One Vision - 27th February 2006
One Vision - 27th February 2006 |
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Nottingham Forest have nothad too much to cheer this season but on Saturday produced a comprehensive 7-1 demolition of Swindon in League One. Nicky Southall was The Robins' chief tormentor with a hat-trick andset the ball rolling for the side under the caretaker stewardship of Frank Barlow and Ian McParland. The former Gillingham man struck in the third minute and when Wes Morgan (17) and Ian Breckin (29) notched the game was already up for the visitors. Southall completed his hat-trick with two further goals inside the opening ten minutes of the second half and Morgan claimed his brace in the 57th minute. Trevor Benjamin registered the visitors' sole response in the 76th minute but Jack Lester restored the six-goal advantage in stoppage time. Leaders Southend drew 0-0 with Walsall while, after their FA Cup heroics of last weekend, it was back down to earth with a bump for Colchester and Brentfordand 1-0 defeats to Barnsley and Port Vale respectively. Brian Howard was Barnsley's 72nd minute matchwinner and The Tykes are now up to fifth just one point behind their opponents. The Bees' slip-up will rankle with Martin Allen as the hosts failed to make ground on the leaders when Jeff Smith notched the only goal in the 36th minute. Rotherham's plight shows no sign of abating after the financially-stricken Millmoor club slumped to a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Chesterfield. After a goalless first period the second half will be one best forgotten for The Millers who conceded straight from the restart when Kevan Hurst struck. Three minutes later a rampant Chesterfield doubled their lead through Derek Niven before Mark Allott (54) and Jamie O'Hara (87) completed the rout. In the proverbial relegation six-pointer at Bloomfield Road it was Blackpool who were left celebrating after claiming all three points with a 2-0 win over a disappointing Yeovil side. Again the damage was done at the start of the second half when first Andy Lindegaard put through his own net in the 51st minute and then striker John Murphy doubled his side's lead. The win sees Simon Grayson's side move out of the bottom four and up to 17th. Oldham's play-off challenge is on track following a 1-0 win over Tranmere at Boundary Park - Richie Wellens was the Latics' hero with a first half winner. Bristol City put some daylight between themselves and the division's drop zone with a comfortable 3-1 win over Bournemouth. Mark McCammon handed the hosts an early lead and despite James Hayter levelling for The Cherries a minute before the break it was one-way traffic in the second half. A Stephen Brooker brace (57& 64) turned The Robins' superiority into goals. Hartlepool were denied a much-needed three points after Scot Ross McCormack struck in injury time to rescue a 1-1 draw for Doncaster. Adam Boyd was on the scoresheet again at Victoria Park in the 20th minute but the hosts failed to increase their lead and, in the end, paid the price. Two more sides looking over the shoulder at the relegation picture met at ThePriestfieldStadiumwhere Scunthorpe claimed the spoils with a 3-1 win over Gillingham. Things had looked promising for The Gills when Justin Cochrane gave the hosts the lead in the 38th minute but hope quicklyturned to despair when Matthew Sparrow notched just four minutes later. Richard Hinds (59) and Andrew Keogh (64) completed the turnaround to leave the travelling support to make the trip home north in good heart. Bottom club Milton Keynes Dons gave new impetus to their battle for survival with a late2-1 win over mid-table Bradford. Dean Lewington struck a minute from time to restore the hosts' advantage in the dying moments of the match after Ben Harding, for the hosts, and Steve Claridge, for the visitors, had exchanged second half strikes. What to read next:We have been told by numerous Swansea fans of a chance meeting in a service station between Jamal Lowe and those returning from Norwich yesterday. Nothing in that or indeed the conversation they had yesterday. Indeed there has to be some interpretation from what we know already on Jamal Lowe. It was a pulsating game to watch and very much one of my favourite away games of the season. The Swans looked an entirely different side to that we saw at Middlesbrough when it is clear a catalyst for commitment was agreed behind the scenes at Swansea City. To a man every player grafted and wore the shirt with pride. To see the players really acknowledge the Swans support at Carrow Road this afternoon was emotional. Norwich City 2 - 2 Swansea City - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report. The Swans are on the Norfolk Broads, punting and boating their way to the end of the season. Hopefully the city of Norwich is obliging. Swansea City have set out on their second long distance away trip in two weekends, this time to Norwich for todays clash between the Swans and Canaries (3pm) Over the last ten meetings between the clubs Swansea City have won five times, Norwich the same. As a result of the news reported by Sky on Wednesday that five military horses had escaped and ran through central London, a Cardiff City follower thought it wise to relate the incident to the death of Swansea fan Terry Coles, 42. Liam Cullen has had his request for a new contract dismissed by Swansea City after discussions broke down last week. The lowest paid ‘senior’ player at the club ( he is twenty five) asked for a better contract increasing his £3,500 a week to around £7,000 a week over three years. Thanks to Gwyn we have a thorough assessment of this weeks officials who will take charge at Carrow Road this Saturday at 3pm. Norwich City will be keen to get the points to guarantee their play off slot, and Saturday is their first go. He was a revelation for the Swans for the few games he played this season, and now it emerges Sam Parker has ‘turned down’ a new Swansea City contract. News is thin on the ground, and some of it just incorrect as he looks to involve his representatives in some further negotiations. Plus his current contract runs for two more years. There were some worrying moments for the Swans yesterday, on three occasions mistakes from playing out from the back nearly saw the home side score. And is there now a case for Jamal Lowe to be offered a contract at Swansea ? |