Planet Swans ArchivesChesterfield came off second best in this five-goal thriller after Lee Trundle returned from injury to score twice and make a third in a 3-2 success for Swansea.
Trundle took just three minutes to make an impact on the game, chipping over the home defence for Leon Britton to side-foot home. Trundle then added a second with a glancing header from Andy Robinson’s cross towards the end of the first half. A defensive mix-up allowed Paul Hall to pull one back for Chesterfield shortly after the break when he curled home a shot from 20 yards.
Hall hit the post just two minutes later, but Trundle added the third for Swansea from the penalty spot after Britton was tripped in the box. Reuben Hazell set up a stirring finale when he headed home a corner midway through the second half, but Swansea survived to take the points.
Lee Trundle made the most of his surprise recall scoring twice and making a third to help inspire Swansea to a 3-2 win against Chesterfield.Trundle was only in the starting line-up after top-scorer Leon Knight failed to make the trip from South Wales, but claims that Knight had been left out for “disciplinary reasons” were later denied by Swans boss Kenny Jackett.
Jackett said: “It was purely for football reasons that I left him out of the 16. “There was nothing in terms of off the field action. I decided today to go with a different combination. “It could be said it was a brave decision on my part but managers have to make this sort of decision. “From my point of view there is no doubt about Leon’s future at Swansea, but the ball is now in his court.”
Whatever the reason for Knight’s absence Trundle grabbed the opportunity with both hands, making an impact after just three minutes. His cleverly chipped pass wrong-footed the home defence and Leon Britton ran in unmarked to volley his first goal of the season. Trundle and co-striker Rory Fallon were giving the Chesterfield back line the run-around and it was no surprise when Trundle added a second, glancing home Tom Williams’s right-wing corner.
The points seemed secure, but a defensive mix-up between Darren Waye and Andy Robinson gifted a chance to Paul Hall a minute after the break and he gratefully found the top corner. When Paul hit the post two minutes later it looked as though Chesterfield were set to stage an unlikely comeback. But despite the home side’s pressure it was the Swans who created the chances with Robinson forcing a fine save from Barry Roche and Darren Pratley headed wide of an empty net Trundle restored the two-goal lead from the spot in the 67th minute after Reuben Hazell tripped Britton inside the box.
Even then Chesterfield refused to lay down and Hazell set up a frantic finale heading home Adam Smith’s 77th-minute corner. Afterwards, Chesterfield boss Roy McFarland said: “We won the second half 2-1 and we also hit the post. “But we had to be different after the break because otherwise it was going to be a rout. “We stood off and let them play – we showed them far too much respect.
“I could have pulled any one of 10 players off at half time the way we were playing. “But we tightened up and got ourselves back into the game with an early goal and could even have forced a draw at the end.”
REPORT: THISISSOUTHWALES.co.uk
