Swansea City 2 Millwall 0 – Match Report

Wednesday 11th August 1999 – Swansea City 2 Millwall 0 – Worthington Cup 1st Round 1st Leg

The match itself was not much of a spectacle although the pitch with a steady drizzle provided the ideal surface for good football.

Hollins rang the changes by either resting or dropping Steve Jones Richie Appleby Jonathan Coates and Julian Alsop. They were respectively replaced by Price Roberts O’Leary and Bird.

A frenetic midfield battle for the first half hour with few if any clear cut chances being created. First incident of note was a Gordon Banks type save from Roger when a downward header by Moody looked a certain goal at the foot of the right post.

On 44 mins we got the first goal. Bird won his first aeriel battle of the night to flick on between and beyond the Millwall back four. Watkin was first to react by getting behind them and lobbing the on rushing keeper. Well taken goal which would have graced any standard of football.

For the 2nd half Alsop appeared in place of Watkin who had taken some heavy tackles from behind in the first 45 minutes.

With the half just minutes old the ball found its way wide on the right to the advancing Stu Roberts. With the crowd urging him to run at his full back he instead played the percentage ball of a cross deep to the far post where Alsop rose above his marker to head back across goal. Jason Price from the right back spot! was on hand to head the ball home and double the Swans lead.

A 10 minute period of attacking followed and Cusack was very unlucky to see his shot and turn rebound off the post after a right side corner.

Swansea then laspsed into the discredited tactic of last season by sitting deep trying to hold onto their lead. The pressure finally told when the ball from a right wing cross hit JJ on the hand. The ref had no hesitation in awarding the penalty.

Freestone again came to Swansea’s rescue with a save and parry but Millwall have only themselves to blame for not converting the rebound.

An excellent result against higher opposition – sound familiar?