Swansea 2 Northampton 1

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Andy Robinson won the game for Swansea as they hit back with two quick fire goals either side of half time.

Northampton shocked the Swans by taking a sixth-minute lead.

Dennis Lawrence levelled seconds before half time and Robinson pounced in the first minute of the second half.

It was his third goal in as many games but it came only after a pep talk from Roberto Martinez. The Swans' manager has now bagged four wins in five unbeaten games since taking charge to boost their play off hopes.

But the Spaniard revealed that he had to lay down the law to his players at half time after they had huffed and puffed.

He said "I told them to keep their heads because we were forcing the game to o much.

Dennis' goal made the task a lot easier but it was a test for all of us, as every game is at this stage. I told the player to go out and step up a level because we weren't playing badly.

"Then Andy stepped up with the goal just after the break and it settled us down"

Swansea, with Pawel Abbott playing on his own up front in the absence of the suspended Lee Trundle were on the back foot from the start. And it was no great surprise to see the Cobblers take the lead when Bradley Johnson's stunning free kick flew in past a stranded Willy Gueret.

The home side were lucky not to fall further behind with Kenny Deuchar and Johnson going close.

But Robinson woke up the home side when his curling effort was tipped onto the bar by Northampton keeper Mark Bunn. And it was the unlikely figure of giant defender Lawrence who popped up with the equaliser with almost the last kick of the first half.

Alan Tate's effort found its way to the Trinidad and Tobago defender who turned and shot home.

And moments into the second half Tommy Butler's inch perfect cross found Robinson who blasted home at the far post.

Ian Craney and Abbott missed chances to seal the game and were almost punished when Johnson rattled the woodwork and Iriekpen was forced to clear a Mark Hughes effort off the line with Gueret beaten.

Martinez added "Apart from a couple of times when we switched off, I thought we were in control and could have had more goals. It's another massive three points for us.

Northampton boss Stuart Gray said "We made enough chances to have taken at least a point"

REPORT: NEWS OF THE WORLD

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