Tranmere 2 Swansea 1

It was a 4-5-1 line up for the Swans today as they looked to progress to the quarter finals of the competition for the first time since 1964. Leon Britton, Alan Tate and the masked Lee Trundle returned to the starting line up with Kris O’Leary, James Thomas and Kevin Nugent all making so with a place on the bench but all to feature as it turned out at some point in the proceedings.

Freestone

Byrne Tate Iriekpen Howard

Martinez

Maylett Martinez Britton Coates

Trundle

The Swans started by far the better team and should have gone ahead within ten minutes when Leon Britton played in Brad Maylett on the right with a clear run on goal. Maylett though appeared to be in two minds and neither shot at goal nor crossed the ball as it rolled harmlessley out for a goal kick.

The Swans goal though wasn’t far from coming and when it did it arrived with some style. Jonathan Coates was found on the left and as he tried to cut inside, he layed the ball out to Leon Britton. Britton looked up and his cross was met by the foot of Andy Robinson who wrong footed the Tranmere keeper to send the travelling support into ectasy.

At this stage of the game the Swans looked well in control and Tranmere fans were starting to look a bit despondent as the visitors took the play to them.

However, the home side were given the chance to get back into the game from a piece of hesitation in the Swabsea area. Captain Roberto Martinez should have cleared the ball but failed too and from a resulting cross, Izzy (?) was penalised with a push and the referee had little hesitation but to point to the penalty spot. Roger was sent the wrong way from the resulting free kick and Tranmere were back on level terms although not deservedly at that point.

From that point forward until half time though they did dominate proceedings and were usually first to the loose ball. They threatened down both sides of the pitch with some crisp and intelligent passing although to be fair they did little to trouble Roger in front of goal.

Half-time came and went with the scores at 1-1 and Swans fans deciding that they would settle for the result, fancying their chances against their opponents at the Vetch.

Tranmere started the second hal in much the same way as they finished the first with Swansea very much on the back foot. Howard (?) headed one off the line when the Tranmere fans behind the goal were celebrating taking the lead as the pressure mounted on Swansea’s goal. What turned out to be the winner was coming and a sweetly struck shot from 20 yards gave Roger no chance and the second division side were in the lead – and at that stage deservedly so. Swansea were reeling and as heads dropped the noise from the travelling support picked up a decibel to try and get their team back into it.

Being behind seems to spark something into the Swans and today was no different as they started to attack with some fluency and neat passing in the middle between Britton, Robinson and Martinez saw them starting o carve out chances. Robinson was inches wide with a free kick from the same position that he scored against Preston and Trundle fizzed a shot across goal. Nugent replaced Coates reverting to Flynn’s favoured formation and we did start to look a better side.

Flynn changed formation again when Thomas came on for Howard and it was all or nothing as the Swans thre men into attack. Nugent was winning balls in the air but to little avail as Thomas and Trundle seemed to be taking up the same position and succeeding only in being in each others way. Maylett on the wing was displaying the form that we have seen recently – poor – taking away the threat that maybe we could have posed from that position.

The Cup run was as good as over when Tate seemed to hamper a Tranmere attack (media reports suggest use of an arm – worth watching Match of the Day for) and the referee showed no hesitation in showing him a straight red card for the offence. Again, this could be one to watch on Match of the Day but the referee was certainly in little doubt. O’Leary was sent on in place of Byrne but it was to little avail – as was the four minutes of stoppage time that were played at the end of the game.

The FA Cup run was over and it was a brave finish to the campaign that started back in November with a 3-0 win over Rushden. Not quite what we imagined but we can have no massive complaints about the way that the team played today. It is now down to the serious business of the league from next week with no distractions that the FA Cup can throw out. Tranmere were the better team and deserved their place in the quarter finals but you can’t help but wonder what would have happened had Martinez wrapped one of his red boots around the ball when he had the chance when we were ahead. Defensive problems costing us again.

An enjoyable day out in the Wirral and great noise from the travelling Jack Army but it simply was not to be. Good luck to Tranmere in the quarter finals but I’m sure there are many Swans fans who will look on in envy when the draw is made.

Quite simply, not good enough.