Swansea will be able to welcome back Michael Howard and Nicolas Fabiano for the visit of Reading to the Vetch.

Howard has missed the last four games, the first two due to food poisoning and then two more through suspension.

Fabiano is now back in Swansea after representing the France under-21 side and could feature against the Royals.

Manager John Hollins insists the mood in the squad is still "very good" despite the club's precarious league position, and is looking to bring in some fresh talent ahead of next month's transfer deadline.

He said: "I expect we'll get a big crowd at the Vetch and of course it helps the players to have the fans cheering and roaring them on."

Reading boss Alan Pardew will be without the suspended Ricky Newman.

The 30-year-old is beginning a two-match ban after being shown the yellow card on ten occasions this season and he will also miss next week's clash with Rotherham.

Defender Adrian Viveash, who missed the win at Oldham in midweek because of a knee injury, is hoping to recover in time to play but he may struggle to win his place back after a good display by Barry Hunter in his absence.

Matthew Robinson continued his comeback from a rib injury when he played for the reserves in midweek, but a number of players remain on the long-term injury list.

Adrian Williams, Keith Scott, John Polston, Nicky Forster and Chris Casper are among those who are still some way off a return to first-team action.

SWANSEA CITY manager John Hollins rates Reading, today’s opponents at the Vetch, as one of the two best sides in the Second Division.

Fifth-placed Reading, six points behind second-place Walsall but with three games in hand, thumped the Swans 5-1 at the Madejski Stadium in September.

“I would say Reading and Walsall are the two sides who have impressed me most this season,” said Hollins. “Reading have two strikers, Jamie Cureton and Martin Butler, who cost more than a combined total of £1m.

“They are one of the strongest teams - and also one of the most expensive teams. But we’ve beaten them recently in the LDV Vans Trophy, so my players can take heart from that.

“Going back to that 5-1 defeat, we were holding them until the 30th minute, then a refereeing decision changed things. But we have to give them credit for scoring what were good goals.

“What we mustn’t do is give them a goal start. I don’t want us chasing games. I us want to keep a clean sheet because that builds confidence.

“If we can keep a clean sheet, then we just need to concentrate on creating that one opening for a goal.”

The Swans - last but one in the division - have won only one of their last 19 league games. They have lost five of their last seven with the last win coming against Walsall on Boxing Day.

Despite Tuesday’s disappointing 1-0 home defeat against Notts County, a result that saw the Swans slip to seven points away from safety, Hollins remains optimistic.

“Notts County had two shots all game and they scored from one of them. We had a few chances but not enough on the day,” said Hollins.

“It’s quite pleasing to think that we restricted the opposition to just two shots all game but, as is the case with a boxer, if you keep taking punches you’ll be knocked out at some point.”

Hollins is hoping for a good crowd today and an atmosphere that will lift his players.

“The crowd plays a big part and on Tuesday they were very quiet. But that is up to us - we’ve got to give them something to shout about.

“If we are buzzing as a team then they will respond to what we’re doing. Against Millwall a few weeks ago the crowd was great - because we were giving them something to get excited about.”

The Swans will be buoyed by the return of left-back Michael Howard, sent off for a professional foul at Bristol City, who has served his three-match suspension. But right-back Steve Jones is still out with a blood clot and centre-half Jason Smith is doubtful with an ankle injury.

“People are getting desperate because of the recent results but there are still 17 games to go and that means a lot of points,” said Hollins.

“We’ve got a lot of players to come back from injury. We’ll turn it around.”

SWANSEA City's relegation battle has been boosted by the return of defender Steve Jones to full training after nearly two months on the sidelines.

Right-back Jones suffered a dead leg during the 2-0 defeat at Wigan back on January 6.

After sitting out the LDV win at Bournemouth and the draw with Peterborough, he returned to face Walsall at the Bescot Stadium.

But a previous thigh injury flared up during the 5-1 defeat, and the 30-year-old has been out of action since.

Swans physio Richard Evans confirmed that Jones has been suffering from a haematoma — internal bleeding in the thigh muscle.

Jones, who was a key member of last season's promotion winning side, is back training with the first team squad and played in the reserves' 3-0 win over Cardiff at Ninian Park on Wednesday.

Jones may return instead on Tuesday when the Swans travel to another club hoping for a play-off spot, Northampton Town.

One player who will definitely be out of the Sixfields clash is Stuart Roberts.

The 20-year-old must serve a one match suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in last week's LDV Vans Trophy game with Brentford.

Roberts was expected to be ruled out along with Roger Freestone for the trip to Bury next month, but the midfielder's ban has been switched.

Meanwhile, Reading manager Alan Pardew spoke out about the trip to Swansea after his side's midweek victory away at Oldham.

"We were fired up by a couple of comments in the programme tonight criticising us for having money," said Pardew.

"Swansea have got no money so it will be the same old story there — so we have to go there and prove ourselves.

"It was a disappointing night in the LDV Vans Trophy when we were in the middle of a good run and we want to avenge that obviously," he added.


Reading (from):
Whitehead, Viveash, Whitbread, Hunter, Gray, Caskey, Jones, Murty, Rougier, Igoe, Parkinson, Cureton, Butler, McIntyre, Smith, Hodges, Howie, Gurney.

JOHN Hollins has said his players know exactly what is required from the visit of Reading to Vetch Field tomorrow (3pm).

The Swansea City boss remained calm despite his side's lowly league position and refused to build up the Second Division clash.

"It is just as big as any other game,'' he said.

"It would be nice to get a win ahead of two away games next week — a repeat of the LDV result against Reading would do.''

And Hollins suggested he would rather Swansea played badly and won than put in a good performance and fail to take all three points, as they have done in recent weeks.

"We are all aware of what is needed and there is a very tight unit at this club. We are working hard together.''

Swansea will be looking to avenge their 5-1 league thrashing at Reading's Madejski Stadium earlier this season.

And they could be given a timely boost with the return of influential skipper Jason Smith who has missed the last two games with an ankle injury.

Smith was due to take a fitness test this morning with Hollins hoping that the Bromsgrove-born stopper would come through unscathed.

However, fellow defender Steve Jones is still out with a thigh problem.

Hollins is hoping for an extra lift from the Vetch Field faithful at tomorrow afternoon's game.

"We always need good support but we must give them something to shout about.''

Meantime, former Chelsea assistant manager Graham Rix is expected to be unveiled as the new boss of Portsmouth today following extensive talks yesterday with club chairman Milan Mandaric.

Rix's appointment would cast doubt over the future of Pompey favourite Steve Claridge, who has been acting player-manager since the departure of former boss Tony Pulis.

The Swans reserve side had a comprehensive 3-0 win over South Wales rivals Cardiff in the South West League at Ninian Park.

Swansea took a first half lead through Martin Thomas' free-kick and added two more in the second half through Steve Watkin and a rare header from Jamaican international Walter Boyd.

Boss John Hollins was delighted with the performance of the side's young centre-backs in shackling a strong Cardiff front line which featured both Kurt Nogan and Gavin Gordon, while the Cardiff team was made up largely of those with considerable first team experience.

The Swans line-up was: J Jones, Gregson, Healy, Howard, Morgan, Cusack, Thomas, Watkin, Todd, Phillips and Boyd.

TOMMY Mutton, John Hollins's only paid-for signing as Swansea City manager, has left the club on a free transfer.

Striker Mutton has joined League of Wales side Rhyl having failed to establish himself in the first team at Vetch Field since joining in September 1999.

Since his £20,000 move from Bangor City, the 23-year-old has only managed one goal — against Inter Cardiff in the FAW Premier Cup.

Mutton will be reunited with Rhyl boss Brian Kettle, who was his manager at Bangor.

Two young defenders are also on their way out of the Vetch, though only on a temporary basis.

Kristian James and Andrew Mumford, both 19, have joined League of Wales club Port Talbot on month-long loan spells.

Both players are yet to make their senior debuts for the Swans, and assistant manager Alan Curtis said they had been sent to Victoria Road for a taste of senior football.

"We simply cannot get regular football for all our squad," said Curtis.

"We do not have a consistent, regular league for the reserves to play in since the Combination ended their second division.

"It is a problem for us and we try to overcome it by loaning players out, as we have done throughout the season."

The pair are expected to make their debuts for Simon Dyer's side in Friday night's clash with Llanelli — Mumford's former club.

Meanwhile, Swansea did play a rare reserve game yesterday, against arch rivals Cardiff City at Ninian Park.

And the Swans cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over a Bluebirds side containing Scott Mculloch, Kurt Nogan, Gavin Gordon, Jeff Eckhardt and Lee Kendall.

The Swansea goals came from Martin Thomas, Steve Watkin and Walter Boyd.

Swansea:
Jones, Gregson, Todd, Healey, Howard, Cusack, Morgan, Phillips, Thomas, Boyd, Watkin.

SWANSEA soccer legend Mel Charles has urged John Hollins to bring more experience into the current side to save the club from an immediate return to Division Three.

The former Welsh international insisted that changes must be made quickly before the Swans fall much further behind their relegation rivals.

"No disrespect to John Hollins, but he said this week that Swansea were not desperate for points," said Charles.

"That's ridiculous.We are desperate, and he has been putting these youngsters in when they have a real battle on their hands.

"I believe it's time for Swansea to get more experienced loan players in to help get them out of this situation.

"They need people who can hold onto the ball and provide some stability. A couple of experienced men mixed in with the youngsters and I think they would get out of trouble."

Charles, who went on to join Arsenal , turned out for Swansea Town in the 1950s and is still a regular spectator at Vetch Field.

"The Notts County match was a terrible show. The young players are talented but this is the wrong time to put them in," he said.

"It is too much to ask of them and if the crowd get on their backs like they did on Tuesday it could damage them."

The County defeat left Swansea 23rd out of 24 in Division Two — seven points behind Port Vale who occupy the final safe spot. The Potteries club have a game in hand on the Swans.

"It was a marvellous achievement to get promoted last year and it would be tragic to go back down," added Charles.

"But that's what is going to happen unless changes are made," he forecast.

SWANSEA CITY assistant manager Alan Curtis last night said he was “surprised and disappointed” by his team’s performance in the Second Division this season.

The Swans have won only once in the last 17 league games and are now seven points from safety following Tuesday night’s 1-0 home defeat against Notts County, a result Curtis described as shattering.

They have 18 matches left to save themselves from relegation to the Third Division and Curtis maintains they can still avoid the drop.

“I firmly believe we are good enough to survive. To outsiders it may sound like bravado, but I firmly believe we can and I’ve thought so from day one,” he said.

“I’m disappointed we haven’t done better this season. There is enough ability in this squad for us to have survived comfortably. We were more than capable of finishing in mid-table at least.

“Only on a very few occasions have we felt out of our depth - when we lost 5-1 at Reading, 45 minutes at Wigan and half an hour at Walsall.

“Hardly ever have we come off the pitch feeling we’ve had a real pasting. In the vast majority of games we’ve more than matched the opposition,” added Curtis.

“The players have got the ability but they have to show it more consistently in matches.”

John Hollins’s men are now at the last-chance saloon and a win and three points from Saturday’s home game against promotion-chasing Reading are absolutely vital.

Bookmaker Jack Brown is not optimistic about the Swans’ survival chances and was yesterday offering 2-1 on an immediate return to the Third Division.

“I know we keep saying this, but we’ve got to remain positive. There’s no point throwing in the towel,” said Curtis.

“It’s the Graham Henry thing - he’s trying to be positive and putting on a brave face. We have to think we can turn it around and I’m convinced we’ve got the players to do that.

“We are lacking a bit of confidence at the moment. When we concede a goal I wouldn’t say we press the panic button but we stop playing and that happened against Notts County.

“We needed a spark from somewhere. We were looking for something to ignite the game. We made changes but it never came.

“I’ve played in teams that were struggling and when you go a goal behind it is difficult to come back.”

The Swans still have to face fellow relegation strugglers Swindon, Bristol Rovers, Oxford, Port Vale and Cambridge.

“Looking at the fixture list, March and April are massive months for us,” added Curtis. “People say we need to win at least eight games to stay up, but it’s so tight at the bottom it could be less than that.

“Luton lost at Walsall on Tuesday night and that was good news for us.

But we can only worry about ourselves.”

The Swansea public appears to be losing faith in their team. A crowd of 4,085 - the lowest gate of the season - saw the defeat against Notts County and there was a subdued atmosphere inside the Vetch.

“We need to win games and, to get some sort of run going, we have to win that first match,” said Curtis.

“We beat Walsall on Boxing Day and that was a great result, but then our next two games were postponed so any benefit from that Walsall win couldn’t be utilised.

“We enjoyed last season but now it’s a role reversal. We’re fighting to get away from the Third Division, but in different circumstances. It’s going to be a battle and the players are aware of that.”

Another poor display leaves Swansea deep in relegation trouble

THERE was an air of resignation around the terraces at Vetch Field last night as Swansea City slipped further into relegation obscurity.

There was a weird feeling in the ground and it felt as though the normally vociferous faithful had already accepted their team was going down, despite there being 17 games left until the end of the season.

Manager John Hollins has not given up the chase of points and says things will change when players return from injury and once a win is realised by his team they will turn things around.

You have to admire his confidence, but time is running out and points mean everything.

Swansea need points and they need them quick, starting with Reading on Saturday.

The worrying thing from last night's performance was that the fight shown in the past few games was not there against a mediocre Notts County side who just slipped into cruise control as they picked up their seventh win on their travels.

The 12th-minute goal which sealed the win came against the run of play and was totally out of context with the rest of the fare served up on a night which was hardly a feast of football.

Youngster Michael Brough picked up the ball 25 yards out and fired an unstoppable shot past Roger Freestone.

There was nothing the big keeper could do about the goal and he seemed unsighted as the ball flew through a small crowd of players.

It was another kick in the teeth for Hollins's men and seemed to sap their confidence after they had made the brighter start.

Stuart Roberts sparked them into action with a couple of early runs which seemed to unsettle the County defence.

But it was route one stuff which produced the first chance on only two minutes; David Romo lifted the ball over the top and found his fellow countryman Matthias Verschave.

The little striker shook off the challenge but fired straight at Welsh international Darren Ward.

A Roberts run got the crowd going two minutes later and his pass found Michael Keegan who shot into the side netting.

For a few minutes it seemed that it might be Swansea's night, but against the run of play Brough's screamer changed things.

From the time the ball hit the back of the net until the 36th minute there was not a chance at either end and the 4,058 crowd lost their voice just when the players needed their backing most.

Maybe they could not be blamed after seeing so many false dawns this season.

They did raise their voices slightly in the 36th minute when Saturday's hat-trick hero Giovanni Savarese broke away with the help of Verschave's super pass.

The Venezuelan passed on to Roberts but the 20-year-old was unable to get his shot away.

At the other end, County had their second shot of the night when Shaun Murray found Andy Hughes in space, only for Freestone to save with his feet.

It was one of the few bits of action the crowd had seen and a number made their feelings known with a few boos at the break, although some of those may have been aimed at referee Mark Cowburn who showed only a yellow card to Nicky Fenton for a terrible tackle on Leigh De-Vulgt which left the youngster on the ground for at least three minutes.

Swansea needed some fight in midfield and Martin Thomas replaced Keegan eight minutes after the break, Hollins switching to a 4-3-3 formation with Roberts moving forward.

It was Thomas's first league appearance since December 23 at Wycombe and he sparked Swansea's best period.

Roberts had a shot blocked and there were loud appeals for a penalty for handball when Jason Price fired in a shot.

There was bit of fight about Swansea at this stage and Verschave almost scrambled the ball home from Romo's corner on the hour.

The Frenchman was having his best game for his new side and he shot wide after Roberts had another effort blocked four minutes later.

There were a few chances but none that were clear-cut, and the more the game went on the more the home players showed desperation.

Swansea had most of the play in the second half but still did not look like worrying Ward. In fact, the keeper did not have a serious save to make.

Hollins changed things again with 15 minutes left, bringing on full-back Gareth Phillips for Verschave.

Some on the North Bank obviously did not agree with the substitution and made their feelings known with a chant of 'you don't know what you're doing'.

Notts County were happy to sit and defend and as Hollins says when you are down the bottom chasing games things do not go your way.

The ball bounced around the visitors' penalty area a number of times in the last few minutes but nothing bounced Swansea's way.

When it did, with three minutes left, the last chances which fell to Price and Roberts were wasted.

Price broke clear and seemed to shoot too early when he could have made a few more yards, and from the rebound Roberts snatched at his shot and scooped the ball over the bar.

The nerves are definitely there and that is understandable. That nervous energy is making the Swansea players play catch-up too soon, rush passes and snatch at shots at goal.

It is up to the management team to try to calm those nerves and the results may come.

JOHN Hollins remained upbeat about Swansea City's chances of Second Division survival despite the desperate 1-0 defeat by Notts County at Vetch Field last night.

And the Swansea boss said his players now faced the same challenge that they did during last season's promotion campaign. "It's the same situation as last year but in reverse, and now we need people with confidence who want the ball," said Hollins.

"We achieved it last year when nobody thought we would be champions, especially when we had a wobble with about six or seven games to go."

County midfielder Michael Brough's left foot drive settled the match, played out in front of an extremely quiet crowd. The attendance of 4,058 was the lowest at the Vetch for a league game since the visit of York City in December 1999.

"The crowd were quiet, but that's when we need noise and we need leaders and that's what we've got," said Hollins. "The way we have played in the last five matches I still believe we have the quality and the ability.

There is no need to panic is there really." Hollins insisted that he and his players were still positive about their Second Division chances, despite a number of injury problems in the squad.

"We have got four left-siders out of the side, a centre-back and two right-backs and things will look a bit better when we get them back," he said.

"But we do not cry about it. What we have got I believe will turn the corner. "We now have a massive game on Saturday against Reading which we have got to look forward to.

"And when the players realise a win, you will see a change."

Swansea City 0 Notts County 1

A MOMENT of magic from Notts County midfielder Michael Brough in an otherwise lacklustre game sent Swansea City a step closer to the Third Division.

Brough’s superb 25-yard strike in the 15th minute at The Vetch last night condemned John Hollins’s side to their fifth defeat in the last seven league games.

With just one victory from the last 18 matches the Swans need to pull a string of wins together if they are to retain their Second Division status and they started this vital match brightly with Wales Under-21 winger Stuart Roberts at the heart of most of their early attacks.

The first chance of the evening fell to the home side. In the third minute a long ball into the County penalty area was poorly controlled by central defender Anders Jacobsen allowing Matthias Verschave a sniff of goal.

However, Swansea’s French on-loan striker saw his shot saved by Wales international goalkeeper Darren Ward.

A minute later Roberts set off on a run which saw him beat two County players. He picked out Michael Keegan on the right and his fierce drive went into the side-netting.

The visitors threatened Roger Freestone’s goal in the fifth minute when striker Mark Stallard’s header from just outside the penalty area went over the bar.

But the Swans were still on top when Jocky Scott’s men took the lead after quarter of an hour thanks to a glorious strike from Brough.

It seemed as if the County attack had fizzled out when Danny Allsopp provided what seemed a harmless square pass to Brough who was standing just outside the Swansea penalty box.

The midfielder let rip with a fierce left-footed drive that flew into the top corner of Freestone’s goal. Such was the accuracy of Brough’s shot that Freestone could do nothing but stand on his line and watch the ball fly past him.

Swansea’s confidence was already paper-thin before the kick-off and this goal appeared to sap any that was left.

Hollins’s side, which had played a crisp passing game in the opening minutes, now resorted to the long ball which was meat and drink for County’s big, and well-organised, defence.

Time and time again long passes from Mathew Bound and Kris O’Leary in defence were just hoofed away to safety by County’s defenders.

Frustration started to creep into Swansea’s game as the first half wore on and striker Giovanni Savarese was booked for catching Andy McDermott in the 39th minute.

Sixty seconds later County nearly pinched a second. Shaun Murray slipped the ball behind Jason Price to Andy Hughes who charged into the area but saw his low shot saved by

Freestone.

The half ended on an unsavoury note with Nicky Fenton booked for a crude tackle on Swansea defender Leigh De-Vulgt right on the touch-line.

After the break the Swans were the more aggressive side and in his bid to turn the game around Hollins switched to a 4-3-3 formation with substitute Martin Thomas, making his first appearance since December 23, replacing the

ineffective Keegan, with Roberts moving forward to partner Savarese and Verschave.

Verschave came close to netting his first league goal for the Swans just before the hour but his close-range effort from David Romo’s corner was cleared off the line.

The French striker again came close to equalising in the 64th minute. Roberts’s drive was deflected to Verschave wide on the right and his powerful low shot flashed just wide.

Hollins reverted to a 4-4-2 system in the 70th minute and his decision to take off the lively Verschave and replace him with right-back Gareth Phillips was met with disapproval from fans in the North Bank.

With so much at stake for both teams tempers were becoming frayed and in the 78th minute O’Leary and Stallard were both booked for tussling in the centre circle.

County only threatened Freestone’s goal in the final 10 minutes. Fenton saw his 20-yard volley fly into the grateful arms of the Swansea ’keeper, and he came close to killing the game off in the 82nd minute.

He turned O’Leary, raced into the penalty area and, seeing Freestone well off his line, decided to clip the ball passed the keeper but it rolled wide of the Swansea post.

SWANSEA City go in search of their first double of the season and three points to put their survival push back on track when Notts County visit Vetch Field tonight (7.45pm).

And manager John Hollins is positive about his side's chances against the play-off hopefuls despite last Saturday's dressing down by Luton at Kenilworth Road.

"We are always confident. We beat Notts County when we played them up at their place and there is no reason why we cannot beat them down here," said the Swansea boss.

"I would not say we were desperate for points, but we have got a good opportunity with two league games at home at last and of course we hope to take something out of them. We have played well at the Vetch in the cup recently and we need to do the same in the league."

The boss called for more of the same from the Vetch Field faithful during tonight's match and on Saturday when Reading, who the Swans beat in one of those cup games, are the visitors.

"The fans have been right behind us all along and they were excellent during the game with Brentford," he said.

"It is up to us to give them something to cheer about, as we did in that game."

Hollins said the fitness of Lee Jenkins and Jason Price, who both picked up knocks at Luton, would be tested today.

Midfielder Jonathan Coates is still out of contention with his long-term knee injury and Nicolas Fabiano is away on French Under-21 duty.

There is better news on the injury front about full-back Steve Jones, who is expected to play some part in the reserve game against Cardiff on Wednesday.

"Hopefully Steve will come through at least half an hour and that will be another one off the injury list," said Hollins.

Swansea City:

(from) Freestone, De-Vulgt, Bound, O'Leary, Price, Cusack, Roberts, Lacey, Watkin, Romo, Jenkins, Savarese, Verschave, Keegan, Mounty, Thomas, Boyd.

SWANSEA City manager John Hollins last night dismissed reports that three of his players - Walter Boyd, Jason Price and Stuart Roberts - are poised to leave the Vetch.

The versatile Price and Wales under-21 winger Roberts have both been linked with QPR. Sunderland are also reported to be ready to make a £750,000 offer for Roberts.

And Jamaican international striker Boyd, who has only scored once this season and has not played for the Swans since before Christmas, has been linked with a move to Miami Fusion in the American Major League.

According to reports in the Miami Observer an agent called Eric Manasse is acting on behalf of Boyd, who previously played for Major League club Colorado Foxes.

Boyd, who joined the Swans during the 1999-2000 season and helped them secure the Third Division championship with seven goals, has not played a league game since the 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth on December

16.

But Hollins said, “I’ve not had any contact from anybody in Miami or acting on behalf of Miami.”

“If the Miami Observer want to telephone me they can, but they haven’t. This story is a complete fabrication. There is no truth in it.”

As for Price and Roberts, both out of contract at the end of the season, the Swans manager said, “There has been a lot of speculation about these two players but we are still in contract talks with both of them.

“I’m still hopeful that I will be able to secure their futures here at Swansea.

“It’s a similar situation to the one we had with our centre-half, Mathew Bound, last year. It’s a player’s right to wait until the end of the season before committing himself.”

Swansea have a chance to bounce back from Saturday’s 5-3 defeat at Luton tonight when Notts County, chasing a play-off place, visit the Vetch.

With the relegation-haunted Swans now four points from safety it has become a ‘must-win’ game for Hollins’s side who swapped places with Luton over the weekend and are now last but one in the division.

They have won once in the last 18 league games and desperately need a sequence of victories if they are to re-main in the Second Division.

Despite the poor run of results the Swansea manager insists the mood at the Vetch is still upbeat.

“It’s nice to have two home games in a row,” said Hollins, whose side-face Reading at home on Saturday.

“We’ve not had two back-to-back home games for a while. It makes a change for us.

“In terms of creating and attacking, we’ve been doing fine. But what we can’t afford to do is to give teams a head start. Against Luton we were 2-0 down after eight minutes.

“We’ve got to eliminate these mistakes. When you’re two goals down you end up chasing the game, and when you chase the game you leave gaps at the back.

“As long as we keep creating chances we’ll be all right because you can always do something about the defence. The defence is our strength and we’ve got to play on our strengths.”

Hollins will be without his on-loan signing Nicolas Fabiano from Paris St Germain, who is on international duty with the French under-21 side, while midfielder Lee Jenkins, substituted at half-time against Luton because of an ankle injury, is doubtful.

The Swans are hoping to do the double over eighth-placed County after beating them at Meadow Lane last September through a Martin Thomas goal.

“As we’ve always said there are no easy matches. No side is going to walk away with any game,” continued Hollins.

“We’ve got to make sure we play well from the first minute. We must put them under pressure and make sure they are pushed back.”

FORMER Barry Town goalkeeper Mark Ovendale knew just what to expect from Swansea City hot-shot Giovanni Savarese.

The Venezuelan striker proved his doubters wrong again with a hat-trick in Swansea’s 5-3 defeat at fellow Second Division strugglers Luton Town - the club that turned him down after a pre-season trial.

Luton ’keeper Mark Ovendale - a £425,000 purchase from Bournemouth at the start of the season - said, “He beat me a few times in training and he’s a good player.

“He could have come up here but I think the management at the time were looking for a big target man.

“Unfortunately, he didn’t fit into that mould but Swansea liked him and he’s done very well.” Savarese was the only plus point for Swansea as he took his tally to 14 in 20 games with a wonderful header, a crisp volley and a predatory close-range finish.

“I didn’t realise he’d got a hat-trick after the game to be honest,” said Ovendale.

“But he was very lively and the main dangerman. It was real endto-end stuff and I’m just glad that we took more chances than they did.

“I think Swansea were quite poor defensively but going forward they caused us a lot of problems.

“They showed a lot of heart coming back and I quite like Swansea as a team. They are very good going forward and I’m surprised they’re so low down in the table.

“No-one likes going to The Vetch - especially when they’re playing well - and they’ve got a good manager with a lot of experience. They beat us 4-0 earlier in the season and I think they can survive.”

Luton’s win lifted them above Swansea and rounded off a perfect week that has brought three victories.

“Joe Kinnear’s a very positive person and he’s given us a boost in confidence,” said Ovendale.

“Everyone wants to play for him and I’m quietly confident that we will stay up.”

Luton 5 Swansea 3

LUTON TOWN thumped in five goals for the first time since 1997 as Joe Kinnear's terrific start to his Kenilworth Road managerial reign continued on Saturday.

Kinnear's side, brimming with confidence and attacking verve, leapfrogged Swansea City in the Division Two relegation zone after a thrilling victory over the Welshmen.

Tenacious teenager Lee Mansell scored twice for the rejuvenated Hatters with Stuart Douglas, Keith Rowland and Liam George also netting to give Kinnear his third successive victory since taking over as boss.

Lethal Luton even ran out of the elaborate goal celebrations that have also become a feature under Kinnear.

The fight against relegation has almost appeared futile before Kinnear's arrival but a sensational seven days has dramatically changed the whole atmosphere at Kenilworth Road.

Each player has been given a clearly-defined role by Kinnear to operate in their own spaces with freedom of expression an important factor.

Skillful players like George and Matthew Taylor are revelling in their free licenses to attack but Kinnear did identify defensive deficiencies in Saturday's display that he will work to eradicate.

LUTON boss Joe Kinnear has revealed that Swansea's lack of pace was the catalyst for his team's 5-3 success at Kenilworth Road.

The former Wimbledon manager has turned things around at Luton in the space of three games and has seen his new charges pick up nine points out of nine and score nine goals in the process.

Swansea were caught out a number of times by the Hatters' pacy forwards allowing his team to stretch the run in the eight-goal thriller on Saturday.

Only one of Luton's strikes could be described as a 'good' goal as the Swansea defenders, including Roger Freestone, had a day they would want to forget.

Kinnear had obviously done his homework.

"There are hardly any teams that I am not aware of how they play," said the ex-Crazy Gang leader.

"If I see weaknesses in the opposition I will try and go for the jugular.

"I always felt Swansea were vulnerable at the back.

"I thought we had too much pace for them and in Liam George and Matthew Taylor down the left we had the legs to cause them a lot of problems.

"Swansea have solid defenders like Matthew Bound but they are tailor-made for quick players.

"I thought we could get the ball into the feet of our front players and destroy them."

Swansea boss John Hollins was philosophical after Luton leapfrogged them and moved three points clear of his team leaving the Swans with only one win in 18 league games.

"We are not having a lot of things happening for us and we keep losing people with injuries," he said.

"The spirit's good and we will get what we deserve on Tuesday against Notts County."

Swansea were 2-0 down after eight minutes on Saturday and Hollins knew then it would be a tough battle.

"You can't give teams a two-goal start, anyone, no matter how good or bad their results have been," he said.

But despite some bad defending from his players Hollins refused to apportion blame saying: " That's my business. I talk to my players in private. I don't praise or criticise them in front of the Press."

SWANSEA CITY chief Neil McClure is refusing to comment on mounting speculation linking millionaire Brentford boss Ron Noades with a buy-out of the Vetch field club.

Noades - who expressed an interest in Cardiff City during the summer - is rumoured to be the mystery man involved in provisional takeover talks with McClure.

If the Vetch move was to go through, it would pit Noades in a stunning head-to-head millionaire Swansea v Cardiff rivalry with his great friend Hammam. Noades - who has roots in the Pontardawe area of Swansea - is trying to sell Brentford.

Although in recent weeks he has been keen to distance himself from any talk linking himself from Welsh football. He recently rang Wales on Sunday to help Hammam at Cardiff - but speculation with Swansea has gathered pace since McClure announced he was putting the club up for sale.

When we asked McClure directly about Noades, the normally straight-talking Swans chairman would only say: "I'm not commenting on anything. I'm not going to enter into any speculation about names or anything like that."

He went on: "The next announcement you will hear from me about the deal is when I actually announce it.

"I will tell you 'We've done the deal' and then, and only then, will I divulge the name of the party, or parties, involved. "Anyone else who tells you differently on this issue, or who names , is simply not informed.

"I am the person who is conducting negotiations myself.

"Thus anyone who wants to buy the club will have to talk to me.

"I am the only person they will be talking to, so I am the only person who really knows what is going on."

Told that things had a habit of leaking out in football, and pressed again on Noades, McClure reiterated: "I repeat, the next statement you will hear from me on this is when the deal is finalised.

"In terms of leaks, some people will say what they like. "But talks are taking place well away from Swansea and they will be held in a confidential fashion, as far as I'm concerned." Noades, however, is exactly the sort of rich, go-ahead chairman that Swans fans would welcome on board. Most soccer chairmen boast about their knowledge of the game.

But in Noades's case, he is perhaps the most knowledgeable of the lot.

Noades used to play the game at a high level himself and two seasons ago got rid of his manager and took charge of the Brentford team himself - leading them to promotion from Division Three and stabilising the side in Division Two.

But Noades believes he has taken Brentford as far as he can and during the summer was linked with a buy-out of Cardiff. That move never materialised, but interestingly his great friend Hammam did become involved. It was Noades who introduced Hammam to football way back in the 1970s.

Wimbledon were then a Southern League team and Noades brought Hammam in as his vice-chairman. As Hammam then took over the Dons, Noades bought Crystal Palace and spearheaded the club into the top flight and to an FA Cup Final in 1990.

However, there is also a suggestion that Noades, who owns golf clubs in the south-east, would be happy to sell Brentford and look after those, rather than move back into football with another club ?

McClure wasn't commenting, one way or the other. Meanwhile, former Swans chairman Steve Hamer also still remains a hot tip for a return to the Vetch in the summer. Hamer, whose sacking as chairman coincided with the team's freefall down the Division Two table, retains a keen interest in the club.

Like Noades, Hamer's football knowledge is out of the top drawer. He is thought to be looking to get I a big-money consortium together.

Luton secured a thrilling 5-3 win over Swansea to help their battle against relegation - but Swansea were unlucky not to claim at least a point as Giovanni Saverese netted an impressive hat-trick.

The Hatters scored twice in eight minutes through Lee Mansell and Stuart Douglas, but Saverese hit back with his first after 17 minutes.

Luton regained their two-goal advantage when Mansell scored in the 50th minute but Saverese scored twice more to make the score 3-3.

But Joe Kinnear's side made sure of the points when goals from Keith Rowland after 69 minutes and Liam George in the 81st minute killed the game as a contest.

Luton: Ovendale, Helin, Stirling, Boyce, Dryden, Taylor, Mansell, Spring, Rowland, George, Douglas. Subs: Fotiadis, Thomson, Locke, Breitenfelder, Abbey.

Swansea: Freestone, Price, Bound, O'Leary, De-Vulgt, Roberts, Lacey, Romo, Jenkins, Verschave, Savarese. Subs: Cusack, Keegan, Watkin, Fabiano, Mounty.

Referee: A Bates (Stoke on Trent)

Luton 5 Swansea 3

LUTON won their third successive match under new manager Joe Kinnear, and moved above opponents Swansea City.

They managed it despite a hat-trick from Swansea's Savarese - the man they rejected as a trialist in the summer.

Luton scored twice early on through Mansell - one a stunning bicycle kick - and Douglas, before Mansell, Rowland and George added second-half strikes in a topsy-turvy match.