Coca Cola League One
Saturday, September 17
A second-half double from Lee Trundle kept Swansea City flying high at the top of League One after a difficult clash at Hartlepool ended all square.
Hartlepool: Konstantopoulos, D Williams, Nelson, Collins, Humphreys, Maidens, Tinkler, Sweeney, Butler, Daly, Proctor. Subs: Provett, Foley, Istead, S Turnbull, Jones
Swansea City: Gueret, Ricketts, Tate, Iriekpen, Monk, Martinez, Bean, Robinson, McLeod, Connor, Trundle. Subs: Murphy, Austin, Thorpe, Goodfellow, Macdonald.
Ref: Tony Leake
Swans boss Kenny Jackett kept faith with the back-four that beat MK Dons in midweek with Kevin Austin forced to sit it out on the bench after returning from a one-match ban.
With Leon Britton suspended, Andy Robinson remained on the right of midfield with Kevin McLeod shaking off an ankle injury to remain on the left.
Paul Connor kept his place up front alongside Lee Trundle with Adebayo Akinfenwa still out with an hamstring injury.
Hartlepool manager Martin Scott named an unchanged side which
Having flown by plane to the north-east to help take the strain out of Swansea's longest trip of the season, the League One leaders needed all their reserved energy to battle hard for a precious point.
The Swans fell behind in the 24th minute when Ritchie Humphreys' 25-yard free-kick beat Willy Gueret, who will be disappointed not to have kept it out after getting a good hand to the effort.
The interval lead was probably what the home side deserved having out-muscled The Swans for most of the first-half.
But it was entertainer Lee Trundle who came to Swansea's rescue after the break with two goals in the space of four minutes to turn the game on its head.
The first after 56 minutes was sparked by a good run down the right flank from defender Alan Tate. His cross was met by Lee Thorpe, who had replaced the injured Connor after 16 minutes, and when his header was helped on by Robinson, Trundle was there to head home the equaliser.
Four minutes later and the visitors were ahead when Kevin McLeod found Trundle inside the area. The striker turned Neill Collins and was duly dumped to the ground for a penalty.
Although Trundle's spot kick was saved by Konstantopoulos, the striker was first to follow up the rebound to prod home his second - much to the delight of the 678 travelling Jacks.
But Swansea's hopes of a fifth straight victory were ruined when Antony Sweeney headed home a Michael Maidens cross with 14 minutes remaining.
"Considering the way the game went, I'm fairly happy with a point,'' explained Swans boss Kenny Jackett.
"We weren't at our best collectively, but we are still top despite two consecutive away games.''
Hartlepool manager Martin Scott added: "I was disappointed that we didn't get three points. Swansea are a good side but I thought we caused them problems."
