Luton Town 1 - 3 Swansea City - Peter and Bethan Charles, Pictures by Phil Sumbler

A great all round performance from the Swans today, disciplined, clinical and occasionally scintillating, and backed by excellent positive support. Three points well won against decent and well-organised opposition and in a manner which may well get some fans really believing that we can make the promotion dream reality.

The team lined up with DeVries in goal, Angel and Painter at right and left back with Lawrence and Monk between them. The midfield showed plenty of attacking intent with Britton and Pratley paired in the middle and Robinson and Anderson wide left and right. Bauza partnered Scotland up front in a positive 4-4-2 line-up.



The Swans started brightly in a half which was to display plenty of open attacking football; and after a couple of wayward efforts from each side, it was the visitors who took the lead on five minutes after a low cross from the dangerous Robinson was deflected towards goal by the outstretched leg of a defender. Anderson, Bauza and a defender all closed in on the ball but it was Anderson who touched it home (although the goal seems to have been credited to the defender). Luton had also started the game in a positive manner and they responded with a couple of efforts of their own - in particular, Talbot hitting the side netting after appearing to foul Lawrence in the approach.

But the Swans were continuing to play their fluent passing game and began to swarm towards the home goal. On 14 minutes they nearly doubled the lead when Scotland used his pace and strength on the ball to break through the left side of the Luton defence - he attempted to slide the ball in from a tight angle and the keeper saved well with his legs. On 20 minutes another sweeping Swans move saw Rangel deliver a low cross which Bauza touched wide after sliding in at the near post. Throughout this period the Swans played confident and constructive football, with Britton and Pratley controlling the midfield and seeking to bring Anderson and Robinson into play at every opportunity by sliding the ball wide. The movement of Bauza and Scotland was also causing all sorts of difficulties to the home defence. But ironically it was a rare moment of lax defending which allowed Luton to deliver a cross on 25 minutes which the lively Calvin Andrew fired well over when he could have punished us.



But we were soon back on the attack and a great piece of solo play from Scotland nearly brought dividends as he pushed the ball around his marker before cantering into the box and delivering a low cross which was cleared for a corner. A few minutes later the ball broke to Bauza on the edge of the box who took one touch too many before attempting to shoot, which allowed the defender to block. The on 42 minutes Lawrence had joined the attack for a corner, and as the ball was delivered back into the box he cleverly controlled the ball on his chest to set up a chance for Scotland who shot wide. And then in the dying moments of the half we were awarded an indirect free kick in the box, which was teed up for Robinson to chip just over. We had been dominant in this spell and there was frustration among the Jacks behind the goal that we had not converted these chances - in the final move of the half we feared Luton might make us pay for this, but Talbot's header was weak and easily saved by Dorus.

At half time it felt a little like Bradford away a few years ago - when we had failed to convert our chances and held only a slender lead. Would we capitalise on the position or let it slip? Luton certainly came out with more attacking intent and a couple of Darren Currie crosses caused us some difficulty, with Monk brilliantly clearing one under pressure. But Luton failed to create a clear-cut chance we soon regained our foot-hold in the game with half-chances falling to Scotland and then to Pratley, whose shot was blocked after a terrific Robinson run.



The game was pretty even at this point, with Luton beginning to push more players forward in search of the equaliser. And it was from one such Luton surge that we doubled our lead. Rangel cleared some danger from a deep position, and this led to a crisp and fluent length of the field move which culminated in a first time cross from Pratley to Bauza whose touched home a neat finish at the end of a surging run. A fine team goal, bringing a deserved score for the enterprising Bauza,

This knocked the stuffing out of Luton and in the period that followed they huffed and puffed without looking at all dangerous, the Swans maintaining a disciplined shape with Lawrence and Monk looking authoritative at the heart of the defence. When Luton did pull one back on 74 minutes it was out of the blue. A low cross from their right was deflected towards goal; DeVries, caught out by the deflection, was only able to touch the ball to Paul Furlong who knocked the ball in from no more than a couple of feet, with his first touch since coming on as a substitute.

Far from spurring the home side on for an equaliser, this actually prompted a rally from the Swans and a series of excellent efforts on goal followed. First Scotland teed up Robinson who curled a dipping shot over the keeper and agonisingly on to the top of bar. Then again Scotland held the ball up and fed Robbo, whose low shot brought a flying save from the home keeper. The ball was then turned back into the box and Bauza fired well over. Then on 82 minutes Scotland again surged past his marker on the edge of the box and fired home a sweet strike into the corner to restore our two goal lead. In the final few minutes Luton swung in a few crosses, which DeVries handled comfortably, but the home team failed to create any serious chances. At the final whistle both sets of fans acknowledged a fine game which had been deservedly won by the dominant visitors.



DeVries - 8 A couple of terrific punches under pressure; was unlucky with the goal. Enjoyable rapport with the crowd too!
Rangel - 7 Caught out once but otherwise strong; and a great support to the attack
Painter - 7 Competent enough at the back but less effective in supporting Robinson
Monk - 9 Commanding at the back - some great headed clearances
Lawrence - 8 A strong game; excellent in the air today
Anderson - 7 Always dangerous though less effective today with his final ball
Robinson - 8 Tortured the opposition with his close control and mazy running from out wide; often looked our most potent attacker
Pratley - 8 Won the midfield battle, tracked back when he needed to and surged forward for an excellent assist
Britton - 7 Combative and skilful in midfield.
Bauza - 8 Maturing all the time and was a constant threat; sometimes a little slow to react
Scotland - 9 A terrific centre forward performance, holding the ball up brilliantly, bringing others into play and surging past defenders; scored a terrific clincher

Butler - Came on late for a brief cameo
Duffy - on only for a few minutes.

Great travelling support today which supported the team in a positive and vocal manner throughout - no anti-Cardiff songs, just a great following for the team. And some welcome camaderie with the home fans as we applauded them in their support for their team's plight. This was good one today - a great all round effort against disciplined and motivated opposition. There were no weak links in the side, and if we carry on playing like this - heck, we might even have a chance!

Luton: Brill, Goodall, Perry (Emanuel 57), Keane, Jackson (Furlong 73), Hutchison, Bell, Currie, Robinson, Talbot, Andrew. Subs Not Used: Morgan, O'Leary, McVeigh.

Booked: Jackson.

Goals: Furlong 74.

Swansea: De Vries, Rangel, Painter, Lawrence, Monk, Britton, Pratley, Robinson (Butler 89), Anderson, Scotland, Bauza (Duffy 84). Subs Not Used: Austin, O'Leary, Allen.

Goals: Keane 5 og, Bauza 64, Scotland 82.

Att: 6,756

Ref: Fred Graham (Essex).