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Is football a business or a sport?

Swansea Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 18/02/2005

AFTER three straight home defeats, Town will probably be relieved to be playing away from Blundell Park, but it will not be easy this weekend when they travel to high-flying Swansea City.

Home > 2004-2005 Season > Previews > Swansea (a)

The Opposition

Overview

Currently lying 3rd in the table, The Swans will be hoping to at least gain a play off place this season after promising so much last season. Brian Flynn was their boss last season when a terrific first half of the season saw them near the top of the table, until a poor second half of the season saw them plummet to midtable, hence the appointment of ex-QPR coach Kenny Jackett (left), who will be hoping for no repeat performance of last season.

Their Squad

The Swans have perhaps one of the strongest squads in the division this year, and this has been strengthened in the last week by the signings of three new players. This is following two straight defeats for the Welsh side. Lee Thorpe (left), who was of course on loan at Town last season, signed permanently for Kenny Jackettâ€™s side after a brief loan spell, to add some steel to their attack. Joining Thorpe is QPR midfielder Marcus Bean who joins in a loan deal after being restricted to just 12 appearances this term. Another player who joined this week, also from QPR, is Kevin Mcleod, a tricky midfielder who joined QPR from Everton in 2003 for Â£250,000. McLeod decided to join to Swans after making just four starts for the Championship side this term. Also in the Swans squad is ex Sheffield United keeper Willy Gueret, who saved a Dean Gordon penalty in the game at BP, ex Bristol Rovers full back Ijah Anderson, Garry Monk and former Wigan midfielder Roberto Martinez.

Key Player

Lee Trundle (left). The obvious choice. Trundle is hated by many in the division for his determined and aggressive style, but is undoubtedly one of the top strikers in the league and is always a threat. Trundle already has 18 goals this season, making him one of the leagueâ€™s highest scorers.

Recent Form

Town

Swansea

L	Shrewsbury	(h)	0-1
L	Bristol Rovers	(a)	0-3
W	Cheltenham	(a)	3-2
L	Lincoln	(h)	0-0
W	Leyton Orient	(a)	2-1

Currently 17th in League Two.

L	Leyton Orient	(a)	1-3
L	Mansfield	(a)	0-1
D	Southend	(h)	1-1
W	Chester	(h)	3-0
W	Boston	(a)	3-2

Currently 3rd in League Two.

Top Scorers

Town

Swansea

Pinault	7
Parkinson	5
Reddy	5

Trundle	18
Connor	11

Team News

Town

Swansea

Town will welcome back Stacy Coldicott and Justin Whittle after they both served one game bans last weekend. Indeed, they could both go straight back into the starting eleven after a somewhat lacklustre display at BP last weekend.

Rob Jones and Jason Crowe also return after recent injuries. Crowe will probably start on the bench.

Russell Slade has hinted this week that he doesnâ€™t think the 4-4-2 formation is working, especially defensively. This could mean that Whittle forms part of a back three with Forbes and Ramsden. Or he could decide to draft Jones back in on the left hand side of the back three.

Thomas Pinault or Terry Fleming could make way for long-serving midfielder Stacy Coldicott in the centre of midfield. Pinault is perhaps the most likely to give way, with the game being away from home.

If Slade does go 3-4-3, this means that Graham Hockless is likely to drop to the bench with John McDermott and Ronnie Bull down each flank.

Swansea could give debuts to new signing Marcus Bean and Kevin McLeod, after they joined from QPR this week. Lee Thorpe has already made his debut for the side, but is likely to start on the bench as Swansea start with their preferred strikeforce of Trundle and Connor. Ijah Anderson should make way for McLeod, a left winger, whilst Bean could replace the experienced Roberto Martinez.

Former Luton winger Adrian Forbes could be set for a sooner than expected return to action after suffering from knee ligament damage. Forbes will probably be named on the bench after being absent since the end of January.

Probable Teams

Town

Swansea

1	Anthony Williams
2	John McDermott
4	Simon Ramsden
6	Terrell Forbes
28	Justin Whittle
16	Ronnie Bull
15	Terry Fleming
11	Stacy Coldicott
10	Andy Parkinson
9	Michael Reddy
26	Martin Gritton

27	Willy Gueret
5	Alan Tate
3	Kevin Austin
22	Izzy Ireiekpen
2	Samuel Ricketts
TBA	Marcus Bean
7	Leon Britton
18	Andy Robinson
TBA	Kevin McLeod
17	Paul Connor
10	Lee Trundle

Subs

Town

Swansea

8	Jason Crowe
5	Tony Crane
27	Danny North
18	Rob Jones
12	Graham Hockless

12	Lee Thorpe
22	Ijah Anderson
6	Roberto Martinez
20	Stuart Jones
14	Brad Maylett

Head to Head

The record books are not in favour of a Town win this weekend - with the Mariners having recorded just 3 wins at Swansea in 23 meetings. Our last win at the Vetch Field game in the 1983/84 season when Town were in the old, old second division (now the Championship)

P 47 W 17 D 11 L 19 F 61 A 59

Swansea Head-to-Head (52nd on The Opposition Ladder)

Last Meeting

The two sides met earlier in October at Blundell Park, where the Mariners were once again disappointed not to take all three points after missing a penalty in the second half. Colin Cramb rose to put Town in the lead after Dean Gordon missed Townâ€™s fifth penalty of the season. A contentious penalty on 70 minutes meant Swansea went home with a point, which was perhaps a fair result.

Grimsby Team: Williams, Jones, Whittle, Forbes, Crowe (Pinault, 81), Fleming, Coldicott, Gordon, Reddy (Cramb, 48), Daly, Parkinson
Subs: (not used) Fraser,Bull,Marcelle

Swansea Team: Gueret, Gurney, Austin, Monk, Ricketts, Forbes (Tate, 85), Martinez, O'Leary, Britton (Nugent, 54), Connor (Fitzgerald, 64), Trundle
Subs: (not used) Murphy,Maylett

Attendance: 4,618 Report

Prediction

Mmm, let me see - a 1-1 draw, please!

1-1

Recent Predictions

Game	Prediction	Score	Points
Shrewsbury	2-0	0-1	0
Bristol R	2-1	0-3	0
Cheltenham	1-1	3-2	0
Lincoln	2-1	2-4	0
Leyton Orient	1-1	2-1	0
Northampton	1-1	1-2	0
Cambridge	2-1	3-0	1
Lincoln	1-1	1-1	3
Macclesfield	1-1	0-0	1
Oxford	2-0	1-1	0

Reader's POMs

Directions

Click on the link for directions to Vetch Field (left).

Pubs

Click on the link for pubs close to Vetch Field.

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