Knight on loan from Chelsea for seven months when he was in charge of Huddersfield Town back in 2001. Having had an unsuccessful spell at Queens Park Rangers, Knight's time in Yorkshire emphatically marked his arrival on the Football League scene since he struck 16 goals in just 31 league appearances. And Macari, who watched with interest as Knight secured Swansea a place at the Millennium Stadium in Sunday's superb 2-0 win at Griffin Park, says he has always felt the 23-year-old should be plying his trade at the top level. "Leon's got so much talent - he's quick, very, very strong and for a young lad, he's got a good shot on him and he's exceptionally good in the air," said the former Celtic and Scotland great. "With those abilities, I really believe the Premiership is where he ultimately belongs. "Leon compares favourably with a lot of players operating at that level. "Take Darius Vassell and Jermain Defoe - one of whom has played for England in the past and the other's on standby for the World Cup. They're both good centre-forwards, but they don't get their fair share of goals because they haven't got the knack. "Leon has got the knack. If you sent Knight, Defoe and Vassell through on goal, the one man I'd back to put the ball in the back of the net most often is little Leon. Without question." High praise indeed for the man who arrived at the Liberty Stadium in a £125,000 switch from Brighton in January, and has already struck 13 goals. The burning question, though, is if Knight is good enough to be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United each week, what on earth is he doing in the lower leagues? Macari asked himself a similar question before agreeing to take him to Huddersfield. The answer, he says, lies in the belief that Knight - who came to South Wales with something of a bad-boy reputation - has not always coupled his ability with application. "I've got no doubt Leon can get to the Premiership if his attitude is right - perhaps he's just got to push himself a bit to get there," said Macari, now a television and radio pundit. "As Huddersfield manager, I first saw Leon playing for Chelsea reserves. I always made a habit of going to the London reserve matches to see if I could spot a player. "I knew Leon had ability, but I couldn't understand why Chelsea were willing to let him out on loan. "He was an up-and-coming player who had managed to negotiate himself some hefty wages for someone who was only about 17 at the time. "Chelsea didn't let many players like that out on loan. "The reason was he and one of his buddies at Chelsea had been involved in an off-the-field incident and I think they wanted to split them up by loaning Leon out. "People said I'd have a problem taking him on, that Leon might be awkward, but I never had a problem with him. "When he first arrived, I made sure he knew that I was in charge, and I told him I'd want him to change a few things from before. "He was not overly-fit - or keen to get himself fit, which would make it difficult for him to achieve what he wanted to achieve in the game. "Our conversations were all amicable, and he went on to be a huge success for the club. He couldn't stop scoring and he was a crowd favourite. "What he's done for Swansea this season, he did for us then, his goals helping us to the play-off semi-finals - where we lost against Brentford, funnily enough. "The only blip was he got sent off in his last game for us, meaning we couldn't have him for those play-off games. "The following season Leon had a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday, and I couldn't believe it when I saw him playing for their reserve team one day. "He had lost his appetite for playing for them. He can get like that. "As a manager, you can be firm with Leon but you can't be too demanding with him. Demanding every last ounce from him doesn't work. He'll give you what he feels he can." Having helped Brighton win promotion to the Championship in the first settled spell of an already colourful career, Knight now hopes to do exactly the same for Swansea. A hat-trick at Chesterfield on the final day of the regular season, a double at Brentford... is the script written for him to finish the job at the Millennium on May 27? "As I sat down to watch Sunday's game at Brentford I said to my lad Paul that Leon would win the game for Swansea," Macari said. "He's the kind of player who responds to the big-time match. "Where there's a lot resting on it, he wants to be No 1. "He always wants to show he's No 1. "Even if he's not on target in Cardiff next week, he's certain to make things happen at the Millennium Stadium because he's a clever player. "He'll contribute something." Swans fans can hardly wait to see what Knight does next. No pressure, though, Leon.

16th May 2006 Big clash can't come fast enough for Britton

Western Mail SWANSEA CITY winger Leon Britton admits he wishes the League One play-off final was this weekend. Britton says he can't wait for the May 27 clash at the Millennium Stadium after Swansea's semi-final triumph at Brentford on Sunday. "We've got nearly two weeks before the final and that's a bit of a wait," said the 23-year-old Londoner. "I've got to say that I would like to play a bit sooner, but I suppose the rest is welcome. "We've played two tough games in such a short time. "We'll be able to put our feet up for a few days and charge the batteries for the final." Britton - who has been so consistent this season - bounced back from an ordinary display in the first-leg against Brentford last Thursday to shine at Griffin Park. The wideman picked out Leon Knight with a splendid 30-yard pass for Swansea's second goal and was high-energy all over the pitch in both attacking and defensive situations. "Thursday wasn't brilliant for me personally, but you know you're going to have some bad games as well as good ones," he said. "You've just got to keep going, run your socks off and give everything for the team." On his part in Swansea's crucial second goal, Britton added, "I saw Leon and managed to get it over the defender's head. "He took a brilliant touch and the finish was magnificent. The first one was a great goal as well and we know that if we give him chances he's going to score. "It was a brilliant performance. We got the two goals in quick succession and it was just about digging in, working hard and seeing out the result." Britton and his Swansea teammates, of course, are now heading back to the Millennium Stadium for the second time this season. And he believes the 2-1 Football League Trophy victory over Carlisle six weeks ago will stand them in good stead for the play-off finale. "That was a brilliant experience," he said. "Every one of the players involved with Swansea loved that day and to get to the Millennium Stadium twice in one season is fantastic. "As soon as we got in the play-offs we wanted another day there. Hopefully it will be like a home game for us again. "We know it's going to be difficult but our experience of being there before will help us get the same result."

15th May 2006 I've no complaints, admits Bees' boss Allen

Western Mail BRENTFORD manager Martin Allen said he was bitterly disappointed by his side's defeat, but admitted the stronger side had won. Allen, who saw his side fail at the same stage of the play-offs last season at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday, also praised Swansea's two-goal hero Leon Knight for the manner in which he found the net. It was ironic for Allen, who saw his own firepower blunted before the match with injuries to Lloyd Owusu and Marcus Gayle giving the Bees front line a makeshift appearance. "I'm bitterly disappointed by what's happened, I did believe we were going to win, but there you go," said Allen. "I've no complaints though, they were stronger than us. We made some horrible individual errors as well and got very harshly punished for them. "But you don't want to make any excuses at a time like this, I must say their lad (Leon Knight) took both his chances very well, very good finishing. The difference was they took their chances, we had the first chance of the game today and we didn't take it, that says it all really. "To be down by two goals after 15 minutes was very poor. In the second half we gave it a go, but it was too late by then." Allen refused to let the loss of his strikers or events at the first leg at the Liberty Stadium, where Brentford keeper Stuart Nelson was sent off and Sam Ricketts grabbed a last-gasp equaliser, act as excuses. Allen said, "We've just got to take it on the chin and get on. Of course, losing Owusu and Gayle was a blow. Regarding the first leg, well, I don't want to sound bitter, but it's the first time I've felt like criticising a referee."

15th May 2006 HOW THE SWANS RATED

Western Mail WILLY GUERET: Handling was solid as he made sure there were no spillages the Bees could profit from. Did well to hold on to a venomous 25-yard Gareth O'Connor free-kick early in second period. ALAN TATE: Recovered from a below-par outing in the home leg to produce a first-rate defensive display. First to the ball, cleared his lines without fuss and linked up well with Leon Britton down the right flank. GARRY MONK: Immense at the centre of defence, making several important interventions and restricting Brentford's front two to just a few sightings of goal. Just the kind of commanding display needed from the skipper. KEVIN AUSTIN: A no-nonsense, man-the-barricades kind of performance from Swansea's stocky No 3. Got pulled around a few times, but kept concentration to make sure he wasn't beaten and won a handful of headers. SAM RICKETTS: Defended astutely and offered support going forward. Swansea might have established the luxury of a three-goal overall advantage had he found some accuracy with a first-half cross. A fine display, though. LEON BRITTON: Excellent in the first period, a real bundle of energy and creativity as he supplied the perfect pass for Leon Knight to claim his second. Faded a little after the interval, but never stopped working. KRIS O'LEARY: Added much-needed bite in central midfield on his return to the side. Cut out Brentford forward passes and made sure Liberty Stadium havoc-maker Jay Tabb had a much quieter game. OWAIN TUDUR JONES: A quiet afternoon for the beanpole No 23, who might have provided more of an attacking threat given Kris O'Leary was alongside him to perform the dirty work. Tidy in possession, though. ANDY ROBINSON: Had to watch his step after picking up an early booking, but more than played his part in a great team performance. Switched to left flank and forged a good association with Sam Ricketts. LEON KNIGHT: Two exquisite finishes booked Swansea a place at the Millennium. With this and his Chesterfield treble, what a terrific contribution he's made to get them there. First class. RORY FALLON: No goals, but played a strong supporting role as he eased the pain of play-off semi-final defeat with Swindon in 2004. Snatched at a couple of chances when he had time to at least force a save. Subs: Adrian Forbes for Knight (67) Tom Williams for Robinson (75)Lee Trundle for Fallon (86) Subs not used: Brian Murphy, Adebayo Akinfenwa Brentford Nelson, O'Connor, Sodje, Turner, Frampton (Tillen, 46), Newman (Willock, 24), Tabb, Pratley, Smith (Brooker, 46), Rankin, Rhodes. Subs not used: Bankole, Hutchinson

15th May 2006 Shining Knight gallops in at double

Western Mail A FEW miles down the road, champions Chelsea were parading the Premiership trophy with an open-top bus tour around the streets of west London. Not many Blues supporters paying homage to Jose Mourinho and his players would have recalled a little lad called Leon Knight starting his career at Stamford Bridge. Swansea fans, on the other hand, may never forget him. It is thanks to the former Chelsea trainee that the Liberty Stadium faithful woke up this morning with a king-sized headache and the dream of Championship football a big step closer to becoming reality. What an afternoon for Knight, what a mouth-watering prospect in store for Swansea as Kenny Jackett's side prepare for a second trip to the Millennium Stadium inside two months to face either Huddersfield or Barnsley in the League One play-off final. Swansea supporters' finger-nails would have been chewed away even before they filtered trough Griffin Park's turnstiles, such was the trepidation that accompanied the anticipation with the score finely balanced at 1-1 from the first leg. Two outstanding pieces of finishing from Knight inside the first 15 minutes - eight days after his super Chesterfield hat-trick secured the Swans a play-off spot - settled their butterflies better than any stomach medicine could have done. And, with Martin Allen's shell-shocked side resembling a boxer unable to haul himself up off a bloodied canvas, Knight's mesmerising two-goal show proved more than enough to complete Swansea's passage to the final on May 27. If it seemed Swansea was gripped with Millennium Stadium fever ahead of their Football League Trophy triumph there last month, things are about to be taken to a new level. As overjoyed as Jackett's players were to book a place in Cardiff, celebrations were suitably restrained yesterday in the knowledge that the job is only half done - Huddersfield, as well as the Swans, have valuable experience of playing inside the cauldron that is the Millennium. Spoilsport Metropolitan Police officers did their own bit to make sure the post-match revelry was contained as they formed a wall on the halfway line to prevent the Swans players going right up to the visiting enclosure to applaud their euphoric fans. But, as you can imagine, celebrations will be unconfined should Swansea follow up last month's cup victory over Carlisle by securing a place alongside the likes of Birmingham, Crystal Palace and Sunderland next season on their return to the national stadium. What a time for Swansea to get right back into the promotion groove. For now, at least, gone are memories of the depressing post-Christmas run that saw the Swans squander their place in the top two and contrive to drop out of the top six on the back of those appalling back-to-back Easter defeats. The goals are flowing again and the defence is keeping clean sheets. We await with interest the result of tonight's decisive Yorkshire play-off derby - Huddersfield are defending a 1-0 lead from the first leg at Oakwell - but it will be a formidable opponent who stops Swansea achieving their goal if they can maintain this kind of momentum. The most pleasing thing for Jackett - who will now hope to erase the hurt he felt as Queens Park Rangers No 2 when the Loftus Road side lost to Cardiff at the Millennium in the 2003 Division Two play-off final - was the highly accomplished way they swatted the Bees. From back to front, the Swans could scarcely be faulted. Strength, determination, hunger, spirit, skill on the ball...the Welsh side had it all in abundance. Crestfallen Brentford had no answer to Knight's deadly double. For all of Allen's eccentric pitchside arm-waving and crowd-rousing, his bedraggled team could find no way past a fantastically resolute Swans defence - marshalled expertly by captain Garry Monk. To think that many of the 3,200 Swans fans who funnelled down the M4 and squeezed into this antiquated old ground - so cramped it seems crowded even when it's empty - were fearing extra-time and penalties. Brentford - for whom Jamie Smith spurned a good first-minute opening that might have changed the course of the game - staged something of a fightback after the interval, but the result rarely seemed in doubt once Knight had netted his second goal on 15 minutes. The travelling fans had barely composed themselves after the first one. It was a mammoth roar that pierced the west London air when the £125,000 capture from Brighton took just five minutes to justify Jackett's decision to field him ahead of Lee Trundle once again. Rory Fallon's head barely seemed to make contact with Willy Gueret's deep free-kick, but it didn't matter as the ball bounced perfectly for Knight to flick it over keeper Stuart Nelson with the outside of his boot from 18 yards for his 13th Swansea goal. What a deliciously sweet moment for the Swans fans bathed in sunshine behind Nelson's net. Not even the most optimistic of them could have anticipated 1-0 becoming 2-0 just eight minutes later - and from another superbly-executed goal at that. But 2-0 it was after Britton pounced on Andrew Frampton's failure to keep close control near the touchline and flighted a perfectly-weighted ball over the Bees defence. Knight neatly took it in his stride before smashing the ball emphatically into the top corner. Unbelievable stuff. Stunned by what he was witnessing, the manager they call Mad Dog spent the rest of the first half constantly barking instructions at his dejected troops as Allen anxiously patrolled his technical area and urged home fans to help inspire a revival. Allen's response to the double setback was to make a substitution after only 24 minutes that enabled him to restructure his team into a 4-3-3 formation. The effect, however, was negligible as Swansea revelled in the extra midfield space, maintained the pressure on Allen's wilting defence and Fallon snatched at a chance to make it 3-0. Fallon surely would not have made another mistake had Sam Ricketts centred across goal rather than balloon it high over everyone's heads when both the Kiwi striker and Knight were perfectly placed to slide home. The second half called for Swansea to show grit and resolve as the Bees peppered Gueret's goal. Defender Gareth O'Connor came closest with a venomous 25-yard free-kick that the Frenchman did well to hold. As the clock ticked down, it was simply a case of the Swans keeping their concentration at the back and retaining possession going forward. Overall, they did a commendable job on both fronts, though Fallon and substitute Tom Williams squandered chances to rub salt into Brentford wounds. No matter, though, because the job was done. Home supporters tried to taunt Knight with chants of "Chelsea reject!" but the little Londoner would not have cared one bit. Just as Steven Gerrard had struck two stunning goals for Liverpool in Cardiff 24 hours earlier, Knight had netted two gems of his own to put the Swans through to the Millennium. Swansea, lest anyone should forget, have not been in the second tier of English football since 1984. Thanks to Knight shining back in his old manor, Jackett's men are close - so tantalisingly close - to making a joyful return. Roll on May 27. It promises to be some day.

15th May 2006 Let's go out and do it - Jackett

Western Mail SWANSEA CITY manager Kenny Jackett saluted his players following their win at Brentford and then demanded one final effort for the play-off final, issuing the rallying cry, "It's win or bust." A clearly delighted Jackett saw his decision to start with Leon Knight up front rather than Swans idol Lee Trundle proved justified when the ex-Brighton man fired two first-half goals to take his side to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on May 27. "It was great to come somewhere like Griffin Park, which you know is going to be an intimidating place and come away with the result we wanted," said Jackett. "Brentford put us under a lot of pressure, particularly in the second half. We knew that was going to happen and I thought we coped with it really well. "Our back four had to work very hard, but I don't think that Brentford really carved out a clear opening during the whole match which was a credit to us really. "We had a dream start, getting the two goals. When I got the lads in at half-time, I knew we were going to get pinned back and I asked them to try to exploit the spaces Brentford would be leaving, but to be fair we never really managed to do that." Jackett said he had no problem leaving Trundle as a substitute and opting to go with Knight who has hit a rich vein of form at the end of the Swans' campaign. Jackett said, "My front-line has never caused me a problem to be honest. "We've had no trouble scoring goals, we scored more than everybody around us this season. Leon took his goals very well, beautifully taken, two goals out of nothing really. "But I know what he can do, he's one of those players whose got an instinct for such things." Jackett said he was planning to get his side in the right frame of thought for the final and wanted them to keep playing good football even on the biggest occasions. "It's going to be a massive game for everyone involved with the club. It's another fantastic day out for the fans," he said. "But we've got to prepare ourselves right, physically and mentally. "We want to win, but we want to put in a good performance mostly, though I believe if you put in the performance, the results will follow. The final is a one-off game, it's everything or nothing for us. "A very hard season has come down to an afternoon at the Millennium Stadium. But we look forward to it, we're going to try and enjoy it, we have a focus, everything at the club is focused on that game." The Swans and their manager have experience of the Millennium Stadium already this season following their 2-1 Football League Trophy win over Carlisle. Jackett is also acutely aware of play-off disappointment at the Millennium as well: he was assistant manager at QPR when Cardiff City beat them 1-0 three years ago. "The fact we have been to the Millennium this season already could be an advantage, but only if we prepare properly," he said. "One thing for sure - I'm hoping for a better outcome than I had against Cardiff that day. "That was extremely disappointing, but that was a different occasion. This is my first time as a manager in the final. "I'm not too worried about who we will meet this time, Barnsley and Huddersfield each finished above us, so we know it's going to be tough." And the Swansea boss briefly permitted himself to look beyond the play-offs to the possibility of the club achieving promotion. Jackett concluded,"There's no doubt that this is a Championship club, in every way. "You look at our stadium and the crowds we're attracting this season. "If we can get up, I have no doubt Swansea is a club that can consolidate and thrive in the Championship."

12th May 2006 We can still do it, vows Jackett

Western Mail BOSS Kenny Jackett insisted Swansea City were still in the promotion hunt after Sam Ricketts handed his side a play-off lifeline last night. The Wales defender's deflected 87th-minute drive gave Swansea a 1-1 draw against 10-man Brentford, who had seen goalkeeper Stuart Nelson red-carded in the second half for dragging down Leon Knight on the edge of the area. Brentford had dominated until that point and seemed likely to take a precious lead into Sunday's second leg at Griffin Park. And Jackett said, "There's a slight advantage to Brentford now as they're at home. But we're not out of it. It's still all there for us." On the controversial red card incident that turned the tie on its head, Jackett said, "How much contact there was we'll have to wait and see. "But Leon got to the ball first and he was clearly past the goalkeeper. "The lad said as he came off that he didn't touch Leon. But Leon said he did and, from where the referee stood, he thought he did as well. "Some of those you get, some you don't. But you'd definitely fancy Leon to get there first as he's the other side of the goalkeeper." Jackett admitted that Swansea had been outplayed in the first period, wideman Jay Tabb putting the Bees ahead after 29 minutes when he squeezed home his shot inside the near post. "They played very well in the first half and edged us in that period," he said. "They deserved the lead on the balance of play. "We were out-competed, we were second to the ball, our back four was too deep and we gave our front two very little service. At times we were chasing shadows. "We needed to lift it and we came back strong in the second half - and the equaliser has really given us a lifeline. "We'll take the draw going up to Griffin Park." Brentford boss Martin Allen did not disagree with the decision to send off Nelson, but he was angry about the rest of Hampshire referee Keith Stroud's performance. "It was the only decision that he did get right," said Allen. "The referee got carried away with the atmosphere and gave our players no protection. "Some of the Swansea players should have been booked for some late challenges. "But I was proud of the lads. We played with confidence and self-belief and opened them up at times. "To do that in front of 19,000 people was terrific. We passed the ball well and were in control until the sending-off. I can't really remember them having any shots in the second half." On the balance of power, Allen added, "It's 1-1 going to Griffin Park, but who knows who's got the advantage. "I never said we were favourites and it's still even-stevens going into the second game."

12th May 2006 We can still do it, vows Jackett

Western Mail BOSS Kenny Jackett insisted Swansea City were still in the promotion hunt after Sam Ricketts handed his side a play-off lifeline last night. The Wales defender's deflected 87th-minute drive gave Swansea a 1-1 draw against 10-man Brentford, who had seen goalkeeper Stuart Nelson red-carded in the second half for dragging down Leon Knight on the edge of the area. Brentford had dominated until that point and seemed likely to take a precious lead into Sunday's second leg at Griffin Park. And Jackett said, "There's a slight advantage to Brentford now as they're at home. But we're not out of it. It's still all there for us." On the controversial red card incident that turned the tie on its head, Jackett said, "How much contact there was we'll have to wait and see. "But Leon got to the ball first and he was clearly past the goalkeeper. "The lad said as he came off that he didn't touch Leon. But Leon said he did and, from where the referee stood, he thought he did as well. "Some of those you get, some you don't. But you'd definitely fancy Leon to get there first as he's the other side of the goalkeeper." Jackett admitted that Swansea had been outplayed in the first period, wideman Jay Tabb putting the Bees ahead after 29 minutes when he squeezed home his shot inside the near post. "They played very well in the first half and edged us in that period," he said. "They deserved the lead on the balance of play. "We were out-competed, we were second to the ball, our back four was too deep and we gave our front two very little service. At times we were chasing shadows. "We needed to lift it and we came back strong in the second half - and the equaliser has really given us a lifeline. "We'll take the draw going up to Griffin Park." Brentford boss Martin Allen did not disagree with the decision to send off Nelson, but he was angry about the rest of Hampshire referee Keith Stroud's performance. "It was the only decision that he did get right," said Allen. "The referee got carried away with the atmosphere and gave our players no protection. "Some of the Swansea players should have been booked for some late challenges. "But I was proud of the lads. We played with confidence and self-belief and opened them up at times. "To do that in front of 19,000 people was terrific. We passed the ball well and were in control until the sending-off. I can't really remember them having any shots in the second half." On the balance of power, Allen added, "It's 1-1 going to Griffin Park, but who knows who's got the advantage. "I never said we were favourites and it's still even-stevens going into the second game."

12th May 2006 Sam strike keeps the dream alive

Western Mail NOT one to find his way onto the scoresheet very often, Sam Ricketts could come to cherish the rare goal he struck to rescue Swansea City from play-off misery last night. Swansea's bid to reach the Millennium Stadium final looked as if it would become an uphill task as Martin Allen's Brentford led 1-0 with three minutes to go. It seemed Kenny Jackett's side would have it all to do in west London as Swansea struggled to recover from Jay Tabb's 29th-minute goal, but Ricketts had other ideas. The Wales international set up a gripping return clash when he put the two sides back on level terms with a deflected 87th-minute strike - his first goal since December 17. Though Brentford now possess a slight advantage, you had to concede 1-1 was a fair result as the Bees - reduced to 10 men on 53 minutes when goalkeeper Stuart Nelson was dismissed for a professional foul on Leon Knight - were the better side in the first half, while Swansea mastered the second. Unlike the 4-0 romp at Chesterfield, this was an evening when the Swans did not make the most of the numerous chances they created in front of another bumper - not to mention highly expectant - Liberty Stadium crowd. Stand by for an unbearably tense deciding encounter in London, then, as the two sides battle for the right to face Huddersfield or Barnsley in the final. There may be a change or two for Sunday's rematch, but it was no surprise last night that Jackett kept faith with the side that ploughed into the play-offs with that crushing Chesterfield triumph - how could he have tinkered after that? After hitting a hat-trick at Saltergate, Knight would have been more than a little aggrieved had he resumed bench duty and Lee Trundle made a first XI return. As expected, though, top scorer Trundle was held in reserve once again until his services were required on 68 minutes as Swansea trailed 1-0. You could sense from their determination to achieve a result that Brentford had travelled down the M4 still smarting from missing out on automatic promotion. In contrast to Swansea's thrilling Chesterfield win, the Bees finished the regular season with a rather limp 2-2 draw at Bournemouth that cost them that top-two place. You don't have to go too far back to trace Brentford's last appearance in the second tier of English football, but Swansea have not been there for 22 years. And it was the mouthwatering prospect of hosting former Premiership outfits like Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham and Crystal Palace that made the Liberty a cauldron of feverish excitement as the sell-out crowd sent the decibel level soaring. You could almost smell the anticipation among the supporters. Swansea certainly started like a side determined to grasp the opportunity in front of them, though not before suffering a fifth-minute scare in which the menacing Isaiah Rankin turned sharply some 20 yards out and produced a rising effort that sailed inches over Willy Gueret's crossbar. White shirts soon flooded forward, hungry to claim first blood. The first home chance fell to Swansea's very own 17-year-old wild card, Shaun MacDonald, who collected Andy Robinson's quick free-kick and forced a corner with a decent 20-yard attempt. Leon Britton was presented with an even better opportunity on 21 minutes but, having left his marker Andrew Frampton sprawling on the deck, the little Londoner aimed wastefully over the bar when Rory Fallon planted the ball at his feet inside the box. The miss was to prove costly as Tabb's midfield dynamism blew holes in the Swans defence. Tabb gave a hint of what was lurking around the corner when he sent a rasping 20-yard drive into Gueret's arms after beating Alan Tate five minutes before his goal. Deviating from the script that states the Swans must take the lead on home soil, Tabb slipped the ball out wide to Sam Tillen, who danced his way into the box, past an increasingly hassled Tate, and centred for Rankin. Unable to squeeze home a shot himself, Rankin instead found unmarked Tabb loitering 14 yards from goal, and Brentford's creative midfield spark drove the ball low past a cluster of despairing Swansea legs. This was not in Swansea's plan. But, having played some fine flowing football and showed no shortage of bite in the final third, it had to be said that Brentford just about deserved their half-time lead. But Swansea had mustered chances to restore parity before the interval. Home fans, who were subdued for a short while after the goal, soon found full voice again as Knight pressed the turbo button to speed down the right flank and supply a deep cross for Fallon. The Kiwi striker, though, was craning to reach the ball and was unable to get power on an upward header. There were other chances, MacDonald stinging Nelson's fingertips with a smart 20-yard shot and Robinson shaving the angle of post and bar with a curling 25-yard free-kick. Having been omitted entirely at Chesterfield, Swansea's all-action wide man Adrian Forbes came on for MacDonald at the halfway point, though it was Wales defender Ricketts who produced the first opening of the second period when he unleashed a piercing drive from the corner of the box that Nelson initially fumbled. Then came the moment that gave Swansea extra hope. Racing onto a through ball from Owain Tudur Jones, Knight was poised to lob Nelson from the edge of the area when the keeper clattered into him and sent him sprawling. Nelson was not strictly the last man - there was one covering defender in place - but referee Keith Stroud nonetheless saw fit to issue a red card and Rankin was sacrificed for substitute keeper Ademole Bankole. Robinson's resulting free-kick took a deflection and spun out for a corner as the Swansea faithful began singing Trundle's name in anticipation of his introduction off the bench. They got what they wanted with 22 minutes remaining, though it was somewhat surprising that Knight was the one to make way. Though he'd had few clear sightings of goal on this occasion, the former Brighton striker had been in the thick of things all evening. The stage was set for Trundle to mark his return with a long-awaited league goal - and it was obvious how keen he was to reacquaint himself with the scoresheet. On 79 minutes, for example, Trundle cut in from the right and rather than pass to Forbes in space, went it alone and produced an arrowed effort that flew into Bankole's arms. Missed chances seemed destined to be the story of the evening, but Ricketts wrote a happier ending to restore confidence and belief ahead of Sunday's second leg. The left-back sent the crowd into a frenzy when he drifted to the edge of the box and powered a low drive into the bottom of the net via a deflection that wrong-footed Bankole. How the Swans rated WILLY GUERET Fielded a couple of shots before wrong-footed by Jay Tabb's near post effort little to do after Brentford were reduced to 10 men in the second half. ALAN TATE Received player of the year award before kick-off but troubled by Tabb's trickery and pace throughout. Booked for hauling down the Republic of Ireland U21 wideman. GARRY MONK Story continues ADVERTISEMENT I'm a: WomanMan Seeking a ManWoman Location: Age : to Photo profiles only Often under pressure from the experienced Marcus Gayle. Reasonably solid display, though will have been disappointed by manner of Brentford goal. KEVIN AUSTIN Probably his last game at the Liberty Stadium and the out-of-contract defender had some difficult moments, though cleared his lines when he had to. SAM RICKETTS Pre-occupied by Jamie Smith's pace early on but Brentford dismissal allowed him space to scamper into and deflected shot provided Swans life-saver. LEON BRITTON His early energy posed a threat down the right but blazed great chance over the top and toiled to make impression as the game wore on. OWAIN TUDUR JONES Found it difficult to impose himself in the first half. Became more prominent after the break and his shrewd pass sparked red-card incident. ANDY ROBINSON Hub of attacking moves but struggled to pull creative string. Scored twice against Brentford this season but free-kicks not up to the mark for change. SHAUN MacDONALD Worked hard and tried his luck from distance twice. But steep learning curve for the Swansea-born teenager and gave way to Adrian Forbes at half-time. LEON KNIGHT Buzzed around on the back of Saltergate hat-trick, but no repeat goal show even if pace resulted in Brentford 'keeper Stuart Nelson being dismissed. RORY FALLON Typical aerial presence and held the ball up well. Set up early Britton chance, but nothing fell his way in the box as his goal run dried up. Subs: Adrian Forbes (for MacDonald, 46) Lee Trundle (for Knight, 68) Adebayo Akinfenwa (for Fallon, 90) Not used: Tom Williams, Brian Murphy. Brentford: Nelson, Tillen, Turner, O' Connor, Frampton, Smith, Newman, Pratley, Tabb (Brooker 84), Rankin (Bankole 54), Gayle. Subs: (not used) Lewis, Rhodes, Hutchinson.

10th May 2006 WIN-WIN? FOR TUDUR JONES IT'S NOT

Evening Post In a week when one youngster's first international call went off the Richter scale, a Wales summons for Owain Tudur Jones barely caused a tremor. No-one would expect Theomania, but Tudur Jones, a university student this time last year, might have anticipated a little more fuss after John Toshack named him in the party to visit Spain and Austria later this month. Perhaps the low-key reaction is down to the fact that ever since he arrived for a trial at Swansea City last summer, the powerhouse midfielder has looked more Wales probable than possible. Toshack, watching Swansea training on the eve of the season, was heard enthusing about the young talent Kenny Jackett had found playing for Bangor City in the Welsh top flight. But for injury, Tudur Jones's maiden Wales call might have come before now. As it is, his maiden Wales appearance may have to wait. "Every youngster wants to play for his national side and I'm no different," Tudur Jones says. "It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid, but I would be really disappointed if I end up joining up with Wales." The problem? If Tudur Jones is on a training field with Ryan Giggs and the rest in a week's time, Lee Trundle and company will be on holiday. "I'm delighted to get into the Wales squad, it's brilliant for me, but I have a job to do with Swansea first and foremost," he adds. "If I had a choice of getting into the Championship and meeting up with this particular squad, I would choose the Championship every day of the week. "If we make the play-off final, I won't be going with Wales because the dates clash. "If things go wrong in the semi-final, I would be able to travel with Wales which is still a good thing. "People might say it's a win-win situation for me, but I don't see it like that. "If I'm away with Wales then something really disappointing has happened over the two games against Brentford." Theo Walcott, England's new World Cup hope, is 50-1 to break a metatarsal before the tournament kicks off. A safer bet is that whatever happens to Tudur Jones this month, Toshack will come calling again. "Getting into the squad shows he is looking at me," the 21-year-old adds. "But to get to Wales level I need to keep improving and the way to do that is by playing regularly for Swansea. "If I'm doing that in the Championship, it's only going to help my cause. If we could get through the play-offs, it would be absolutely massive. "The next couple of weeks have the potential to change all our individual careers as footballers and also to change the club completely. "When you think where Swansea were a couple of years ago, reaching the Championship would be absolutely fantastic." Toshack said when naming his squad, which also includes Sam Ricketts, for games against a Basque XI and Trinidad & Tobago that he hoped Jackett's men would ruin his plans. To do that they must overcome a Brentford side known for their physical prowess who ran Swansea ragged for 45 minutes at Griffin Park over Christmas. "We went in 2-0 down and the manager had a go at us at half-time that day," Tudur Jones recalls. "In the second half we battered them even though we had 10 men and it was just unfortunate that we didn't pull a goal back until the last couple of minutes. "Brentford are a good side who work very hard for each other, but we feel if we can match their work-rate and match them physically, we have the footballing ability to give us the edge." Tudur Jones, who was studying for a sports science degree until turning professional, reckons Swansea may also boast a psychological advantage. "People talk about us being disappointed at not finishing second, but all the clubs in the play-offs are feeling like that and especially Brentford. "They had a chance of automatic promotion right up until last Saturday whereas we've known for a few weeks that the play-offs were our only hope. "Winning 4-0 at Chesterfield has given us a major confidence boost at just the right time and hopefully we can catch them off guard tomorrow." With away goals not a factor in the play-offs, Tudur Jones believes Swansea would be happy with any victory in the first leg. And after a recall ahead of Kristian O'Leary at Saltergate, he is also hopeful that he will play a part. "I felt tired in the Easter games and the manager obviously saw that and left me out," he says. "But I think the little rest has benefited me and, if selected, I'm really looking forward to the next couple of games - hopefully the next three."

10th May 2006 TIME TO BE BRAVE

Evening Post Huw Jenkins today sent a passionate plea to Swansea City's players ahead of their League One play-off campaign, urging: "Take us back where we belong." The Swansea chairman believes the club are well equipped to compete in the Championship next season - and feels it would be criminal if Kenny Jackett's men blow their chance of back-to-back promotions. ''In any form of life you don't get that many opportunities and, when you've got one, you have to be brave enough to take it,'' Jenkins said. ''Kenny was brave to come to us when Queens Park Rangers were on the brink of promotion two years ago. ''He took up the challenge then and it's up to the players to rise to the challenge now. ''Very few of them have played regularly in the Championship and they have a chance to take their careers onto a different level. ''It's a chance, too, to take Swansea City back to the level where we should have been playing for years and years. ''This club is capable of sustaining Championship football and challenging for the Premiership. ''It's a crime that we haven't been doing that in the past and it will be a crime if the players don't take the golden opportunity they have now.'' Swansea estimate that escaping League One would be worth around £1million before increased ticket revenue in the higher division is taken into account, but Jenkins insists money is not the motivation. ''It's about giving our supporters and players the chance to experience a good standard of football every week,'' he added. ''In the Championship, you're playing against great sides in fine stadia and that's where we want to be. ''It would cost the club more to compete at that level. We know that and it's something we'd have to cope with, but the Championship is where we should be. ''I went to see the Swansea Schoolboys play at Anfield last Saturday and it's my aim to make sure all Swansea City sides, from the youth to the first team, are playing in arenas like that week in, week out.'' Swansea host Brentford tomorrow night in a first-leg clash which is heading for a sell-out. The second leg is at Griffin Park on Sunday, with a winner-takes-all Millennium Stadium meeting with either Huddersfield or Barnsley on May 27 awaiting the victors. ''We will be competing at the next level in the next few years, I'm certain of that,'' Jenkins continued. ''The only question is whether the players can deliver now. We've had some great performances from a number of them this season and now they should all be thinking of what is in front of them. ''Most of them left the higher level to come down to us. Now the chance to get back up is just three games away.''

10th May 2006 We can sting the Bees if we get off to a flying start

Western Mail REBORN Rory Fallon has demanded another quickfire start to keep Swansea City's Championship dreams alive. Do so, and the in-form and in-the-goals striker reckons Brentford won't be able to handle the flying Swans at the Liberty Stadium tomorrow. While Martin Allen's Bees are still smarting from being pipped at the post for automatic promotion by Colchester, Swansea are seemingly hitting form at the right time. They are back in free-scoring mode - sparked by Fallon and Leon Knight's second Swans treble at Chesterfield - and welcome Brentford on the back of a first clean sheet in the league since February. And, according to Fallon, the scorching start that produced Knight's opener was just what was needed at Saltergate, and what is required tomorrow. "I have a really good feeling about this," said Fallon, looking much more relaxed and at ease in his Swansea surroundings now the goals are flowing. "None of us can wait, it's exciting times to be involved for me and the rest of the lads. "It's the end of the season and everyone is buzzing because we're still fighting to achieve something. "Everyone wants to be involved and we're all raring to go against Brentford. There'll be some good football down at the Liberty, and that suits us. "And when this team is flying like we did on Saturday, it really does fly. "We all know the away leg will be tough, but if we start like we did at Chesterfield, which we're more than capable of doing, we will see what Brentford are made of. "Chesterfield didn't know what hit them, they just couldn't take us. If we play like that again, nobody could. "That's how we've got to start against Brentford. When we have to, we can do it and that's a sign of the quality in this squad." Quality which perhaps could be described as being top-heavy. Swansea took to the pitch at Saltergate with almost 40 goals between two players sat on the bench, but it was the pairing of Knight and Fallon - combined cost £425,000 - who set up Brentford's visit. It was only the fifth time this season the two have started up front together, but it is a partnership that was first formed when the two were capped by England from U16 through to U18 level. "We're a good pair, we complement each other well," said the 23-year-old New Zealander, who played for the land of his mother at junior level. "We know each other's game well, but I've said before we've got four good strikers at the club who can all score. "There's no let-up, you've got to be on your toes all the time because the ones who get picked are the ones scoring goals. "The competition is good because it makes you produce your best football." With three in his last two games, it seems only injury would stop £300,000 transfer-window purchase Fallon getting the nod to face the Bees. "I took a knock to the leg up at Chesterfield when I collided with the keeper and that's why I had to come off," he explained after receiving treatment yesterday. "But I've been working hard at it and I should be ready for the game." If he is, it's Fallon's chance to make amends for semi-final defeat at this stage with former club Swindon, ironically at the hands of Knight's Brighton. "I don't think there's too many lads with play-off experience here," he said. "Knighty has won and lost a play-off final and I've been involved at the semis but lost, so we've had a taste of it. "Losing was hard for me and it was a massive blow for the team, it had a knock-on effect the following season. "So we're under no illusions, we know we have to go into this with all guns blazing and make the most of our chance. "There's no reason why not too because we're back scoring goals and we're all confident. "Perhaps one of the problems recently was that we were so focused on the top two and concentrating so much on trying to get an automatic place that we got a little bit down as a team when it wasn't happening. "But once we realised we couldn't realistically make the automatic places, we've just had our minds on the play-offs and back on our own games. "It started really against Southend and it came good again on Saturday, hopefully, now it can continue." And should it carry over into these next two make-or-break games, Fallon reckons there is nothing to stop Swansea really finishing the season in style. "I think Barnsley and Huddersfield will absolutely kill each other in the other semi because it's the main derby up there," he said. "When I was playing with Barnsley you just had to win your derbies, so they've got massive games home and away. I think it could take it out of them. "It's there for us so we just have to concentrate on ourselves and take our chance."

10th May 2006 It's club before country for now for Ricketts

Western Mail FOR the first time in his career, Sam Ricketts will be hoping he misses out on an international cap when Wales go off on their end-of-season tour. Because if the full-back hasn't joined up with his international team-mates later this month, it means Swansea are off to Cardiff again. Ricketts, along with Swans team-mate Owain Tudur Jones, were both named by John Toshack for the friendlies against the Basques, and Trinidad and Tobago, but beat Brentford over two legs and the pair will be gearing up for a Millennium Stadium play-off final instead. And seeing as Ricketts is adamant Swansea's big-game gusto will come good yet again, don't expect him to be digging out his passport any time soon. "To be honest, I hadn't thought too much about the Wales thing because I've been so focused on what Swansea are trying to achieve," said the 24-year-old. "But John is an ex-Swansea manager and he's already said he doesn't want me or Owain out there because it would mean we're in the play-offs. Hopefully, that's the case, that's what everyone wants. "And there's no reason why we can't make it because we're definitely a team that, when we really have to perform, we do. "It's a shame we did have a bad spell because we believe we were more than good enough to get into the top two. "Unfortunately we weren't, but, when it came down to having to win against Chesterfield to secure our play-off chances, we put in a solid performance and scored four goals. "It's not that we take it easy until it matters, but this team seems to be able to win when we really have to. That's not a bad habit to be in when you consider we're in the play-offs." Brentford stand in the way of a second short trip along the M4, considered favourites by some for their higher league finish, underdogs by others who claim the Bees will have been stung by just missing out on automatic promotion. But Ricketts isn't so sure the end-of-season form of both clubs will have any bearing on the upcoming clashes. "I'm not sure about whether psychologically we'll be better off just because we've ended on a winning note," he said. "What has gone on before doesn't matter. Martin Allen (Brentford boss) is a really fiery character and he'll make sure his team are well up for it." And, having faced them twice already this season, one defeat at Griffin Park in December and March's victory at the Liberty, Ricketts knows what to expect. "They will be 100 per cent committed," he said. "That will get you a long way in football. "You can get away with a lot with just that, but they have good ability on top. "They have some quality players there and a bit of everything in their team. They have a good mix of players so we know it will be tough."

09th May 2006 ALLEN STINGS HIS BEES

Evening Post Martin Allen has hauled his Brentford players over the coals ahead of their play-off clash with Swansea City. The Bees boss has lashed out after they blew any chance of automatic promotion by conceding a stoppage-time equaliser at Bournemouth over the weekend. "There will be some straight-talking before the play-off semi-final," he said. "I love my players to bits and I've done my best to give them confidence, but these errors have come in at the end of both halves over the last few games." Brentford arrive in Swansea on the back of an eight-game unbeaten run - though that stretch has included just two wins. Already without striker Lloyd Owusu through injury, they have lost Sam Sodje for the first leg through suspension after he saw red at Dean Court. Swansea's ticket allo- cation for Sunday's second leg has been cut. They will now have just 2,656 terrace tickets rather than 3,240 because the London club had not allowed for a segregation area. Tickets for Thursday's game went on general sale today, although season-ticket holders can still claim a reserved ticket up until close of play on tomorrow. The ticket office is open from 10am to 8pm.

09th May 2006 STARRING ROLE IS SHAUN'S BIG AMBITION

Evening Post Not so long ago, drama was a subject at Shaun MacDonald's school and end of term was the cue for extra kickabouts with his mates. Now the 17-year-old former Daniel James pupil is preparing for a role in Swansea City's play-off campaign. End of term and drama have whole new meanings. "I don't know if I'll be picked," MacDonald admits, "but it's unbelievable for me just to have a chance. "Even if I hadn't played the last couple of games, it would have been a brilliant season for me. What's happened in the last couple of weeks has just been an extra bonus." Summoned to train with the first team on the opening day of pre-season last summer, MacDonald soon earned a reputation within Kenny Jackett's squad as one to watch. He had made five league appearances as a substitute before Swansea's manager turned to him going into the biggest week of the campaign. Starting against Southend and again at Chesterfield last weekend, MacDonald played his part in steering Swansea's season into overtime. It is remarkable to think that on the club's previous visit to the play-offs, only seven years ago, he was still at primary school. It was around that time that the boy from Blaenymaes was picked up by his local club. "Jeremy Charles and Malcolm Elias were in charge of the youth then," he recalls. "I started off with the under-10s and I've been playing for the Swans ever since." MacDonald's list of favourite players is enough to make anyone feel old. "I used to go down to watch the first team week in, week out. "I liked players like Walter Boyd, Mamady Sidibe and James Thomas. "Martin Thomas was class, too, although the player I liked most was Giovanni Savarese. He was always banging goals in." If most of his heroes are frontmen, MacDonald is very much a midfield player. While the consensus is that his best position is central, the talented youngster has proved in his fleeting appearances to date that he is also capable of operating out wide. "I played on the right against Southend and then on the left against Chesterfield, but I don't really mind which side I play. "My left foot could be better, but I'll keep working on that and hopefully it will improve over time. "I like running at people and trying to take players on but really, as long as I'm playing, I don't mind where. "Every time I get picked I'll give 100 per cent and if I'm not I'll just keep working hard in training. That's me." An amiable lad, MacDonald has his feet on the ground and clearly appreciates his chance to shine with Swansea. "I've always wanted to be a footballer," he says. "I didn't really have anything else to be honest and I'm just trying to enjoy it now. "I was nervous before the Southend game, but my family and everybody at the club were great and that helped my confidence." The MacDonald clan are a big influence. "I have to thank the gaffer for giving me my chance and the players and staff at the club for helping me," he goes on. "But without my family, I wouldn't be where I am now. "I'm still living at home in Blaenymaes with my parents and my uncle, who I'm also close to, lives just round the corner so I can pop round and have a chat with him. "My mates have been brilliant, too, although I don't see as much of them now as I'm training hard and resting. "But I still keep in touch with them and I still see them out and about for a chat. "I played football with them growing up and you never forget where you come from." All those who queued around the Liberty Stadium on Sunday for Brentford tickets should be grateful MacDonald has broken through, otherwise the wait would have been even longer. "I think I've got to get tickets for quite a few of them," he smiles. "If I had never joined the Swans, I probably would have been sat with my family on Thursday as a fan. "But thankfully, I've been lucky so far. Now I just want to keep on progressing."

09th May 2006 ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL

Evening Post-GARETH VINCENT Lee Trundle admits he may have to bide his time on the bench as Swansea City bid for play-off glory. The talismanic striker felt the axe at Chesterfield on Saturday, then watched on as rival Leon Knight plundered a hat-trick in a 4-0 romp. But Trundle insists he was just as happy as every Swansea fan to see Knight keep the club's promotion dream alive. "We're all pushing in the same direction to get Swansea into the Championship," the 22-goal Scouser said. "I was celebrating just like everybody else at Chesterfield because it's not about Lee Trundle, it's about the team. "Of course I was disappointed not to be playing. I love the big games and I want to be in the starting line-up all the time. "But there are other players here who can do a job and a win's a win whether you've played or not." While Knight took his Swansea goal tally to 11, Rory Fallon made it three strikes in two games as Swansea cruised home at Saltergate. Boss Kenny Jackett is optimistic that Fallon, who came off complaining of a dead leg, will be fit for Thursday's play-off first leg against Brentford - the big Kiwi was due back in training today. "I don't know what the team will be, but when you win 4-0 you'd expect the manager to keep the same side," Trundle added. "When one of your forwards gets a hat-trick and the other scores as well, you can't really complain. "It's up to the manager to make the decisions and if he thinks I'm looking tired that's up to him. It certainly paid off on Saturday." He added: "Bayo (Akinfenwa) was on the bench too and when you've got four good strikers, you've got to use them. "I want to be part of a winning team and if that means sitting on the bench while other people are doing a job then so be it." Trundle played the full 90 minutes in both regular-season meetings with Brentford, who finished five points ahead of Swansea in third place. "They've beaten us once and we've beaten them once and it's going to be tough because they're a strong side," he said. "But we're confident that we can get to Cardiff again, which would be fantastic."

09th May 2006 PUBLIC TRANSPORT NIGHTMARE FOR FANS

Evening Post-ROB GREEN Fans hoping to support Swansea City in the second leg of their crunch League One play-off against Brentford face another public transport nightmare. The earliest train from Cardiff does not arrive at Brentford until three minutes after kick-off on Sunday. And even if fans do not mind missing the start of the match, they will have to make their own way to Cardiff. No trains or buses will be running between Swansea and the capital until after the train has left for London. Supporters have been warned to make plans early to avoid disappointment. Club director David Morgan said the early kick-off on Sunday made matters worse for fans. He added yesterday: "Fans need to remember that the Sunday game is a 12.15pm kick-off. It means they will have to set off very early to make it on time. "It's a good idea to plan ahead. I would suggest that fans who want to go make arrangements as soon as possible." It is the second time this year that fans have faced travel misery ahead of a crucial game. In April, thousands of fans headed to Cardiff for the Football League Trophy final. Engineering works on the day meant that no trains were running between Swansea and Cardiff and hundreds of buses had to be laid on. The first leg of the tie will be played at the Liberty Stadium on Thursday, and tickets have been selling quickly. Mr Morgan said he expected a sell-out crowd, and demand for away tickets is expected to be high when they go on general sale. He said: "We have got 3,200 tickets for the away game. They are on sale to season ticket holders at the moment and the remainder will go on general sale on Thursday at 10am." The second leg could be one of the most important games in Swansea's recent history. Victory over the two legs will mean a trip to Cardiff on May 27 for the play-off final. The club's last visit to the Millennium Stadium ended in controversy when Lee Trundle and Alan Tate were arrested after waving a flag with an offensive anti-Cardiff message during post-match celebrations. Ugo Vallerio, who organises the official coaches for away games, said supporters should decide early if they would be travelling to the away games. He said: "We have got 10 coaches on standby, which is enough for 500 people. The problem is that the coaches will have to be booked by Friday morning because we can't expect the firms we use to get any extras over the weekend. "I think a lot will depend on the Thursday's result. "I would say that the sooner people decide, the better."

09th May 2006 Shaun up for the Bees challenge

Western Mail FOR most people, making your first start in league football in front of nearly 20,000 fans baying for victory would represent the height of nervousness. If not that, then surely following it up with a game you simply had to win would get the knees trembling and leave the stomach in knots. But not Shaun MacDonald, the 17-year-old who strolled into the Swans side as cool as a cucumber just as the race for the play-offs hit boiling point. Because, after all, what's a make-or-break affair at Chesterfield when you've sat through that game against Hull? "I'm a local boy and I've always been a Swans fan. I used to watch games with my mates from the North Bank down the Vetch," said MacDonald, who impressed once again at Saltergate in only his second-ever league start. "And I remember being in the stands with the other Swans youth boys for the Hull game a few years back and being nervous as anything. So I guess this is nothing when you compare it to that." MacDonald was 14 when James Thomas hit the hat-trick which kept Swansea in the Football League in 2003, a fact which rams home just how young the Blaenymaes-boy is. So, when he was given the nod to replace the injured Leon Britton against Southend in a game which could have cost Swansea their play-off ambitions, it was bound to raise a few eyebrows. But since his surprise selection, MacDonald has offered two mature performances from either side of midfield which have justified Kenny Jackett's faith in the rookie. "It was a great feeling to get my first start," said MacDonald, who had a handful of LDV and FAW Premier Cup games, as well as a few appearances from the bench before Southend's visit. "I've been working hard all season but the last two weeks I've been given my chance. "I was fine in terms of nerves before the Southend game and, although it was running through my head the night before, once the day came I was fine. "Kenny's been spot on with me and I've a lot to thank him for. He's helped me out no end, but at the same time he's not singled me out for special attention or anything like that. "He's treated me as any of the other lads which has helped. "I was just concentrating on taking my chance rather than the situation and it was the same against Chesterfield. "I had made my first start in a big game like Southend, so Chesterfield felt just like another game and, because I had done well the week before, I was confident and more relaxed." When it's broken down, it's easier to see why MacDonald refuses to get nervous or tense about Swansea's situation and the possibility of a play-off semi-final start against Brentford on Thursday. The Wales U21 international is simply enjoying his moment in the sun and letting the play-off tension which can affect even the most experienced players wash over him. But that's not to say MacDonald isn't raring to go against the Bees and put his hometown club one step closer to Championship status. "The team performance we needed came when it mattered," said MacDonald, whose impressive progress earned him the two-year professional contract he penned in March. "But it's not surprising because we have quality players in this squad who are made for the big games. "On the coach on Saturday you could just tell the lads were up for it. "When we got there all you could hear was the fans right above the changing rooms and that hyped us up even more. "Kenny just said to play our normal game and show our fans we were good enough to go up. I think we did that. Now we've got to do it again, but we've beaten Brentford once this season and we're all looking forward to these next couple of games."

09th May 2006 Extra incentive for Swans' Tate

Phil Blanche, Western Mail BEING named Swansea City player of the year and reaching the play-offs might have been enough to contemplate in one week. But Alan Tate is already focusing on another ambition ... running out against his beloved Sunderland. Easington-born Tate grew up almost within earshot of the 'Roker roar' and knows clinching promotion with Swansea would secure a dream date against recently-relegated Sunderland in the Championship next season. "I'd love to go up there as a Swansea player," revealed Tate, who last week beat the likes of Lee Trundle and Andy Robinson to the club's player of the year award. "It's a dream for any player to play against the team they support. "I always supported Sunderland as a kid and I'm no different. It would be great for me to play up there." Though Tate, 23, is dreaming of lining up at the Stadium of Light, he knows a dark end to the season awaits if Swansea fail to negotiate the League One play-offs. First up is Thursday's semi-final first leg against Brentford at the Liberty Stadium, with the return at Griffin Park just three days later. And Tate will be keen to banish some unpleasant memories on Sunday as the versatile defender was sent off in west London during Swansea's 2-1 defeat on Boxing Day. "I don't think I was unfortunate, I deserved to go," said Tate, reflecting on two yellow cards which saw him dismissed inside 25 minutes. "But that's gone now and we're in the play-offs. Hopefully we can keep it to 11 men this time and get through to the final. "We'll try and get a good result at home and see what we can do down there." Swansea reversed that 2-1 holiday defeat by beating Brentford by the same scoreline at home in mid-March. And that, Tate says, provides Kenny Jackett's men with the self-belief to take a first-leg advantage to Brentford. "The home game against them was probably one of the best games of the season," he said. "We'd had three games in the space of six days but we played really well and got a great win. "I thought we were going to kick on from there, but we didn't and we've had to settle for the play-offs. "We always seem to make it hard for ourselves and to go down to the last game was a bit nervy. "But we played well at Chesterfield and hopefully we can take that form into the semi-final. "Brentford are missing a few strikers which might help us, but they've got a good midfield and strength in depth. "It's going to be tight over two legs but they're games we can definitely win."

08th May 2006 Swans promotion bid back on track

Phil Blanche, Western Mail IMAGINE the scene, if you will. Kenny Jackett sends out his Trundle-less team on a sunny Saltergate afternoon and the early chances that come Swansea's way are not converted. Tension starts to spread around the terraces as news filters through that Doncaster are winning at Tranmere. Even though Nottingham Forest are losing at Bradford, the play-offs are hanging by a thread. The Swans pour forward, but still the chances won't go in. Suddenly rain sweeps into Chesterfield and onto the heads of unprotected fans in the visiting end, providing a timely metaphor for Swansea's season. Trundle is sent on for the final quarter as Jackett abandons his balanced midfield and goes with three, even four, up top. Still, the goals won't come and results elsewhere condemn Swansea to another season in League One. Sheer misery. Of course, casting aside the weather report, most of the above is pure fantasy. So, too, is the view that Swans boss Jackett - that rare breed of genuinely 'nice' manager - can't make the ruthless decisions. As it turned out on Saturday, Swansea didn't need to score to reach the play-offs. Given Forest's failure to win at Valley Parade, 0-0 was good enough to extend their season. But it was still a lesson in calling the right shots. If football management is about getting the big decisions spot-on, then Jackett answered his critics in one fell swoop at Saltergate. Ever since Swansea's season started slowly unravelling at the seams, whispers persisted over whether Jackett could put the promotion bid back on track. His critics claimed January transfer cash had been unwisely spent, the desire to strengthen the attack completed at the expense of a shaky and injury-hit rearguard. Chopping and changing both the team and tactics was also laid at Jackett's door. So too the absence of Kevin McLeod, though the wayward wideman was brought back before injury struck him down. But those storm clouds would have been nothing compared to the hurricane heading Jackett's way had his decision to drop 21-goal top marksman Lee Trundle at Chesterfield backfired. "He's lost the plot," muttered someone within earshot of the press box as it became clear Leon Knight had been preferred to Trundle. You could almost hear the sound of knives being sharpened. But no manager should resist his gut instinct. "I had to think long and hard about it. You do that with decisions all the time," said Jackett, explaining his surprise decision to pair January additions Knight and Rory Fallon in attack. "But I felt they had goals in them. They looked sharp and had more energy - and my side going forward has lacked energy. "We've definitely had quality and commitment in recent weeks - no doubt about that - but it needed reshuffling. "Without doubt, I would have had some criticism if things had gone wrong. "But, whatever your decision, you're going to get some stick if you get it wrong as a football manager. "So you might as well go with what your heart tells you to do." No-one could deny Trundle, without a league goal since March 4, a degree of envy as Knight claimed his second match ball as a Swans player. But Trundle was the loyal lieutenant, kicking every ball on the touchline and the first to shake each substituted player by the hand. "I sat next to Lee on the bench and he was right behind the team all the way through," said Jackett. "Lee's been a terrific player for us, but I feel sometimes that players do look out on their feet. "We didn't need him here as we were winning the game, but coming off the bench can help a player, particularly a forward when the fire's gone out of the game after an hour." Jackett has needed broad shoulders in recent weeks, even, if like most managers, he claims not to read newspapers. "When you don't win games you get criticism," he said. "That's football, that's certainly a football manager's life. "That hasn't worried me, what's worried me more is the long periods when I didn't get the equation right. "But I've just been concentrating on my job and trying to put things right." Of course, Swansea fans have become used to last-day humdingers. Remember Rotherham, the never-to-be forgotten escape act against Hull or last season's promotion clincher at Bury. But this was anything but tense from the moment Knight broke Chesterfield's creaky offside trap in the fifth minute. The reborn Fallon doubled Swansea's advantage before the break, but Jackett wasn't punching the air until Knight coolly lobbed home 11 minutes from time. "It was a good performance," purred Jackett, who had clearly been fearing the worst after Easter defeats to Blackpool and Rotherham had dropped them out of the play-off zone. "I felt we hit a season-long low over Easter, we looked as if the season was going to drift away from us. "Our performances were lacklustre and the team generally looked to be running out of steam at the wrong time. "Performance-wise, we had nothing in us whatsoever and we really had to turn it around. "Since then the three performances - at Oldham, Southend at home and Chesterfield - have been an improvement, and what really pleased me was that we were dominant. "I can't remember the last time when we won by more than one clear goal. "I'm not moaning about that, but it's lovely to get into a winning position and push on rather than be hanging on or the opposition clawing back at us." Now Swansea can focus on the play-offs and a two-legged semi-final with Brentford, with the head-to-head score this season poised at 1-1. Martin Allen's Bees might have finished three places and five points better off than Swansea - but Jackett insists that will mean nothing at the Liberty Stadium on Thursday or at Griffin Park on Sunday. "To be successful in the play-offs you need this performance level," said Jackett. "You don't want to go in there with no appetite, no energy, no quality and no confidence. "You want to go in there buzzing and that's what we've done by beating Chesterfield in this way. "We hope this win and scoring goals, and the confidence we have had from it, takes us into Thursday and rolls on." So the Swans - so short of impetus during the second half of the campaign - head into the play-offs with six goals from two games and a thumping win on the road, their first for nearly three months. By contrast, their play-off rivals toiled on the last day of the regular season. Brentford shared four goals at Bournemouth, Huddersfield were held to a goalless draw by already relegated Swindon and Barnsley needed a late penalty to overcome doomed Walsall. "We've scored 78 goals this season and finished top scorers in the league by six," added Jackett. "That's a fair reflection of our season - and now we're taking momentum into the play-offs." Don't be surprised, though, if more big decisions are lurking around the corner.

08th May 2006 Knight wants to go all way to glory

Ian Hunt, Western Mail IT WAS either a premonition or just plain old-fashioned confidence. Either way, Leon Knight reckons he had a pre-match feeling he was about to do something special. The same feeling, Knight said, that he had before wrapping up a hat-trick inside 27 minutes of his Swansea City debut back in January. So, before he decides whether or not to reinstate Lee Trundle for Thursday's opening League One play-off skirmish with Brentford, perhaps Swans boss Kenny Jackett should simply ask Knight what his waters are telling him. There is little else on which Jackett could make a case for Trundle's return after the second treble of Knight's short Swans career secured the club a coveted top-six spot in such emphatic style. It was supposed to be tense. It was supposed to be unbearable to watch. Knight's exemplary goal-poaching display - containing just the right mix of pace, power and persistence - ensured it was anything but. Here is a man who isn't simply spouting empty words when he insists he's capable of firing Swansea all the way to the Championship. Three games away from their destination, could Swansea afford to leave him out now? "I don't know whether the manager will drop me now - we'll have to wait and see because you can never be assured of your place in football," said the £125,000 transfer window signing after netting the ninth, 10th and 11th goals of his four-month Swans career. "Whoever you come up against, there are certain players who play better against certain opposing players. "It turned out that the manager chose the right one against Chesterfield, but we'll see what happens for the Brentford matches. "I certainly had a special feeling before the game - the same feeling I had before my first Swansea match against MK Dons - that I might go out and do something special. "The chances were there for me - to be fair, the boys put them on a plate - and I was on the end of them. I had six shots and scored from three which is pretty good. "But the most pleasing thing was that we got into the play-offs." Pleasing for him, pleasing for the club and pleasing for the 2,000 travelling supporters who, thanks to Knight's hat-trick heroics and Rory Fallon's third goal in two matches, were able to party behind the goal rather than bite their nails to the bone and keep one ear glued to transistor radios providing score flashes from games elsewhere. What a pleasure it was to see Swansea improve on a whole batch of negative league statistics - first clean sheet in three months, first away win since February 11, biggest away win since December 2004 - all at once to render results involving Nottingham Forest and Doncaster irrelevant. Yes, there are still those complaining Swansea were in possession of a top-two place for so long that they should have avoided putting everyone through the emotional mangle of the play-offs. That may be the case, but such negativity must now be put to one side as Swansea try to seize the second chance of joining Southend and Colchester in the Championship. For Knight, the feelings are familiar. He tasted play-off joy two years ago with Brighton, winning a place in the second tier firstly at the expense of a Swindon team that included current Swans colleague Fallon and then Bristol City in the final. "The play-offs are all about being mentally strong," said Knight, 23, who sent the Seagulls soaring into the Championship with an 84th-minute penalty at the Millennium Stadium that clinched a 1-0 win in the old Division Two play-off final of 2004. "If you get a 1-0 lead, you've got to be able to hold it. You've got to be able to hold your nerve because the play-offs are a rollercoaster ride. "If you were guaranteed to be promoted, the play-offs are the best way to go up. "The publicity they generate - for individuals and the team - is huge. If you get to the Millennium Stadium and win, it's a great day out for you, your family and the fans." A fortnight ago Jackett nominated Trundle and Andy Robinson as the two men who could spearhead Swansea's drive for the 2006 play-offs. Funny how things pan out. Trundle could yet hold the Championship key - write him off at your peril. But, while Robinson has played a reasonably strong role in the last two games, Trundle has been usurped first by Fallon and now Knight as the club's current goal hero. Trundle could only applaud along with all the other Swansea observers as Knight had an afternoon to remember in sunshine and showers at Saltergate. The pattern was set on five minutes when new Wales recruit Owain Tudur Jones induced a mistake from Aaron Downes and Knight used his predatory instincts to run onto the ball and bend it past the reach of keeper Barry Roche. At Bury 12 months ago the Swans defended in numbers for much of the 89 minutes that followed Adrian Forbes' early strike, but it was a different story against extremely accommodating Chesterfield hosts. Swansea - dominating in a manner we have not seen for months on end - could have been 4-0 up at the break as Knight, Fallon and Tudur Jones fashioned a host of chances. As it was, a comfortable two-goal cushion had been established with Fallon's 32nd-minute header. After Colin Larkin spurned the Spirites' best chance of the game - volleying into Willy Gueret's arms from close range on 66 minutes - Swansea, without the injured Kris O'Leary and with Forbes dropped altogether from the 16, gave the scoreline some varnish. Knight lobbed Roche from the edge of the box from substitute Adebayo Akinfenwa's flick, and completed his hat-trick a minute from time when he out-muscled Downes to steer the ball in from an awkward-looking angle. Jackett was springing about his technical area like never before, punching the air with unrestrained glee. The travelling Jacks could not resist a pitch invasion at the end. If ever there was a way to book a play-off place... "We couldn't have done any more for our confidence than come away and win 4-0 - it was terrific," said Knight. "The question was asked in the changing room before the game - where would we rather be going next season, Carlisle or Sunderland? "The answer is obvious, but it gets into people's heads and makes them perform better. "As far as we're concerned, though, the Chesterfield game has gone already. We've got to look forward now and try to do something similar against Brentford." Another big performance from the small guy would not go amiss.

08th May 2006 Martinez wants to be part in success

Ian Hunt, Western Mail CLUB captain Roberto Martinez insists he's happy to play a squad role for the remaining matches to ensure that, whatever the future holds for him, he adds another Swansea City promotion to his CV, writes Ian Hunt. Martinez returned from the wilderness at Chesterfield to make a fleeting 30-second substitute appearance at the end of Swansea's 4-0 romp. The Spanish midfielder had been left out of the 16 for the previous two games against Oldham and Southend, which merely added to suspicions his contract will not be renewed when it expires this summer. Never one to rock the Swansea boat, Martinez simply says it was the manager's right to make the decision. The 32-year-old just wants to play some part in another Swans promotion triumph before his own Liberty Stadium fate is decided. "The gaffer is the one who makes the decisions, but he knows he's got a good squad fit and available," said the former Wigan man. "I'm really fit and have a huge hunger to get promotion. I'm another member of the squad. "Everyone is simply trying to be fit and available and ready to play a major role. "Whatever happens, I just want to make sure the season ends with promotion. "Since I've been here, it's been challenge after challenge. The first was to get away from relegation to the Conference, the next was to get promoted from League Two and the next is getting promoted into the Championship. "I always said Swansea deserved to be at Championship level. With the stadium we've got and the quality of the squad, we have to be there." Martinez said he felt proud to be part of the squad which secured the club a play-off place with a resounding weekend victory. He said, "We did it in typical Swansea style - on the last day of the season! "It was a day to feel very proud because the support was magnificent from the first second. It really pushed us towards a vital win. "It was a big relief to have such a big result and a big performance. "Brentford won't be easy - any team is going to be tough when you reach the play-offs - but we don't fear anyone. "It's just a case of making sure we perform on the day."

08th May 2006 Roy tips Swans for play-off final

Phil Blanche, Western Mail FORMER England star Roy McFarland has warned Swansea City that Barnsley are the team to beat in the League One play-offs. McFarland saw his Chesterfield side ripped apart by Swansea for the second time this season, their 4-0 final-day defeat at Saltergate coming on the back of a 5-1 Liberty Stadium thrashing in October. And McFarland believes that league placings will count for nothing this week as he predicts Barnsley and Swansea - the fifth and sixth-placed teams who had to wait until Saturday to book their play-off spots - will contest the Millennium Stadium final on May 27. "The best team we've played - particularly at home - was Barnsley," insisted McFarland, even though his Chesterfield side managed two draws against Andy Ritchie's Tykes this season. "They were the team that caused us the most problems. They were far more formidable away from home, but we played them a few weeks ago and they're a very solid side. "They've got a Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield so that's going to be very interesting, but I take them to go through." And McFarland fully expects Swansea to join them in Cardiff after Leon Knight's hat-trick finally warded off the play-off challenge of Nottingham Forest and Doncaster. "Brentford won't be easy over two legs, but if I was a betting man, I'd fancy Swansea to get to the final," said the former Derby County defender ahead of the semi-finals. "We've gifted goals in our two games against Swansea, but the firepower is there. "Swansea were compact and quicker than us and did the job well. It was men versus boys. "I think that sort of result will lift Swansea and give them the confidence to at least get to the final. "They're solid in all areas. Defenders don't muck around and just head anything away that goes in their box and the goalkeeper's there when he's needed. "It's the quietest Wayne Allison's been all season. "He threatens and causes problems but he didn't do that to Swansea. Neither did Colin Larkin get behind them." But McFarland added, "It might depend on who Swansea play in the final, whether they are going to progress or not. "I think Swansea will find out they've got a difficult game if they play Barnsley." And, should Swansea grace the Millennium Stadium for the second time this season, McFarland reckons they will hold no advantage from their Football League Trophy appearance last month. "The final's a one-off and whoever gets there, it's what happens on the day," he said. "Neither does it matter where you finish in the table. I go back all those years when I was at Derby and Blackburn just scraped in the play-offs. "We played them over two legs and they knocked us out. They went on to the final and look what happened to Blackburn. Kenny Dalglish started it off and they went on to win the Premiership."

07th May 2006 'We're back to our best' - Jackett

Wales on Sunday KENNY JACKETT believes Swansea City are hitting form at just the right time to reach the League One play-off final. Swansea face Brentford at home in the first leg on Thursday before the return tie at Griffin Park three days later. But after racking up their biggest away win since Boxing Day 2004, Jackett believes fortune is now smiling on his side. Jackett knows all about the pain and the pleasure of the play-offs having been there once with QPR and twice with Watford. But he said: "This sends out the message that we are back in form. "We now look more like our old selves and have turned things around. Long may that continue. "This performance has been coming for the past few games and I hope that it shows we are now picking up a bit of form when it matters most. "Our mentality must now change though. It was a league competition before but now it changes to a cup competition and to be fair we've not been bad in the cups this season. "The stakes are big but we are looking forward to what promises to be a tremendous occasion at the Liberty Stadium on Thursday." Jackett (below, left) could afford to smile after seeing his big call of day - to drop Lee Trundle in favour of Leon Knight - come off in superb style. "It's about time one of my decisions came off!" he said with a grin. But as for whether Knight will keep his place in the side Jackett returned to type and became non-committal. "I cannot ask for more from him than a hat-trick but I will have to think about that," he said. "I pick on form and I thought Leon and Rory Fallon were the form pairing in training. It hasn't happened of late for Lee while Leon has looked very sharp and has lots of energy which is something we have lacked recently. "It's possible I should have played Leon earlier in the season than I did but I can't change it now. We've finished with 76 goals which is the highest in the division so whatever we have been doing up front has been good. We've played entertaining and attacking football all season so you have to look at the other end to see why we haven't finished higher than sixth." Jackett added: "It was a very good performance and we deserved to win after showing our strength from start to finish."

07th May 2006 Hero Knight shows timley trick

Wales on Sunday SWANSEA CITY saved their best until last to cruise into the play-offs courtesy of their biggest away win of the season. A hat-trick from Leon Knight and a third in two games from a reborn Rory Fallon saw the Swans finish sixth in the table to set up a play-off semi-final date with Brentford at the Liberty Stadium on Thursday. The second leg follows three days later but if Swansea can keep up the momentum they have suddenly rustled up in the past few games then a second trip to the Millennium Stadium in the final on May 27 could well become a reality. Their record against Martin Allen's Bees this year stands all square with one win apiece. But the fact that the Swans at last came good on the road after making such hard work of their travels this season is even more cause for optimism for manager Kenny Jackett. The club have made an annoying habit of doing things the hard way on the final day of the season in recent times but for once they left nothing to chance and there was no repeat of the nervous scenes that accompanied their promotion at Bury this time last year. Nottingham Forest's draw at Bradford rendered the Swans' win unnecessary in the end yet Jackett's men were determined not to rely on others to ensure their season goes into extra time. Just as at Gigg Lane, Swansea raced into an early lead. And although Knight's fifth-minute opener lagged far behind Adrian Forbes' 27-second effort last term it was just as rapturously received by the 2,200 travelling fans. But whereas previously City spent the rest of the game hanging on for dear life to their slender lead, this time they crushed their hosts. The biggest surprise of the day though was that striker Lee Trundle was dropped for his side's most important game of the campaign. A run of 10 league outings without a goal was the reason but Trundle has so often been the man to come good when it matters most. His presence in the dugout rather than in the forward line for the second time in three games raised plenty of eyebrows, not least his own. His replacement, though, wasted little time in proving his manager was right and now Jackett has a welcome selection headache ahead of the Brentford game. With just five minutes on the clock Aaron Downes failed to cut out Owain Tudur Jones' through ball leaving Knight to race clear and shoot coolly past Barry Roche. It was enough to settle any early nerves but they were jangling again two minutes later when veteran striker Wayne Allison could and should have equalised at the far post from a Jamie O'Hara cross. With the goal at his mercy Allison was denied by the bravery of Swans stopper Willy Gueret, who needed treatment after their full-blooded collision. Swansea's hearts were in their mouths again on 22 minutes when Colin Larkin's deft header from O'Hara's corner rebounded back off the inside of Gueret's post only to be hacked away to safety. Although the home side had nothing to play for aside from pride they were determined to make a game of it even though a Swansea win would prevent local rivals Forest from reaching the play-offs. Maybe that thought was on the mind of centre half Reuben Hazell when he needlessly gave away a corner from which Rory Fallon scored City's second with a powerful header on 32 minutes. After netting twice last week against Southend the £300,000 signing is finally looking at ease with both his price tag and his teammates. Another display of aerial supremacy shortly afterwards set up Knight only for him to drag his shot wide before finding the same spot on the stroke of half-time. Determined not to sit on the lead, even with results elsewhere going their way, Swansea came tearing out of the blocks after the break with Knight, Monk and Robinson all denied by Roche within the space of two minutes. The home side offered little threat up front despite plenty of midfield possession but, had Colin Larkin fired his volley anywhere other than straight at Gueret when unmarked six yards out, then Swansea could have been set for a far more uncomfortable final 25 minutes than they had to endure. Instead substitute Adebayo Akinfenwa made an instant impact. Within seconds of joining the action he flicked on and, with Hazell again misjudging, Knight lobbed the ball over a stranded Roche for his second of the game before wrapping up his second Swansea hattrick when he poked home from close range in the 89th minute.

05th May 2006 'A DAY WHEN WE ALL HAVE TO DELIVER'

Evening Post Kenny Jackett today urged his Swansea City players to grab their Championship chance, declaring: "It's time for our biggest performance of the season." Swansea complete their League One campaign at Chesterfield knowing victory should guarantee a place in the play-offs. And with the likes of Sunderland, Birmingham City and Wolves potential opponents next season should they achieve a second successive promotion, Jackett has told his side not to let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers. "Getting to the play-offs is massive because it gives you a tremendous chance of going up," he said. "Opportunities like this don't come all that often and I need a top performance from every player who gets on that team bus. "It's the biggest game of our season and we need the biggest performance of the season." The Swansea manager has discussed the prospect of visits to the Stadium of Light, St Andrew's and Molineux next term with his squad this week. But he stressed: "Speaking about that is one thing, but we have also talked about how we're going to get there. "How? First we need to beat Chesterfield. "Okay, how are we going to do that? "Our midfield needs energy. We need to run with and without the ball and we need legs. "Our forward players are the same. Too many of them have played standing-still football lately and we need energy to go with talent. "At the back we have got two clean sheets in 20 matches. The players there need to look at their performances but they also need to demand things from people in front of them." Jackett, a veteran of play-off campaigns at both his former clubs, is also calling for a positive approach as Swansea's season reaches the critical stage. "In my experience, professional footballers can want something so much that it eats into their confidence and they end up performing below their best. "People then think players don't want it, but you don't live for football from a very early age if you don't want opportunities like this." Swansea's dismal record on the road - they have won only one league game away from home in 2006 - will hardly boost belief among more than 2,000 travelling fans on the road to Derbyshire tomorrow. Chesterfield's dire home form should lift the mood, though - the Spireites have triumphed just once on their own patch since November 12. If Swansea heap more misery on Roy McFarland's team this weekend, they will be in the play-offs unless Nottingham Forest run up a cricket score at Valley Parade and Barnsley win at Walsall. Should they slip up, Jackett's team will be relying on favours from elsewhere, with Doncaster's trip to Tranmere also crucial. Leon Britton returns on the right of midfield for Swansea, with Shaun MacDonald a candidate to fill broken-ankle victim Kevin McLeod's boots on the opposite flank. The other option is the more experienced Tommy Williams. Kristian O'Leary is battling to shake off a foot injury collected in training this week to start in central midfield. Owain Tudur Jones stands by.

05th May 2006 SWANS OUT TO BOOK THURSDAY DATE

Evening Post Should Swansea City reach the play-offs tomorrow, the first leg of the semi-final will be played on Thursday night at the Liberty Stadium (7.45pm). If Kenny Jackett's side finish the season in sixth, the away leg will be played on Sunday, May 14 (12.15pm). However, a fifth-place finish will see the second leg played on Monday, May 15 (7.45pm). There is no guarantee that the game will be shown live on Sky as both play-off matches could be played on Thursday. Tickets for the home leg will go on sale on Sunday to all season-ticket holders, 12-book voucher holders and non-season ticket Trust members, limited to one per booklet and membership cards. Season-ticket holders' seats will be held for them until the close of business on Wednesday, May 10. Tickets will go on general sale on Tuesday, May 9. No limits have been placed on these. All pre-ordered tickets need to be collected as there will be not enough time to send them through the post. Details of the away leg will be announced when known. The ticket office will open at 10am on Sunday until 4pm, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am to 8pm, while on Thursday the ticket office will open at 10am and close at half-time during the first leg. For more information log on www.swanseacity.net . The ticket office hotline is 08700 400004.

05th May 2006 SWANS TO COPY ROONEY

Evening Post Swansea City stars Kevin McLeod and Kristian O'Leary are getting the Wayne Rooney treatment in a bid to speed up their recovery from injury. Mcleod broke his ankle during last Saturday's draw with Southend, while O'Leary suffered a badly bruised foot in training this week. Now the midfield duo are undergoing the same treatment as Rooney, who is racing to recover for the World Cup after breaking bones in his foot. McLeod has a slim chance of being fit for the League One play-off final should Swansea make it, while O'Leary hopes to be okay for tomorrow's crunch game at Southend. High dose oxygen therapy is designed to reduce recovery time by accelerating cellular renewal. McLeod and O'Leary have been treated at the new O? Therapy Centre in Llansamlet.

05th May 2006 Penney for your thoughts

Ian Hunt, Western Mail AS someone who captained Swansea City to a Wembley play-off final, Dave Penney would normally be willing his old club on to success. The former midfielder retains a soft spot for the side he skippered to the 1997 Division Three play-off final and most of the time would love to see them continue climbing up the Football League ladder. This weekend is an exception. Saturday's trip to Chesterfield is crucial to Swansea making their first appearance at a play-off final since Penney and the rest of Jan Molby's team lost 1-0 to Northampton in London some nine years ago. But Penney doesn't want them to get to the Millennium Stadium. That's because his Doncaster Rovers team have surprisingly manoeuvred their way into the League One play-off equation ahead of the big end-of-season climax. Doncaster's third successive victory last weekend means Nottingham Forest are not the only team Swansea have to worry about if they crash to defeat at Saltergate. If Forest lose at Bradford, a defeated Swans side would still miss out on the play-offs if Doncaster - currently two points below their Welsh rivals - triumph at 17th-placed Tranmere Rovers. Sound like an unlikely set of scenarios? Maybe, but stranger things have indeed happened in football. Penney's own side is testament to that, having this season knocked Aston Villa and Manchester City out of the Carling Cup and come within seconds of adding Arsenal to their list of Premiership scalps in the quarter-final of the competition. So Penney is crossing his fingers that the club he served between 1994 and 1997 - and Forest, of course - endure a miserable Saturday afternoon. "You always look out for your former team's results, and I like to see Swansea doing well," said the 41-year-old manager, who scored 23 goals in 131 league appearances during his Vetch Field spell. "But the reality this weekend is I want to see Swansea lose at Chesterfield. I don't want them or Forest to pick up anything. "It's a bit of a long shot, and we're obviously the outsiders. But the fact remains there is a mathematical chance, so we've got to be positive and think that we could just sneak into the play-offs with the right set of results. "We're in an excellent position to take advantage should Swansea and Forest both slip up. I'm delighted because it's a position I didn't think we'd be in on the final day of the season. "We've been there or thereabouts this season, but we had a few bad results and I thought we'd just fall short and maybe finish around 10th like we did last season. But it was still a case of saying to the players, 'Let's try and win a few games and see what happens.' "And here we are, two points off the top six with one game to go, helped by the fact the teams around us have either got beat or drawn their recent games. "There will be a lot of pressure on Swansea and Forest to win, but there will be no pressure on us. We've got a bit of hope. "It won't be easy to win at Tranmere, but if we could sneak into the play-offs through the backdoor that would be fantastic." Should Doncaster's faint play-off hopes be extinguished and Swansea record the win that would secure them a place in the end-of-season lottery, how does Penny think his former club would fare? The man from Wakefield, who completed the double over the Swans this term, winning 2-1 both at the Liberty Stadium and Belle Vue, believes Jackett's men would be no better or no worse than any of the other play-off challengers. "I honestly wouldn't like to say who would be favourites to go on and win promotion," said Penney, who joined Swansea's fierce rivals Cardiff City a few months after his Vetch career ended on a sad note with that narrow Wembley defeat. "The first thing you look for is whether anyone's in any kind of form. "But, perhaps with the exception of Forest, who did very well up until the last couple of weeks, none of the play-off teams have been in great form. "We all know it's a lottery, and I think it comes down to who's best at handling the pressure. "If we were to get in there, I'd feel confident because our record against the top teams is very good. We've beaten Swansea and Barnsley home and away, for instance. "If Swansea are in the play-offs, I'm sure the fantastic atmosphere a sell-out crowd would generate at their new stadium would be a big help. "But it's so difficult to predict what might happen. Swansea would have as good a chance as any other play-off team. I really think it's wide open." While Swansea dream of claiming a place in the league's second tier just three years after escaping the jaws of the Conference, it is perhaps even more remarkable that the words 'Doncaster' and 'Championship' should appear in the same sentence. It was only in 2003 that Penney was celebrating guiding Rovers out of the Conference, achieving a second successive promotion 12 months later when the south Yorkshire side scooped the League Two title. "The progress we've made in such a short period of time is tremendous," Penney said. "To even talk about a push for the Championship three years after coming out of the Conference via the play-offs shows what's been achieved here. "Beating Manchester City and Aston Villa in the cup is another measure of the strides we've made this season."

05th May 2006 Tosh hoping for Swansea success

icWales JOHN TOSHACK is hoping Swansea ruin his plans for Wales?? two friendlies later this month. The Wales chief has named Sam Ricketts and uncapped Owain Tudur-Jones for the matches against the Basque Country in Bilbao on May 20 and Trinidad and Tobago in Graz on May 27 despite Swansea??s possible involvement in the Division One play-offs. Swansea, the team Toshack managed with such success in the late 70s, will be heading for the play-offs if they retain their place in the top six. If they go on to reach the play-off final on May 27, both players would be unavailable for the international double header. And Toshack said: ??Because of my attachment to Swansea, I really want them to mess up my plans for the national team by qualifying for the play-off final.?? Tudur-Jones, last summer still at Bangor, has been a big success with Swansea and would certainly have made his full debut in one of the friendlies. Toshack has also named two other uncapped players, both goalkeepers - Gillingham??s Jason Brown and Orient??s Glyn Garner. He said: ??We have problems in this department. Danny Coyne (Burnley) may not be fit even for the start of next season because of his knee problem, and we need to see what other goalkeepers we have around.?? Sunderland??s Danny Collins, just relegated from the Premiership, has asked not to be considered for these two matches while Toshack confirms that Ryan Giggs will be involved, and play in his first away Wales friendly. Toshack said: ??I have had a long chat with Ryan, he understand how important these build-up games are us in relation to the European qualifiers next season and he has said he is looking forward to the trip.??

04th May 2006 I won't watch Swans game, says Forest boss

Ian Hunt, Western Mail NOTTINGHAM FOREST joint caretaker boss Ian McParland insists he will take no notice of how Swansea and the other play-off rivals are faring during Saturday's crunch match at Bradford. The thousands of Forest fans making their way up the M1 will go armed with radios to keep in touch with how the Swans, Barnsley and Doncaster are faring in their respective matches. Joy would be unconfined within the Valley Parade visiting enclosure if Forest win and secure a play-off place thanks to Swansea slipping up at Chesterfield or Barnsley crashing at Walsall. But there will be no frenzied mobile phone activity in the Forest dug-out. McParland, joint boss at the City Ground with Frank Barlow since Gary Megson's departure earlier this season, says the only thing he will be tuning into is the game itself. "I won't be thinking about the other results until after the game. We just have to go and try to win the game," said McParland. "If we do that I will be asking what the other results are. I have enough worries, without worrying about the other results. "We will worry about our team and how we are playing and then, hopefully, everything else will fall into place." Forest have had to pick themselves up for this weekend's decider after a sense of disappointment gripped the City Ground following their failure to beat an average Bournemouth side in front of 27,000 fans last weekend. It meant the former European kings were unable to capitalise on Swansea dropping home points against Southend and climb back into the top six. "Our lads know we should have had three points against Bournemouth," McParland said. "That's why they're disappointed ... because they're desperate to get into the play-offs. "We never gave them a sniff in the second half and although Bournemouth defended well, they also rode their luck." Ahead of the make-or-break trip to Yorkshire, McParland added, "We're not approaching the Bradford game any differently as we always go into games looking to win them. "As a coach, a player, whatever - these bits of pressure are what you are in the game for."

03rd May 2006 JACKETT: THE LONGEST DAY

Evening Post GARETH VINCENT Kenny Jackett is bracing himself for another end-of-season nerve-wrecker at Chesterfield this weekend, admitting: ''It's going to be the longest day in the world.'' Twelve months ago Swansea City clinched automatic promotion from League Two with a 1-0 win at Bury on an afternoon when the tension was difficult to bear. This Saturday they head for Chesterfield needing another final-day win to secure a play-off place, and Jackett is expecting another heart-stopper at Saltergate. ''We got the early goal at Bury and after that it was the longest day in the world,'' said the Swansea boss. ''Of course I hope it's not like that this weekend, but I think the chances are it's going to be just like Bury all over again. It wouldn't be Swansea if it wasn't full of tension - that's the way Swansea is. ''But as long as we end up with the same result, an away win, then that'll be fine by me.'' The good news for Jackett and company is that unlike Bury, there should be no need for regular updates from elsewhere this time round. Victory at Gigg Lane was only good enough for Swansea as rivals Southend had failed to win at Grimsby. On Saturday, though, Jackett is confident a win for his team will see the job done regardless of what his side's play-off rivals do. ''We don't need to worry about what's happening around the country because it's in our hands,'' he added. ''We have got a four-goal advantage in goal difference on Nottingham Forest and, barring a miracle, a win will get us into the play-offs. ''What we have to do is concentrate on getting that victory. ''We need a big effort and a big performance. If we get that, we should achieve our goal.'' Swansea suffered a fresh injury scare yesterday when Kristian O'Leary picked up a badly bruised foot in training, but the club are optimistic the midfielder will be fit for the weekend. Around 500 of Swansea's 2,230 ticket allocation for the trip to Chesterfield were yet to sell this morning. They are available at the Liberty Stadium ticket office, while official travel club bookings are being taken at the club shop. Fans are urged to move fast if they want to make the trip to Derbyshire.

03rd May 2006 BRITTON WINNING HIS FITNESS RACE

Evening Post Leon Britton is winning his race to be fit for Saturday's crunch trip to Chesterfield believing the Bury experience of a year ago will see Swansea City through. Britton trained for the first time yesterday since the game at Oldham on April 22 and reported no ill-effects on his troublesome groin. Now the former West Ham youngster is optimistic he will play a part in this season's final-day cliffhanger. Britton was part of the Swansea side who won at Gigg Lane 12 months ago to secure automatic promotion from League Two, now he should feature when they head for Saltergate in search of the victory which would all-but guarantee a play-off place. "Bury was crazy," Britton recalls. "It was tense before the game started and it got worse as it went on. "There was a stoppage with about five minutes to go and we went over to the touchline to get a drink because it was a hot day. "The gaffer told us then that Southend had drawn and that all we had to do was hold onto our 1-0 lead. That was good news, but at the same time you realised that one Bury goal and we wouldn't be going up. "It was really tense then, and it's probably going to be exactly the same this Saturday. But the fact that we came through that experience will stand us in good stead." Even if they overcome Chesterfield, Swansea know they will begin the play-offs at a disadvantage. Unable to finish any higher than fifth place, Jackett's men would play the second leg of the semi-final away from home should they get that far. But Britton insists: "Talking to the rest of the lads, we would fancy ourselves against anyone over two games. "We would be feeling pretty confident whoever we have to play against. "But first we have to get there. To miss out on the play-offs after the season we've had would be major disappointment, but we're not contemplating that. Everyone within the club is thinking positively." Like his manager, Britton feels a victory of any description would be enough to send Swansea's season into overtime. "If we win 1-0, I think Nottingham Forest would have to win 6-0 to overtake us on goal difference," he says. "Seeing as they're away from home, you'd have to think that is pretty unlikely." What is essential, though, is that Swansea chalk up a first travelling success in the league since February 11. "Our away form has not been brilliant, but this is a cup final," he adds. "It's our biggest game of the season and we have to get it right."

03rd May 2006 When the Swans and not Chelsea, were Kings

Paul Abbandonato, Western Mail PRINCE CHARLES and Lady Diana Spencer were wed, Ronald Reagan became president of the United States, Duran Duran hit the pop charts with Girls on Film and Harrison Ford starred in the blockbuster Raiders of the Lost Ark. In football terms, Liverpool beat Real Madrid to win the European Cup, that Norwegian TV man uttered his never to be forgotten "Maggie Thatcher, Clement Atlee" commentary line... Oh, and Swansea City thumped Chelsea 3-0 and followed that with a 3-1 triumph at Preston to clinch promotion to the top flight. May 1981 are the month and year in question. The following season, as history tells us, John Toshack's Swans eclipsed Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal to top the old First Division for most of the campaign, before falling away in the final six games. It's the stuff dreams were made of. Will any Welsh club - or any team in the lower divisions for that matter - have such an amazing ride again? Time will tell. But tonight, anyone who is anyone in Swansea attends a special 25th anniversary gala dinner to celebrate that never-to-be-forgotten achievement. Players who took the Swans up into the top flight, and helped them shine even more during the next campaign, will descend on the city's Branwyn Hall to share memories of their incredible rise, rise and rise under Toshack. Former Wales and Swans starLeighton James, one of the organisers of the prestigious dinner, said simply, "It is going to be a truly wonderful night. "The ideal sponsors for this event would have been Kleenex. It's going to be a very emotional evening an there will not be a dry eye in the house. "A lot of people who haven't seen each other for 20-odd years are going to be sharing some special memories again." Among the guests descending upon Swansea tonight are Dzemal Hadziabdic and Ante Rajkovic, those two Yugoslavs Toshack plucked from nowhere to become a fulcrum of the Vetch success story. Toshack himself will be guest speaker. He joked last night, "I will have a few stories to tell about the players. I've been waiting 25 years to do a speech like this!" Former chairman Malcolm Struel, with Toshack, the driving force behind the Swans revolution, will also say a few words. The memories they share will centre around the date of May 2, 1981, when more than 10,000 Swans fans flocked to Deepdale to roar on their team against Preston. It was the culmination of a spell of three games in a week which saw the Swans blitz current Premiership moneybags Chelsea 3-0 at The Vetch, draw 2-2 with Luton and then triumph 3-1 at Preston. Goalscorers at Preston that day were James himself, with a 25-yard- piledriver, Tommy Craig and Jeremy Charles. There was a further ironic twist to Swansea's triumph. Leighton takes up the story. "Preston needed to win to remain up, while Cardiff City were in danger of going down," recalls James. "What our win at Deepdale did, in the end, was ensure that Preston went down instead and Cardiff escaped relegation on goal difference." He smiled, "Maybe instead of giving the Swans stick, Cardiff should be grateful to us for the result we got them that day!" The Swans, under Toshack, were sweeping everything before them at this stage as part of their relentless march from the foot of the old Fourth Division to top of the first. Their big rivals for promotion that year were Blackburn Rovers, then managed by one Howard Kendall. That Preston triumph created football history in more ways than one. After losing out to Toshack's Swans, Kendall immediately quit Blackburn to join Everton as manager ... where he led the Goodison men to two League Championship triumphs, an FA Cup win and success in the European Cup-Winners Cup. Who knows how things may have panned out had Blackburn clinched promotion ahead of the Swans? As it was, it was the Swans who continued to go from strength to strength as Toshack celebrated promotion by bringing in the likes of Colin Irwin, Bob Latchford, Ray Kennedy and Gary Stanley for the new challenge against the elite the following August. As the Swans celebrated an open top bus tour around the city after the Preston win, Toshack said, "This is just a dress rehearsal. "We're not simply going into Division One to make up the numbers." They weren't either. Toshack ripped up his team and his new-look side beat Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal twice. They were leading the League with six matches to go, only to falter as Bob Paisley's European champions came through to clinch the title. "But we had given them a right run for their money," recalls James. "We beat Liverpool 2-0 at The Vetch and were two goals up at Anfield, before they got it back to 2-2. "That was a great Liverpool team, too. Every bit as good as the Chelsea side of today, if not better. They had some great players like Dalglish, Souness and Hansen and were champions of Europe more than once." Back to the Preston game, though, and James recalls how Toshack showed that day the ruthless streak any successful manager needs. His Swans skipper was his cousin, John Mahoney. But instead of letting him lead out the team at Deepdale, Toshack dropped him. For those who reckon leaving out Robbie Savage was a tough decision for Toshack, think again. Axing Mahoney those many years ago was without question the toughest thing he has had to do as a manager. As I say, forget Savage, Thatcher, or any of the galacticos at Real Madrid who incurred Toshack's wrath. Mahoney and Toshack had grown up together on the streets of Cardiff. Suddenly Toshack was telling his big mate he was out, for tactical reasons, and Jeremy Charles was in. Preston lacked the creative playmaker a combative midfielder Mahoney would have taken relish in destroying. Instead, because goals were needed, Charles had to come in as an extra striker. Invariably, the move paid handsome dividends. Charles was among the goalscorers as the Swans sealed it before their ecstatic army of fans. "But that was Tosh for you. He put aside personal friendship with Mahoney and did what was best for the team," says James. "We were seeing, we thought at that stage, the next manager of Liverpool in the making. He was such a legend on Merseyside, it appeared inevitable he would take over from Paisley. "For whatever reason, it never happened. But heck, managing Real Madrid twice isn't bad, is it?" James went on, "I honestly think that what we achieved will never happen again in football. "You're not going to get sides going straight through the divisions any more, like we did. "And you're certainly not going to get them being promoted into the Premiership, and challenging so hard for the title. "No-one had the right to foresee what we went on to achieve. I mean, Swansea beating Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs at home in our first season at that level. It's incredible, when you think about it. "It's the opposite these days with teams that go up - they just want to remain in the division. That was never going to be enough for someone as ambitious as Tosh, though." James, Wyndham Evans and Alan Curtis are part of a seven-man committee who have arranged tonight's nostalgia evening. "We certainly had a wonderful time back then and we'll certainly have a wonderful time tonight." It looks like they will, too.

03rd May 2006 Swans should be inspired by Tosh's aces

Paul Abbandonato, Western Mail KENNY JACKETT'S promotion hopefuls of 2006 will tonight be urged by the greatest team in Swansea City's history, "Take inspiration from us and go out and do it again." Jackett's men are facing a final day of the season nailbiter against Chesterfield on Saturday as they sweat on a place in the League One play-offs. But if they want last-day inspiration, they can get it from a gala dinner being staged at the city's Branwyn Hall this evening. John Toshack's promotion-winning class of 1981 celebrate the 25th anniversary of being promoted into the old First Division in what promises to be a hugely emotional event. Tosh's team marched up with a 3-1 win at Preston in front of 10,000 travelling Swans fans, before going on to eclipse Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal at the top for the bulk of the following season. Jackett's players are attempting to take the Swans to their most heady heights since those Toshack days by clinching promotion to the Championship via the Millennium Stadium play-offs this month. And Leighton James, one of the kingpins of that old Swansea team, said, "Let's hope the current team grab the bull by the horns and do it on the last day - just like we did. "I know we were a level higher, but there is a similarity in terms of it going down to the last day of the season. "There are times in football when you should look at history, even though I think the current chairman is on record as saying, 'What has history done for this club?' "Well, if the current players need any extra inspiration to get the job done at Chesterfield, then the precedent is there for them with what we did that day at Preston. "We created memories for the city of Swansea which will never be forgotten and many of those will be remembered tonight on what promises to be a highly emotional evening. "There will be 500 people in that room and every single one of us will be willing the Swans on against Chesterfield on Saturday. "Can they go up? I sincerely hope so, although a lot of it becomes psychological at this stage of the season. "After the fantastic start they had, Kenny's team will be a little disappointed at the way the season has eventually panned out. "But while they have not gone up automatically, they are still in there with a shout via the play-offs. "We wouldn't have had that opportunity in the olden days, of course, because there were no play-offs. "But we'll have our fingers crossed for the current team. We'll have our own great night tonight - then our attentions will be turned to Saturday and willing a Swans win at Chesterfield." Meanwhile, the Swans' worst fears about wide man Kevin McLeod were confirmed yesterday when he was ruled out of any more promotion games with a broken ankle.

02nd May 2006 I'm aiming higher than Millwall next season

Western Mail WHEN Willy Gueret joined Swansea in 2004 he was waving goodbye to a club that had just appeared in the FA Cup final and been pushing hard for a place in the Premiership. Swapping Millwall and the Championship for Swansea and League Two might have seemed like too much of a step down for many a player. Such is the speed at which fortunes change in football, however, that Swansea goalkeeper Gueret hopes he is about to go past his former club on his way up the league. Gueret, who joined the Swans almost two years ago after four years at the New Den, will at least be on level terms with Millwall next season following the London club's relegation from the Championship. But he wants more than that. Gueret is dreaming that Swansea can take Millwall's place in the higher division as they seek to secure a play-off place in what's certain to be a nerve-shredding trip to Chesterfield on Saturday. "It's funny how things work out in football, though I never really expected Millwall to be relegated," said the 32-year-old Frenchman. "They're a big club. I don't think they belong in League One - you almost think of them as a Premiership club. "But them being relegated has got nothing to do with me. "I'm a Swansea player, and I'm hoping I can be playing a level above Millwall next season. "I want to play at the highest level possible, and it'd make me very happy to play in the Championship next year." Gueret made just four Championship appearances during his stint with the Lions, though in his final season at the club he was at least part of a squad chasing success on two fronts. But Millwall's fairytale march all the way to the Millennium Stadium cup final - where they were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Manchester United - came at a cost as their push for promotion disintegrated. "When we got through to the FA Cup final, we were fourth in the table with eight league games to go," Gueret recalled. "But we only won one of them and ended up finishing 10th. "Too many negative things have since happened there. The chairman left, they've had many different coaches... "What's going on there is almost too difficult to talk about. "I'll be happy to be playing above Millwall next season, though if I have to play against them in League One, I will. "I dropped two divisions to join Swansea, but I always felt confident we could make progress up the league - especially after my first year here. "I knew the team was not a League Two team and, though a few people looked at me funnily when I said it, I thought we were capable of doing something in League One." From his observations of the Championship, though, the former Le Mans keeper also issues a note of caution should Swansea climb another rung up the ladder this month. "Every time we've played a Championship team (in cup competitions) we've been hammered," he said. "If we get promoted this season, it would be a massive step, a great thing for the club and the fans. But it would be a hard step as well. "The Championship would be an exciting division to play in, but also a hard division. We could not afford to make so many mistakes at that level." Along with Lee Trundle, Alan Tate and Andy Robinson, Swansea's last line of defence was nominated by boss Kenny Jackett as one of four possible recipients of the club's player of the season award. Never has there been a better time for Gueret to show why. Swansea need their main shot-stopper to be at his goal-saving best as, just like last season's final-day trip to Bury, they prepare for an away day that will decide their fate. "It is going to seem just like the Bury game," said Gueret, who earned cult status when he got himself arrested during the post-match celebrations at Gigg Lane for supposedly shouting foul language at a police officer. "I remember saying to someone we'd probably go into the final game looking for something, and that's how it's turned out again. "It's going to be massive and it'll be tense just like last year. But we've got to go for it. "We need a win to give us confidence going into the play-offs."

02nd May 2006 Does anybody actually want promotion?

Western Mail DOES anyone actually want to be promoted into the Championship via the play-offs and meet clubs like Birmingham, Sunderland and Wolves next season rather than Rotherham, Tranmere and Yeovil? Not to mention, of course, having a never-to-be-forgotten day out before a bumper crowd at the Millennium Stadium and the riches that would bring. I pose the question because of another baffling sequence of results on Saturday which will have left fixed-coupon punters tearing their hair out in frustration. Of the top nine teams in League One, only one won. Rarely can so many have failed so collectively. Swansea City, by and large, played admirably in their 2-2 Liberty Stadium draw against promoted Southend. But Kenny Jackett's men still leaked those two goals and took their run of form to - wait for it - just five wins in the last 25 league matches. Heck, that's a mid-table to relegation pattern, not a sequence of results you would associate with a promotion-chasing team. In their first 20 games of the season, the Swans thrillingly claimed 41 points. In their last 25 matches, they have a tally of 27. The only reason the Swans are still in it with one game of the season to go - at Chesterfield on Saturday - is because every other team around them in play-off contention continues to bizarrely drop points too. Witness sloppy Saturday: Brentford - held to a 1-1 draw at home by relegation-bound Hartlepool; Huddersfield - inexplicably beaten 2-1 on their own Galpharm Stadium patch by lowly Yeovil; Barnsley - held to a stalemate by mid-table Bradford; Nottingham Forest - unable to beat Bournemouth before nearly 30,000 fans a the City Ground; Bristol City - bizarrely held 1-1 at home by relegated Swindon; Oldham - defeated 1-0 at Doncaster, a result which suddenly puts the Yorkshire club in with an unexpected 11th-hour chance of making the play-offs themselves. By 4.45pm on Saturday, we had expected a clear picture to emerge from the above games - including the Swans versus Southend - of who is up, who is in the play-offs and who has missed out. Instead, the waters remain murky. Of the top nine, only Colchester, who beat Rotherham 2-0, actually won. Southend did clinch promotion, courtesy of their 2-2 draw in Swansea, but aren't champions yet. Either Colchester or Brentford will automatically join them in the Championship, with the unsuccessful one of the two going into the play-offs with Huddersfield. As for the remaining two play-off spots, Jackett's Swans are still in there fighting for them with Barnsley, Forest and Doncaster, with Bristol City needing a mathematical improbability. Confused? I am, too, but I think I've just about got the above right! So much for teams making things simple. The only thing the top sides are doing at the moment is complicating matters for themselves and everyone else too. There are plenty of people saying that even if the Swans do make the play-offs, their worrying lack of form will stop them going up. Well you can forget that argument. As Saturday's entire sequence of matches clearly demonstrated again, no team is likely to enter those play-offs on the back of a particular red-hot streak of results. Forest did look like doing so, but even they have blown up. Jackett probably doesn't know whether to laugh or cry right at this moment in time. Smile in glee at the fact that while his team have consistently slipped up, so have the Swans' promotion rivals. Or drown his sorrows that his team haven't managed to put together a little run of three or four wins which would have been enough to take them up automatically. Read it whichever way you want. But in the end, the Swans are only still in it going into the final weekend of the season because of the equally baffling results being achieved by their immediate peers. No one should be too surprised at Swansea's 2-2 draw with top of the table Southend. But the respective failings at home of Barnsley, Forest and Bristol City against mediocre opposition did shock and ensures the Swans enter their final match at Chesterfield still hanging on in there in the last play-off position. In other words, their destiny is in their own hands. Win at Chesterfield and, barring a freakish Forest triumph by five goals or more at Bradford, the Swans will definitely be in the play-offs. And if they are in there, and Forest aren't, the general consensus is that the Swans have the big-game players like Lee Trundle, Andy Robinson and Leon Knight to win the big matches that really matter. They say that the final league table doesn't tell fibs. You finish up where you deserve to be. If so, the Swans must be in the play-offs because I believe they deserve to be in there after the season they have had. Rewind to last August, and you recall Swansea had just been promoted. Simply stabilising at the higher level would have been an achievement in the eyes of many, let alone push credibly for the Championship. Yet it's been an amazing year. The Swans have scored goals by the bucket load, regularly topped the table in the first half of the season and in January spent unprecedented sums of money at this level on signing Leon Knight, Rory Fallon, Tom Williams, Darren Way and Stephen Watt. How can you spend £635,000 and end up getting worse results, is the question many are asking? That's a poser for another day. More pertinent is how the Swans could afford that sort of transfer cash in the first place. One of the main reasons is the magnificent crowds they have been getting at the Liberty Stadium this season. There were more than 19,000 inside on Saturday and they have regularly topped 14,000 this season. Those sort of numbers are dreamland stuff for Swansea City FC at this old Division Three level. No one would have predicted figures like that back in August for a club whose Vetch Field attendance over the past decade or so tended to average out at 4,500. The Swans have a new generation of fans who deserve to see their team in the play-offs and, indeed, at the Millennium Stadium again after the headlines they wanted to read about last time were stolen by those daft acts performed by Lee Trundle and Alan Tate. On Saturday, the atmosphere created by those Swans fans inside the Liberty Stadium was the best I have witnessed from any Welsh club this season. It was noisy, passionate, almost awe-inspiring and it made for a rip-roaring game of football from two teams lifted by the whole occasion. At the end, as Southend's players celebrated promotion, they were sportingly applauded by thousands of Swans fans. In return, the Southend players applauded the Swansea crowd. This was what football should be about. A keenly contested, highly competitive end-to-end game for 90 minutes, thrills and spills, lots of goals - and sporting behaviour at the end. It was terrific stuff and when the Swans players came out for an end-of-season lap of honour themselves 15 minutes afterwards, it was almost a case of after the Lord Mayor's show. Then again, everyone in Swansea will be hoping there is one more match to be played at the Liberty Stadium this season in the play-offs. It's up for grabs - for any team who chooses to take the damn chance. Including Swansea City. Over to you, men.

02nd May 2006 Fallon double - now for nailbiter

Western Mail SO here we go again - the point at which Swansea City fans of a nervous disposition are best advised to look away. How many times have we been here in recent years? There was 2003, of course, when the Swans performed a miracle of Harry Redknapp proportions to safeguard Football League survival on the final day of a tortuous season. And it will be some time before the excruciating tension of last season's League Two climax at Bury - when Kenny Jackett's team beat the odds to snatch automatic promotion in their last breath - fades from Swansea memories. Now the stage is set for more unbearable final-day drama as Swansea's hopes of joining the likes of Sunderland, Birmingham and Southampton in the Championship next term via the play-offs hinge on 90 minutes at Chesterfield's humble Saltergate surroundings. On a day when members of the 1981 side who won Swansea a place in the old First Division took a 25th anniversary bow in front of an almost-capacity Liberty Stadium crowd, all eyes were on 2006 talisman Lee Trundle to keep those current-day promotion hopes alive. Billed as a straight shoot-out between Trundle and Southend's leading man Freddy Eastwood, this was indeed a tale of two top strikers. But it was Rory Fallon - finally looking like a man worth every penny of his £300,000 transfer fee - who provided the platform for what could be another landmark day in Swansea's proud history. No-one needed to ask Fallon how relieved he was to get his first home goals for the club. The sight of him peeling off his shirt and racing to the corner of the ground punching the air in delight with both fists after the first provided a pretty emphatic answer. Just a shame, with Eastwood striking a deadly double of his own, that neither Fallon's 19th-minute opener, nor his second 15 minutes later, proved enough to give the Swans a cushion inside the top six ahead of Saturday's decisive League One date in Derbyshire. On the day his old club Swindon were condemned to League Two, Fallon revealed how one of his former County Ground colleagues - now on the payroll at Saltergate - had told him Chesterfield would be determined to ruin Swansea's Championship dream. "I know one of the players at Chesterfield, Colin Heath, and he said the lads won't want to let us win," said the New Zealander, subject of much criticism for the time it's taken him to find his goal-scoring touch following his big-money transfer window arrival. "Chesterfield will be thinking about knocking us out of the play-offs, so we've got to be tight at the back and stop them scoring. They'll see it as a cup final." Another cliche you'll hear this week is the one about form books flying out the window. Swansea must hope that proves to be the case given their failure to claim a league win on their travels in six attempts since prospering at Nottingham Forest on February 11. With Forest (away to Bradford on Saturday) below the Swans on goal difference alone, and late play-off candidates Doncaster (away to Tranmere) two points behind, victory is clearly essential if Swansea are to be certain of extending their season beyond May 6. "The atmosphere at Chesterfield will be pretty crazy," predicts Fallon. "Everything rides on the game, and we'll be very disappointed if we don't end up making the play-offs. "The pressure's going to be on us, but it was there against Southend. "The fans were unbelievable. We need to get promoted because we could get a crowd like that every week in the Championship. "Hopefully we'll be back for one more home game this season. I got to the play-off semi-finals with Swindon and you can't really match them. They're massive occasions." Saturday's penultimate regular-season fixture took on massive significance for Southend as it marked their return to the second tier of the league for the first time since 1997. How envious Swans fans must have been as Steve Tilson's men partied on the pitch after their elevation to the Championship was confirmed. It could have been Swansea. Having spent so long inside the top two themselves, it really should have been Swansea. At least the Swans - who gave a full league debut to teenage midfield prospect Shaun MacDonald in the absence of the injured Leon Britton and restored fit-again Garry Monk to the defence at Tom Williams' expense - have their fate in their own hands thanks to a much-improved home performance illuminated by a sparkling Fallon. How the decibel level rose inside the thronging stadium when Fallon seized on Adam Barrett's clearance and darted into the area before producing a wonderful rising effort that rippled the back Darryl Flahavan's net. The inevitable booking for exposing a bare chest during his celebration did nothing to temper his delight. Eastwood hit back - doesn't he always against Swansea? - when he skipped past a flat-footed Monk to fire low past Willy Gueret, but Fallon soon found his range again with a firm header past Flahavan from Alan Tate's deep cross. Jackett was to rue Trundle's failure to convert a succession of chances just after the interval as League One keeper of the year Flahavan performed heroics and Eastwood drove home his 23rd league goal of the campaign after evading a dithering Kevin Austin. A smattering of late free-kicks might have yielded a critical Swansea winner, but then who really wanted that? It would have made for less of a challenge at Chesterfield! After a difficult start to life in South Wales, nothing would erase the wide smile Fallon was wearing. "The feeling I had when the first goal went in was unbelievable," said the 24-year-old Kiwi, who was 11 appearances into his Swansea career before his first goal arrived but now has four to his credit. "I don't usually take off my top, but it was just such a huge relief for me to get the goal. And I would've been very annoyed had I missed the header from Tatey's cross. "I felt strong. That's how I can play - and I've just got to keep it up. "It showed those people who didn't believe in my ability just what I can do. "And I'll keep proving people wrong." To those who wrote off their promotion chances, Swansea must now do the same.

02nd May 2006 Swan's hope on season's finale

Wales on Sunday FOR the second season running Swansea City's fate will be settled on the final day on the season. Just like last year at Bury, Kenny Jackett's men now know they need a result from their last game to give them a chance of winning promotion. But unlike last term, Swansea still at least have their future completely in their own hands. A superior goal difference over nearest challengers Nottingham Forest and the team immediately above them, Barnsley, means any sort of victory at Chesterfield next Saturday should see them finish in the play-offs. Anything less than three points though and Jackett will be looking nervously for other scores before knowing whether or not to start planning for another potential trip to the Millennium Stadium. The point yesterday, though, was enough to send Southend into the Championship as Swansea players and fans looked on jealously. Yet if the Swans had played like this more often they would already be up alongside Steve Tilson's men. They could and probably should have won, having taken the lead twice and gone close to scoring on numerous occasions afterwards. Striker Rory Fallon was outstanding as he at last showed why Jackett invested £300,000 to snap him up from Swindon in January. The New Zealander had often looked a forlorn figure in previous appearances as he struggled to adjust to his new surroundings. But he repaid a large chunk of his transfer fee with two wonderful goals. That they didn't win was down largely to the brilliance of Southend hitman Freddy Eastwood and some inspired goalkeeping from Darryl Flahavan. After last weekend's selection surprises at Oldham, Jackett sprang yet another by handing 17-year-old Shaun MacDonald his first league start in place of the injured Leon Britton. And the highly-rated midfielder didn't disappoint. Garry Monk returned to the heart of defence while top scorer Lee Trundle was also restored and for the second week running Roberto Martinez was overlooked. The prize on offer to Swansea needed no repeating but if the players needed any further inspiration, the heroes of the 1981 promotion team were on show before kick-off. And, roared on by another giant crowd, the home side shrugged off their recent indifferent form and began at breakneck speed. Yet it was Southend who crafted the best of the early chances. An Adam Barrett header was pushed away by Willie Gueret after just five minutes before Eastwood got his first sight of goal shortly afterwards, only to see his header blocked by Alan Tate. Tate then came to the rescue again, throwing himself at Mark Gower's shot before Swansea finally came up with a chance of their own on 16 minutes only for Trundle to see his effort charged down. The breakthrough wasn't far away though. Barrett's complete misjudgement allowed Fallon to take full advantage, finding the top corner from the edge of the box for his first goal at the Liberty Stadium. The lead only lasted nine minutes. Gower played in Eastwood along the edge of the box and a quick shuffle took him past Monk, leaving him with the simple job of stroking past Gueret into the bottom corner. It was a deserved equaliser in an enthralling first half but the Swans were soon back in the lead and once again it was that man Fallon. Unmarked six yards out, he met Tate's cross with a deft finish to head past Flahavan on 34 minutes. There was to be no let up in the second-half pace though as Trundle came within a whisker of adding to the Swans' lead moments after the restart. His shot was well turned away by Flahavan with the goalkeeper stopping him again from the resulting corner. He kept him at bay for a third time from a quickly taken free kick and denied Fallon his hat-trick for good measure. Barrett reminded the home side that the leaders were still a force to be reckoned with on the hour before Che Wilson went close with a free header. The equaliser arrived on 63 minutes. This time it was down to a defensive lapse and, as Kevin Austin dithered, Eastwood didn't and tied the centre-half in knots before coolly slotting the ball past Gueret.

28th April 2006 CHAMPAGNE ON ICE FOR JACKETT

Evening Post Kenny Jackett aims to play party pooper tomorrow with Swansea City hopeful they will get at least a share of the end-of-season champagne. Southend United's team bus will be ladened with bubbly on ice when they arrive at the Liberty Stadium for a game that could see them secure a second successive promotion. Beat Swansea and Steve Tilson's men will secure automatic promotion to English football's second tier. A draw or even defeat could still see corks popping in the away dressing room should results at Brentford and/or Colchester go their way. Regardless of what goes on elsewhere, Swansea's aim is to keep up their challenge for the Championship. Sadly for Jackett, any chance of a top-two spot went the same way as mini eggs over Easter. All hope is not gone, though, and if Swansea can upset Southend for the second time in 12 months, Welsh prospects will look even brighter. Last May, remember, Swansea's triumph at Bury sent them up via the automatic route while Southend, beaten on the final day at Grimsby, were left to scrap it out in the play-offs. "I am a little envious of Southend," Jackett confesses, "as they look to have secured two promotions in two years. "Last year they made it via the play-offs and we got automatic and it might be a role reversal. "I certainly hope so." So do around 17,000 others who will be at the Liberty to watch tomorrow when, with just under 2,000 supporters coming from Essex, the stadium's record attendance of 19,288 could be broken. So too could Southend hearts. After a draw and two defeats in their last three matches, League One's chasing pack are closing the net on the Shrimpers. "It doesn't matter what the rest do because things are in our own hands," boss Steve Tilson insists. "We are still one win away from making sure we go up and we want to do it as quickly as we can." No wonder. After back-to-back home defeats by Gillingham and Doncaster, next Saturday's meeting with resurgent Bristol City at Roots Hall does not look a cakewalk. If Southend want to get the job done in Wales, Swansea are intent on ensuring the fixture at Chesterfield in eight days' time will not be the last of their season. "After the amount of time we've spent in the top positions this season, of course it's disappointing that it's not us going for automatic promotion," Jackett added. "But we are in the position we are in and we have to be realistic. We are sixth in the league and I always believe the league position doesn't lie. "In cup competitions you can get through in a one-off situation, but in the league you are where you should be. "We got to Easter and we had a fantastic opportunity to attack the top two positions, but we lost both games. "Since then automatic promotion has been out of reach, but we are still in with a chance." After last weekend's shake-up at Oldham, Swansea's team-sheet will be less dramatic this weekend. There will again be changes, though, with Lee Trundle poised to replace Leon Knight in attack. Leon Britton is again struggling with a pelvic problem, so the right-wing berth needs to be filled. Adrian Forbes is the obvious candidate, though Jackett is considering a shock call-up for 17-year-old Shaun MacDonald. At the back, Garry Monk is over a back problem and will return ahead of Tommy Williams. If the performance at Oldham offered Swansea some encouragement, their shambolic effort against Rotherham last time out on home soil suggested Jackett's players would be going nowhere this summer, save perhaps the transfer list. "We played poorly and we got what we deserved in that game," added the Swansea boss, who will keep in touch with scores elsewhere tomorrow afternoon via his mobile phone. "We were booed by the fans and I accept that. If our performance had not been poor and I disagreed with the boos and the heckles, I would come out and say it. "But I accepted that and I certainly hope we can produce better against Southend. "It's a massive game and there will be a massive atmosphere. I think that will be good for my players. "As for Southend, they're difficult to read. If they'd got promoted last week they might have relaxed and played better against us, or they might have been drinking all week." The challenge for Swansea is to make sure Tilson's players are supping nothing stronger than Powerade on the way home tomorrow night.

28th April 2006 Jackett: We must keep destiny in our hands

Western Mail A RECORD crowd is anticipated, a host of Swansea legends are planning a parade and the play-off dream is back in the club's own hands once again. Throw in the fact visitors Southend are hoping to confirm their promotion to the Championship and tomorrow promises to be a fiesta occasion at the Liberty Stadium. If anything is guaranteed to fuel a carnival-like atmosphere it will be the appearance of several members of the Swansea side that famously clinched promotion to the old First Division back in 1981. As part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the club's proudest moment, the likes of Alan Curtis, Leighton James, Dzemal Hadziabdic, Wyndham Evans and Nigel Stevenson will be introduced to a crowd expected to reach a new high of at least 19,300. While a touch of nostalgia is all well and good, though, Swans boss Kenny Jackett is keen to ensure his team's focus is on the present and keeping the club moving towards a possible Championship future. After passing what he'd described as the biggest test of his management career by guiding Swansea back into the play-off pack - albeit on goal difference - at Oldham last weekend, Jackett is expecting as much from his players as the many thousands of supporters will. Now that there is no longer any margin for error in and around a congested play-off zone, it is difficult to overstate the importance of Swansea avoiding a repeat of their last home performance, the appalling 2-0 Easter Monday defeat against Rotherham. Jackett - and Swansea as a whole - expects big things. "The fans have stuck with us, and I'm told the only gap you'll see in the stadium on Saturday afternoon is the segregation between the two sets of supporters," Jackett said. "That's terrific. I think the big atmosphere will be quite good for a number of my players. "What we mustn't do is let the fans - or ourselves - down on this occasion. "We had some stick from the crowd during the Rotherham game, but we deserved it. Let's be fair - when you play as poorly as we did, you've got to expect to be booed. "This weekend our performance has to be a lot better. "Firstly, we need the points. Secondly, we need to get back to goal-scoring ways because what have we had lately? One Kris O'Leary goal in the last three matches, that's all." With Swansea one spot above Nottingham Forest only because their goal difference is better by four, you can see why Jackett is anxious to see his players rediscover their goal-getting touch. Southend are likely to have something to say about things, however, as they chase the victory that would see them return to the second tier of the league for the first time since 1997. Jackett admits he'll feel a degree of envy - and he won't be the only one - if the Essex league leaders, who could clinch promotion with a point if other results go their way, are partying at the final whistle. "Would I feel envious? To a degree, definitely," he said. "Given the amount of time we've spent in the top two this season, there's no doubt we'd feel a bit sad it wasn't us celebrating automatic promotion. "For Southend it will be two promotions in two seasons, albeit via the play-offs last year. "But I'm a great believer the league table doesn't lie. We have to be real and accept we're sixth in the table because that's where we deserve to be. "Last season we came up automatically so perhaps it will be a role reversal with us and Southend this season. "Fair play to Southend, but I have to say I'm not really too concerned with them. "Whether we're playing Southend, Rotherham, Blackpool or whoever, it's what's at stake for my own team that I'm concentrating on, and the need for a better performance." Jackett has a couple of possible alterations to make as he plots a win he hopes will consolidate Swansea's position in the play-off bracket ahead of the final-day trip to Chesterfield. Almost certain is that star striker Lee Trundle (pictured) will return to the starting XI after dropping to the bench for the 1-1 draw at Boundary Park. But midfielder Leon Britton is rated as doubtful as his recurring groin problem has prevented him from training properly this week. Defender Garry Monk should return from injury, though, as Swansea prepare to usher in their biggest crowd since 19,288 watched the 2-0 win over Yeovil on November 18. Southend's expected following of 2,000 will be the biggest away crowd at the Liberty.

27th April 2006 'I'd swap plaudits for the big

Western Mail HE'S received so much acclaim in recent months that it seems he's spent as much time at award ceremonies as he has on the pitch for Swansea. A dinner jacket has been required as often as his football kit with Lee Trundle following up his coronation as League One player of the season by, accordingly, being named in the League One team of the year at last weekend's star-studded PFA awards. The combination of the goals he's scored and the entertaining way he plays his football has ensured the 29-year-old striker remains one of the most talked-about footballers outside the Premiership. But Swansea's favourite Scouser, whose team-mate Andy Robinson was a fellow inclusion in the divisional team of the year, insists the plaudits that have rained down on him will be meaningless if he is not playing Championship football at the Liberty Stadium next season. "It was nice to be honoured by the PFA and go up to London with Robbo for the awards," said Trundle. "As a player, it's the best honour to get as it's your fellow professionals who vote for you. "Robbo deserves it because he's had a great season both in the league and the cup competitions. "And us both being honoured reflects the fact the team has had a good season. "But personally, the recognition I've received won't count for anything if we don't win promotion at the end of it. "At the start of the season you don't set out to win awards, you set out to achieve things in the league - and we made it clear we wanted to achieve Championship football. "All the bits and pieces you pick up along the way are a bonus. But they won't mean a lot if we don't manage to win promotion." Trundle and co have already waved goodbye to automatic promotion and occupy the final play-off spot on goal difference alone thanks to a vital Kris O'Leary equaliser at Oldham last weekend. A meagre return of two victories from the last 12 league matches have placed the Swans under immense pressure as they prepare for two final examinations against Southend and Chesterfield. And, with sections of the Liberty crowd voicing their discontent by jeering the players and boss Kenny Jackett during recent home disappointments, Trundle has made an impassioned plea to Swans fans not to make the task harder than it already is. "It was disappointing that we dropped out of the running for a top-two place, and I know how disheartening it must be for the fans," Trundle said. "As players you can't afford to let yourself get too low when things are going badly or too high when they're going well. "Fans are different. When we beat Bristol City 7-1 earlier in the season, the fans were saying we were going to do this and we were going to do that. "But when we lost 2-0 against Rotherham last week they were saying we don't deserve to go up. "That's the way fans are. I can understand their frustrations. By rights, a team like Rotherham shouldn't be coming to our place and winning 2-0. "But it doesn't help when people are booing us. "The fans have got a big role to play - especially at home against Southend on Saturday. We need them to lift us. Hearing them cheering us on really does help get us going." What of the player himself? No one could accuse Trundle of not having played a major role in Swansea's push for a second successive step up the Football League ladder. Twenty goals from an injury-interrupted season tells you all you need to know about the former Wrexham man's contribution to Swansea's 2005-06 cause. But, hard though it might be to believe, all but three of those goals were scored before November 19. With two huge destiny-shaping matches to go - Southend's visit is followed by a trip to Chesterfield seven days later - and Jackett calling for him to hit the peak of his powers, the need for Trundle to improve his recent goal-scoring ratio could not be greater. "I'm hungry to put that right and get among the goals again," said Trundle, who has been overtaken by Southend's Freddy Eastwood and Scunthorpe's Billy Sharp (both with 21 goals) as the division's sharpest shooter. "I haven't lost confidence. I'm a confident lad. I always believe I'll get shots off, and I don't worry about where the next goal's coming from. "I love games which have a lot resting on them, so I'm confident I can find my best form and get back on the scoresheet in these final two games." A black cloud still hangs over Trundle, of course, in the form of possible FAW punishment for the infamous anti-Cardiff obscenities he displayed on a Welsh flag and a T-shirt after Swansea's Football League Trophy triumph. Trundle insists the incident has not been a distraction - and that fatigue, rather than loss of form for one reason or another, was the reason he dropped to the bench for the Oldham match. "It (the Millennium Stadium controversy) has not played on my mind, though that's something I don't really want to speak about," he said. "I was on the bench at the weekend because I think the manager decided to give me a bit of a rest with two big games coming up at the end of the season. "Against Rotherham last Monday I felt weak. "I don't know whether it was the effect of two games over the Easter weekend, but I had no energy. I wasn't a threat." Now, though, Trundle can hardly wait to resume his role as chief defence tormentor as Swansea await a Southend side keen to secure the League One title. "We don't want them coming here and doing that," he said. "We've got two massive games left and ideally we need to win both of them to be certain of a play-off place. "There's no margin for error. No safety net for us anymore. "But I definitely feel we can do it. It's in our hands, and we've proved in the past that when we need to do something, we've got the ability in the side to go out there and do it." How Swansea need Trundle to be at his award-winning best.

27th April 2006 Phone vigil an option to keep up with rivals

Western Mail Phone vigil an option to keep up with DON'T be surprised to see Kenny Jackett with a mobile phone stuck to one ear as he patrols the technical area during Saturday's crunch League One visit of Southend. Even though there are two games left, Jackett says he may repeat what he did at Bury on the final day of last season by using his phone to keep in touch with how Swansea's promotion rivals are faring. So claustrophobic has it become in and around the play-off zone that the Swansea manager wants to be aware of results elsewhere so he can try to squeeze more out of his players if necessary. Sixth-placed Swansea are one spot above Nottingham Forest only because their goal difference is better by four. Wary of Forest possibly closing the gap with a goal avalanche in their home tie against Bournemouth, Jackett would then urge his side to try to overcome Southend by a healthy margin. "I didn't follow other results during last Saturday's game at Oldham," said Jackett. "It wasn't until after the game that I was aware how other sides had got on. But it's definitely something I may have to consider doing this weekend. "If both ourselves and another side was drawing, and there was a one-goal goal difference, for instance, we'd have to try to win the game." It is not only Forest that Swansea have to be wary of. Should Jackett's men succumb to Southend anxious to finally secure automatic promotion, victories for Bristol City and Oldham would bring those teams level with the Swans, though their goal difference is sizeably inferior. On the other hand, a draw could be enough to lift Swansea up a place if Barnsley slip up at home to Bradford and Forest fail to conquer Bournemouth. Given the abundance of permutations, perhaps it is as well that Swansea simply concentrate on winning their match and then reappraise the situation. As for their opponents, if last weekend's shock 1-0 home defeat to Doncaster resembled an athlete tripping over his shoelaces just in front of the finishing line, Southend hope to finally climb onto a promotion podium place with victory in South Wales. "It's difficult to predict what Southend will be like," said Jackett. "Had they got promoted last weekend and spent the week partying, would they have relaxed more and played with more freedom? "Now they will still be going for it but they might be nervous. Who knows? It could've gone either way. "Really I'm just concentrating on my own team, and I'm happier now that our destiny is back in our own hands again. "It looks like we're playing for fifth or sixth place, but if we were to get six points out of six, fourth spot could still be within reach. "With the way other teams have been slipping up, you never know. "If you finish fifth or sixth, you're at home first in the play-offs, which is not necessarily what you want. "You want to be able to bring sides back to your own ground for the second leg. "Then again, the team that finishes third is generally the one that wins promotion via the play-offs the less because of the disappointment of perhaps missing out on the top two. "Whatever positive slant you put on it, you've just got to try to win play-off matches. "But first we've got to qualify for them - starting with a massive game on Saturday."

27th April 2006 Jackett tight lipped over stars' futures

Western Mail KENNY JACKETT has suggested the future of his unsettled Swansea City stars could depend largely on what division the club are in next season. But the Swans boss insists one such player - club captain Roberto Martinez - still has a role to play this term despite being axed altogether for last Saturday's clash at Oldham. Four senior Swans - midfielder Martinez, goalkeeper Brian Murphy, defender Kevin Austin and winger Adrian Forbes - are sweating on their futures as their Liberty Stadium contracts expire this summer. Jackett insists he won't make a final decision on whether to award them new deals until the season reaches its conclusion. And much could depend, he said, on whether the promotion-chasing Swans find themselves in the Championship or League One next term. "I've thought long and hard about the contract situation, but I'll wait and see where this season takes us before I commit myself on that score," said Jackett as he prepares for two final fixtures he hopes will propel the club into the play-offs. "I feel the best thing to do is leave it until the end of the season before getting involved in either contract negotiations or disappointments. "I wouldn't say the decisions I make will depend entirely on which division we're in next season. "But it's got to be a consideration. I have to look at both scenarios, to look at the budgets I'm likely to have in each of the two divisions." At the midway point of the season, Jackett insisted he had every intention of holding onto Forbes and Martinez. With both players having been on the margins in recent weeks, has Jackett changed his mind? "No, I haven't necessarily changed my opinion," said a guarded Jackett. "Some haven't played as much as they had done previously, and I need to keep a degree of flexibility within my budget should I need to change it. You look at one division and you look at the other, but you also look at being fair to four people who have worked very hard for the club. "Players' wages are paid up to the end of July if they (any players who are released) don't get another club, so they do have some leeway." The future of Swansea's popular Spaniard is the one which has generated most discussion among supporters keen to know who will be at the Liberty Stadium next season. Of the three outfield players nearing the end of their current contracts, Martinez was the only one to be dropped entirely from the matchday squad for the 1-1 draw at Oldham that nudged Swansea back into the play-off pack. It seemed a particularly harsh decision. The former Wigan midfielder has not been at his most commanding in the second half of the campaign, but he was by no means Swansea's worst performer in the awful 2-0 home defeat against Rotherham on Easter Monday. But Jackett insists Swans fans have not seen the last of Martinez this term as the club prepare for Saturday's mouth-watering visit of leaders Southend followed by a final-day trip to Chesterfield. "Roberto definitely still has a role to play this season," said the Swansea chief. "I decided not to go with him at Oldham because it looks to me at the moment that Andy Robinson needs to play that creative passing role in the centre of midfield. "Alongside Andy you need a dogged competitor (Kris O'Leary filling that role). "If you look at the bench, I selected Owain Tudur Jones because of his capability of getting a goal, and young Shaun MacDonald because he gives me the variability of being able to play in a wide position as well as central. "That's why I decided to go with those two as my back-up options for central midfield rather than Roberto, who is at his best in a holding and passing role." Former boss Brian Flynn signed Martinez for the Swans in February 2003 - initially on loan - while Forbes and Austin were two of Jackett's first signings as manager in the summer of 2004. Murphy arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City in July 2003, but the Irishman has made only 13 league starts in three seasons with the Swans.

27th April 2006 GLORY BOYS ON PARADE AT BIG GAME

Evening Post Stars from Swansea City's glorious past will be on parade at the Liberty Stadium ahead of Saturday's crucial clash with Southend. To mark the 25th anniversary of Swansea's finest hour, members of the squad which clinched promotion to the old First Division at Preston back in 1981 will be introduced to the crowd. Among the past players at this weekend's game will be Dzemal Hadziabdic, Alan Curtis, Wyndham Evans, Leighton James, Nigel Stevenson, Dudley Lewis, John Mahoney, Dave Stewart and Jimmy Loveridge. Swansea also hope Ante Rajkovic will make a flying visit to South Wales to make an appearance. John Toshack's squad will be together again next Wednesday night, when a sell-out celebration dinner takes place at the Brangwyn Hall. Neil Robinson, Tommy Craig, Phil Boersma, Alan Waddle, Dave Rushbury, Brian Attley and David Giles are all due to join the rest then, though Leighton Phillips is on holiday. A special brochure commemorating that famous day at Deepdale has been put together by former Evening Post soccer writer John Burgum. The limited edition brochure is available for £10 with all profits going to local charities. For a copy email john.burgum@ntlworld.com or write to 8, Snowdon Drive, Fforestfach, Swansea, SA5 5DB.

27th April 2006 FIFTH BEST

Evening Post Kenny Jackett admits a fifth-place finish is the best Swansea City can hope for - but has told his players outsiders usually win the play-offs. Jackett accepts Swansea are unlikely to end up higher than fifth in League One even if they win their last two regular-season matches. That would mean playing the home leg of the play-off semi-final first - stacking the odds in favour of Swansea's opponents. But Jackett, on Watford's management staff when the Hornets reached the Premiership after finishing fifth in Division One in 1999, has stressed that the team who come closest to automatic promotion normally miss out in overtime. ''You never know the way sides have lost games this season, but fifth or sixth place looks like our best hope now,'' said the Swansea boss. ''That would mean playing at home in the first leg of the play-offs, which is a disadvantage. You would prefer to be bringing sides back to your place for the second leg. ''But the route I'm going down with my players is that the side who finish third in the table has won the play-offs the fewest times over the years. ''Whether it's the disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion I don't know, but the records show that the play-off winner usually comes from the sides who finish fourth, fifth and sixth. ''We have to qualify first, of course, but there's a spilt between those places when you look at the records so why shouldn't we follow that trend?'' As things stand, Swansea would probably meet one of Colchester, Brentford or Huddersfield in the semi-final should they clinch a play-off place. Jackett, though, insists he has no preference for potential opponents. ''There's no side I'd like to face or wouldn't like to face,'' he said. ''Our form has been erratic and what's important to me is that our performances improve. ''We were better than we had been at Oldham last weekend, but we have to keep going. ''We're in a mini-league now where we have to do better than three or four of our rivals.''

26th April 2006 SORRY MCLEOD: NOW IT'S ALL DOWN TO ME

Evening Post Kevin McLeod has vowed to take his second chance with Swansea City after being recalled from first-team exile. Mcleod was left out in the cold by Kenny Jackett, who lost patience with the 25-year-old after he was spotted on a night out on March 11. Swansea's manager slapped the former Queens Park Rangers player on the transfer list, ordering him to go before last month's deadline for loan moves. But a proposed switch to Southend collapsed and, after six weeks in limbo, McLeod was dramatically recalled for last Saturday's draw at Oldham. Now the talented winger is determined to secure his long-term Swansea future. "The gaffer said to me 'Look, you've got a second chance, do you want to stay?'" McLeod explained. "I said 'Yes' and he said 'Well prove it to me then'. "Now it's up to me to get back to the way I was at the start of the season. I've got two years left on my contract and two years to become a better player." McLeod admits doubting whether he would ever play for Swansea again after being hauled over the coals last month. "I didn't know whether I was coming or going and my head was in a mess," he added. "But I've gone away and learned an awful lot in the last few weeks. "All I want to do now is play for Swansea and hold onto that shirt. "I want to do as much as I can with my ability to help get us into the play-offs and up into the Championship. "There's nothing wrong with my head now or my commitment. I've had a little telling off and I've held my hands up. "All I want now is to play and put a smile back on the fans' faces." McLeod did enough at Boundary Park to suggest he will keep his place when Southend, of all clubs, arrive at the Liberty Stadium looking to clinch automatic promotion this weekend. "I thought Oldham went quite well considering it was my first game in six weeks," the Scouse flyer added. "I always said I didn't want to leave. I'm settled in Swansea and I just want to get back to my normal self now. "I could have been playing for Southend this weekend but my heart has always been with Swansea. "Hopefully we can stop them partying and then have a little party of our own at the end of the season." Not that McLeod will be overdoing it. "People have said I was going out and doing things," he said, "but I know what I've done. "I had a lot of frustration and I went out but I've held my hands up and it's made me a 10-times better person and a 10-times better player. "I do things in moderation now. If I go out in Swansea in the summer, it will be for a meal only, no drinks. I'll enjoy my life doing other things." He added: "My nan used to say to me when I was younger, ''Cream always rises to the top. But the more you put in, the more you will get out."

25th April 2006 Scouse hitmen in league of their own

Western Mail THEY'VE already been named in the PFA's League One team of the year, but Kenny Jackett hopes Scouse assassins Lee Trundle and Andy Robinson have saved their best for last. Top-scorer Trundle and midfield creator Robinson were honoured by their fellow professionals at the PFA's annual gala awards dinner in London on Sunday night. They duly earned a pat on the back from their manager yesterday, but Jackett also stressed the importance of them rediscovering their best form in the final two games as Swansea aim to clinch a coveted play-off spot. "I'm really pleased for both of them that they've been named in the team of the season," Jackett said. "They've earned the honour because they've been big players for us this year. They've both been very successful - not just in their goal-scoring but in their creativity as well. "But incredibly Swansea's season is still ahead of them, and I'm looking for big things from them now in the two massive games we've got left. "With a big crowd expected at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday (for Southend's visit) I need both Lee and Andy back to top form." Jackett was alluding to the fact only three of the 20 league goals Trundle has netted this season have come in his last 19 appearances, while Robinson has not been at his explosive best in the past few matches. "Somebody told me Lee has got three league goals in five months, but he's probably been out (injured) for quite a bit of that time," said Jackett. "His goals-per-game ratio has not been anywhere near the one-in-two he's generally scored in his Swansea career. "That tells me he's owed a few, and if he gets one, he might get a few, which is what tends to happen with goalscorers. "A goal lifts a goalscorer - one goal lifts his game, his touch, he's suddenly got some energy and some confidence. "One goal could set him off on a run of goals. Either way, I need both Lee and Andy back on top form. "We need our big players firing because we have to do better in these last two games than two out of four of our competitors." Robinson, 26, could yet pip Trundle to Swansea's player of the season accolade, having enjoyed his best season for the club, netting 17 league and cup goals. "The only thing that's held Andy back in the past is his fitness," Jackett said. "That's improved this year and, though he's also been effective in a wide position, he's produced some very good displays in his favoured central midfield position."

25th April 2006 McLeod looking for silver lining

Western Mail KEVIN McLEOD has expressed his determination to make the most of his second chance after his recall from the Swansea City wilderness. Breaking his silence on being welcomed back into the fold, McLeod insisted he would emerge "a better person and a better player" after a nightmare six weeks in which he was axed from the Swans side and then told to find another club. The 25-year-old former Everton winger was placed on the transfer list by boss Kenny Jackett shortly after going out drinking in Swansea on the eve of the club's League One clash with Walsall on March 12. Jackett insisted the Liverpudlian was being punished for "a build up of things" over a period of time that centred around the player not applying himself properly off the pitch. McLeod was told to leave the Liberty Stadium and almost joined promotion rivals Southend last month before the move to Roots Hall collapsed. On Saturday, though, the winger earned a surprise recall for the trip to Oldham - and now he's determined to fully revive a Swansea career that only a couple of weeks ago appeared dead in the water. "The gaffer has given me a second chance and all I want to do now is play well for Swansea and hold onto the shirt," said McLeod, who made an impressive return in the 1-1 draw at Boundary Park that revived Swansea's play-off hopes. "Kenny has told me I've got to prove I want to stay at the club so I've got to get back to performing like I did at the start of the season. "Considering I'd been out for six weeks, I thought I did quite well at Oldham. "There's two games to go and I'll do everything within my capability to help the club get into the play-offs and hopefully the Championship." McLeod admits he went through mental turmoil after being frozen out by Jackett amid rumours he was constantly out drinking in Swansea. But, having learned from his mistakes, he hopes the unsavoury episode can be consigned to the past and he can see out the remaining two years on his Swans contract. "My head was in a mess - I didn't know whether I was coming or going," McLeod said of the cold shoulder treatment he got from Jackett. "But I said to myself the best thing I could do was just keep myself fit and then whatever happens, happens. "As my nan said to me when I was younger, cream always rises to the top and the more you put in, the more you'll get out. "People were saying I was going out (in Swansea) and doing things, and I know what I've done and how I've gone about things. "I've had a bit of a telling off, and I've held my hands up and taken responsibility for my actions. "I've learnt an awful lot and it's made me 10 times a better person and 10 times a better player. "I'll do things in moderation in future. If I go out in Swansea it'll be for meals only, it won't be for a drink. "I've got to push on with my career now. "I've got two years left on my Swansea contract. Two years to become a better player." The former Queens Park Rangers winger, who made the switch to South Wales in February 2005, might have been lining up against the Swans on Saturday had his proposed move to Essex not collapsed because of problems with the paperwork being completed. Instead, McLeod has a good chance of facing Steve Tilson's men when they arrive at the Liberty looking for a win that could confirm their elevation to the Championship. "I could've been playing for Southend, but to be perfectly honest I wouldn't have turned up here (for the game) because my heart was still in Swansea," said McLeod. "I didn't want to go anywhere as I'm settled in Swansea. "Hopefully we can beat Southend this weekend and stop them from partying. "We want to make sure we've got a reason to have a party of own at the end of the season." McLeod's return - his first outing since the first leg of the Football League Trophy area final against Colchester on March 7 - was one of six changes Jackett made at Oldham. But the manager, who expects Garry Monk, Alan Tate and Leon Britton to shake off various knocks during the course of this week, plans to settle things down for the visit of the League One leaders. "There won't be the type of wholesale changes that you saw at Oldham," Jackett said. "There won't be a lot of differences because I want to try and bed down a side."

21st April 2006 Pick me Kenny, I can deliver dream - Knight

Western Mail LEON KNIGHT has pleaded with boss Kenny Jackett to pick him for a match he's labelled "win or bust" as far as Swansea's slim promotion chances are concerned. The pacy Swans striker admits he has found it "weird" spending so much time on the bench following his £125,000 switch from Brighton in January. But, with tomorrow's trip to Oldham carrying huge significance after the spluttering Swans dropped out of the top six in League One, Knight has told Jackett he is the man to rescue the club's fading Championship dream. "A draw is no good. If we don't beat Oldham we're going to have to look forward to next season in this division - it's win or bust, really," said the diminutive 23-year-old. "The manager's told us he's going to chop and change this weekend, so I hope I get a chance. If I can get in, I think I can cause a bit of confusion among defenders, stretch people a bit and hopefully get on the scoresheet. "I've scored eight goals since coming to Swansea, and I'm keen to improve on that tally. "I think I'm different to all the other strikers at the club. Lee (Trundle), Rory (Fallon) and Bayo (Akinfenwa) all face up (to the play), but I'm really the only one who naturally gets in behind defenders. "I think I can play alongside any of those three because I offer something different. "My goal ratio's been pretty good since I came here, and, if the manager gives me a chance this weekend, I'm confident I can get on the scoresheet to help us get the victories we need." Supporters have been clamouring for Knight's inclusion in the wake of the defeats to Blackpool and Rotherham that destroyed Swansea's automatic promotion challenge and sent the club tumbling outside the top six. Their wish might be granted as Jackett confirmed his intention to shake things up for the trip to Boundary Park, with Knight suggesting even Trundle might be a casualty from the side that performed so woefully over the Easter weekend. Whatever alterations Jackett decides to make, Knight hopes to be a beneficiary as he seeks to improve on the eight league starts - plus six as a substitute - he's made since swapping the Sussex coast for South Wales. "We won't know for sure until the manager puts the team up, but in training he's put us in a shape where it's been me and Rory up front," revealed Knight. "When I first came to the club I thought I'd have to feel my way into the side. But when I did get into the side and started scoring goals, I thought I'd done enough to stay in there. It was a bit weird to be dropped to the bench. "Perhaps it was only fair the manager stuck by the players who'd got the club into such a good position. I can't have any complaints with that. "But there are other strikers here who can score goals now and, with the team having a bad run, I don't think chopping and changing would do any harm. "I've got no regrets about coming to Swansea. We've won two cups and we've still got a chance of the play-offs. "During the summer I'll put pressure on to be one of the first names on the team sheet." If the mid-season arrival of Knight and Fallon left Swansea top heavy with strikers, the lack of cover at the other end of the pitch was not helped yesterday by news Garry Monk is a major doubt for the trip to Lancashire. The centre-half came off the training ground yesterday with a back complaint, which means Kris O'Leary or Kevin Austin could fill in alongside Alan Tate against an Oldham side who must win themselves to stand any chance of sneaking into the play-offs. Midfielder Leon Britton, though, has had the all-clear to make a return after deciding to shelve plans to have an operation on a hernia problem.

21st April 2006 Swansea pair cautioned over flag

BBCi Lee Trundle pictured holding the flag bearing anti-Cardiff obscenities Two Swansea footballers have received police cautions for brandishing a flag with anti-Cardiff obscenities on it following a football cup final. Lee Trundle, 29, and Alan Tate, 23, had been celebrating victory in the Football League Trophy final, at the Millennium Stadium, earlier this month. Trundle also donned a T-shirt showing a cartoon of a Swansea player urinating on a Cardiff City shirt. Both men were arrested by police following the game. South Wales Police said on Thursday a 23-year-old man and a 29-year-old man had received police cautions for public order offences at Llanishen police station in Cardiff. The flag was handed in to police who launched a full investigation following a number of complaints after Swansea's 2-1 victory over Carlisle United on 2 April. Swansea immediately apologised "for any distress caused" after the incident, saying the players involved had been caught up "in the moment". A statement on the club's website on Thursday evening said: "Whilst the players concerned may have made a misjudgement on the day, as always stated by the club and players, there was never any intent on the part of the two players to deliberately cause offence. "The club believes that with their decision not to press charges, the authorities have come to a similar conclusion." The pair could face possible professional discipline after the Football Association of Wales (FAW) decided charges would be issued against both the club and the two players over the post-match events. Swansea City spokesman Jonathan Wilsher said the caution represented the end of the police inquiry into the incident but added it had no bearing on the FAW disciplinary hearing. A previous statement from the FAW said the images paraded were "of an extremely offensive and insulting nature and such behaviour is totally unacceptable".

20th April 2006 TOO MUCH TOO SOON OR TOO LITTLE TOO LATE . . .

Evening Post Rewind nine months. On the eve of the season, Swansea City are offered three games to close a one-point gap on League One's play-off places. And they already have the Football League Trophy and the FAW Premier Cup on the mantelpiece. How many of the 16,000 who turned up at the Liberty Stadium on the opening day of the campaign would have accepted that scenario? Surely, almost every single one. And with glee. So why now does it feel like Swansea are on the brink of relegation back to League Two? Why were Kenny Jackett's players jeered by their own supporters on Monday? And why have internet sites exploded with supporters' calls for the guillotine to drop on Jackett and/or his squad? You can trace it back to last summer, when those very same fans were happy to contemplate a season of stabilising in League One. Much of the talk had been of not making the same mistake as last time Swansea escaped the basement division, under John Hollins in 2000, when they slumped straight back down. Yet Jackett, and his chairman, refused to consider such lowly targets from day one. The dust had barely settled on their dramatic promotion last year when they began chuntering about repeating the trick this time around. ''At the start of the season everybody said we'd be lucky to stay in this league,'' Garry Monk remembers. ''But as players we always knew we knew we could do better than that.'' And, in the first 20 games of the league season, they proved it. If Jackett and Huw Jenkins had between them raised the bar, Monk and Co were clearing it in style. Now the 16,000 started to believe. So, too, did their mates - victory over Yeovil in the good old days of November attracted more than 19,000, Swansea's biggest league crowd since the Toshack era. Jackett's men had stormed to the top of the table in style, producing some fabulous football which no side in the division threatened to match. With very few injuries, a settled team had been key to success through the autumn. When, inevitably, the treatment room started getting a little busier, Jackett's men felt the pain. However, Swansea's followers believed the most intense spell of transfer activity seen in South West Wales in more than two decades should have been enough to soften the blow. Cheques for more than £600,000 were signed as five new faces arrived in January. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, Swansea have not yet had a massive return on their very significant investment. In fact, Jackett's remoulded squad has gone backwards. Since Scunthorpe were seen off in early December - three weeks before the recruitment drive began - Swansea have won just five of their 23 league games. That is dreadful form, and that is why cries of derision went up as Rotherham cruised home at the Liberty on Monday. ''It's hard to explain what's gone wrong,'' reckons Monk, scorer of the own goal which set the Millers on the road to victory. He is not the only one who cannot say for sure what the problem has been. Everyone has a theory, none can be certain of the truth. ''It's probably a culmination of a lot of things,'' adds the former Southampton defender. ''The fans pay their money to come and watch and they have every right to air their feelings as they did on Monday. That's the same for anyone who goes to watch any football game. ''We're disappointed as well. It's not as if we don't care and it's not down to a lack of effort or commitment. ''Things just haven't clicked for us lately and we're as frustrated as anyone about that. ''To be out of the play-offs makes it even worse, and if we were to end up outside the top six it would be a bitter pill to swallow.'' One would that would leave a very sour taste. Scintillating as the autumn was, this season will be remembered for a bleak winter and a sorry spring unless Swansea can produce something spectacular in the next couple of weeks. There should be no talk of automatic promotion anymore. The play-offs are the only hope and right now Swansea are rank outsiders. What chance three wins in what remains of the regular season to re-ignite their push for the Championship? You would not put your dog's house on it. Still, it is possible. ''Of course it is,'' Monk stresses. ''And while there's a chance, we will give it our all. ''If we missed out now having been in the top six all season it would feel like all our hard work was for nothing. ''I would be absolutely gutted.'' After hopes were raised, he would not be the only one.

20th April 2006 BLOWN IT?

Evening Post Huw Jenkins fears Swansea City may have blown their big chance of promotion after they slumped out of the top six for the first time since August. But the Swansea chairman has vowed to learn the lessons of the season and come back stronger next year - whatever division the club are in. Jenkins has not given up all hope of reaching the Championship this spring. But with the sparkle of early season now a distant memory, he admits Swansea's chances of back-to-back promotions are fading fast. ''The team have gone flat, they've gone stale,'' Jenkins said. ''We look like a team that will be glad of a summer's rest. ''In most areas of the field we look jaded and there's not much energy. We look worn out. ''The only thing in our favour lately has been the results of other teams. ''Somebody's smiling on us and every week we've been talking about whether we're going to take advantage of the luck we've been having. ''But we haven't done it at all. I'm not giving up on promotion, you never do, but I'm not sure if we're ever going to take advantage of that luck.'' If Swansea can lift spirits after a desperate Easter weekend - and only five wins in 23 League One matches - a play-off place is still within their grasp. ''If you'd asked me at the start of the season I would have taken that,'' Jenkins added, ''and everybody's focus now has to be on doing all we can in the final three games to get there.'' Whether they make it or not, Swansea face a busy summer working out exactly what has been behind their dramatic decline this season. ''You can't argue with the facts,'' Jenkins went on. ''Our performances and results since November haven't been good enough. ''The players and the management team are still learning how hard the process is. ''When you look at the start we had, we were in a new stadium and we had just won a promotion. Perhaps the euphoria carried us through for a few months. ''But then things settle down and become hard. That's the reality of playing football at this level. Anybody who thought we'd win every game and cruise into the Championship was not realistic. ''Whatever happens now, we have to assess what's gone wrong and start putting things right for next year, whatever division we're playing in. ''To be at the top you have to be consistent for 10 months, for 46 games, and there's no hiding from the fact that since November, we have been poor. ''We're good enough to beat anybody, we've shown that, but the key is consistency. ''People talk about tactics, team selection, players' performances and individuals' performances. You can go on and on looking for reasons, but collectively we've been poor.'' Even so, the Swansea supremo suggested that a season which has brought two trophies and could well end in a top-six spot should not be viewed as a failure. ''Sometimes cup performances can hide what's in front of you,'' he said. ''But no matter how disappointing results have been, you have to try to consider how much we've moved on in the last year. ''You've got to realise how far we've progressed in the last couple of seasons.''

19th April 2006 We can still do it, says defiant Monk

Western Mail SWANSEA CITY'S players came out fighting last night as vice-captain Garry Monk urged people not to write off the club's promotion chances yet. Inquests were being held among disgruntled Swans fans yesterday in the wake of a disastrous Easter period which saw the club's hopes of securing Championship football suffer a major setback. Not only have back-to-back defeats against Blackpool and Rotherham put paid to Swansea's chances of automatic promotion, their destiny is also out of their own hands for the first time this season as they have tumbled down to seventh in League One. And, with just three games left to climb back into the top six and secure a play-off place, fears have been expressed among Swans fans that the club's promotion dream could be over for this season. But Monk is pleading with supporters not to give up hope, insisting Kenny Jackett's team are capable of bouncing back from their Easter nightmare by securing maximum points from the remaining matches. "The fans pay their money to watch us play, so they've got every right to express whatever opinion they want," said the defender in response to criticism Swansea have received following their appalling performance in the 2-0 home defeat against Rotherham. "We're as disappointed as they are - if not more so - about the way things have gone. It's not as if the players don't care. "Dropping out of the play-off zone is a bitter pill to swallow. When you've been up around the top of the table all season, it makes all the hard work we put in seem like nothing. "I feel gutted about it, and I know the feeling will be much worse if we miss out all together. "But there's no reason for people to give up hope. Why shouldn't we go and win all of our last three matches? "This isn't over. We've got to look forward and try to do everything we can to get back into the top six and get one of those play-off places. "We've got to give it everything we've got." Optimism among supporters is likely to be in short supply, however, given the dreadful form - just two wins from the last 11 league matches - responsible for Swansea's slide out of the promotion picture. But Monk said, "What's the point of us thinking, 'It's been ages since we won three games in a row, how are we going to do it now?' You may as well not bother if you're going to think along those lines. "We've got to think we can win all the games. Every game is different. Something always happens and you never know. "When everyone said we'd be lucky to stay in the league at the start of the season, we knew we could do better than that. "It would mean everything to us to win promotion." The problem is that, despite all the confident talk emanating from the Swansea dressing room in recent weeks, too often the players' words have not been supported by actions. Monday's defeat was a prime example as, two days after a 1-0 reverse at Blackpool, Jackett's players looked anything but a side desperate to be playing Championship football. "It's hard to put your finger on what was wrong, but I don't know how anyone could say we're not putting the effort in," said Monk, who suffered the embarrassment of conceding an own goal against Rotherham. "We don't go out onto the pitch to lose. At the start of the game everything felt good, and we were well up for it because we knew we had to win. "I didn't feel there was a lack of confidence in the team, although subconsciously perhaps we took a bit of a dip after going 2-0 down. "But you're still trying and trying and trying. There's no lack of effort or commitment."

18th April 2006 Time's running out for Swans

Western Mail STUNNED Kenny Jackett ripped into his Swansea City players after their automatic promotion dream went up in smoke - and the club dropped out of the top six for the first time since August. Sorry Swansea's hopes of stepping straight up to the Championship are all but mathematically over after yesterday's abysmal 2-0 home defeat against League One strugglers Rotherham left them six points adrift of second place. Worse still, the Swans slipped out of the play-off places and down to seventh as Nottingham Forest continued their incredible resurgence to climb into the top six. Jackett's players were booed off the Liberty Stadium pitch as a bumper 14,000 crowd witnessed one of the worst displays of the season and the second defeat of a disastrous Easter programme. And, on the desperate situation Swansea now find themselves in, Jackett admitted, "We'd have a hell of a lot to do to get second place now. "It (missing out on automatic promotion) has been a possibility and if you keep losing games, that does happen. "And the neutrals would probably back the teams coming into the play-offs with a bit of form behind them. "This game is all about what you do in adversity. We've had a bad run and we're the only ones who can get ourselves out of it. "I wouldn't say we're panicking. We've had a disappointing run, and it's something we have to address. You can only do that with a performance." Swansea's fourth defeat in five league games - courtesy of a Garry Monk own goal on 16 minutes and a second from Gregor Robertson in the 30th minute - leaves them one point outside the top six with just three games left to go. And Jackett said, "There's never a good time to slip out of the top six. We'll be looking to win our remaining three matches, but we need to play a lot better than we did today. "When you look at our performance, you'd think we were playing a 'nothing' game. "We wanted a positive reaction after the defeat at Blackpool, but our passing was poor and, more importantly, our running was poor. We looked like we wanted to play standing still. "We lacked confidence on the ball. We had more than enough of the ball, but we didn't do anything with it. We couldn't get any cohesion to our play. "You don't get away from anyone by standing still. We weren't running into space and we weren't running to chauffeur the ball. "I've got to look at our defending again. With the second goal, we tried to hold a high line when we should have been dropping and the runner ran through midfield - the amount of times we did that over the Easter weekend! - and we were just hoping it was offside. "It was a real bad mistake by my centre-halves for the second goal as the runner got in. "You get annoyed and disappointed with your players when things like that happen. "The supporters turned up in their numbers, which was fantastic, but they won't turn up in their numbers if we put on performances like that." Elsewhere at the top of the table, Colchester moved into second spot with a 1-0 win over Tranmere, Barnsley and Brentford were held to home draws against Southend and Blackpool respectively, while Oldham lost 2-1 at Bristol City. Forest moved into the top six with a 2-1 home win over Yeovil.

14th April 2006 OWAIN TARGETS

Evening Post Until a couple of weeks ago, Owain Tudur Jones's claim to footballing fame was winning the under-17 North Wales cup. With FAW Premier and Football League Trophy medals now taking pride of place, his schoolboy prizes have been left in the shade. The two pieces of metal on the mantelpiece provide hard evidence of Tudur Jones's rapid, remarkable rise from League of Wales part-timer to a player standing on the brink of the Championship in under a year. But the ambitious 21-year-old wants more. "However I look at it, it's been a successful season for me," Tudur Jones accepts, "but it will not feel like that unless we get promotion. "In pre-season the manager outlined what he wanted. "He said we couldn't win the FA Cup or the Carling Cup, but we could win the Football League Trophy, the Premier Cup and promotion. "So far we have got two out of the three and we have the chance to complete all our objectives. "To get a place in the Championship would be massive, it really would. "But only if we achieve that will I be able to look back on the season as a total success." That is some statement from a player who was playing at Rhyl last Easter, the holiday crowd of just over 1,000 considered a bumper turnout at that level. But this is a man who has become used to making big strides ever since Bangor City invited him to play senior football aged only 16. It was just before making that step up that Tudur Jones last touched silverware. "I was playing for a local side called Maes y Bryn," the Welsh Under-21 international recalls. "I was probably about 15 when I was playing for the under-17s and we won the league and the North Wales cup a couple of times. "But I never won anything in the men's game with Bangor. We came close, losing in a couple of cup finals, but until a couple of weeks ago, the last medals I'd won were when I was a boy." After a three-month lay-off with knee ligament damage, Tudur Jones may have been a little fortunate to walk straight back into the Swansea City side for the Premier Cup win at Wrexham. That he did gave another indication of how highly Kenny Jackett rates a midfielder who cost just £5,000 last summer. "I felt quite good during the Wrexham game, but then I watched the video and it was obvious I was lacking a bit of match sharpness," Tudur Jones remembers. "I felt the legs starting to go a couple of times in the second half at the Millennium Stadium, too, but the adrenalin that comes with playing in front of that many fans carried me through. "To play in those two finals was a fantastic experience, and I feel like the match fitness is coming back now." It certainly looked that way in midweek, when the 6ft 4in starlet was outstanding in Swansea's 2-1 win over Swindon. It was a vital victory, one which has revived hopes of clinching an automatic promotion place. If they are to do that, Swansea must address their below-par away form starting at Blackpool tomorrow. "We've had a couple of setbacks at Gillingham and Port Vale," Tudur Jones says. "But we kept on plugging away against Swindon and eventually got the win we deserved after all those chances. "Hopefully that was the beginning of a good run for us." And hopefully, there is a rousing finish ahead for Tudur Jones in an undulating season. "It's been up and down for me with the injuries and the cup wins," he admits. "But I think that's what a footballer's career is all about. "You are going to have a lot of highs and a lot of lows along the way. What you have to do is make sure you don't get too carried away when things go well, and don't get too down when it's not going your way." Not that Tudur Jones will be skipping the celebrations if Swansea can clinch promotion in the coming weeks, even if it won't necessarily mean another medal. "To be honest the Football League Trophy one wasn't that good anyway," he says through a smile. "I think they must have had a rush job getting some made after LDV went bust. "And I don't think you get one for second place in the league, but we would take that all day long."

14th April 2006 OP FEARS GROW FOR SWANS MIDFIELDER

Evening Post Swansea City were anxiously waiting for news on Leon Britton today amid fears he may need an operation. The little midfielder was seeing a specialist over a suspected hernia problem. "If Leon, our medical staff and the specialist think the best thing is for him to have an operation then that's what we'll do," said boss Kenny Jackett. "The good news is that won't mean the end of his season. Apparently there's surgery now that only puts people out for eight days, which is incredible. "But if we have to lose Leon for three games and then have him back for the last two, I'll take that." Britton definitely misses tomorrow's trip to Blackpool after hobbling out of the midweek win over Swindon. "Leon doesn't feel he can carry on the way he is," Jackett added. "He's an explosive player and he needs that to be at his most effective." Darren Way seems increasingly unlikely to play again this season because of on-going problems with a stress fracture, but there is better news of Bayo Akinfenwa. "Bayo's stress fracture seems to be behind him and since Christmas he has gone from 110 kilos to 104," Jackett said. "I want him to get down to 98 or 99 by pre-season. He'll be really in business then, but I think he can go onto another level now." Mark Pritchard and Chad Bond have been told they will be free to leave Swansea at the end of the season, though will remain with Jackett's squad until the summer. Pritchard, 20, made two starts and three substitute appearances for the first team, while 18-year-old Bond managed just one appearance from the bench. Swansea's players will wear black armbands at Blackpool to mark the 17th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Tomorrow's match is all-ticket for both sets of fans. No tickets will be available after 4pm today. The Park and Ride coaches and the Landore car park will operate as normal on Easter Monday. The ticket office and club shop at the Liberty Stadium will both be closed on Easter Sunday and will re-open at 10am on Easter Monday. Gareth Vincent

14th April 2006 TRUNDLE DEATH TEXTS

Evening Post Death threats have been made against Swans star striker Lee Trundle by Cardiff City fans, it has emerged. The threats have been made in text messages sent to hundreds of Swansea City supporters. It comes just a fortnight after Trundle was involved in an alleged obscenity row following the Football League Trophy final at the Millennium Stadium. What is believed to be the striker's home address was also put on a Cardiff fans website. It was taken off after complaints from shocked Cardiff fans, but had still been on for a number of hours. The new text message death-threat reads: "Cardiff fans predictions: the next dead swan to be found in the dock will be Lee Trundle."

13th April 2006 LOWE RECALLED BY WOLVES

Evening Post Keith Lowe's brief Swansea career has come to an end and Kenny Jackett could also be without Leon Britton at Blackpool on Saturday. Lowe was yesterday recalled by parent club Wolves less than a week into the second month of his Liberty Stadium loan. And Britton is doubtful for the trip to Bloomfield Road after collecting a groin injury in the midweek win over Swindon. At fault for the Robins' goal on Tuesday, Lowe was set to be dropped to the bench anyway this weekend. But his departure is a blow nevertheless, for the 20-year-old has started all seven Swansea games since arriving in early March. "The loan deal included a 24-hour recall and Glenn Hoddle phoned me yesterday morning to say Keith would be playing for them on Saturday," Jackett said. The Swansea boss is likely to start with the back-four that finished the Swindon victory at Blackpool, with Alan Tate alongside Garry Monk in central defence and Tom Williams and Sam Ricketts patrolling the flanks. Britton's fitness problem means a probable start on the right for Adrian Forbes this weekend.