Referee: M Warren

Man of the Match: Leon Britton

A result at home to Chester last weekend, without the performance kept up the Swans promotion hopes. A draw against 4^th place Southend was enough for us to go level on points with leaders Yeovil. A point more on the table, with a game less to go this season. A good crowd of almost 10,200 watched the game, with a decent away support of around 400.

Kenny Jackett went with a 4-4-2 formation.

Only one change to the team as the injured Adrian Forbes was replaced on the right wing by Brad Maylett. Skipper Roberto Martinez returned to the squad after a hamstring injury, being handed a place on the bench.

Ricketts Iriekpen Monk Austin

Maylett Britton Gurney Robinson

Subs: Murphy, Pritchard, Martinez, Anderson & Tate

Southend United lined-up as follows:

Flahavan, Hunt, Wilson, Barrett, Prior, Maher, Bentley, Nicolau, Pettefer, Gray & Dudfield

Subs: Jupp, Eastwood, Holloway, Bramble & Gower

The first 20 minutes was practically all Southend, the Swans weren't getting their feet on the ball or creating much going forward. On too many occasions Brad Maylett was in acres of space down the right, but the ball would go down the opposite flank.

Within 30 seconds the visitors had pressed to win a corner, but nothing came of it. Fortunately for the home crowd, this is the way most of the Shrimpers attacks went throughout the first 45 minutes.

Both sides were controlling in defence, meaning few chances were being created. It wasn't until after 25 minutes that the Swans had so much as a shot on goal. The chance fell to Leon Britton, just outside the area, but his shot went well wide. Soon after Gurney won the ball in midfield and a move found Maylett out wide. He crossed in low, finding Trundle, but his poke at goal was smothered by the advancing keeper Flahavan.

With the mounting pressure from the Jacks, a goal look imminent but it never materialised. Some shaky defending by Southend looked set to give the Swans the break they needed, but the ball wasn't bouncing kindly.

As half time closed in, Trundle ran at the defence, and with other options available struck a shot goal wards, but Flahavan stretched to push the ball wide of goal. Just before the half time whistle, Britton had a shot well saved by the keeper. Britton hit a low effort from about 12 yards but it was straight at the keeper.

Neither manager made a change at half-time, but the Jacks did seem to have upped their game slightly.

5 minutes into the half saw the beginning of what was to be a very busy 10 minutes. Starting off with a booking for PETTEFER. Next, Connor shot at goal, but again, was straight at the keeper, the rebound fell to Robinson, but he couldn't stretch to tap the ball in. Finally the ball broke to Ricketts from 10 yards, but he lashed at the ball putting it wide of the target.

A minute or so later Connor got up above of defender Barrett to head on goal from Trundles cross. The ball bounced back off the crossbar, having seemingly looped up via a Southend hand, but the referee waved play on. Whether or not a hand was involved in the ball hitting the bar, Swansea took the lead on 55 minutes. TRUNDLE picked up the ball inside the box from a Robinson free kick and shifted the ball to his left. From a narrow angle he blasted high into the corner of the net past Flavahan on his near post.

60 seconds later Southend broke into the Swans box and the referees whistle blew after a challenge on Dudfield, which left the player on the floor. The Shrimpers couldn't have been blamed to celebrate being awarded a penalty, but referee Warren booked DUDFIELD for diving, giving the Swans a free kick inside their area.

On 57 minutes PRIOR was booked for a challenge from a long goal kick by Gueret. The final moment of the action packed start to the half was an equaliser just before the hour for the Shrimpers. A long angled ball across the defence from the right was misjudged by Iriekpen who on the turn slipped as the ball sailed over his head. This let GRAY in to score from just inside the 18 yard box, low to Willy Gueret's left.

Andy Gurney went down in the centre of the Swans half after he won the ball in a challenge with 2 Southend players. He received treatment for a leg injury, but was immediately substituted. GURNEY was replaced by MARTINEZ, as the Spaniard made his comeback after being out with a hamstring injury, taking the captains armband back.

There was very little else that happened in the remaining 20 minutes, although in injury time the Swans had 2 chances. 1 was falling to Brad Maylett from 6 yards but Leon Britton nodded the ball away from his team mate. The second went to Trundle, who tried to imitate his goal from earlier in the game. This time however, he had a much narrower angle and clipped the outside of the post and the ball went into the side netting.

The draw is enough to go joint top of the table, however, Yeovil stay in 1^st place on goal difference. The Swans are left with 16 games this campaign, the last at the Vetch in a very good position as the final stages approach.