Jason Scotland scores twice as the Swans hit back to secure another point

It is incredible how two halves of the same game can produce such a wide range of performance.  A 2-0 half time deficit could have been so many more had Rovers taken the chances they were gifted whilst in the second half only a couple of desperate late clearances stopped the Swans taking away all three points.  

A half time change of formation clearly did the trick as a 4-4-2 formation gave Rovers endless problems at the back and Scotland's brace was during this period the very least the Swans deserved in what could arguable be described as one of the best second half performances of the season.  And all of that came after a lacklustre first half which saw Rovers far and away the better side and good value for their two goal half time advantage.

Scotland had asked for support prior to the game and whilst it was not always there in the first half there was no doubt that he gained it pretty soon after his goals - the second of which is one of the best finishes the Liberty Stadium has seen.  Quite how, on that basis, the Premier Club decided that Man of the Match was Andy Robinson was somewhat beyond most of the 15,000 crowd who clearly showed their belief as soon as the tannoy announcement was made.

And if the second half was anything to go by there should be no doubt that 4-4-2 is the way the Swans should play the rest of the season - more so if it brings that kind of performance out of the man who is rapidly closing in on a 30 goal season.

There were no changes to the starting line up from that which started at Southend on Good Friday - David Knight on the bench for Shaun MacDonald was indeed the only change in the matchday 16 as the Swans looked to match the Carlisle result of the afternoon and capitalise on dropped points by Doncaster at home to Oldham.

Dorus

Rangel     Tate     Lawrence     Austin

Butler     Britton     Bodde     Pratley     Robinson

Scotland

The Swans started with a good vocal backing to show the Sky cameras but it wasn't long until they found themselves a goal down which is always guaranteed to get the crowd a little but restless.   Tate, Lawrence and Rangel all spurned chances to clear the ball as Rovers pumped around a few high balls and it fell to Ricky Lambert who drilled a low shot from 20 yards past the outstretched arm of De Vries to give Rovers the lead on the quarter hour mark.  The Liberty was a little bit stunned - the Swans had been the better side to that point - but it was early days at that point.

However, if there were hopes of a swift fightback they were soon lost as possession was conceded too cheaply and the defence was looking far less secure then any Swans fan would want it to be.   De Vries saved from almost point blank range from one corner whilst another saw Lambert hit the post when he looked odds on to score as the Swans struggled to settle into any form of rhythm.   Lambert had spurned another decent chance before the visitors doubled their advantage ten minutes before the break.  Rangel played Disley onside and he sprinted clear to give Dorus no chance with a low shot that made the scoreline a most unlikely one of Swans 0 Rovers 2.

It was quite possibly one of the worst Swans first periods of the season and one that certainly nobody wanted when the television cameras were in live presence.   Something had to be changed at half time and I am surer the fly on the dressing room wall would have had his swear filter on full blast at half time as the post mortem on the first45 minutes was carried out.   And the result of that post mortem was that Duffy replaced Pratley as the Swans reverted to a more traditional 4-4-2.

The rewards were almost instant as Robinson all of a sudden had the space he had so lacked in the first half and Scotland looked every inch the top scorer in the division that he really is.  And it was good work from Robinson, Butler, Britton and Bodde ( I think) that led to Scotland's first as he drilled home a rebound from a tight angle to bring the Swans back into it just five minutes into the second half.

And that sparked a fightback that saw Swansea coming at Rovers from all angles - ranging from the great sight of Kevin Austin on the overlap to Dennis Lawrence bringing the ball out from the centre of defence with a control that some midfielders would crave for.   Even at this early stage you felt the goal would come at some stage - the question really was more around when rather than if.    Butler, Bodde and Robinson all came close as Swansea were creating chances aplenty whilst Duffy was not receiving as much ball as could be expected but his introduction was making the difference as Scotland came more and more into the game.

I honestly think had Swansea got their second soon after the first they could have gone on and grabbed four or five such was the confidence that was running through the side at this point and if we take anything forward from the game it should be the second half performance which just needs to be repeated three times between now and the end of the season.  (three times for ninety minutes he adds with some haste!)

Butler and Rangel on one flank and Robinson and Austin on the other were causing all sort of havoc in the Rovers defence and the almost perfect cross by Austin was almost met by Duffy as the goal was gaping but time was starting to run out on the Swans as they searched for the equaliser.   A flurry of corners and Lawrence had a strong header turned over the bar as the Swans edged closer and closer to pulling this one back.

And just as it looked as if it may not come after all Scotland produced the piece of brilliance to level the scores off.   A powerful shot from the right hand edge of the penalty area found the top left hand corner of the goal and the Liberty rose to celebrate the equaliser which capped a tremendous fightback from the Swans.

And they weren't finished there - a powerful header at goal from Tate was deflected away from the keeper by Duffy but blocked on the line whilst Scotland produced a sharp save from the time-wasting Rovers keeper in the last minute that could have given him a well deserved hat-trick.

It wasn't to be though and the Swans had to settle for the point which kept their 10 point advantage over third placed Doncaster meaning that four more wins currently guarantees promotion with the reality being that every point Doncaster drop from here on in reduces that tally even more.   You can start to sense it although most would prefer it to happen sooner rather than later.

Much can be taken from the second half performance this evening and much can be learned from the first half one.   Take the right thoughts forward and produce the goods at Hartlepool.  A decent nights entertainment capped nicely by a great Scotland finish.

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Photo: Action Images

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