The Swans finished their pre season with the strongest indication yet of the side that Kenny Jackett will send to face Cheltenham on Saturday afternoon. Fielding two different teams - one in each half - the first choice XI looked the side that are in favour at the moment when you take into account injuries. suspensions and match fitness doubts.
Potentially the only change may see Leon in for Robbo (Leon looked sharp second half) but the starting line up was as follows
Big Willy
Who's Amankwaah Izzy Monk Williams
Robbo KOL Pratley Butler
Little Leon Sir Rory
A mixture of traffic, parking and forgetfulness made me miss the first half hour or so of the action and by the time I had got there the Swans were a goal to the good from Andy Robinson. Positioning myself behind the goal the Swans would be attacking second half I saw very little action for the next fifteen minutes with the Swans going close on several occasions - the best appearing to be a pretty much point blank save from a Fallon effort. I have to say I am liking the look of this side and it appears to work. Defensively my only concern is over Williams at left back and in midfield I don't think KOL is what we need in this line up although I would most definitely have him in the matchday 16. Knight and Fallon excite me up front and I am convinced that they are our best option.
Second half we saw a complete change around with Oakes, Watt, Austin, Macca, Britton, Trunds, Bayo and a couple of the youth team getting a look out. Britton down the right looked more effective than Macca down the left but in truth we looked a much weaker side but that was to be expected. LT10 and Bayo struggled to create decent chances although a flurry of Macca corners did cause plenty of confusion in the home penalty area.
My decision to leave early because of the looming rain cloud over the ground was rewarded by hearing the cheer from the crowd just as I passed the threshold to signal the second Swans goal that was announced as scored by Chris Jones - a sub for Tom Butler. And that reminded me why you never leave football matches early!
That's the fun stuff out of the way and now it's four days until League One action and the real business of what we would love to be a promotion season. A nice work out but means nothing come 3pm Saturday. Click Here For Pictures Report By Nigel Maimone In blustery conditions on a poor quality pitch the Swans took immediate control with new signing Tom Butler prominent on the left of midfield and they really proceeded to totally dominate the opening 45 minutes with a solitary strike from Robinson, a beatifully struck free kick from 22 yards separating the sides at the interval. It should have been a lot more as port Talbot were being over run in every department, despite the encouragementof an attendance of over 2000, the bulk of which were Swans fans. The Swans took to the field with a side which may start this seasons League Programme against Cheltenham Town; Amankwaah Monk Iriekpen Williams Robinson Pratley O'Leary Butler The gulf in class was obvious as Swansea continued to probe and move forward with purpose at every given opportunity with O'leary and Pratley comfortable and looking a good partnership with Butler showing good touches. It came asno surprise when Andy Robinson stepped up to take a direct free kick on the edge of the Port Talbot area and struck a perfectly weighted dipping and swerving shot over the wall and in to the top corner, an illustration if one was needed, thathe is a major goalscroringthreat. The goal was interestingly cheered by substitute Lee Trundle whogave a thumbs up signal to his goalscoring colleague Robinson who continued to offer a threatwhen in possession as did former SunderlandschemerButler on the opposite flank. Whilst it was 1-0 at half time Jackett would have been satisfied with the work rate of his players who continued to create several good opportunites, many of which were wasted by somepoor finishing with Fallon particularly guilty. At the back the defence looked solid with Monk and Iriekpen renewing their partnership and Amankwaah showing enough promise to indicate that he is alreadya good acquisition. It was only Tom Williams I thought who looked a possible weakness with some thoughtlessand unnecessary long ball clearances, when he had ample time to find his team mates,and again a display of petulance early on when entangled with thePort Talbot right back. The second period saw the Swans make the customary changes with Trundle and Akinfenwa replacing Knight, who showed some neat touches, and an out of sorts Fallon. Elsewhere Tate came in to central midfield where he looked a class above and Steve Watt and Kevin Austin took over the reigns in central defence with McLeod coming in on the left wing and Britton replacing Robinson. Watt did well andat one time tangling with ex Swan Matt Rees, was brave enough to get his head to a flighted free kick when in real danger of being on the wrong end of a boot to the face, butwas clearly happy to oblige, showing his determination and aerial ability in abundance. The contest was one sided to the extent that Port Talbot created nothing at all in 90 minutes of action during which both Gueret and second half replacement Andy Oakes looked comfortable but I sense that the experiencedOakes may well dislodge Gueret who, tonighttook several crosses with ease. Trundle produced trickery and skill which yet again lit up the proceedings and it is difficult to imagine that we are the same side without his flair and creativity, the perfect example coming late on when he completely bamboozled several defeders before squaring the ball to young sub Chris Jones who finished superbly from 12 yards to make it 2-0. It is clear that even from this friendly against a hard working but limited Port Talbot side that we have a squad which just may be capable of reaching the heights of last season but Jackett's biggest test will be in deciding who will spearhead the frontline. Knight will deserve a run in the side and Trundle will be available for the game at unfanciedScunthorpe who have accounted for Leeds Utd and Premiership Sheffied Utd in pre season. Personally, I would like to see Knight and Akinfenwa start against Cheltenham but it is likely to be Fallon who demonstrated once again that he lacks a poachers instinct when itreally matters. If only we could find a way of accommodating Trundle and Knight in the starting eleven, then goals will not be a problem with Akinfenwa, who I believe is still the ideal foil for Trundle, as well asFallon in reserve, both of whom will also see plenty of action as the season unfolds................................................ Click Here For Pictures | 
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