Swansea City: de Vries, Rangel, Painter, Monk ©, Lawrence, Anderson, Pratley, Bodde, Britton, Robinson, Scotland. Subs: Tate, Orlandi, Duffy, Bauza, Butler.

Hartlepool United: Budtz, McCunnie, Boland, Nelson ©, Humphries, Barker, Brown, Sweeney, Antwi, Moore, Nolan. Subs: Elliott, Porter, Monkhouse, Foley, Gibb.

Ref: I G Williamson

Asst-refs: A P Bennet, J Flynn.

Fourth Official: J L Cox

Att: 11,421

Swansea made one change to the side that beat Tranmere 1-0 at Prenton Park, with Leon Britton replacing Warren Feeney who had been suffering from 'flu and was given a well-earned rest after his busy international commitments.

It left Jason Scotland as the only out and out striker, but Paul Anderson and Andy Robinson were expected to push up down the flanks in support as the Swans looked to improve their home record with a win taking them top of League One.

Swansea have not beaten Pools in the last six meetings between the two sides. The last two encounters both ended in draws with Welshman Eifion Williams grabbing a dramatic late equalizer the last time they met at the Liberty Stadium two season ago.

The Swans have also fallen victim to a couple of big defeats at the hands of Pools - a 4-0 loss in 2003 and a 7-1 hammering in 2002. But the Swans have won 18 of the last 38 meetings, with Pools winning 10 times.

Hartlepool manager Danny Wilson was still without Gary Liddle (hand) and Ben Clark (hamstring), but Andy Monkhouse returned from a knee injury to take his place on the bench.

On-loan defenders Godwin Antwi and Eddie Nolan continued in the side that lost 2-1 to Gillingham on Saturday.

Swansea made an encouraging start as they drove forward from the first whistle as Ferrie Bodde brought the first save of the game out of Jan Budtz from a 25-yard free-kick.

Anderson looked on fire again as he drove his way to the by-line before drilling a low cross across the face of goal which Eddie Nolan was forced to put behind for a corner. Robinson delivered it and Darren Pratley fired just over with 10 minutes gone.

But after a bright 15 minutes, Hartlepool steadied the ship and it took a breathtaking save from Dorus de Vries to prevent Swansea falling behind with 20 minutes gone.

James brown cut in from the left to curl a right-footed shot that was bound for the top corner. But the Dutch 'keeper somehow managed to get his fingertips to his shot and tip it over.

And as the half-hour approached it was Hartlepool who were enjoying the majority of possession as the early spark had gone out of Swansea's game.

Garry Monk did try and lift the Swans with a good ball through to Scotland, but the striker put his shot wide.

Half-time: Swans 0 Hartlepool 0

Neither side made any changes at the start of the second as Swansea created the first chance two minutes in. Again it was a ball from Monk which the Pools defence failed to clear, but Scotland's shot from the edge of the area was easily saved by Budtz.

With 53 minutes gone though Swansea were forced into their first change as Anderson limped off with a knee injury sustained in the first half. He was replaced on the right wing by Tom Butler.

Hartlepool's first chance of the half arrived in the 56^th minute when Jamie McCunnie slipped a ball through for Brown. De Vries couldn't gather, but Angel Rangel was there to clean up.

Swansea responded through Andy Robinson down the left, but his shot hit the side netting.

The home side were edging closer though as Bodde played Scotland through. The striker fired his shot across the 'keeper, but also wide of the far post with 62 minutes gone.

Then with 72 minutes gone, Swans boss Roberto Martinez sent on Darryl Duffy for Pratley in search of that elusive goal, while Pools made their first change with Joel Porter replacing Richard Barker.

It was Pools who nearly opened the scoring though as Butler gave the ball away on the edge of his own area. Antony Sweeney picked it up and had to watch as his cross landed on top of the crossbar before Swansea cleared the danger.

With time running out, Roberto played his last card as Guillem Bauza replaced Scotland up front with 10 minutes remaining.

Within two minutes of coming on Bauza was involved in Swansea long-awaited opener. Good work by Bodde played him in and the Spanish striker laid the ball back for Angel Rangel to fire home his first goal for the club with seven minutes remaining.

As Pools pushed for the equaliser, de Vries pulled off his second brilliant save of the night to deny Sweeney from close range.