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Town 1-0 Swansea City
Town 1-0 Swansea City
Saturday, 27th Jan 2007 18:50

Former Cardiff City striker Alan Lee netted a second half penalty to give the Blues a 1-0 victory over Swansea City and send Town through to the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1996. The spotkick was awarded after Jaime Peters was pulled back by Tom Williams.

With Jason De Vos injured, Ian Miller cup-tied and David Wright and Alex Bruce suspended, Jim Magilton recalled Fabian Wilnis to the centre of the defence, the Dutchman making his 299th appearance for the Blues. Also returning was Sito, the Spaniard getting the nod at right-back ahead of Chris Casement. Gavin Williams continued in the centre of the midfield with Owen Garvan on the bench.

Swansea lined-up utilising the 4-5-1 they used at Sheffield United in the previous round with Adebayo Akinfenwa the only attacker and Lee Trundle on the bench.

Town had the better of the opening phase of the game, Billy Clarke heading over. Man mountain Akinfenwa bundled his way through a number of challenges before hitting a shot wide in the fifth minute.

Clarke's 13th minute shot was easy for Swans' keeper Willy Gueret, then Wales international glovesman Lewis Price comfortably saved from Thomas Butler. On 23 Clarke saw Gueret off his line but was well wide with his audacious 30-yard lob.

Town continued to dominate and a minute later Jaime Peters teed-up Sylvain Legwinski on the edge of the box, the Frenchman's shot narrowly failing to curl inside the post.

On the half hour, Gary Roberts did well to get in ahead of Akinfenwa as Darren Pratley's cross from the right flew across the Town six-yard box.

The visitors were starting to make more of an impact on the game and Butler should have done better than blazing well over when found in space inside the Town box. Soon after, Akinfenwa was allowed a free header but nodded tamely into Price's arms.

Lee headed a Roberts cross over in the 38th minute, failing to control a ball hit with a great deal of pace.

With three minutes of the half remaining, Billy Clarke should have put the Blues in front. Sito sent in a deep cross from the right and, with Swansea's defenders claiming an offside, the Irish youngster shot over the bar.


Clarke was handed another opportunity a minute later when waved back onto the field by replacement referee Nigel Miller after receiving treatment for a knock. The Town striker was allowed back onto the pitch just behind Richard Duffy, who was surprised to be tackled by a player he thought was off the field. Clarke took the ball on into the area but sent his shot well over the bar. A number of Swansea players made their annoyance known to the officials.

As the game moved into injury time, Darren Pratley got his name in referee Miller's book for a foul on Gary Roberts.

Town had enjoyed the better of the half but as so often without overly testing the opposition keeper. Swansea had started slowly but had improved as the period progressed.

Within a minute of the second half starting, Sito crossed from the right towards Billy Clarke, but Tom Williams got across to head out for a corner.

Legwinski's 25-yarder was easy for Gueret, then Price stopped Butler's freekick at the other end. The Town keeper saved from the same player soon after, failing to hold onto a stinging effort but Fabian Wilnis arrived ahead of Akinfenwa to bundle behind. From the corner, the referee blocked the Town's clearance and Izzy Iriekpen's shot was deflected wide.

Andy Robinson was booked for tripping Gary Roberts in full flow 25 yards out, the former Accrington Stanley man curling his freekick just wide. On 57 Butler's corner flew dangerously across the Town box and out for a goalkick.

Wilnis did well to dispossess Pratley in the 58th minute, the former Brentford man having got behind the Town defence. Three minutes later, Chris Casement replaced the limping Richard Naylor in the Town backline.

Town went ahead on 64. Gavin Williams aimed a freekick from just over halfway towards Jaime Peters at the far post. The Canadian got ahead of Tom Williams and looked set to score until the Swansea defender pulled him back, skying his effort on goal. Referee Miller was in no doubt and pointed straight to the spot, but surprisingly failed to show Williams a card of either colour despite an obvious goalscoring opportunity having been denied.

Keeper Willy Gueret did get Miller reaching for his pencil for failing to retreat to his line. However, the Frenchman's gamesmanship was in vain with Alan Lee sending him the wrong way from the spot to score his 12th goal of the season and his second penalty in successive games.

Swansea immediately threw on Lee Trundle for Darren Pratley. On 69 Price saved well from Leon Britton, who had found space on the Swansea right, just inside the area.

Owen Garvan replaced the tiring Billy Clarke in the 70th minute, Gavin Williams joining Alan Lee up front.

Trundle sent a dangerous ball across the Town six-yard box in the 78th minute but Butler arrived just too late to apply the finishing touch.

With 11 minutes remaining, Lee and Tom Williams clashed off the ball, the Town man ending up on the ground having been shoved by the defender. The referee failed to see the incident but still issued yellow cards to both players. Swansea will face an FA fine for amassing so many bookings. Lee's yellow card total now stands at nine with a two-match ban triggered by a 10th.

Trundle headed straight at Lewis Price before Britton was booked for a late tackle on Dan Harding. Danny Haynes replaced Gavin Williams in the 85th minute. Soon after, Trundle hit the Town sidenetting from a tight angle on the left.

Richard Duffy joined most of his team-mates in referee Miller's book for pulling back Gary Roberts as Town broke quickly on 86.

Surprisingly, as there had been few stoppages, five minutes were added. Town's suffered a scare when a cross from the left was flicked goalwards by Trundle, Price saving and also stopping sub Pawel Abbott's subsequent effort.

Sito added his name to referee Miller's collection for a foul on Butler in a dangerous position on the edge of the box. Fortunately for the Blues, Andy Robinson's freekick flew miles over Lewis Price's crossbar.

Town deserved their victory, although the Swans were on top for spells during the second half. The understrength Blues defence generally held firm with Fabian Wilnis particularly outstanding and Sito likely to have impressed any scouts watching him with a view to taking the Spaniard on loan.

Jaime Peters impressed in spells and would probably have scored had he not been fouled in the incident which led to the penalty, while Gary Roberts showed a tendency to overplay at times in the second half.

Town will hope for a financially rewarding fifth round draw ahead of the closure of the transfer window later this week. The draw will be made on Monday at 1.30pm. The fifth round is scheduled for the weekend of Saturday, 17th February which means Town's league game with Hull City will be rearranged.

Town: Price, Sito, Harding, Naylor (Casement 61), Wilnis, Legwinski, Williams (Haynes 85), Roberts, Peters, Lee, Clarke (Garvan 70). Unused: Supple, O'Callaghan. Att: 16,635.


Photo: Action Images



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