Player Ratings

Worthington Cup First Round, First Leg Swansea 0 West Bromwich Albion 0 Attendance: 4758 Formation (4-4-2): Freestone Price Smith Bound Howard Roberts Thomas O'Leary Jenkins Watkin Boyd Player Ratings: Freestone: 7 - Went wandering on a couple occasions in the first half and could easily have cost us the game. Spilt a first half cross-shot but partly made up for things with a solid finish to the game. Price: 6 - Struggled when played out of position at full-back. Put Roberts clear several times with some good through passes in the first half, but faded badly in the second half. Howard: 7 - Dealt with the tricky Jason Roberts quite well but isn't up to last season's standard yet. Smith: 8 - Looking better again this season. Made some skillful strikers look very ordinary tonight. Bound: 7 - As Jason Smith but not as controlled. Still has the nasty habit of slicing his hoofed clearances sometimes and could have been sent off for protesting against the ref's fun and games in stoppage time. Jenkins: 8 - Much improved. Not afraid to attack from his left-midfield role but did it in an intelligent and effective way and against a strong defence. Is this a much needed intelligent, controlled midfielder in the making? Man of the Match. O'Leary: 6 - Didn't look comfortable going forward, seems unable to pick players out in attacking situations. More effective in defense and demonstrated this tonight. Thomas: 8 - Has a habit of raising his game against better teams and did so again against the Baggies. One of those aggressive tackling performances that meant our midfield was not over-run. Roberts: 7 - Started well but the final ball wasn't quite right. Visibly disappointed at his failure to repeat the form of his successful pre-season that led to his promotion to the starting eleven tonight. Probably more effective than Coates on this form, but didn't last much beyond 60 minutes. Watkin: 6 - Should have done better when one on one with the 'keeper and otherwise saw little of the ball. Boyd: 8 - Showed moments of his magic, particularly in the first half, but faded in the second half. Created a couple of chances for himself and his skill stood out as always, but still no sign of him being a 30 goal a season striker. Subs: Mutton: 7 (Replaced Watkin 70) - Didn't get much of a chance despite being on the pitch for twenty minutes. Looked lively though. Keegan: 6 (Replaced Roberts 85) - Not on for long but misplaced a couple of passes and gave away the dreaded free-kick in stoppage time. Hasn't made the step up to the first team very well to date.

Photo: Action Images

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