My first look at the team sheet gave me the feeling we had no chance of winning-Neil Moss was not in goal and he is always far more likely to keep a clean sheet than Gareth Stewart-Josh Gowling, our best defender and Danny Hollands and Brett Pitman-the two players most likely to score were all on the bench. By the 4th minute it was obvious we were doomed to defeat. Lee Trundle took a corner and Izzy Iriekpen scored unchallenged. In the 12th minute Rory Fallon missed a chance to make it 2-0 with a header just wide and the same player had a shot well saved by Stewart soon afterwards.
Swansea continued to have most of the possession as we played in little squares and regularly gave the ball away-Fletcher and Hayter both looked as if they would rather be somewhere else and Anderton watched the ball being passed backwards and forwards with almost disinterest.
Swansea again went close when Fallon shot just wide and Britton put a great shot just over the bar. We just had no one on the pitch who was willing to get stuck in and carry the ball into their box-everyone wanted to get rid of it to anybody-Willy Guerret the Swansea keeper had just one shot from Steve Foley to save.
The second half started a little better for the Cherries as we had more possession and a fierce shot from Anderton went just wide. In the 51st minute Shaun MacDonald came on for Swansea in place of Owain Tudor-Jones and just when it looked as if Bournemouth might be able to get something from the game two goals changed all that. Firstly a looping cross from the right fell to the unmarked Rory Fallon who scored with ease and then another similar ball in saw Fallon dive in with a great header. 3-0 and game over. Songo'o who had looked good and was at least trying was then replaced by Danny Hollands and in his first attack he swivelled nicely in the box and shot low into the corner of the net 3-1. The ineffective James Hayter was taken of and Brett Pitman replaced him-in his first attack with three Swansea defenders fighting to clear the ball from their box and Brett flung himself full stretch to score 3-2. Had these two been on at the start we probably would have won they terrified the Swans defence for the rest of the game and only on a breakaway did Lee Trundle score the fourth goal to give Swansea their fully deserved victory.
Referee:- R Lewis- Its not often I say it but he was excellent and I hope he does more of our games
Assistant referees:- A Horton and G Scott
4th official:- M Weaver
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AFCB: Stewart, Young, Maher, Bertrand, Purches, Foley, Songo'o, Anderton, Hayter, Fletcher
Subs: Moss, Hart, Gowling, Hollands (for Songo'o, 68 mins), Pitman (for Hayter, 82 mins)
Richie Clift, Indianapolis