VENEZUELAN hitman Giovanni Savarese hopes to leave BBC Wales commentator Mark Aiziewood lost for words with another goal-grabbing show against Bristol Rovers at the Vetch Field today.

Former Wales International defender Mark Aizlewood claimed the Swansea striker wasn't good enough to hit double figures this season, But Savarese made Aizlewood blush again last Saturday by scoring the first two goals in Swansea's amazing 3-3 comeback at Cambridge.

It means he has hit seven goals from just eight starts, and the free signing from American League side San Jose Earthquakes is only three goals away from making Aizlewood choke on his words.

Aizlewood looked on in disbelief at Cambridge's Abbey Stadium as Savarese headed in. his second goal and started to back-track — but only grudgingly "Okay, for all his faults he's a goal scorer and maybe he'll prove his point, because his goals could keep Swansea up," admitted Aidewood.

But that was as far as the former Wales defender would go, as his comments about Sauarese's work-rate continue to anger Swansea supporters "He needs to get other things into his game, because good sides start defending- from the front," insisted Aiziewood

That criticism stunned ex-Welsh international Leighton James, who hit back- "Seven goals from eight starts isn't bad for someone who can't play is it? "Aiziewood's comments are nothing- short of pathetic and ill-judged on a player who will go on to win the hearts of the Swansea fans,"

Savarese won't get drawn into the argument, preferring to let his goals do the talking. "It's not about me," explained Savarese. "It's about what the team does that counts "We showed what the real Swansea City can do in coming back from three goals down at Cambridge. We showed pride in the white shirt and that's exactly what we've got to do against Rovers.

"I'm convinced that if we keep showing- the same determination, we'll get out of trouble," Swansea, fourth from bottom and without a win in nine games, hope to make it a clean sweep for the three Welsh clubs, as Wrexham and Cardiff have already beaten Bristol Rovers this season.

Striker Steve Watkin waits to see if he get the go-ahead from the referee to play with a plaster cast protecting a broken hand. Watkin was allowed to play by Preston referee Phil Richards at Cambridge and came off the bench to score an injury time equaliser.

SWANSEA CITY attempt to escape the Second Division relegation zone by completing a hat-trick of victories on successive Saturdays by Welsh clubs against Bristol Rovers.

Improved form at home, where the Swans have won only twice in nine league games, is the key to a swift table climb.

After a shaky start, manager John Hollins is hoping his team can make the Vetch Field the fortress it was last season.

They lost only twice and conceded a miserly 11 goals in 23 matches on their way to becoming Third Division champions.

On their own pitch this campaign they have already lost four times, been held to three draws and let in 10 goals.

"We haven't looked as secure so far after moving up to a higher, harder division," said Hollins.

"But we are determined to build on what we achieved last week."

Trailing 3-0 at half-time at the Abbey Stadium, Swansea rallied to gain a 3-3 draw with Cambridge United.

"That was an exceptional fight-back, showing the character of the players and the spirit within the club," added Hollins.

This week he has given lengthy contract extensions to 'keeper Roger Freestone and utility man Kris O'Leary.

They are two of the players in the nucleus of a squad be believes is good enough to keep Swansea in the Second Division.

"Of course it won't be easy to stay up but with 28 games left we are aiming higher than that," he said.

Swansea want to emulate Cardiff City and Wrexham who have beaten Rovers at home on the last two Saturdays.

City trounced them 5-l in the FA Cup and Wrexham claimed three league points with a disputed last-minute winner seven days ago.

"It would be nice to complete the treble. Rovers have injury and suspension problems and a fairly young side after selling players," said Hollins.

"They'll be determined not to be beaten by a Welsh club again. But if we play as well as we did in the second half against Cambridge, we'll be okay."

Venezuelan international Giovanni Savarese, who scored twice against Cambridge, will be looking to add to the seven goals - three braces - he has netted in nine appearances since his arrival from South America.

Full-back Steve Jones still deputises for the suspended Mathew Bound alongside centre-back Jason Smith.

Striker Mickey Evans returns to the Rovers attack after missing three games with a mystery illness.

But forward Martin Cameron, a £100,000 purchase from Alloa Athletic, begins a three-match ban.

'Keeper Roger Vaaler, a midweek signing from Norwegian club Skeid FK will be on the substitutes' bench.

Rovers were yesterday fined £1,500 by the league for collecting six yellow cards and one red - captain Andy Thomson was sent off at the Racecourse last week

Swansea City will be gunning for a Welsh treble tomorrow against Bristol Rovers at Vetch Field (3pm).

Wrexham (1-0) and Cardiff City (5-1) have already beaten The Pirates this season and Swansea boss John Hollins is determined to make it another Welsh success story to end a run of nine games without a win.

"Saturday's comeback against Cambridge has given me and the players a lot of confidence," explained Hollins. "We always knew what we could do, but that second-half display proved it.

"We haven't really got going this season. We've had some good results, but never followed them up. Now is the time to do that. Now is the time to deliver."

Hollins admits that there has been a feel-good factor sweeping through the camp this week after his side came back from three goals down at Abbey Stadium.

And with Swansea still fourth from bottom, Hollins has told his side to start tomorrow's game at the same tempo as they finished at Cambridge.

"Everyone thought we were dead and buried," added Hollins. "But those who travelled all that way to support us were rewarded. Perhaps our luck is changing."

Things are also looking up on the squad front with David Romo having recovered from injury to join fellow midfielder Damian Lacey in contention for a starting place.

Central defender Jason Smith returns from a one-match suspension while Matthew Bound, a pre-season target for Bristol Rovers, sits out the second of a three-match ban.

Hollins will have to wait until an hour before the kick-off to confirm whether Steve Watkin will be given permission by the referee to play with a plaster cast protecting his broken hand.

Swansea City:
from Freestone, Jones, Smith, O'Leary, Howard, Price, Cusack, Thomas, Jenkins, Watkin, Savarese, Boyd, Lacey, Roberts, Casey, De-Vulgt, Romo, Jones (J).

Bristol Rovers:
Culkin, Challis, Jones, Pethick, Foster, Thomson, Bryant, Hogg, Hillier, Astafjevs, Walters, Ellington, Johansen, Foran, Clarke, Ellis, Evans.

Watkin came on as a second-half substitute at Cambridge to score a thrilling injury-time equaliser.

"There were no incidents over the 45 minutes to suggest that the cast was a danger to anyone," added Hollins. "It will be extremely well padded and hopefully the referee will give him the all clear again."

Swansea will face a mid-table Rovers side on the downward slide after losing their last three games.

"After a good start to the season, they are now having a difficult time of it," added Hollins. "But I know their manager Ian Holloway well and he'll get his team up for it.

"He was a player of mine at QPR. He was a tough, hard working midfielder and a good motivator. That's why he's done so well at Bristol."

Meanwhile, Swansea have rearranged their FAW Premier Cup tie with Barry Town at Vetch Field for Wednesday, January 23 (7.15).

RICHARD JONES, rated one of the best youngsters produced by Swansea City, has joined Southampton in a deal that could be worth £1m.

The 15-year-old Wales Schools international defender from Gowerton has followed his Swans’ colleague Matthew Crowell to the Premiership club.

Malcolm Elias, the former youth development officer at the Vetch Field and now head of recruitment at The Dell, was instrumental in the Saints snatching Jones and Crowell, also 15.

The link between the clubs was further strengthened when ex-Swansea youth team coach Jeremy Charles was last week appointed a full-time recruitment officer by Southampton.

After the Swans demanded compensation for Crowell, Southampton were ordered to pay £100,000 plus a further £400,000 depending on league appearances.

When their interest in Jones became known manager John Hollins pledged, “We are doing everything we can to keep Richard” and chairman Neil McClure said the club would protest to the Premiership and the Football League.

It must be hugely frustrating for the Swans manager to lose two of the club’s brightest youngsters when the only actual transfer fee he has paid for a player in two and a half years is £30,000 to Bangor City for Tommy Mutton.

“Enough is enough,” Mc-Clure said three weeks ago. “Premier club or not, I’m not having the Southampton academy plundering our youth development scheme. It’s quite outrageous.”

But yesterday McClure confirmed Swansea had reached an amicable agreement with Southampton after it became clear that Jones’s departure was inevitable.

Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Spurs were also vying for his signature and Cardiff City manager Bobby Gould made a late bid.

The deal is understood to be worth £250,000 initially, rising to £1m depending on league appearances. “Richard was always destined for the Premier League,” said Elias.

“He’s an exceptional talent and we are delighted to have secured his services in the face of very stiff competition from other Premiership clubs.”

Paul Compton, Swansea’s recently-appointed director of youth development, said, “Obviously we are sad to see Richard leave but with his talent it was always going to be difficult for us to hold on to him.

“It reflects well on Swansea’s youth development programme that top-flight clubs are showing such a keen interest in our youngsters.

“However, there does come a time when we have to take a philosophical view and accept that some talented players will, of their own choice, prefer to develop their careers at the highest level. Richard Jones was one such young man.”

Former Swansea City youth development officer Malcolm Elias claimed today that Richard Jones, the club's brightest prospect, was always destined for the Premier League.

Elias, now head of recruitment at Southampton, brokered the move that took the 15-year-old Welsh international to The Dell in a deal believed to be worth around £1million.

"Richard has always been destined for the Premier League," explained Elias.

"He is an exceptional talent and we are delighted to have secured his registration in the face of very strong competition from other Premiership clubs."

With Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal and Manchester City chasing the Gowerton School pupil, Elias claimed that Jones had already decided to leave Swansea before Southampton moved in.

"I have no doubt he would have been attracted elsewhere if he had not chosen Southampton," added Elias.

Jones is the second Swansea player to follow Elias and Jeremy Charles to Southampton this season with Matthew Crowell switching allegiance to The Dell in a deal which could be worth £500,000.

Swansea's director of youth development, Paul Compton, said: "Obviously we are sad to see Richard leave us, but his talent was inevitably going to make it difficult for us to hold on to him.

"It reflects well on our youth development programme that top flight clubs are showing a keen interest in our youngsters.

"This club is rich in young talent and we intend to develop and keep as many as possible for our own first team objectives.

"However, there does come a time when we have to take a philosophical view and accept that some talented players will, by their own choice, prefer to develop their careers at the highest level.

"We reached an amicable agreement with Southampton after it became obvious that Richard wanted to move."

Swansea boss John Hollins and his management team will be hoping Jones is the last talented youngster to leave Vetch Field for pastures new.

SWANSEA CITY’S Kristian O’Leary has signed a deal that will keep him at the Vetch until the end of the 2002-2003 season.

The 23-year-old utility player from Port Talbot signed the new contract only a few days after Swansea secured the signatures of goalkeeper Roger Freestone and Steve Watkin.

O’Leary joined Swansea as a trainee and, up to this season, made 81 appearances scoring three goals.

Swansea manager John Hollins said, “ I’m delighted to keep one of the most promising players.

“Other clubs have been linked with him, but we always wanted him to stay.

“Hopefully, he will settle down and become a part of the future at Swansea City.”

Roger Freestone, Swansea's international goalkeeper, celebrates 10 years at the Vetch Field next year and as such will commence his testimonial year.

As part of his testimonial year, Roger has commissioned Keith Haynes and Phil Sumbler to write his biography 'Another Day At The Office' which will be available in the shops from July 2001.

Roger has also asked Keith and Phil to co-ordinate the events in his testimonial year which will include Golf Days, Sporting Dinners, Quiz Nights and much more. Roger himself, Keith and Phil will control Roger's events for the year and, as such, all details regarding sponsors and organisation of events should be channelled through the contact numbers below.

There will, of course also be a testimonial match within the year with opponents yet to be decided. It is hoped that there will be many 'special' appearances on the night of the match which is envisaged to take place sometime in 2002.

The co-ordinators of his year are, at present, looking for businesses/individuals to sponsor and organise some events on Roger's behalf and would ask that anyone interested should contact either Phil on (01792) 843507 or Keith on (07713) 083479.

A testimonial brochure detailing the events will also be available towards the end of this season and anyone interested in advertising in this should also contact either of the numbers above.

This is an ideal opportunity for Swansea City supporters everywhere to pay tribute to Roger during the course of his year and repay the loyalty shown by 'Wales No 1' to the club since he signed from Chelsea in 1991.

Roger Freestone - Another Day At The Office available in the shops from July 2001 - Tempus Publishing

**Keith Haynes and Phil Sumbler are also the authors of 'Vetch Field Voices' due to hit the shops on 24 November. Available from Waterstones, Lewisnews, EJ Davies News, Simon Cogger Newsagents, Busybody News, Good News Newsagents, Uplands Bookshop, WH Smith, Llanelli - Priced £9.99 on Tempus Publishing**

A History of Swansea City through the eyes of those that matter most - it's supporters.

Contact

Phil Sumbler - 01792 843507
Keith Haynes - 07713 083479

Swans lose a second young star to Southampton

Swansea City have lost their brightest young star Richard Jones to Premiership club Southampton in a deal which could be worth around £1million.

The Welsh Under-15 international has agreed to leave Vetch Field and team up again with former Swansea youth development officers Malcolm Elias and Jeremy Charles at The Dell.

The 15-year-old defender will also be reunited with his former Swansea team-mate Matthew Crowell who joined Southampton in September in a compensation package worth £500,000.

Swansea received an immediate payment of £100,000 for Crowell with a further £400,000 based on first team appearances.

While both clubs have agreed not to release details of the financial package involving Jones, it is believed to total around £1million taking into account the fee set for Crowell by the Football League.

It is understood Swansea will receive around £250,000 immediately with further payments dependent on appearances.

Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Spurs were all courting the Gowerton School pupil before he was given permission to visit Southampton — who have confirmed the appointment of Jeremy Charles as a full-time recruitment officer — last week.

Cardiff City's Bobby Gould also made a late bid for the talented youngster, leaving Swansea with little option but to let him go for a hefty fee.

News of Southampton's interest in Jones was met three weeks ago with a verbal outburst from Swansea chairman Neil McClure, who blasted: "Enough is enough.

"Premiership club or not, I'm not having the Southampton academy plundering our youth development scheme.

"We are going to speak to the Football League and the Premiership to make our protests known.

"We kicked up enough fuss last time over Matthew Crowell, yet the same thing is happening again. It's quite outrageous."

But McClure confirmed today that the two clubs had reached an amicable agreement, leaving Swansea to come to terms with the loss of their brightest young hope.

Kristian O'Leary became the latest Swansea City player to commit himself to the Vetch Field club today by signing a new two-year contract.

The comes less than 24 hours after goalkeeper Roger Freestone extended his contract by another year.

"We've been talking for the last couple of weeks," explained O'Leary. "I'm just pleased it's all over.

"Once I was happy with the deal I didn't have to think twice about committing myself to Swansea for another two years.

"Having signed my first forms with the club as a 14-year-old schoolboy, let's just say I'm happy where I am."

O'Leary, despite having just turned 23, has already accumulated 90 Football League appearances in a utility role between defence and midfield.

His latest appearance came in the heart of a defence which found itself 3-0 down after 45 minutes of a windswept affair at Cambridge on Saturday.

"The first half was a nightmare for everyone," said O'Leary. "Let's just put it down to experience shall we.

"But I don't think anyone can question our fighting spirit after our second half performance.

"Now I've just got to make sure I keep my place in the side, wherever that is, and play as many games for the club as I can."

Swansea's FAW Premier Cup game with Barry Town was postponed last night because of a waterlogged pitch.

No new date has been confirmed for the rearranged group game.

Swansea City goalkeeper Roger Freestone signed a one-year extension to his Vetch Field contract today and declared: "There's nowhere else I'd rather play."

The Welsh international added another year to a contract that still had 18 months to run to commit himself to the club until the end of the 2002-2003 season.

"I love the club, the place and the supporters," declared the 32-year-old. "It is the longest I've taken to sign a new contract, but I think everyone knows I never want to leave Swansea.

"That is not a negative comment, even though people have said I should have gone on to better things by playing at a higher standard.

"It's a positive comment because I firmly believe in this club. That is why I've always agreed to sign new contracts here, and if I'm still signing them at 40 I'll be delighted."

The new contract will take Freestone into his second decade at the club after Frank Burrows snapped him up from Chelsea back in September 1991 for a bargain £45,000 after a successful loan spell two years previous.

He holds the record for the most League appearances by a Swansea City goalkeeper with 428, while also keeping a record-breaking seven consecutive clean sheets in last season's championship-winning campaign.

It earned him his first Welsh cap against Brazil at the Millennium Stadium in May and if anyone deserves a testimonial year next season, it's the Swansea stalwart.

Freestone has yet to confirm his testimonial game, although Chelsea are likely to be his first choice.

Matthew Bound will break up his three-match suspension tonight by facing Barry Town in a FAW Premier Cup re-match at Vetch Field (7.15).

Swansea City's vice-captain has been allowed to play in the competition by the Football Association of Wales after confirming that his three-game ban only counted for Football League matches.

Swansea City:
from Jones (J), De-Vulgt, Bound, Smith, Roberts, Keegan, Lacey, Casey, Morgan, Mutton, Boyd, Romo, James, Todd, Gregson.

Barry Town:
Kendall, Evans, Lloyd, York, Phillips, Brown, Stratton, Jenkins, French, Flynn, Moralee, Burke, McClean, Blake.

Llanelli are also in action in the FAW Premier Cup tonight. They face Cardiff City at Ninian Park (7.15).

SWANSEA CITY ’keeper Roger Freestone has signed a two-year extension to his contract.

Freestone has committed himself to the Second Division club until at least 2003 and hopes to end his career at the Vetch Field.

“I had 18 months of my present deal to run but the manager called me in at the start of the season to sort out a new one,” he said,

“I’m delighted to have finally signed. It took a bit of time, the longest I have ever taken to sign a contract. But it was worth waiting for.

“To be fair I never wanted to leave the Vetch. I’ve been here since 1991 and long may it continue.

“I don’t think another club ever came in for me anyway. I wasn’t aware of any interest.

“I just wanted to get something sorted out and hopefully build on last season’s success.”

The new contract will take 32-year-old Freestone through the 10-year barrier to make him eligible for a testimonial season.

“It’s a long time for any player to stay at a football club. There aren’t that many who get testimonials,” he said.

“Hopefully I can stay for the remainder of the contract and work hard to get another one.

“I would love to think I can win more international honours for Wales. I made my debut against Brazil in May after Swansea became Third Division champions. You always want more.

“ But we’ve got to be doing well with the Swans and build on what we

“We showed a lot of fighting character to earn a point at Cambridge on Saturday after being 3-0 down at half-time when everybody thought we were dead and buried.

“Now we’ve got to take it forward from there. “

YOU did not need to be the late lamented Victor Meldrew to have trouble believing the latest episode in Cambridge United's ham-fisted, accident-prone adventures.

Even for a team who had stumbled luckily through dire displays in their previous two matches against Rochdale and Wrexham, the shameful second-half shambles against Swansea was something special.

Failing to win a match from 3-1 up in the 89th minute is the stuff of laughable legends.

"Shameful" is a strong word to use, but it was clear that was how the players felt about it as they dragged themselves from the Abbey pitch after their lack of professionalism let themselves and their supporters down so badly.

"It was horrendous," admitted skipper Paul Wanless. "It felt like a defeat. I still can't believe it, and I don't know why it happened.

"We played well in the first half, and when you go 3-0 up you should be able to win a match from there."

The eight-game League slide without a win looked certain to be ending when United achieved that three-goal lead after only 36 minutes against a Welsh side, themselves without a win for eight matches, and obviously missing their first choice centre-backs, who were both suspended.

When Giovanni Savarese pulled a goal back in the 76th minute it seemed irrelevant, but it sparked an amazing fightback which forced goals in the 89th minute and the fifth minute of stoppage time.

It will sound like sacrilege to United fans, but Swansea winger Stuart Roberts, whose deep but straightforward crosses caused such chaos in the United box, identified goalkeeper Lionel Perez as the player who gave them hope of getting something out of the game.

"It looked bad at half time," he said, "but we knew if we could score one goal we could get more. Their keeper Perez looked a bit shaky."

It was an odd observation because the Frenchman came some way down the list of culprits. He probably should have gone for the cross which produced Swansea's second goal, but had little chance of stopping the others as the rest of the team inexplicably stopped playing in the final quarter of an hour.

It was as though some switch had been turned off in their brains, as they not only failed to compete for the 50-50 balls against fired-up but desperate opponents, but were incapable of even retaining possession to play out time.

Roy McFarland made a substitution just before Swansea scored their first goal which was roundly criticised by supporters afterwards, taking off left-back Tom Cowan and sending on veteran striker John Taylor.

But the United boss must have had an uncomfortable feeling about how things were developing as his side relaxed too much on their three-goal cushion and began to defend deeper and deeper.

His unexpected switch probably had in mind that attack is the best form of defence, hence his comment: "We were 3-0 up but looking edgy. We should have been loving it and going for more goals."

With Taylor alongside Paul Connor, United had two big targets to aim for in an attempt to get the ball into the Swansea half and hold it there, but they rarely managed to do it.

"Clearances" were hit anywhere downfield and the ball kept on coming back. During their dominant first half Alex Russell produced some of his best passing play as he combined with Tom Young down the left, with Wanless and Ian Ashbee holding firm in the centre. But United stopped working at their game after the break.

There was one incident which could have guaranteed victory in spite of the sloppy second goal. And Neil Mustoe is probably still re-running it in his mind.

Five minutes after the restart Russell slipped a pass down the flank to Youngs, whose cross fell perfectly for the midfielder running in at the far post. However, he scooped the ball over the bar from no more than five yards.

A fourth goal then would surely have put out the lights for Swansea, but it was United who ended up looking like a side stumbling around in the dark.

They were left with the booing of their disbelieving fans ringing in their ears, and the hurtful statement from Swansea boss John Hollins: "It was a great fightback, but we can't allow ourselves to get into that much trouble. Better teams than Cambridge would have buried us."

We just couldn't handle it -- Mac

ROY McFarland ordered his players in for special Sunday training after they failed to beat Swansea City despite leading 3-1 in the 89th minute.

"Swansea were just lumping long balls into our box in desperation," he said, "but we couldn't handle it. There were massive deficiencies throughout the team.

"We couldn't get the ball down and keep possession, which let us down after scoring three good goals in the first half, despite not playing our best."

He defended his selection, though, in the face of calls from some supporters for defender Marc Joseph to be recalled to the side.

"The fans say this and the fans say that," he retorted. "If they want to pick the team they can. Not being funny but Marc Joseph has had similar problems to what we encountered against Swansea, and he hasn't handled them.

"What was so disappointing was that our football was poor. That was more of a reason for the result than defensive mistakes.

"There wasn't enough constructive football, and we are a long, long way from that.

"It's not to do with 'should Marc Joseph be playing, or Axeldal, or McAnespie or Mustoe'. They are things for the fans. They have wanted Mustoe in the side, but after missing an easy chance which should have made it 4-0 early in the second half, he gave the ball away with his next five passes.

"I'm the one who makes the decisions, who trains them and works with them every day, and sees what they can do. I won't be making wholesale changes, but we have to improve our football to start winning games."

Two-goal hero Giovanni Savarese reckons it was pride in the white shirt that carried Swansea City to their amazing comeback at Cambridge on Saturday.

The Venezuelan hit-man struck twice in the final 14 minutes to pull Swansea back from a three-goal deficit before Steve Watkin grabbed a dramatic equaliser five minutes into injury-time.

"We said at half-time that it was about time we showed everyone what we could do," explained Savarese. "We had to show some pride in the white shirt.

"What people saw in the first half was not the real Swansea City. We had to go out there and show them the real Swansea — and that's exactly what we did."

Savarese, who took his League tally for the season to seven, added: "We showed a lot of character, but we've already done that on a couple of occasions this season.

"We've shown what this side is capable of, but we must believe that we can do it all the time. That's from the start and not when we are 3-0 down.

"But I'm convinced that if we keep showing this type of determination then we'll be okay."

Swansea boss John Hollins felt the draw was "as good as a win" and hopes the huge boost in confidence will turn their stuttering season around, starting with the visit of struggling Bristol Rovers to Vetch Field on Saturday.

"The spirit has always been good," declared Hollins. "Sometimes teams don't come back from things like that — they die.

"When you are winning you just sit back with a big cigar, not that I smoke. When you are not, you've just got to keep working hard at it.

"We put things in there and put them under pressure and I said that once we got one we'd get two. But we went on from there and got three and I thought we deserved the point.

"When we scored the equaliser there were about 150 people coming out of our dug-out because that's how much it meant to us."

But Hollins warned: "We may have got spirit, got guts, but that's no good if we keep going 3-0 down because better teams will kill you."

Meanwhile, Swansea will have to come back down to earth tomorrow night when they continue their FAW Premier Cup campaign against Barry Town at Vetch Field (7.15).

Swansea staged an astonishing late comeback to claim a 3-3 draw with Cambridge United - despite being three goals down at the interval.

Paul Wanless put the U's in front after only 10 minutes, before goals from Tom Young and Paul Connor looked to have put the game beyond Swansea's reach.

But Giovanni Saverase pulled a goal back in the 76th minute, and he gave John Hollins' side a small glimmer of hope with his second after 89 minutes.

Swansea fans must still have thought their side could not score a third, but substitute Steve Watkin secured a point with his stoppage time goal.

Fans' favourite Jan Molby has been there, seen itand done it with the Swans - right to the extent where he was dismissed because results were going wrong.

And his one bit of advice to John Hollins is: 'Stick by your principles. '

Questions have been raised in some media circles about whether, with Steve Hamer having gone, Hollins has the 100 per cent support of everyone on the Swans' board.

Already some internet talk on the Swans' website has linked the club to Jimmy Quinn and Mick Gooding - two men who are not even in the same league as Hollins as a manager.

The reality of the situation is that Hollins still has almost three years to run on a deal worth six figures per annum, the chairman Neil McClure backs him fully, so the Quinn and Gooding speculation seems irrelevant.

And Molby, who the Vetch fans loved, said: "The one thing John needs to do is make sure he doesn't desert his beliefs.

"The easiest thing in the world is to listen to others, do what they tell you to do.

"Fortunately it sounds as if John will stick by his principles and that has to be the way forward.

"Remember, it was John Hollins's methods that got the Swans success last season.

"It is those same methods which will get the Swans out of the current situation. Abandon those methods by listening too much to others and you have no hope."

Molby's sacking by the Swans - just months after leading the club to a Wembley play-off final - still angers many of the Vetch fans.

Recalling the circumstances leading up to his dismissal, Molby said: "I was given just 10 games in charge by the new regime.

"It was clear I didn't have their full backing and once that happens, you've got little chance. It was like I was banging my head against a wall.

"The fans down there were brilliant to me and that was a lovely bonus.

"At least they realised what happened was not my fault. Our Wembley team was ripped apart during the summer, with us selling Steve Torpey for £400,000, David Thomas for £150,000, Car! Heggs for money and David Penny left too. "I remember saying to Billy Ayre, my number

two at the time, I suppose the fans will turn on us when we had a bad run'.

'Billy, who is more experienced than me, said, 'Don't worry, the fans will turn elsewhere'. They did too, turning on the directors rather than me.

"Those fans knew that because of a combination of factors, players had to go. I reinvested a bit of the money in Tony Bird and Dave O'Gorman, but it was never going to be enough."

But because many players in the current Swans team are the youngsters he helped bring through four years ago, Molby still takes an interest in results.

"Lee Jenkins, Jason Price, Stuart Roberts, Damien Lacey, Kris O'Leary - the same youngsters you wrote that article on just before I was given the push," smiled Molby. "Those youngsters are still there, making their mark as I predicted they would.

"They were, and remain, the future of the club. But youngsters need experienced players around them - we lost our experienced players."

Molby does have words of comfort for Swans fans though.

"The club will remain in Division Two, I'm convinced of that," he said. "I think they'll be one of a number of teams involved in a relegation battle, but they'll edge out of it.

"I certainly hope so because I've still got a lot of time for the club

JOHN HOLLINS can draw upon his top flight experience with Chelsea - and the day they handed the Championship to Liverpool - in a bid to pull Swansea City out of what he calls "the worst spell of my time here as manager."

Hollins's Swans made it 10 games without a win at Cambridge yesterday amid growing talk that it is becoming crisis time at The Vetch - despite their brilliant comeback.

But the Swans manager is remaining upbeat. positive, defiant, is still smiling - and is adamant his team will pull away from the Second Division relegation positions.

"If we had just 10 games to go, then maybe I would be worried. But the season's not even halfway gone," said Hollins.

"I'm always positive, I'm remaining positive. The spirit is good here and we'll be okay."

Hollins recalls a horror spell when he was in charge of Chelsea in the mid-1980s as an example of how quickly things can turn around in football.

His Chelsea side had romped to fifth place in the League and, with Liverpool, Manchester United and West Ham, were challenging for the Championship.

"Then came Easter, when we let in 10 goals in two matches," rued Hollins.

"We were thumped 4-0 by West Ham, with Tony Cottee and Frank McAvennie getting the goals.

"If that wasn't bad enough, in the next game we lost 6-0 to Queens Park Rangers on the astroturf I never did like that astroturf

"Our next two games were Manchester "United away and then West Ham again. Two nice easy ones, eh?

"But whereas there was doom and gloom among others, I simply stood in the dressing room after that QPR defeat and told the players, 'You're the same team who got us up to fifth place and have played brilliantly at times. These are just lapses. '

"We went to Old Trafford, had two penalties awarded against us in the closing 10 minutes - and still won the game 2-1. Our goalkeeper stopped each of the spot kicks.

"Then we played West Ham in midweek and beat them too. We wrecked their title hopes and Liverpool went on to win the League.

"The important point was that believed in the players, believed it what I was doing, knew it would come right again - and it did.

"I apply the same principles here at Swansea 15 years on. These are still the same players who won the Third Division Championship last season breaking clean sheet records on the way.

"Okay we're at a higher level and and being punished more for our mistakes. "But we will learn from them. We need to get back to doing what we were doing last year " defending better keeping clean sheets again, going on a winning run and accumulating points And that's what we will do "

The Swans' alarming dip down the table - which many attribute to the abrupt dismissal of chairman Steve Hamer - has led to alarm bells ringing among supporters. It's not for Hollins to talk about the Hamer issue, although I have not the slightest doubt that privately he misses his old boss, the two men having a special manager-chairman rapport -perhaps as good as any in the League.

But one thing Hollins will not accept is talk of despondency at the Vetch and of spirits sagging,

He admits: "In my two and a half years here, this is the worst spell.

"But we have actually been in worse positions. When I first came here we could hardly string two wins together and at one stage dipped to 20th in the Third Division.

"In terms of the club developing, we're a lot better off today than we were back then.

"We're in a higher division, we have a Championship behind us, we've got a good squad of players - a squad I know is capable of getting us up the table -and we have a thriving youth policy.

"Significantly too, for the first time I'm actually in control of the players. What I mean by that is that It is fast becoming MY squad, not the squad I inherited.

"Like Frank Burrows, when he took over at Cardiff. I inherited contracted players, some of whom weren't necessarily the future for Swansea City.

"By next summer, with things having evolved, I will have exactly the squad I want for the first time. ' That's for the future. What" about the present and the Swans' sudden slide into the dreaded bottom four Does the fact they are in there at the moment overly-concern Hollins?

"No," he replies. "There are so many games still to go, so many points still to play for We have time on our side.

"If you think in a negative way, you might become pressured into doing things wrongly Like neglecting going for a win by trying to scrape a draw instead. Last season, when we won the League, we never once tried to settle for a draw. That remains the philosophy.

"I don't get despondent. If we get injuries, to me that simply means the door has opened for one of our young players to come in.

"If we make mistakes, like we have done. then we learn from them and become a better and stronger team "The spirit at this football club is still good, people are working hard, the - players remain positive.

"I've had people come up to me and say, 'Oh you lost and played badly. ' When I ask them if they were at the game, they say 'No', to which I reply, How can you say we played badly when you didn't see the game? '

"The point I'm making is that even in defeat, I can see positive aspects.

"In my first year in charge I predicted we would finish higher than when I first ' took over - and we did. : "In the second year, I did say we would go up - and we did.

"This year I knew it would be tougher. But we didn't win the League last season by luck. Okay. we're being punished in Division Two by better quality strikers for mistakes we might have got away with in Division Three.

"But we've also proved we are capable of beating teams at this level and that's what we will get back to doing. And I promise we will."

A three-goal burst in the last 25 minutes enabled Swansea to make a remarkable comeback from a 3-0 deficit.

Substitute striker Steve Watkin was the hero, hammering in a right-foot shot from the edge of the box in the dying seconds.

Cambridge had taken their lead within the first 35 minutes, with goals from Paul Wanless, Tom Youngs and Paul Connor.

They were able to cut through the Swans defence at will, and bookmakers were taking odds on the departure of the visitors' manager John Hollins - who has now seen his team go 10 games without a win.

The game turned with the 72nd-minute introduction of winger Stuart Roberts.

He provided an outlet for the Swans and a rich supply of quality crosses.

Venezuelan international Giovanni Savarese was the first to benefit, heading two fine goals in the 76th and 88th minutes.

The home side were rocking and in the last minute of the game super-sub Steve Watkin was able to fire home his vital goal.

Cambridge Utd: Perez, McAnespie, Duncan, Dreyer, Cowan, Mustoe, Ashbee, Wanless, Russell, Connor, Youngs. Subs: Marshall, Taylor, Hansen, Axeldal, Gudmundsson.

Swansea: Freestone, De-Vulgt, S. Jones, O'Leary, Howard, Price, Cusack, Thomas, Jenkins, Savarese, Boyd. Subs: J. Jones, Roberts, Lacey, Casey, Watkin.

Referee: P Richards (Preston)

Att: 3,269