Swansea 2 Preston 1

It was a truly magnificent finish to a game in which Swansea were mainly second best against a competent and nice to watch Preston side - full evidence of their lofty position in the 1st Division.

Flynn made changes to the side held at home in disappointing fashion by Cheltenham last week - Michael Howard coming back in for Lenny Johnrose at the back with Andy Robinson also coming back into the side following his suspension. Kevin Nugent dropped to the bench to make way for him.

Freestone

S Jones O'Leary Iriekpen Howard

Martinez

Britton Robinson

Maylett Connolly

Trundle

Subs: Murphy, Thomas, Nugent, Coates, Hylton

The Swans almost had a dream start inside 20 seconds when Trundle was played in by Britton but his low shot was well saved by Gould in the Preston goal. Was the tone being set for the match as a whole? The truthful answer to that was no it wasn't as Preston started to show why they stand two divisions above the Swans with some lovely passing and movement to put some pressure on the home side. Izzy Iriekpen was guilty of sloppy play on more than one occasion but Kristian O'Leary - his partner at the back - was making some great mop up tackles to save any real embarrassment. Couple that with some good saves from Roger and Preston never really had a gilt edged chance to break down the Swansea defence in the first half. At the other end, Lee Trundle was ineffective and despite some good movement from Robinson and Britton, Gould was never under any real threat past that chance after 20 seconds.

Trundle saw himself booked - an incident which I think means he misses the visit of Torquay on the 7th February - for an off the ball challenge. Neither referee or linesman saw the incident but it was captured by the fourth official - what he saw was enough to warrant a yellow card. I suspect this was something to do with an incident that saw Trundle hit the deck clutching his face. Stuart Jones was another one in the wars having been cluttered late as he sheperded the ball out of play in front of the East Terrace.

Half time came and went with the sides locked at 0-0 and no changes made during the interval. Not that that lasted long as the (presumably) injured Jones was replaced by Hylton - Michael Howard moving to right back in a defensive re shuffle.

And it was in that position that we were exposed just before the hour mark as a ball into the near post was headed home by Etuhu who was unmarked. In reality it was what Preston deserved but it did wake the crowd up to really get behind the Swans who were left with just over half an hour to save their participation in this year's competition.

But as they battled an equaliser looked unlikely as Preston were first to many balls and Swansea not looking like getting a way past the defence. Only a defensive mix up provided half a chance but even then it was Preston who cleared their lines before the three Swans players could conjure up a shot between them.

Thomas replaced Connolly in a bid to try and make something happen but they had to wait until ten minutes from time for it to come their way. Leon Britton was brought down about ten yards outside the Preston area - a perfect position for Andy Robinson to make a strike at goal. And to be fair should Robinson hit ten from the same position he will be hard pushed to hit one better than this as it cleared the Preston wall and beat Gould as it smashed into the corner, and the back, of the net. Cue mayhem at the Vetch as over 9000 Swans fans celebrated an equaliser. Preston were on the ropes?

They did come back at us after Robinson went down midway into their half but as Izzy and Hylton between them broke up the Preston attack, Swansea ignored their man on the floor and built their attack. Trundle was forced to play the ball wide when, ironically, he would probably have passed to Robinson. Maylett crossed and Thomas jumped with the defender. The ball came off the defenders head straight upwards and as the Preston defence stood still, Lee Trundle chested the ball down and easily beat Gould from five yards. If Robinsons goal brought mayhem this one brought twice as much as the Swans, second best for long periods, were now eight minutes from the 5th round of the competition. Amusement followed the goal with Andy Robinson, prostrate for all of the move, jumping on the scorer Trundle before being taken off to be replaced by Coates.

There was time for one more chance but Roger was on hand again to deny our higher division opponents and the three minutes of stoppage time were played out without more drama before the final whistle that brought scenes rarely seen at the Vetch in this competition.

Preston will probably feel robbed slightly at this result and that is probably justified but that is the FA Cup - its one chance and forgetting the winner - it was Andy Robinson who took that chance today in what will without a doubt be one of the goals of this season's competition.

Special praise today for Kristian O'Leary who made some cracking challenges at the back and Roger for some saves that we have grown so appreciative of in 12 years at the Vetch. Add to that the performance of Michael Howard, Hylton, Jones and, after a nervous start, Izzy and you have them to thank for keeping us in the game.

It will be Trundle and Robinson who take the plaudits tonight but the play of the players at the back kept us in it - without them there would be no room for scoring heroes.

And so it is the last 16 of this season's competition and we await the draw again with trepidation but in all honestly will anyone relish a trip to the Vetch in the next round?

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