SWANSEA CITY must halt Joe Kinnear’s perfect start as Luton Town manager in today’s Second Division basement battle at Kenil-worth Road to ease their relegation fears.

Successive away wins since Kinnear took over, at Northampton last Saturday and Notts County in midweek, have put Luton level on points with the Swans.

Victory for either club today could lift them out of the bottom four.

“It’s a very big game for both clubs. We are both fighting for Second Division survival,” said Swansea manager John Hollins.

“There’s a lot at stake and if we could get three points it would make a huge difference before we play Notts County at home on Tuesday night.

“Joe Kinnear has come in with different ideas, changed things around. It’s given the side a boost as often happens with a new man in charge.

“Luton have had two good away wins. We’ll test their home form.”

Kinnear is looking for a full house for his first home game with the Hatters but tried to play down its importance.

“It’s no bigger than our last game. But I would like to think the fans will turn out in force and really get behind the lads,” said the former Wimbledon manager, who has fully recovered from the heart attack he suffered two years ago.

“I’ve been given the all clear by the doctors. I haven’t felt fitter since I was a Spurs player and I’m raring to go again.”

The Swans will be without suspended full-back Michael Howard and centre-back Jason Smith as they attempt to end a run of five away defeats.

Captain Smith sustained an ankle injury in the losing five-goal home midweek LDV Vans Trophy thriller against Brentford.

Either Lee Jenkins or teenager Leigh De-Vulgt will replace Howard with Mathew Bound taking over from Smith at the heart of the de-fence.

He will play alongside Kristian O’Leary, whose outstanding form in recent weeks has prompted Hollins to press his claims for a place in the Wales World Cup squad.

“If Mark Hughes wants a defender to replace the injured Chris Coleman he need look no further than O’Leary,” said Hollins.

“Kris was unfortunate with injuries last season. But he worked very hard on his fitness in pre-season and we are beginning to see what he can do.

“The more he plays the stronger he gets. He’s blossoming into a quality player who can operate in the middle three as well as the back four.”

Striker Matthew Verschave is ready to play his fourth game in 12 days since he and midfielder Nicolas Fabiano arrived on loan from French giants Paris St Germain.

Fabiano, probably be on the bench again, is unavailable for the Notts County game, having been called up by France for next week’s under-21 international against Finland.

“The French boys have settled in quickly. They have been very professional and mixed in well,” added Hollins.

“They have received a good football education at Paris St Germain. But it’s what they can do in this tough league that matters to us.

“I think they can only improve and hopefully contribute to our fight to stay up.”

Luton, who have fitness doubts over Liam George, Stuart Douglas and Jude Stirling, are unlikely to include Mark Stein, the 35-year-old striker who agreed to join the Swans last summer before his old club came in for him.

Defender Stirling is desperate to shake off an ankle knock to help Luton avenge a 4-0 defeat at the Vetch Field last September when he was sent off on his league debut.

Former Barry Town ’keeper Mark Ovendale has been restored as first choice.

Luton boss Joe Kinnear will have Stuart Douglas available for the bottom-of-the-table clash with Swansea at Kenilworth Road.

The 22-year-old was substituted on the hour during the win at Notts County in midweek after taking a heavy kick on the ankle, but he has recovered sufficiently to take his place in the starting line-up.

Defender Jude Stirling, who played during the 3-1 win despite a similar ankle problem, is likely to start as the Hatters look for a third consecutive victory.

Adam Locke and Mark Stein were not included in midweek as they attempted to overcome flu, but both will be hoping to come into consideration.

Kinnear effect

Meanwhile, Swansea midfielder Lee Jenkins is expected to be fit for the trip to Luton.

Jenkins missed the LDV Vans Trophy southern area semi-final with mild concussion after getting a bang on the head in the game against Millwall last Sunday.

But manager John Hollins thinks he will recover in time for the match.

The Swans will be without defender Michael Howard, who is starting a two-match ban after he was sent off against Bristol City a fortnight ago.

Hollins said: "As always I was happy with how we played against Brentford (in the LDV) and I hope we'll play as well against Luton.

"This is just one game and all we can win is three points, so there's no point us treating it any other way.

"I've no idea what effect Joe Kinnear's arrival at Luton will have, I'm just worried about my team."

SWANSEA City skipper Jason Smith is set for a spell on the sidelines after he was clattered by Brentford striker Mark McCammon in Wednesday's LDV Vans Trophy clash.

The 26-year-old suffered a severe ankle sprain in the challenge and will definitely miss tomorrow's bottom-of-the-table clash with Luton.

Smith is also doubtful for the visit of Notts County to Vetch Field next Tuesday night.

The West Midlands-born centre-back twisted his ankle early on in the Brentford match before being caught late by big frontman McCammon after 16 minutes. He hobbled off the field 10 minutes later.

McCammon was booked for the challenge, but Swansea manager John Hollins his reiterated that he thought the Bees man should have seen red.

"I still feel, having had time to think about it, that their centre-forward should have been sent off for what was a reckless challenge," said the Swans boss.

"Jason was very lucky to be able to walk away from it as the tackle could have broken his leg."

Hollins had a ready made replacement at his disposal in Matthew Bound, who in turn needed treatment shortly after coming on to the field in what was a hard-fought contest.

The big central defender, who took the captain's armband from Smith, lay still on the ground for a couple of minutes after a clash of heads and needed two stitches.

Hollins was quite happy to welcome back Bound, who was a key part of the promotion side as Smith's partner last year, but has been kept out of the starting line-up recently by Kristian O'Leary.

"Matthew has been patient. He's bided his time on the bench.

"It's a situation he's not been used to since he's been here but now is his chance," said Hollins.

"He had a good game when he came on against Brentford and we know that he will not let us down."

While Smith is doubtful for next Tuesday night, the Swans will certainly be without French new-boy Nicolas Fabiano. He has been called-up to the French under-21 squad to face Finland on Wednesday and he will travel to Paris after tomorrow's game.

Stuart Roberts has joined Roger Freestone on the suspended list for the game against Bury on March 3, having picked up a fifth yellow card against Brentford.

Left-back Michael Howard is another man missing from the Swans' defence tomorrow. He begins a two-match suspension after his sending-off at Bristol City.

SWANSEA CITY’S Wales Under-21 internationals Jason Price and Stuart Roberts are being trailed by First Division Queens Park Rangers. Rangers manager Gerry Francis was at the Vetch Field to see Price highlight one of his best displays of the season with a spectacular goal in Wednesday night’s 3-2 LDV Vans Trophy defeat by Brentford.

Francis will also have noted the form of dashing 20-year-old winger Roberts and Brentford’s Oswestry-born midfielder Paul Evans, who is believed to be a Cardiff City target.

Up-for-sale Swans could receive an offer before the March transfer deadline for Price or Roberts, whose contracts run out at the end of the season.

But the game’s outstanding performance came from Swansea’s 23-year-old Port Talbot-born centre-back Kris O’Leary.

“Wales manager Mark Hughes needs a defender to replace Chris Coleman for the forthcoming World Cup matches. He need look no further than Kris O’Leary,” enthused Swans manager John Hollins.

Meanwhile, Roger Freestone will receive only a one-match ban for his dismissal against Brentford.

It was feared the ’keeper would have to miss three games for a foul, bringing down Mark McCammon when he was through on goal.

But a Welsh FA spokesman said the suspension would be for one game because Freestone had not previously been sent off this season.

Full-back Michael Howard’s two-match ban for being red-carded for the second time this campaign will rule him out of tomorrow’s Division Two game at Luton and Tuesday’s home match against Notts County.

Swansea City manager is upbeat about his sides chances of avoiding relegation to the Third Division after a stubborn and determined display against Brentford.

The Swans were eventually beaten 3-2 in the Southern section semi-final of the LDV Vans Trophy on Wednesday, when Lloyd Owusu scored the winner in the last minute of extra time.

With only 14 minutes goalkeeper Roger Freestone was sent off after hauling down Brentford's Mark McCammon in the box, but Hollins was pleased with the way his team reacted to the early setback.

"If you consider what we went through with 10 men, we worked very hard and set ourselves out to attack them rather than just sit back," he said.

"Roger going off was a blow and of course them getting a penalty from it. But Carl Mounty came on and did extremely well.

"We had a couple of young guys did very well, and if Wales are looking for a centre back there's none better than Christian O'Leary."

Dangerous

But Hollins was less than pleased with a late tackle on Jason Smith which resulted in an injury which has ruled him out of Saturday's crucial Second Division battle at Luton.

"I had no complaints on Roger being sent off," said Hollins, "but some five minutes later there was a very bad and late over the top tackle on Jason Smith.

"To me, that was as bad if not worse. We had to take Jason Smith off, but that could have been a broken leg or ankle, so I think the rules have got it wrong.

"A dangerous tackle like that is as bad as bringing someone down in the penalty box.

"Referees sometimes don't see the dangers of those type of tackles."

He added: "We created some good chances, some better ones than they had.

"Their third goal was a poor one - it came from a miss hit corner.

"But I've taken a lot from the game. The way we're working at the moment we can take anybody on and win."

THOSE fans who swapped candlelit for floodlit missed a Valentine's night thriller at Vetch Field with Swansea's 10-men heroes left heartbroken.

John Hollins's team received a triple whammy — knocked out of the LDV Vans Trophy in the 89th minute, losing Jason Smith through injury and having Roger Freestone sent off.

But the manager was not that downhearted after seeing his gallant troops produce a strirring display which should have seen them through to a showdown with Southend in the Southern Section final next month.

Hollins was full of praise for the 10 men who battled all the way in a bruising encounter against a giant Brentford side.

And they thoroughly deserved his accolades after outplaying the visitors for most of the second half and more after Freestone's sending-off in the 14th minute.

The boss thought the decision to red card the keeper was harsh to say the least saying the one-on-one challenge with Lloyd Owusu was outside the box.

Referee Andy Hall, who had a poor game, disagreed and sent the big keeper packing to the dressing room to a chorus of boos from a vociferous, if small, Vetch Field crowd.

If the sending-off was not punishment enough, Welshman Paul Evans stepped up to knock the penalty past Carl Mounty who had come on with Michael Keegan being sacrificed.

It was Mounty's first senior game for the Swans and it can't have been easy for the 19-year-old but he seemed to settle quickly and made a great save to deny Owusu 15 minutes later before excelling himself with a super save right at the end.

Earlier it had all looked so good for Swansea with Stuart Roberts causing problems with his pace and Kristian O'Leary forcing a great save from Olafur Gottskalksson with a low drive from 40 yards.

Then, as it had at Bristol City two weeks ago, it all exploded in Hollins's face.But, once again, when the Swansea team went a man down they were the better side, with the boss joking afterwards that he should start with 10 in all games!

Hollins wasn't joking though when talking about the tackle on skipper Jason Smith from Mark McCammon just after Freestone's dismissal.

The striker caught Smith late — Hollins called it a vicious challenge — and the crowd bayed for the red card but referee Hill only pulled the yellow from his pocket. It was not the Valentine's card the fans wanted that's for sure!

Smith had already received a knock on the same ankle and it was no surprise when Matthew Bound replaced him on 27 minutes.Bound took the captain's armband and led the fight from the rear.

Just after his arrival McCammon should have had his marching orders for another late challenge on Roberts but Hill somehow just gave him a talking to to the amazement of most of the crowd.

Swansea were more than holding their own and Mounty was only tested by Ivar Ingimarsson's header just before the break.

Brentford had their best spell at the start of the second half with Darren Powell heading just wide, Ingimarsson having his shot blocked and Scott Partridge shooting just wide.

But 10 minutes into the half Swansea struck and it was the influential David Romo who set up the chance.

The Frenchman's cross found his fellow countryman Matthias Verschave and his overhead kick found Giovanni Savarese, whose shot was saved by Gottskalksson, but Damian Lacey followed up to tap home from a couple of yards.

It should have been the catalyst for Swansea to march into the lead but on 58 minutes McCammon stuck the knife in with a sloppy second for the Bees.

Swansea could have been forgiven for giving up but as the passions rose, Jason Price came up with a sublime goal to light up what was already a splendid game of football.

Price started the move with a crossfield pass to Romo. His cross eventually fell to Price again and he moved inside to curl a left-foot beauty into the far corner.

Romo had a free-kick tipped over as Swansea took charge and Roberts forced a great save from the resulting corner.

Then, with 15 minutes left, Verschave shot just wide from Price's astute pass.

It was looking as if the game would go into extra time and golden goals when the fates conspired against Swansea again. Savarese was clean through on goal with three minutes left after Verschave's superb ball put him in the clear but his first touch let him down and the chance was gone.

The home side had looked to have survived a tense final few minutes but just as at Ashton Gate two Saturdays ago, the ball was not cleared from a corner in the last minute and Owusu followed up after a goalmouth scramble to tap home. It was cruel on Swansea to say the least.

But those of you who missed this St Valentine Day's treat would be mad to miss the next instalment in the league next month when the Bees return to the Vetch because there will almost certainly be a sting in the tail.


Match Statistics:

Swansea City... 2

Lacey (55), Price (66)

Brentford...3

Evans (14), McCammon (58), Owusu (89)


Swansea City:

Freestone, Smith, (Bound 27), O'Leary, Price, De-Vulgt, Lacey, Roberts, Keegan (Mounty 14), Romo, Verschave, Savarese. Subs not used: Cusack, Watkin, Fabiano.

Brentford:

Gottskalksson, Powell, Marshall, Evans, Mahon, Dobson, Gibbs, Partridge (O'Connor 90), Owusu, Ingimarsson, McCammon. Subs not used: Smith, Williams, Javary, Lovett.

Sent Off: Freestone (14) professional foul.

Booked:

McCammon (16, foul), Marshall (45, foul), Dobson (62, foul), Roberts (62, retaliation), Romo (82, foul).

Referee: Andy Hall (Birmingham)

Attendance: 2,222

Star Choice: David Romo

SWANSEA’S dream of playing at the Millennium Stadium disappeared in the final minute of last night’s exciting LDV Vans Trophy southern semi-final at the Vetch Field.

Reduced to 10 men after 15 minutes when ’keeper Roger Freestone was sent off, the Swans twice fought back valiantly to level the scores.

But a goal by Lloyd Owusu in the last minute of normal time earned Brentford a two-leg southern final tie with Southend next month and kept alive their hopes of reaching the overall final in Cardiff in April.

Freestone, who was making his 100th cup appearance for Swansea, faces a three-match ban for a professional foul on Mark McCammon.

The 32-year-old Wales international received a red card he did not want on St Valentine’s Day when he brought down McCammon as he beat the offside trap.

His dismissal rocked the Swans who had made a promising start and teenager Carl Mounty came in to make his senior debut as replacement.

The Caerphilly-born ’keeper’s first task was to pick the ball out of his net after being beaten from the spot by Wales Under-21 international Paul Evans - the penalty awarded for Freestone’s foul.

Swans’ fans howled for McCammon to be sent off a minute later for a crude tackle on Jason Smith who limped off minutes later to be replaced by Mathew Bound.

But the former Charlton forward was shown the yellow card by Birmingham referee Andy Hall and escaped a second caution for another foul on 19-year-old Leigh De-Vulgt soon after.

Kris O’Leary went close to giving Swansea the lead from their first attack after three minutes. The big defender burst forward to angle a 40-yard drive that Icelandic international ’keeper Olafur Gottskalksson dived to turn behind.

A neat reverse pass by Giovanni

Savarese released Matthias Verschave two minutes before half-time, but the French striker was tackled before he could shoot.

The 23-year-old Verschave, who had arrived on loan from Paris St Germain nine days previously, had little opportunity until the 75th minute when he pulled his shot wide from a pass by Jason Price.

Swansea equalised in the 56th minute. Savarese ran on to a clever overhead kick by Verschave, hit a powerful drive the ’keeper could only parry and Damien Lacey tapped in the rebound for his first goal of the season.

The Londoners regained the lead within two minutes, however. McCammon was left free on the right to convert a pass by Evans.

But Price put Swansea level for the second time in the 66th minute with a spectacular solo effort, controlling a cross by David Romo and turning inside to curl a left-footer into the top right-hand corner of the net from 20 yards.

But the best chance fell to leading marksman Savarese three minutes from time when Verschave sent him clear with a superb pass.

The Venezuelan international’s first touch let him down, though, and from a last-minute corner which the Swans’ defence failed to clear, Owusu was in the right place to net from six yards.

but Curtis is hoping for Swans passion

THERE will be no love lost at Vetch Field on St Valentine's Day as Swansea City look for a place in the LDV Vans Trophy Southern Section semi-final (7.45).

And assistant manager Alan Curtis is hoping the players show the same passion they showed in the 0-0 draw on Sunday with league leaders Millwall to secure a place in the two-legged tie against Southend.

"It's a welcome distraction from the league and we know that if we win we will meet Southend, who beat Swindon 2-1," said Curtis.

"It's a great incentive for everyone at the club especially with the final at the Millennium Stadium.

"But it's going to be tough because Brentford are a decent side and they will be looking for the win.

"A result for us, however, would be a great confidence booster for the rest of the season.

"Our main priority is staying in the Second Division but I can see no reason why we can't avoid relegation and get to a cup final."

Having made his 500th league appearance against Millwall last Sunday, goalkeeper Roger Freestone reaches another landmark in tonight's game. It will be his 100th cup game in a Swansea shirt.

One of those games was the 1994 Autoglass Trophy final at Wembley. Freestone is the only survivor from the side that beat Huddersfield on penalties that day.

The home side will almost certainly be without midfielder Lee Jenkins who has slight concussion and there is a big doubt over Michael Howard.

Howard missed Sunday's game with a stomach bug and was due to train this morning before any decision was made on his inclusion tonight.

Influential Bees midfielder Gavin Mahon was in positive mood ahead of the clash.

"It is going to be tough and Swansea is not a nice place to go and get a win but hopefully we can," he said.

"Everybody is confident we can get the right result and if we come through this game I think we will go all the way.

"We are looking strong defensively at the moment. We just need to create a few more chances and put them away," Mahon added.

Tickets for tonight's game are available at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions throughout the stadium.

There are seats available on official supporters club coaches for the trip to Luton on Saturday.

Prices are £15 for adults and £13 for under-16s and coaches depart at 8am from Morriston and 8.15am from Swansea.

For further details contact Ugo Vallerio on 01792 413423 or the club shop.

SWANSEA CITY will be one step from the Millennium Stadium if they beat Brentford in the southern section semi-final of the LDV Vans Trophy at the Vetch Field tonight (7.45).

Manager John Hollins is looking for a repeat of the form his side produced to hold Second Division leaders Millwall to a scoreless home draw on Sunday.

“We set about Millwall and kept a very high tempo,” he said. “We were punished in the wrong areas at times and showed a little lack of confidence in wanting the ball.

“That’s understandable when you have lost games in the last minute. But to perform as well as we did and match the best team in the division was a tremendous confidence booster.

“To keep a clean sheet said a lot for the hard work throughout the side.

“We have proved that the more we can get the ball on the floor the better the game will be for us.” Roger Freestone is hoping the fans turn out in force again to provide the spur, as they did against Millwall.

“It will be a difficult game. Brentford are well organised. But if we can take Sunday’s form and confidence into the tie we can be one step away from the final,” said Swansea’s long-serving keeper.

“They’ve moved the final from Wembley to the Millennium, so it’s all there for us to do well.

“We’ve got to do the business and make sure we reach the southern final.”

Loan signings Matthias Verschave and Nicolas Fabiano from French club Paris St Germain, are eligible for the cup-tie.

The 23-year-old Verschave seems certain to continue the partnership with Giovanni Savarese which showed such promise against Millwall, teenage midfielder Fabiano probably starting on the subs’ bench again.

Hollins is forced to make one change. Lee Jenkins, an able deputy for Michael Howard, was withdrawn after 70 minutes with concussion and faces a two-week lay- off.

Howard is ready to reclaim the left-back spot, having recovered from the stomach bug which kept him out against Millwall.

Brentford, whose owner Ron Noades is being linked with up-for-sale Swans - his wife comes from Pontardawe - have progressed by beating Oxford, Brighton and Barnet.

They were not happy having to play tonight rather than last night, because they meet Millwall in the league 48 hours later.

But caretaker-manager Ray Lewington has told his players to forget Friday night’s game - “If we are to stay in this competition we will have to be totally focused.”

Swansea City squad: Freestone, Smith, Savarese, O’Leary, Lacey, Roberts, Price, Howard, Keegan, Romo, Verschave, Bound, Watkin, Cusack, De-Vulgt, Mounty.

WALES manager Mark Hughes has insisted Swansea City goalkeeper Roger Freestone is still very much in his plans despite being left out of the World Cup training squad.

Hughes told the Post Freestone had appeared surplus to requirements but it was purely for logistical reasons.

Firstly, the Swans face a re-arranged league game at Northampton during the training camp in La Manga, Spain, from February 24 to 28.

And secondly, Hughes wanted only two keepers in his 22-man squad for training purposes.

"He will be back in the squad come the World Cup games against Armenia and Ukraine," said Hughes.

"It is not all over for Roger by any means, it is just that he has a game and I wanted only two keepers on the trip so we can play 11-aside matches.

"I will be ringing Roger to talk it through with him. I probably should have done before the squad was announced."

The 32-year-old Swans stopper had to be informed by the Evening Post yesterday that he had been left out.

It was a return to earth with a bang for Freestone following his 500th league appearance celebrations in the Swans' game with Millwall last Sunday.

"I guess I have not been playing well enough for Mark Hughes to pick me," said Freestone yesterday.

"I don't know because I have not heard from him."

Freestone famously made his Wales debut against Brazil at the Millennium Stadium last May.

For the training camp, Southampton's Paul Jones and Middlesbrough's Mark Crossley have been selected.

Crossley, the 31-year-old former Nottingham Forest man, is a surprise choice. He is being kept out of Terry Venables's side by Australian Mark Schwarzer.

Notts County's Darren Ward is on stand-by and will be called in should Crossley or Jones get injured.

"I am surprised Darren is not in the squad because he has been doing really well with his club this season," added Freestone.

Swansea-born striker John Hartson, who had a goal disallowed on his debut for Coventry city last night, is included in the squad.

Former Swansea City defender Christian Edwards will also make the trip to Spain.

His call-up comes after he kept manager Hughes at bay and scored the winning goal in Nottingham Forest's 2-1 First Division win over Blackburn Rovers last weekend.

Edwards joined Forest from the Swans three years ago for £175,000.

Full squad:

Paul Jones (Southampton), Mark Crossley (Middlesbrough), Mark Delaney (Aston Villa), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Matthew Jones (Leicester City), Robbie Savage (Leicester City), Mark Pembridge (Everton), John Robinson (Charlton), Carl Robinson (Wolves), Dean Saunders (Bradford City), Gary Speed (Newcastle United), Darren Barnard (Barnsley), Nathan Blake (Blackburn), John Hartson (Coventry), Craig Bellamy (Coventry), Andy Johnson (Notts Forest), Christian Edwards (Notts Forest), Andy Melville (Fulham), Kit Symons (Fulham), Chris Coleman (Fulham), Robert Page (Watford), Iwan Roberts (Norwich City.

On standby:

Darren Ward (Notts County), Steve Jenkins (Huddersfield), Lee Jones (Barnsley), John Oster (Sunderland), Chris Llewellyn (Norwich City), Rhys Weston (Cardiff City), Robert Earnshaw (Cardiff City), Andy Legg (Cardiff City), Simon Davies (Spurs).

WALTER Boyd has denied he is about to leave Swansea City after an article in an American newspaper suggested he was on his way across the pond.

And Swansea City manager John Hollins confirmed there had been no interest in the Jamaican striker.

The article, in the Miami Herald, linked Major League Soccer club Miami Fusion with the Blacka Pearl.

But the 29-year-old fans' favourite has rejected the claims.

"This story is not true. I am staying at Swansea City," he said.

Hollins also dismissed the speculation about the out-of-favour striker.

"We have not heard anything about this. There is no truth in the claim that Walter is leaving," he said.

According to the article, Boyd has been represented by agent Eric Manasse in talks with Miami Fusion, but no deal has been worked out because of the restriction on the number of foreign players at MLS clubs.

Manasse describes Boyd as the sort of player who would boost attendances at Fusion home games.

Having scored seven times for the Swans last season after signing in October, Boyd has just one goal to his name in what has been a disappointing Division Two campaign.

He was back home in Jamaica last week for the funeral of his close friend and former international team-mate Steve Malcolm, who died tragically in a car crash.

The immediate future of another Swansea forward, Venezuelan top-scorer Giovanni Savarese, has also been secured.

The Football League is currently investigating the problem of players using forged passports to get into Britain and has contacted around 80 players.

But the club has said the League will not be asking to look at Savarese's passport.

"We have had absolutely no contact from the League on this matter and would not expect to," said general manager Mike Lewis.

"Gio is not on this wanted list as he is in possession of a valid Italian passport, which he is entitled to through his parents.

"All relevant documentation was checked when he arrived and I can confirm that everything is in order."

The South American former MLS man has not required a work permit since joining Swansea last October because his Italian parentage means he qualifies as a European citizen.

CYRIL the Swan, Swansea City’s outrageous mascot has been cleared of crowd incitement during Sunday’s Vetch Field match with Millwall.

Cyril removed the head of his Millwall counterpart Zampa the Lion and kicked it across the pitch after the mascots took part in the usual half-time penalty contest.

“Cyril’s action has been criticised by some sections of the media,” said Swansea spokesman Peter Owen.

“But we want to stress that it was a good-natured affair with light-hearted banter between the mascots.

“A head-to-head situation developed when Zampa attempted to remove Cyril’s head.

“But Cyril managed to relieve Zampa of his head. It was done in fun and the club objects to press insinuations that Millwall fans were enraged by the incident.

“From the smiles on their faces, they took the matter in the jovial way it was intended.

“The club cannot condone behaviour likely to incite trouble and although the referee will not be reporting the matter or South Wales Police taking any action , we have spoken to Cyril about his future behaviour.”

A DISAPPOINTED Roger Freestone was left wondering how Swansea City had not taken all three points after taming the Lions on his 500th league appearance.

The Swans keeper kept his 12th clean sheet of the season in a tense Vetch Field clash which saw new boy Matthias Verschave miss a golden opportunity to sink the Second Division leaders.

But fans' favourite Freestone refused to blame the 23-year-old loan signing from Paris St Germain for the result.

"I think we were unlucky not to win the game. Matty had a good chance but we will forgive him for the that one," said the 32-year-old Welsh international.

"He worked really hard and I thought he was brilliant."

Freestone said he was pleased to reach the appearance landmark but felt embarrassed by all the attention he had received.

"I don't really like all the fuss but the supporters have been great. I've got so much time for the supporters."

And he called on his team-mates to keep on playing like they did against Millwall throughout their relegation run-in.

"The most important thing is winning games, it is not me. In our position we need three points and that's what matters," he said.

"We have proved we can play against the bigger opposition today and before now but we have got to be more consistent against the teams lower down the division.

"That must start next wek against Brentford and then away at Luton. I thought we played well today and if we can carry on like that we can do well."

Meanwhile, the draw for the quarter-finals of the FAW Premier cup was made on Saturday.

The Swans guaranteed their place in the last eight with the narrow win over Connah's Quay Nomads last week, though the final Group C placings will not be decided until John Hollins's side play Total Network Solutions next month.

Therefore they could face either Carmarthen Town in a local derby at Vetch Field or a trip to Wrexham.

The home tie is far more likely, as the Swans would have to lose by four clear goals in the TNS game to be sent on their travels.

Full draw: Cardiff v Merthyr Tydfil, Wrexham v Aberystwyth Town/Swansea City, Aberystwyth/Swansea City v Carmarthen Town, Barry Town Llanelli/TNS

IN THIS season of runaway leaders — Manchester United, Fulham and Chesterfield — Millwall cannot get the hang of it. After four wins in five games, they had begun to open a lead in the Nationwide League second division, but yesterday, against opponents dicing with relegation, they managed only to restore the four-point advantage they had held going into the weekend.

Three times this season Millwall have lost top spot, but they would have looked less vulnerable to being caught again had Roger Freestone, the Swansea goalkeeper, not marked his 500th league appearance with a double save five minutes from time. Not that the visiting team deserved more. If this was Freestone’s party, he was shut in the kitchen, away from the dancing, for much of it.

Until his late acrobatics, the emergency lights had flashed only twice, when Neil Harris’s shot was headed clear by Lee Jenkins and when Freestone fisted away with Richard Sadlier lurking. Swansea, too, created few chances in a match characterised more by hoofing than neat skill.

A 25-yard drive by Damian Lacey was saved at full stretch by Willie Gueret, and Matthias Verschave should have scored from David Romo’s cross, but Millwall’s uncomfortable moments amounted to no more than those. Unless you count the incident at half-time when their mascot, Zampa the Lion, had his head removed by Cyril the Swan.

Mark McGhee, the Millwall manager, had no complaints at the result, especially having been forced into three changes, losing Paul Moody, David Livermore and Lucas Neill from the team had won at Colchester in midweek.

Freestone made his debut for Newport County, played for Hereford United and Chelsea, but 437 of his league appearances have been for Swansea. How timely, then, for Swansea to keep their first clean sheet in eight league matches. “It was a tremendous confidence booster for us, taking on the champions and matching them,” John Hollins, the Swansea manager, said. Champions did he say? The bookmakers will not be paying out yet.

SWANSEA CITY (4-4-2): R Freestone — J Price, J Smith, K O’Leary, L Jenkins (sub: M Bound, 66min) — M Keegan (sub: N Fabiano, 81), D Romo, D Lacey, S Roberts — M Verschave, G Savarese. Substitutes not used: N Cusack, S Watkin, C Mounty. Booked: Roberts, Price.

MILLWALL (4-4-2): W Gueret — M Lawrence, S Nethercott, S Dyche, R Ryan — P Ifill, T Cahill, M Bircham, S Reid (sub: C Kinet, 65) — N Harris, R Sadlier. Substitutes not used: A Warner, D Tuttle, L Odunsi, L Constantine. Booked: Dyche, Kinet.

Referee: P Dowd.

South Wales Police have said they were pleased with the success of the biggest anti-hooligan operation ever mounted for a soccer match in Swansea.

There had been concerns that the Second Division clash between the home side and Millwall would stretch resources to the limits.

Intelligence gathered by specially-trained officers, and information published on internet sites suggested that known football hooligans would be attending the match.

But around 300 officers in riot gear - many on horseback or with dogs - patrolled the streets in case of trouble from early before the game on Sunday.

They say they coped well with those problems that did occur.

Around 20 people were arrested for public order offences during and after the match at The Vetch, which ended in a 0-0 draw.

Officers seized an assortment of weapons from fans - including a steel axe, a Chinese martial arts rice flail, carpet knives and other blades.

After the match, Detective Inspector Julian Williams - the officer co-ordinating police intelligence - said the police were pleased with the way the police operation had contained troubl.

He said there had been no injuries. Those arrested included fans from both sides - mainly for public order offences.

Escorted

Police officers were drafted in from divisions outside Swansea to strengthen the operation.

They were put to the test when scuffles broke out at end of the match as Millwall supporters were escorted through the city centre.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of officers had met around 400 Millwall fans off a soccer special at Swansea railway station.

The huge operation to escort the club's supporters three quarters of a mile through the city centre blocked streets normally filled with Sunday shoppers and held up traffic.

Eyewitnesses say that almost immediately the Millwall fans were taunted by rival fans.

Smoke flare

As the crowd neared the ground a small group of Swansea supporters tried to confront them.

Missiles and a smoke flare were thrown but the police moved in quickly to keep the two sides apart.

There were further attempts at confrontation after the match.

Swansea fans threw stones and bottles at the Millwall followers, but police officers charged a group of about a hundred, forcing them to disperse.

The operation came at the end of a week when the spotlight had been focussed on football hooliganism.

Police from Staffordshire investigating violence at last May's game between Stoke and Cardiff released a "wanted" poster of 64 people believed to have been involved in disturbances.

Serna's contract dispute tests Fusion's patience

Miami Fusion management is losing its patience with forward Diego Serna,
who has missed 11 days of preseason training and, according to his agent,
has no intention of reporting until the team renegotiates his contract.

Serna's agent, Eric Manasse, said his client makes $5,775 per month
($69,300 per year), and that he is ``looking to make $120,000.'' That came
as a surprise to a league source, who insisted Serna makes $162,000.

Manasse said Serna is also upset with the ethnic makeup of the Fusion; he
would like to see more ``Haitians, Hondurans, Costa Ricans and Jamaicans,
guys with green cards whom the team could sign.''

Told the Fusion is one of the most diverse teams in MLS -- with a
Colombian (Serna), two Jamaican national team players (Andy Williams and
Tyrone Marshall), a Colombian-American (Carlos Llamosa), a
Peruvian-American (Coquito Cubillas), a Brazilian (Welton), a
Cuban-American (Henry Gutiérrez), an Argentine-American (Pablo Mastroeni)
and draft picks with Jamaican and African backgrounds -- Manasse replied:
``Yes, but I'm talking about guys like [Jamaican] Walter Boyd or a top
player from the Haitian national team, guys who could help their
attendance.''

Manasse represents Boyd and has inquired about getting the Fusion to sign
him. With only three foreigner slots open, the team has not been able to
work out a deal.

``Diego has asked to meet with the owner [Ken Horowitz], and they said
no,'' Manasse said. Hamilton said it is not Horowitz's job to negotiate
contracts. MLS contracts are negotiated through the league office in New
York.

ROGER FREESTONE marked his 500th league appearance by keeping his first clean sheet in eight league games to help earn Swansea a precious point in yesterday’s redblooded battle with the Second Division leaders at the Vetch Field.

The Swans remain in the bottom four but can still avoid the big drop if they reproduce this form on a regular basis.

Captain Jason Smith and Kris O’Leary were the solid cornerstones of a defence which showed great resilience to shut out the highest scorers in the Nationwide League apart from Fulham.

The 32-year-old Freestone, who can expect to be called up by Wales manager Mark Hughes for World Cup preparation in La Manga later this month, did not have a great deal to do although there was anxiety among the Vetch Field’s biggest crowd since the season opener against Wigan when the visitors laid siege with a succession of corners in the closing 20 minutes.

Within 60 seconds Freestone made two superb reflex saves from Richard Sadler and Stuart Roberts threw himself in front of a goal-bound shot by Neil Harris as Swansea stayed firm.

Their ability to deny the Londoners their 10th away win will stand them in good stead for Wednesday night’s home LDV Vans Trophy southern semi-final against Brentford.

Matthias Verschave showed verve and skill on his debut on loan from Paris St Germain.

The 23-year-old striker would have been the match-winning hero for the Swans had he converted the game’s best chance instead of clearing the crossbar with a close-range free header from fellow countryman David Romo’s cross.

The 1.00pm kick-off was delayed 15 minutes to allow the late arrival of 500 of the 1,200 Millwall fans.

Swansea manager John Hollins drafted Verschave straight into his team and put Nicolas Fabiano - his other mid-week loan signing from Paris St Germain - on the substitutes’ bench.

Illness to Michael Howard who will miss the next three games through suspension, forced the manager to play midfielder Lee Jenkins at left-back.

In contrast to Freestone’s 500 milestone for which the Newport-born ’keeper received warm appreciation from the fans, Willie Gueret was making only his third league appearance and the Millwall ’keeper made a shaky start. Taken by surprise by Romo’s 40-yard free kick, he just managed to turn it behind, then almost mis-judged the resultant corner from his fellow countryman.

A mistake by Jason Price gave Harris an early chance to add to the 21 goals he has netted in 28 league games this season. He angled a drive beyond Freestone but Jenkins prevented a certain goal with a splendid headed clearance.

Swansea’s commitment matched that of Millwall who had Sean Dyche booked for a high tackle on Giovanni Savarese as early as the fifth minute. Roberts was cautioned for a foul on Steven Reid soon after and Stoke-on-Trent referee Phil Dowd added the names of Price and Millwall’s Chris Kinet to his notebook in the second half.

Swansea worked hard to deny prolific marksman Harris adding to his tally, captain Smith being well-positioned to cut out one of his efforts on the half-hour.

Swansea had a good share of first-half possession and more of the game territorially without managing to create a clear-cut chance. Roberts went closest with a slanting drive that looped over the bar off a Millwall defender.

Some of the home team’s short passing moves broke down through lack of care but they stepped up the pressure and should have taken the lead during their best 15-minute spell immediately after half-time.

Damian Lacey’s low left-footer from 20 yards forced a diving save from Gueret minutes before Verschave’s extravagant miss on the hour.

The Swans were briefly down to 10 men after Jenkins went off following a knock to the head which left him with double vision. Before substitute Mathew Bound replaced him, Swansea had to survive a Millwall free-kick on the fringe of their penalty area.

The gripping contest swung from end to end, Swansea leaving themselves stretched at the back at times as they pressed for the three points. The Londoners would have snatched an undeserved victory five minutes from time but for those two saves by Freestone.

Millwall manager Mark McGhee is likely to be without midfielder David Livermore for Sunday's trip to Swansea.

Livermore strained a calf muscle during Tuesday's 1-0 victory at Colchester and could be out of action for several weeks.

McGhee has only just lost defender Joe Dolan for the rest of the season with a broken leg and the news concerning Livermore will come as another blow to the Lions boss.

Lucas Neill will also be unavailable as he has accumulated five bookings and must serve a one-match suspension.

Long-serving Swansea City goalkeeper Roger Freestone is set to complete 500 league appearances in the match against Millwall.

Snapped up

Freestone made his league debut in 1986 at Newport and made 13 apearances for County before current Swans manager John Hollins snapped him up for Chelsea in March 1987 for £95,000.

Freestone made the permanent move back to South Wales in September 1991, when Frank Burrows paid £45,000 to bring him to the club.

The keeper signed a new contract in November that will keep him at the Vetch until 2003.

"Making my 500th league appearance is a great honour for me and one that I did not realise was upcoming until a few weeks back," Freestone said.

Strike partner

"I had made very few league appearances before I arrived at Swansea, first on loan and then on a permanent basis.

It has been a wonderful 10 years that I have spent here, and I hope to have a good few years left at the club yet."

New loan signings Matthias Verschave and Nicolas Fabiano impressed in their Swansea debuts mid-week against Connahs Quay in the FAW Premier Cup and should be included in the squad against Millwall.

The Paris St Germain pair showed promise and manager Hollins may have found an ideal strike partner in Verschave for Venezuelan international Giovanni Saverese.

ROGER FREESTONE only realised he was on the brink of his 500th league appearance last week.

“I didn’t even know I was close so it’s a nice surprise,” admitted the evergreen goalkeeper. “Last week a friend phoned me and said my next game would be my 500th. “It should have happened at Northampton but the match was postponed.

“The most important thing about the Millwall game is the right result because we need to win a few games.”

Freestone, who has committed himself to the Swans for another three years, added, “I’m enjoying football more than ever. Hopefully, I can go on for a lot longer.

“The important thing is to keep yourself fit and it would be nice if I could still be playing when I’m in my 40s.”