OMS: West Brom 4 Swansea City 1
Thursday, 14th May 2009 07:44

It was a third game but a first defeat for the Swans as Cyrille Regis sent them spiralling to a Midlands defeat

Saturday 5th September 1981

Two games. Two wins. This first division lark was easy for the Swans. Or at least it was until they travelled into the Midlands to take on the Baggies of West Brom.

Ninety Minutes later and Cyrille Regis' first hat-trick had ended the unbeaten start in comprehensive style as the home side ran out 4-1 winners. Three goals in six second half minutes put the game well beyond the Swans reach and a late consolation from Neil Robinson was all they could muster.

Regis grabbed his first hat-trick amongst rave praise from his manager Ronnie Allen although there was hope for the Swans as Allen said after the game "It's never easy fro teams coming out of the Second Division. Chances which might be missed by players in the Second are not lost in the First so it's important not to make errors.

"Get that message across to your team and you are on your way. If Swansea can learn from this match they will do well."

Opposite number John Toshack added "We got punished for terrible individual mistakes. Regis must have thought it was his birthday.

"One or two individuals make lapses I did not expect but the most disappointing thing is that people are now going to say we have been found out. It just wasn't like that.

"Apart from that five minute period when we made mistakes I was pleased with the overall performance. The match told me we are as good as anything I have seen in the First Division."

New Swans skipper Colin Irwin shouldered much of the blame for the side's defensive frailty being unable to cope with the aerial prowess of Regis but whilst he had a match to forget it was one that the Swans would rather forget sooner than later anyway.

CLICK THE THUMBNAILS TO SEE THE NEWSPAPER REPORTS FROM THE GAME