Referee: M Cowburn

It wasn't the best of days for the Swans as they return home from Bristol. 2 early goals and a red card left the Jacks 2 points adrift of the automatic promotion places. With only 2 games left to play this season, automatic promotion drifts further away with a play-off place beckoning. The side were defeated in front of nearly 7,500 including 1,300 travelling Swans fans.

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

A completely unchanged squad to the one that faced Oxford last Friday. With Marcus Bean recalled by QPR during the week the side seemed to pick itself.

Ricketts Monk Iriekpen Austin

Forbes Martinez O'Leary Robinson

Subs: Bean, Connor, Gurney, McLeod & Murphy

Bristol Rovers lined-up as follows:

Clarke, Anderson, Bass, Edwards, Elliott, Hunt, Ryan, Savage, Williams, Agogo & Walker

Subs: Carruthers, Forrester, Disley, Trollope & Gibb

It wasn't a bad start for the Swans, after just 1 minute Robinson forced Clarke into a save from a free kick, as the scouser had been fouled by Savage near the edge of the box. 2 minutes later and Robinson put the ball wide from another free kick, this time it was Hunt that fouled Trundle.

In the 6^th minute, Rovers should have made the breakthrough. Some hesitant defending left Agogo 1-on-1 with Gueret who made a mess as he came to block the attacker, flapping widely as the Pirates top marksman got past the keeper. He fired hard with his left foot from 15 yards from the left of goal, but his shot went high over the bar.

This was a huge let off for the Swans as they failed to clear their lines, but in the 14^th minute more poor defending saw Rovers take the lead. Lee Thorpe, unmarked, sliced a clearance just outside the Swansea area back into the box where WALKER was standing on the penalty spot making the score 1-0, he couldn't have asked for a much easier chance.

Things got worse 10 minutes later when AGOGO netted to put the home side 2 goals in front. The meanest defence in League 2 allowed the striker to play the ball out wide and then became static as the ball was played back in by Bass. Agogo directed his header past Gueret's desperate dive from 6 yards.

Rovers, to their credit did well to take a 2 goal lead, as they hadn't really been a threatening force going forward in terms of chances. The Swans too were failing to impress in front of goal with Robinson and Trundle wasting free kicks time and again.

More hesitant defending gifted the Pirates another 1-on-1 chance with Gueret. Both Iriekpen and Ricketts gave the attacker too much time on the ball, so O'Leary took a swipe at the ball when he got the chance, only to find the ball caught between his feet, then spin back towards the Swansea goal. Fortunately Savage put his shot wide of the target.

Indiscipline was creeping in to a frustrated Swans side and THORPE became the first player to be booked in the 42^nd minute. Within 2 minutes of the first yellow card being produced, the red card made an appearance on the stroke of half time. ROBINSON took exception to Williams' challenge on Ricketts near the touch line. The referee called the midfielder over and showed a straight red. Robinson protested his innocence and was pulled away by his team mates before he could say anymore on the matter.

A change by Kenny Jackett at half time saw the introduction of KEVIN MCLEOD in place of THORPE who had been kept quite by a solid Bristol defence.

There wasn't much of an improvement after the break as Ricketts was the next in the long list of Jacks to give the ball away in a dangerous area. Luckily Agogo was hunted down and the ball was cleared before he could get a shot in.

In the 52^nd minute O'Leary pushed forward in support and got hold of a miss-kicked clearance. However, his shot from almost 25 yards went wide of goal. The decision to bring on BRITTON and CONNOR for MARTINEZ and FORBES was made just before the hour.

2 minutes later and the Swans were trying to get a hold of the game with their attacking stance. A Trundle free kick hit the wall and went behind for a corner. McLeod supplied a great cross from the corner and not for the first time this season Izzy Iriekpen was denied a headed goal, thanks to an amazing reaction save by Clarke, who parried the ball onto the bar and the Pirates were then able to clear.

With 20 minutes left CONNOR was booked after a 50-50 challenge with Hunt. Both players went in strongly, but Hunt came off the worst. In the remaining time Britton and Connor had chances, but failed to hit the target.

As full time approached HUNT was sent off for a clumsy challenge on Iriekpen. His studs were showing and he connected with Iriekpen's shin after the ball had gone, on reflection it seemed a harsh decision in itself, although he had committed other fouls throughout the game.

Although today's loss means 3 less points that the Swans can obtain in their promotion challenge, results elsewhere keep us within reach of the top 3. It will be a hard task to achieve, but come the end of May the club hope to be celebrating the end of an era at the Vetch with a promotion as we move to the new stadium in time for next season.