We're gonna make this a night�to forget!

Travelling to the terrific and very modern Liberty Stadium the 1000 plus Glovers fans would hope the BBC�s Children In Need remix of Shalamar�s anthem of �make this a night to remember� would be poignant on two counts. Unfortunately for the westcountry men, and especially Lee Johnson, it was a night to forget.

Yeovil never looked comfortable all night, but at one nil down and beginning to apply a little pressure early in the second half they always had a chance of snatching an equaliser, and then who knows what might have happened, until Johnson get himself sent off for firstly a yellow card for dissent, followed by another 5 seconds later for apparently making a gesture at Referee Mr Stroud. Some sendings off are unfortunate, some harsh, but when they are self inflicted, with a match still in the balance, they are undeniably stupid, and Johnson who not only got a pretty big aggressive slap on the back from his skipper as he left the field will no doubt get fined the maximum, not just for his misdemeanour but as a deterrent to his fellow players that manager Steve Thompson will not accept that kind of unprofessional behaviour from any of his players.

In the first half Johnson himself, who turned down a move to the Jacks (and for that he was roundly booed) knocked the ball around comfortably, pinging the ball well out to both flanks looking to get his fellow midfielders and full backs going, but somehow you just sensed that Yeovil were not going to get anything out of this game. Swansea were not necessarily better than Yeovil, but when you�re top of the league, and when your playing in front of 18,000 of the nosiest home fans you�ll ever ever hear, and when Lee Trundle is your centre forward, you�re metaphorically one up before the game has begun!

Terry Skiverton had Yeovil�s only real chance in the opening 45 but his shot was never any trouble to Gueret who watched it sail high and wide, Swansea almost opened their account on 15 minutes when Chris Weale got to a high ball under pressure only to lose it from his grasp, in the melee the loose ball was poked just wide of his left hand upright and Yeovil survived, but only for another 7 minutes that was, until Trundle, who seized on a ball that a Miles header failed to clear, stormed into the area but was shackled wide by Efe Sodje who appeared to have his man covered, then, with a leggy lunge for the ball Trundle fell and the roar from the home fans made the stadium literally tremble as the ref, with no hesitation pointed to the spot. Up stepped Trundle to slam the ball down the centre as Weale dived to his left. It was now mathematically rather than metaphorically one nil. That man Trundle almost made it two on the half hour mark, with quick feet he sent a fantastic effortless curling shot goalwards but saw his effort hit the bar, possibly assisted by the hand of Weale. Make no mistake, Trundle is class!

The second half started in similar fashion to that of the previous weekends game against Huddersfield, Yeovil came racing out of the blocks, Arron Davies who started up front alongside Phil Jevons raced towards the keeper when a ball over the top sent him clear, the angle for him though was too acute and he could not force the ball into the far corner of the net, Gueret blocked off the near post with the only option open to Davies was the cross shot to the far but the Swans keepers positioning was spot on and he claimed comfortably.

Jevons then had an opportunity to score but his double efforts were both blocked as Swansea�s goal led a charmed life. Centre half Skiverton then found himself in space in an advanced position up field, and his shot was that not of a striker and again Gueret held on with ease.

On 52 minutes Johnson then received his marching orders, Johnson appeared to be angry at a decision that went against his team, moments earlier Kevin McLeod was fortunate to stay on the pitch after raising both hands and making contact with Paul Terry, he and Terry both received bookings. Johnson moments later remonstrated with the ref and got booked, as he walked away only the ref and Johnson will know what happened but the latter left the field slowly, only to be hurried up by his skipper. Game over?

Not long after it nearly was but Leon Britton who had a good game, and by now was exploiting the gaps in the Yeovil midfield crossed to Trundle who thought, like the crowd he�d sealed the game but his shot was ruled offside.

Steve Thompson then rang the first change of the night, and it was one Welshman for another as the ineffective Arron Davies made way for the pace of Kevin Gall who entered the fray with a chorus of �swim away�, whatever that means, from the home fans. Personally if the UK wants to win the prestigious title of the Eurovision Song Contest again, they�d have a good chance if they employed this lot, a fine repertoire of song, all sang with passion and in tune, and for once outsinging the Yeovil contingent, which takes some doing.

The green and white band were finally stunned into silence midway through the second half, Sodje�s backpass made it to Weale just, but Akinfenwa�s presence put the Yeovil keeper under pressure and his hurried clearance had little distance or direction and it fell straight into the lap of that man Trundle who, as quick as a flash, took the ball down with one touch and then executed the most perfect lob from 35 yards that found the back of the net with aplomb. Trundle just stood there, ala Cantona, hands on hips and milked the applause. To this lot�he is God�and he knows it!

As Yeovil re-grouped for the kick-off Paul Terry and Nathan Jones exchanged a frank difference of opinion, the away side were rattled and you feared they would implode. Thompson wasted no time in changing it again as Chris Cohen replaced Jones, and Harrold replaced Jevons, but it made no impact. By now, Yeovil were toothless!

Terry Skiverton then had another chance and should have hit the target but his low shot fizzled just wide. Miles and Trundle than had a disagreement, the latter accusing Miles of an elbow. Seconds later they shook hands, it looked like even Miles was in awe! But Trundle was getting niggly, he started to question the officials and for that he got booked, a few minutes later his halo almost became his noose and he can thank his lucky stars that he too did not receive his marching orders. He tore into the box and was marshalled by Miles who clearly got the ball, although Trundle acrobatically fell to the floor as the ref waved away any appeal for a penalty. I�m not one to criticise refs but if you play to the letter of the law Trundle and McLeod should have left the field and Stroud bottled it! Something that Johnson will feel pretty aggrieved about. Trundle did then leave the arena, substituted in the last few moments, whether this was for his own good or as a gesture from his manager to allow him to milk the applause, only he will know!

Yeovil then had the chance to claw a goal back when McLeod�s poor backpass fell invitingly into the path of Gall, but his shot was smothered when he really should have made the keeper work a little harder.

If that didn�t bring the Yeovil fans to their feet the last bit of action certainly did�and Chris Weale whose earlier clearance may be questioned, was certainly at fault on this occasion, it came from over his left shoulder and �nipped� out from the cold North Stand from behind. She was the most beautiful streaker you�ll ever see and as she startled the Yeovil keeper by patting his derri�re, he fluffed and flapped when all was needed was a firm grasp, on this occasion his handling skills will certainly come under fire! The Jacks then chorused with a rendition of �that�s why we�re top of the league� and for once the Yeovil fans agreed! It warmed the cockles of your heart on a cold cold night!

The game finished and Swansea extended their lead at the top of the table by three points, they are on a roll. Yeovil on the other hand are also on a roll�of league defeats. Steve Thompson has only been in the job a couple of weeks and already he�ll be finding himself under pressure. The next few weeks are going to be testing for Thommo and his priority will be to get his front line going. Last week Harrold and Pablo, this week Davies and Jevons, in the second Gall and Harrold, with Bastianini an unused sub. Like Swansea and Huddersfield we have a backbone and a heart, but we don�t have Booth and Abbott, and we don�t have an Akinfenwa or a Trundle. But then, just how long will Swansea have a Trundle???

Jeremy Gear

MOTM Vote Result:

Overall match rating: 5.88 / 10
Performance: 5
Entertainment: 6.75

8 votes received.

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