Bristol Rovers' groundstaff are set to work through the night to overcome a waterlogged pitch to ensure the clash with The Swans goes ahead.

The match, which kicks-off at 2.30pm to allow visiting supporters time to catch a train home, has been in doubt since the Bristol City game churned up a saturated Memorial Stadium pitch on Tuesday night.

There were puddles laying on the surface yesterday and more heavy rain is forecast for this afternoon and tonight. Rovers' stadium manager Ian Holtby has announced that there will a working party on the pitch all day and a separate one due to come in overnight.

That is how desperate Rovers are to avoid yet another postponement as they prepare to play their final ten League games in the space of 29 days.

O'Leary facing fitness test

Kris O'Leary is doubtful for tomorrow's away clash at relegation rivals Bristol Rovers after picking up a knock in the defeat to Colchester.

The 23-year-old defender will have a late fitness test as The Swans take a largely similar squad to the Memorial Ground as what featured in Tuesday's 3-0 defeat.

Boss John Hollins said: "They're in a similar position to us - we need three points, so do they, we just have to make sure we get them. I think its about confidence.

"In the main we're playing well enough but it's about a cutting edge. We have the players to put the ball in the back of the net - we just have to do it."

Swansea (possible): Freestone, Price, Howard, Bound, Cusack, O'Leary/Todd, Romo, Lacey, Fabiano, Savarese, Watkin

Garry Thompson has told his Rovers players to maintain the standards set in this week's Bristol derby or risk relegation.

Caretaker boss Thompson was delighted with the commitment shown by his young team in holding arch-rivals City to a 1-1 draw in the Memorial Stadium mud on Tuesday.

And, on the day when Rovers agreed the largest sponsorship deal in their history, he called on his players to reproduce that derby form until the end of the season.

Struggling Swansea City provide the opposition at the Memorial Stadium tomorrow (April 7) and Thompson insisted: "The players have set the standards needed to stay up.

"Now it's my job to make sure they don't fall below those standards in the last 10 games.

"All the effort and passion they gave me on Tuesday will count for nothing if they don't reproduce it against Swansea.

"They have to match those levels in every game if we are to get out of the hole we're in."

Rovers are fourth from bottom, five points adrift of Cambridge United and Swindon Town, who are home to Reading and Northampton respectively tomorrow.

Crucially, the Pirates have three games in hand on Cambridge and two on Swindon, but must beat Swansea if they are to close the gap before playing at Port Vale on Monday night.

Fixtures then come thick and fast with Peterborough and Colchester visiting the Memorial Stadium on the following Wednesday and Saturday respectively and Rovers travelling to take on Oldham on Easter Monday.

Thompson concedes that a sequence of five games in 10 days will seal his team's fate one way or the other and acknowledges the importance of taking three points against a Swansea team which appears doomed to relegation following successive 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth and Colchester.

"This offers us a chance to make up some ground," he said. "Cambridge have a very hard game at home to Reading and, if they lose and we win, the gap will be two points."

Thompson is urging fans to get behind their team and recreate the atmosphere which made Tuesday's derby clash such a special occasion.

"You could see my players gaining in confidence as the match went on and that level of support is just what the younger lads need."

Thompson is expected to retain the 3-5-2 formation which proved so effective against City. He explained: "The players looked comfortable with that shape and I'll probably go with it again tomorrow.

Richie Partridge is rated extremely doubtful, but Ronnie Mauge, Dwayne Plummer and Christian Lee have all recovered from minor knocks and are expected to start.

"Ronnie and Dwayne were suffering from dead legs after Tuesday's game and Chrissy Lee has a bit of a groin strain," confirmed Thompson.

Tomorrow's game will also see current sponsors Cowlin Construction sign a new two-year package to be Rovers' main partners.

Precise details of have not been revealed, but the six-figure sum is believed to be double the initial sponsorship which began in 1998.

Cowlin managing director Nick Higgs said he was delighted with the progress his company had made since first linking with Rovers.

"As a Bristol-based company we were keen to associate ourselves with an organisation involved in the fabric of the local community," he said. "We believe Rovers are a growing, dynamic club and we wanted to build on our partnership."

JOHN Hollins has told his players they must take their chances if they are to survive in the Second Division.

And he has urged Swansea's fans to make the trip to Bristol Rovers tomorrow and get right gehind the team in their bid to stay up.

The Swansea City boss was left ruing missed opportunities following the midweek defeat at Colchester and knows his relegation-threatened side must not be so wasteful against Bristol Rovers tomorrow.

"We have got to take our chances, that's all that matters," said Hollins.

"We played well enough at Colchester to take something out of the game, we just didn't score.

"We've got to forget about the results this week, but we don't need to change the way we are playing."

Hollins is expecting a war of attrition in the bottom-of-the-table local derby clash at the Memorial Stadium.

"It will not be a pretty match," he said. "They have made a few changes and brought in a few new faces on deadline-day, but it's one of those games I feel confident we can win."

The under-fire manager urged Swans fans to make the short trip along the M4 and get behind the team.

"There are no big rugby games in Wales, so we are hoping for good support tomorrow and we will put on a good show for those that are there," he said.

Hollins, whose side are 100-1 on to go down with bookmakers Jack Brown, is still without the services of Jason Smith, Steve Jones and Ryan Casey.

But Kristian O'Leary — who was replaced at half-time at Colchester — is expected to figure.

Rovers have confirmed that there is "some concern" as to whether or not the game will go ahead.

The playing surface at the Memorial Stadium took a hiding on Tuesday night when Rovers entertained rivals City in a Division Two game in heavy rain.

Since then, torrential rain has turned the surface into a quagmire.

Stadium manager Ian Holtby said: "We are bringing in extra staff to help deal with the problem. We will be using water pumps again and we will do whatever it takes to get Saturday's game on."

There have been problems with the pitch all season and the club have been advised that they need to spend £100,000 in the summer to solve the drainage problems.

With the possibility of further rain ahead, both clubs will be hoping that the hard work is not in vain.

All supporters in possession of tickets are assured that they would remain valid for the rearranged date if the game is called off.

Bristol Rovers boss Garry Thompson will again be without winger Richie Partridge for the crunch relegation clash with Swansea at the Memorial Stadium.

Partridge, on loan from Liverpool, injured his hamstring during the during the heavy defeat at Stoke last week and was absent from the Bristol derby in midweek.

He is currently back in Liverpool receiving treatment and it is not yet known when he will be fit to return.

Midfielder Simon Bryant is also absent as he serves a one-match suspension for his dismissal against Swindon on 24 March.

Both sides are in desperate need of a victory as both are in the relegation places at present, although the Pirates do have a number of games in hand on the teams above them in the table.

Swansea manager John Hollins will have to make do without midfielder Jonathan Coates for the trip to nearby Bristol Rovers.

Coates is suffering from a hamstring injury and will miss the weekend match while Kristian O'Leary is a slight doubt with a thigh strain.

City's assistant manager Alan Curtis is keen for the Swans to finish the season on a high - even though his struggling side look almost certain to be relegated to the Third Division.

Curtis said: "It's a local derby for us and we are both desperate for the points so it's bound to be a keenly-contested game.

"We've got nine games to go and we've got to win as many games as we possibly can.

"We've got to keep on going. It's a game we're looking forward to and it gives us the ideal opportunity to get some points."

John Hollins slammed the individual mistakes his players' made at Colchester as the Swans went down 3-0 despite dominating for most of the game.

"You can't just give teams goals - we've worked at marking corners and didn't do it," he blasted. "Overall they created absolutely nothing themselves but we gave them two of three goals, as we were always likely to do, chasing the game at the end."

He continued: "We were the better side, we passed and moved the ball well, it's just that when we're hitting shots they're taking deflections and going clear - for the other teams everything's going straight in.

"We had more shots today than we've had in the last three matches but senior players gave away two goals I can only describe as calamities." He finished by saying that while most people will have written off his side's survival chances, he still feels the nine games remaining gives them enough points to play for.

Star celebrates milestone appearance

Swans winger Jonathon Coates made his 200th appearance for the Swans last weekend as the Swans went down 3-0 to Bournemouth.

Coates came off the bench to register his milestone appearance for the club he joined straight from school, but was ashamed top be a part of what John Hollins called 'the worst performance since I arrived here.'

Coates said: "It hadn't occurred to me about the 200th - having just come back from five months out with injury I was just focussed on returning."

He made his debut in a 3-1 defeat by Fulham in 1993 under former manager Frank Burrows, but spoke enthusiastically of his time playing under previous chief Jan Molby: "Playing alongside Jan taught me a lot, and that was the first time I'd had a regular place," he said.

His memory to forget was when he forced a free-kick to be retaken in the final minute of a division three play-off semi-final against Northampton at The Vetch in 1997, from which The Cobblers scored to deny The Swans promotion.

He added: "I'm still young, so with luck who knows if I can't clock up another 200 appearances."

Fans blast for chairman

Swans fans have reacted to chairman Neil McClure's remarks that with hindsight the club should have bought five new players before this season.

The club now find themselves languishing 15 points from safety, and many City fans are left wondering why the problem was not addressed sooner.

One supporter said: "It must have been an April Fools joke at our expense. It was clear to everyone as soon as we went up as champions last season that we needed to strengthen - the standard in Division Two is much higher, as last season's example of Cardiff illustrated.

Manager John Hollins was entitled to expect financial support which he didn't get, and for the chairman to only now after the transfer deadline say we needed five new players is an insult It really must have been an April Fools joke."

BELEAGUERED Swansea City boss John Hollins still refuses to throw in the towel despite seeing his side slip further into the relegation mire at Layer Road last night.

Strikes from Barry Conlon (2) and Scott McGleish condemned Hollins's men to their 20th defeat of a sorry season and Swansea are now desperately close to setting a club record of the least number of wins in a campaign set some 17 years ago.

Swansea are desperate for points and need a minimum of seven wins from their last nine games, starting with the relegation battle at Bristol Rovers on Saturday. But it's hard to see where those wins will come from after watching an average Colchester side dismantle Swansea's defence on three occasions last night.

Hollins looked on grim-faced as mistakes by senior players cost his side dear when it looked as though they might get something out of this trip to East Anglia.

Goalkeeper Roger Freestone was at fault for the second and third goals which Hollins called calamities after former York striker Conlon had strolled in unmarked past Matthew Bound for the first in the 20th minute.

But the former Chelsea, Arsenal and QPR man refuses to accept that his side are set for a quickfire return to Division Three despite them being 15 off the Second Division safety zone.

Asked if he thought his side could stay up Hollins said: "If we win all our nine games, yes.

But we cannot afford to give sides three-goal starts. It was a huge improvement on Saturday against Bournemouth but we still lost 3-0.

"They did not create a thing we gave them all three goals. I thought we were the better side but two senior players made senior mistakes and we cannot afford to do that.

"We will go out again on Saturday against Bristol Rovers. We will most probably be the better team but it's about scoring.

"We had more shots today than we have had in three matches but I stress we cannot afford to give sides three-goal starts."

  THE fat lady may not be singing about Swansea's slip back into the Third Division, but after this 3-0 defeat at Layer Road she is certainly practising her scales.

John Hollins is still adamant that his side can get the wins to get out of the massive hole they have dug themselves, but even the most optimistic Swans fan would now admit the chances of beating the drop are minimal.

They now lie 15 points off the safety zone and realistically require a minimum of seven wins from their nine remaining games, providing other results go their way, to keep their Second Division status next season.

And seeing as they have only won six league games since August, it suggests that this is an impossible mission that even Tom Cruise would struggle to complete.

Swansea have now only won twice in 26 in the league and last night's defeat was their 20th of the season.

They have conceded six goals in two games without hitting the target and a defeat at fellow strugglers Bristol Rovers on Saturday would almost certainly spell doom.

At the Vetch on Saturday Hollins admitted his side produced the worst performance since he took charge.

Last night's showing was much-improved and if the chances that Swansea created had gone in this could have been the win that the boss had said was more than possible after the Bournemouth debacle.

In many games Swansea have been on top only to allow the opposition back in with some woeful defending.

This defeat was another classic example of this.

Swansea had 10 shots on target to Colchester's eight, but still came off the Layer Road pitch with their heads bowed.

The visitors began brightly and showed more passion in the first 10 minutes than all game against Bournemouth.

Giovanni Savarese shot over when well placed and Nicolas Fabiano was causing problems for Colchester with his darting runs.

But Kemmy Izzet, the brother of Leicester's Muzzy, was also giving the Swansea defence a hard time and his shot was superbly saved by Roger Freestone on 20 minutes.

Freestone pushed the ball onto the post before the ball was cleared for a corner.

Gavin Johnson whipped the ball in and Barry Conlon stole in to head home unchallenged.

Swansea heads did not go down this time as they appeared to do on Saturday. David Romo saw his shot saved by Andy Woodman on 23 minutes before his free-kick was deflected wide a minute later, and Kris O'Leary saw his deflected shot saved.

But all the efforts were from long range and there was no real penetration.

Colchester looked the more likely to score and Swansea had Freestone to thank for two magnificent saves from Scott McGleish nine minutes before the break to keep the score at 1-0.

This kept the Swans in the game. McGleish had another chance to put Colchester 2-0 up on half-time, but he wasted the opportunity by shooting too early.

That would have been a little harsh on the visitors, but the danger signs were there.

Hollins lost O'Leary with an injury at the break and Lee Jenkins replaced him and it was he who gave the Swansea side that extra impetus needed.

His ball found Fabiano down the right and it was only Woodman's legs that kept the Frenchman's shot out seven minutes into the half.

Swansea were having their best spell and Stuart Roberts, who replaced Damien Lacey on 54 minutes, gave the visitors that little bit extra when he came on.

Roberts's pace was a problem for Colchester and his run and cross set up Jenkins, but the young midfielder saw his shot cannon back off the bar after 59 minutes.

The home side were there for the taking and Roberts's cross found Savarese at the far post five minutes later but this time it was the big Venezuelan who was out of luck when his header hit the woodwork.

It looked only a matter of time before Swansea would score but it all went wrong just after the hour.

On 64 minutes Freestone tried to find Jason Price with a quick throw, it was intercepted and Gavin Johnson crossed for McGleish to head in at the far post.

That was the killer blow and with Swansea going for broke, Colchester could have snatched another couple through McGleish and Izzet.

Swansea had one last chance but the night, and probably the season, was summed up in the last few minutes.

Roberts's cross hit a defender and could have gone anywhere, but fell to the home keeper before Freestone handed Colchester their third.

Once again the big keeper tried to find Price with a quick throw but this time the ball hit McGleish on the back of the head and the striker picked the ball up before crossing for Conlon to tap home.

Hollins refused to accept that Swansea could not escape relegation after the match.

But most would say the writing was on the wall. It would take a brave man to bet that Swansea can stay up now.

Colchester:

Woodman, Izzet, Johnson, Fitzgerald, Clark, White, Stockwell, Skelton, Duguid, Conlon, McGleish. Subs not used: Brown, R Johnson.

Swansea:

Freestone, Howard (Phillips, 79), O'Leary (Jenkins, 45) Bound, Price, Cusack, Fabiano, Lacey (Roberts, 54), Romo, Watkin, Savarese. Subs not used: Jones, Mumford.

Bookings: Cusack (dissent) Roberts (dissent)

Attendance: 2,886

  Relegation loomed ever closer for the sad Swans as goals in each half sent them tumbling at Layer Road last night. A brace from Barry Conlon and another by Scott McGleish condemned Swansea to a 20th league defeat of the season and virtually confirmed Third Division soccer at the Vetch Field in August.

The Welsh side's task is now hopeless with at least seven more wins needed from their remaining nine games - a total they haven't managed in over eight months of league action. And after taking only 15 points from a possible 81, John Hollins's strugglers are now in real danger of setting a new 17-year club record for the least number of victories in a campaign.

Swansea had made only one change to the side which surrendered at home to Bournemouth last Saturday - the experienced Steve Watkin replacing Matthias Verschave up front. Colchester gave a full Nationwide League debut to Kemmy Izzet - the younger brother of Leicester star Muzzy.

Hollins had promised a much-needed maximum in Essex to resuscitate fading survival hopes, but Welsh international Roger Freestone was soon hammering the ball to safety as Conlon advanced on four minutes. There was more danger moments later. Former Barnet favourite McGleish produced a superb pirouette before lifting over from 18 yards.

Nick Cusack and Giovanni Savarese replied with a couple of blasts, but Steve Whitton's men were turning the screw again after 19 minutes. Mick Stockwell's angled pass split the Swans open and Izzet anguished as his sharp drive was pushed on to a post by the flying Freestone. Battered Swansea were buckling 60 seconds later, though.

Gavin John-son's right side corner was pinpoint and Conlon powered home. Freestone's heroics were keeping his team in the clash eight minutes from the break - the 'keeper making a brilliant double stop from McGleish with Matthew Bound floundering in his wake.

Hollins was making desperate adjustments soon into the restart - switching to 3-4-3 as Lee Jenkins and Stuart Roberts replaced Chris O'Leary and Damian Lacey. And Welsh under-21 cap Jenkins almost carved out a leveller for Nicolas Fabiano on 52 minutes - Andy Woodman's legs blocking the Frenchman's low right-footer.

Midfielder Jenkins was cursing his luck once more on the hour as his 20-yard shot cannoned back off the Colchester bar with Woodman beaten. Spirited Swansea roared on and they were asking more questions seconds later.

Roberts broke free on the right, but Savarese's flick clipped woodwork en route over the bar. But the Swans' fate was confirmed after 64 minutes. Johnson raced past Jason Price and McGleish's header looped into the net from 10 yards.

And Conlon piled on more misery four minutes from time as he side-footed a third.

Swansea: Freestone, Howard (Phillips 79), Cusack, Bound, O'Leary (Jenkins 45), Fabiano, Romo, Lacey (Roberts 54), Price, Watkin, Savarese.

Subs Not Used: Jason Jones, Mumford.

  SWANSEA City travel to Colchester tonight in desperate need for a victory to spark their ailing Second Division survival campaign (7.45pm).

John Hollins's side have just 10 games left to turn their season around and must take something from the long trip to Layer Road.

And the under-pressure Swansea boss is delighted to have a chance so soon to put last Saturday's dismal 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth firmly in the past.

"Bournemouth was certainly a game to forget and the next game coming around quickly is a good thing," said Hollins.

"Considering how we've been playing in the last five or six games it was a disappointing performance. In fact, it was unacceptable.

"Colchester's another tough game and no one is expecting us to go there and get anything.

"But I think if we improve on Saturday's performance and play how I know we can play we can go and get all three points."

Hollins feels that Swansea's lowly league position — 23rd and 15 points away from safety — may work in their favour in Essex.

"I think people have written us off already so we cannot lose. We can go there and play," he said.

"The key is that the players must enjoy it and that is what I want them to do."

And Hollins insisted Swansea should not be ignored in the race for survival.

"We're by no means out of it, but we need that first win to make a difference.

He added: "Colchester is a long way but no doubt there will be tremendous support there again. As always we welcome that support and appreciate it."

Hollins may bring Wales Under-21 pair Stuart Roberts and Lee Jenkins back into the side after the Bournemouth debacle.

Neither Jason Smith nor Steve Jones is back to fitness, but no new injuries were picked up over the weekend.

Colchester are struggling in midfield with Jason Dozzell and David Gregory both out and Joe Keith and new signing Kemal Izzet doubtful.

JONATHAN Coates should have made his 200th appearance for Swansea City months ago.

But after a Second Division season ruined by a knee ligament injury, the 26-year-old Morriston product finally reached the landmark when he replaced David Romo in Saturday's crushing 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth.

Coates came on for his first taste of league football since he was carried off at Rotherham on October 24.

The warm welcome he received despite the scoreline — 2-0 at that stage — and the atmosphere at Vetch Field last Saturday was evidence of his popularity with Swans fans.

For Coates, though, the combined comeback and 200th appearance was somewhat tainted.

"Obviously it's great to play my 200th game but the circumstances were not the best for my return to the side. I was hoping it would be a happier occasion," said the attacking midfielder.

"When I got injured last autumn I never thought that when I came back the boys would be in the bottom four.

"And it has been really frustrating for me having to watch from the sidelines as they have slipped down the table.

"But we cannot make any excuses, we just haven't played well enough. Now we need to stay positive and try to get three points from every game."

If the Swans are relegated this season, it will not be the first low point in Coates's Vetch career since his 1993 debut.

"Northampton at Wembley in 1997 was a day to remember for me, but for all the wrong reasons," explained Coates.

"It was a tremendous honour playing for the Swans at Wembley, but I will always think: why didn't I stand still for that free-kick?"

Coates's eagerness to block a late set-piece in the play-off final led to a re-take and John Frain's winner for the Cobblers.

"But it's great to have played so many games for the club. When I was at school all I wanted to do was play for Swansea," Coates added.

"And without a doubt winning promotion against Exeter last season was the game I'll always remember.

"Everything about it was perfect and to top it all off I got one of my best goals.

"It was fantastic seeing everyone on the pitch after the match. I'll never forget it."

At the end of this season, though, there is a real danger that elation will be replaced by misery at the Vetch.

And for Coates, it is vital to give the Swansea faithful something to shout about even if John Hollins's side do eventually go down.

"If we do end up dropping to the Third Division before the last couple of games we'll want to restore a bit of pride and show the supporters that we went down fighting," he said.

"We don't want them to remember us playing like we did against Bournemouth."

  John Hollins has insisted he will not quit despite the defeat by Bournemouth on Saturday which left The Swans 15 points from Division Two safety.

City went down 3-0 in a woeful display at the Vetch, but Hollins stressed he will be staying at the club despite their precarious position and pressure from fans.

"I'm not a quitter. I've never quit a job or a business," he said. "I'm here to work hard and do a job finding the win to turn things around.

"It was a very disappointing display, maybe the poorest since I've been in charge, and the supporters' frustration is understandable. It must have been very hard to watch."

He added: "The players will work hard on Monday and Tuesday for our Tuesday night game at Colchester - one which we will quite possibly go to and pull off a win.

"The players won't give up the ghost - they'll keep pushing themselves."

Chairman: We got it wrong

Swans chairman Neil McClure has finally admitted that the club needed to buy players last summer in order to survive in Division Two.

McClure said: "Thinking about it, we didn't realise how big the gap was. Looking back, we probably needed five new players in the summer. Next time the situation arises the club would be in a better situation to cope.

"We've had a learning process about how big the divide was. When you look at teams like Reading and Wigan you realise - even Swindon were in the Premiership not so long ago."

He added: "I still think there are positives we can take out of this season, like our younger players coming through. There's no reason why the club shouldn't move on and up under new owners next season."

  Swansea City manager John Hollins has told supporters who feel their side is destined for the drop, 'We will get out of trouble.'

Following last Saturday's 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth, Hollins's men are now 15 points from safety with only nine games remaining, meaning they have to perform an escape act that would have left Harry Houdini speechless.

Tonight they travel to Colchester, and the ailing Swans realistically need to win at least seven of their remaining matches if they are to escape the drop. For a side that has won just twice since Boxing Day that may be too much to ask.

But the Swansea manager remains upbeat and believes his players are capable of returning from Essex with all three points.

'We've played well recently but the results don't show that,' said Hollins. 'I think people have written us off already so we can't lose.' Hollins, who described the Bournemouth defeat as 'our worst performance since I came here', added, 'No one is expecting us to go to Colchester and get anything.

'But if we improve on Saturday and play like I know we can, then we can get the three points.

'It's a tough one. Colchester are a well-coached team. They play good football and they had a good win on Saturday (they beat Luton 3-1).

'Bournemouth was a game to forget. I don't think the team can play that badly again. Let's just say it was a one-off.

'We went 1-0 down after 33 minutes. They had a corner and their smallest man scored. After that we just couldn't perk up.

'Considering how we'd been playing in the previous five or six games it was a disappointing performance.

'In fact, it was unacceptable. We didn't perform and the score reflects that.

'But the next game has come around quickly which is a good thing.'

Swansea face fellow relegation battlers Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Ground on Saturday while five of their last seven games are at the Vetch.

'We've still got to play quite a few of the teams just above us and if we beat them then we'll be all right,' said Hollins. 'We're by no means out of it, but we need that first win to make a difference.'

He refused to blame the two-week lay-off suffered by the Welsh clubs because of international duty for Saturday's defeat.

'We had five players away including Giovanni (Savarese) who was with Venezuela. But it would be too easy to blame that.

'I think players should be faster, brighter and sharper after a fortnight-long break. They should be fresher and have more energy. But it didn't happen on Saturday.

'At least the other teams in the relegation fight didn't win. Had we won we would have closed the gap. At least it didn't get any worse.

'It's a big challenge (to stay up) but I've been in the game since 1963 when I started as a pro and I've still got the same drive and energy. We will overcome this difficult period.'

Lomano Lua-Lua, the skilful Zairean striker who scored both goals when Colchester beat Swansea 2-0 at the Vetch earlier this season, has long departed for the Premiership, to Newcastle in a £2.25m deal.

Steve Whitton's side initially struggled without their star man but their form has picked up and they are 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

'If we beat Swansea that will make it hard for them, Luton and Oxford to catch us,' said Whitton.

  Colchester will be without defender Joe Keith for their home date with relegation-threatened Swansea.

Keith picked up a knock in the 3-1 win over Luton, but boss Steve Whitton expects him to return for the trip to Notts County on Saturday.

Kemi Izzet, on loan from Charlton, is rated as doubtful for the Swansea game, while Mick Stockwell has a sore back but is expected to start.

Whitton is still without Dave Gregory and Jason Dozzell, both of whom have long-term injuries.

Hollins quiet

Swansea boss John Hollins is keeping his cards close to his chest as he prepares his side for this vital away fixture.

With Swansea in desperate need of points to launch a late bid for survival, Hollins will wait until nearer kick-off before deciding on his squad.

The Swans suffered a 3-0 home reverse against Bournemouth on Saturday and Hollins reported that some of his players "were a bit sore" in training.

With only 10 games left to preserve their Division Two status, the Swans are all too aware that time is running out.

  IT COMES to something when your mascot has more shots than your team and the ball boys make as many stops as the opposition goalkeeper.

But that is exactly what happened at the Vetch Field on Saturday when the notorious Cyril the Swan posed more of a threat during the half-time interval than John Hollins' men did in 90 minutes.

Cherries goalkeeper Gareth Stewart was troubled just once and could have been excused for keeping his arms folded like his graphic in our match facts panel on the right.

Stewart saved well from Steve Watkin's fierce drive 11 minutes from time, while an earlier effort from Jason Price was superbly plucked from the air by a ball boy in front of the Cherries fans.

The Swans were quite abysmal and even though Cyril was only taking part in a friendly penalty competition against Cherry Bear, he showed more determination and desire than any player in a white shirt. It also mattered to Cyril who recently hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons when he drop-kicked Zampa the Lion's head into the crowd during Swans' 0-0 draw against Millwall in February.

But he was impeccably behaved on Saturday and after giving Cherry Bear a lesson in finishing, Cyril courteously invited the visiting mascot to join him on a lap of honour as he celebrated.

Cyril's antics have had the Vetch Field faithful in stitches this season, but Swans fans are used to having a good laugh even though they have been staring relegation in the face since before Christmas.

Only last week, singer Tom Jones was rumoured to have tabled a £7m bid for the club, while other interested parties are said to include Chris Evans, Bonnie Tyler, Harry Secombe and Colonel Qaddafi. There is no doubt Swansea are quite simply a shambles both on and off the pitch and Cherries are unlikely to find such easy pickings as these during their remaining eight games.

But without wanting to take anything away from Sean O'Driscoll's troops, this was a workmanlike and efficient performance, capped by the addition of three valuable away goals.

The margin of victory also means O'Driscoll's side have regained their position as the leading scorers away from home in Division Two and saw Cherries pass their total goal haul for the whole of last season.

Familiarity with the Swans has breed content for Cherries in recent months and, apart from the odd Dean Court antagonist, most fans would have settled for three wins out of four against the Welshmen.

In fact, O'Driscoll would positively have bitten your hand off, if, in the dark days of September and October, anybody had offered him a league double and FA Cup first round triumph at the expense of an LDV Vans exit.

Goals either side of half-time from James Hayter and Wade Elliott put Cherries on course for their latest victory before new loan signing Warren Feeney completed the rout in the closing minutes.

And after discovering Hayter and Elliott had also scored in the cup tie at Dean Court in November, one sarcastic Swans fan was quick to point out that the duo are unlikely to net a league goal against them next season.

Cherries never looked back after Hayter had netted his 11th goal of the season in the 33rd minute when his deft near post header from Richard Hughes' corner left Swans goalkeeper Roger Freestone flat-footed.

Once again, the goal owed much to the tenacity of Jermain Defoe, who despite drawing another blank, forced Freestone into conceding the corner when the goalkeeper pushed his thumping 25-yarder round the post.

In a dire opening period, shots by Nicolas Fabiano and Matthias Verschave were both deflected wide, while Stewart pushed a David Romo corner into the danger area out to safety.

Eddie Howe, a rock in the centre of the Cherries defence, made a timely interception after Fabiano had burst through at the start of the second half before the visitors extended their lead in the 49th minute.

Elliott, the new wizard of dribble, collected a crossfield pass from Carl Fletcher before neatly side-stepping Swans defender Matthew Bound and smashing the ball into the back of the net from around 10 yards.

Sitting on a comfortable two-goal cushion, Cherries started enjoying themselves and Claus Jorgensen indulged in a spot of showboating down the right wing on a couple of occasions.

On the opposite flank, Elliott and Defoe combined to create another chance for Hayter who wasted a good opportunity to bag his second of the game when he blazed wildly over the crossbar.

There was delirium on the home terraces after substitute Watkin had finally managed to muster the hosts' first shot on target with 11 minutes remaining and the Swans faithful celebrated as if they had scored.

And as Swans piled forward in search of another shot, they were rocked as Cherries grabbed a third when substitute Feeney pounced on the loose ball after Freestone had pulled off a stunning double save from Steve Fletcher's thunderous volley and Feeney's header from the rebound.

  UNDER-FIRE Swansea City boss John Hollins will not resign despite his side looking odds-on for an immediate return to Division Three.

Hollins was responding to calls for his head from the North Bank during Saturday's desperate 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth at Vetch Field.

"I'm not a quitter. I have never quit a job, I have never quit a business and anybody who played against me will know I never give in," blasted Hollins.

"You can understand the supporters because it was very hard to watch, it was a dead game.

"The whole atmosphere of the place was dead and that got through to the players.

"If the fans want to give me stick that's fine, but I will just concentrate on what's happening on the pitch."

Manager Hollins was unhappy after a dreadful home performance saw Swansea slip to their 19th league defeat of the season.

"That's the poorest game I've seen since I've been here," he said.

"We had a few words after the game. A few home truths were said. I am more than disappointed. There's other words you can use, but we cannot play as badly as that again."

Swansea welcomed back Kristian O'Leary, Giovanni Savarese and Nicolas Fabiano for the visit of the Cherries in a strong-looking line-up.

Of players likely to start, only Jason Smith and Steve Jones were unavailable for the game.

But the Swans were dismal, managing just one shot on target in front of the lowest league crowd of the season at the Vetch.

"This game is not as easy as it looks from the outside and we need players now with character and strength who want the ball," said Hollins.

"I made three changes to try to freshen it up and that didn't work.

But that's virtually the same team that beat Stoke away from home and I don't think they've given up the ghost.

"I have always said pick up the first win and that will lead to the next and until that moment has gone, that's what I'll fight for."

And despite his team being 15 points off safety with just 10 games remaining, Hollins remained positive about the rest of the season.

"There's still a chance we can turn things round and that's what I'll be drilling into the players.

"Now we have to go to Colchester and it's more than possible that we will go there and win."

  Swansea City 0 Bournemouth 3

Beleaguered John Hollins last night declared he won't quit as Swans' manager as the club's slide towards Division Three football next season was hastened by their worst per- formance of the season.

Hollins's men were booed off the pitch at half-time and at the final whistle as goals from James Hayter, Wade Elliott and Warren Feeney condemned the Swans to their 19th defeat of the season and their seventh at home.

But even when his team have Mission Impossible in front of them, the Swans manager was still trying to remain upbeat afterwards, insisting: "We will continue to work hard to get the win which will then hopefully lead to another and then another and so on - starting with the game at Colchester on Tuesday."

Quizzed about his own future, with some fans calling for his head, Hollins maintained: "I'm not a quitter. I have never quit a manager's job, never quit a job in business.

"As far as I'm concerned, I'm here to work hard to do the job and generate a win which will turn things around."

He conceded: "It was a very disappointing display, perhaps the poorest we have produced since I have been manager here. I can understand the supporters' frustration as it must have been very hard for them to watch.

"But the players will not give up the ghost - definitely not. They will keep pushing themselves."

The talk before the game among the more optimistic of Swans fans was that eight wins in the remaining 11 matches would give Hollins's men the 24 points needed to produce Welsh soccer's greatest escape. Some football followers being what they are, they seemed to overlook the fact that the Swans have only managed six wins in total in their first 35 games!

After this dreary display, even the most biased supporter will accept it is game, set and match as far as the club and Division Two football are concerned.

What made the defeat harder to stomach than the rest wasn't just the result, but the very manner of the loss.

Bournemouth, to be blunt, are a pretty ordinary side and were very much there to be taken. But from the first whistle to the last the Swans lacked conviction, purpose, belief and any sort of punch up front.

More worryingly, as the match wore on, you could almost see heads drop - perhaps the first time this season you could level that accusation at the Swans at home.

With Stuart Roberts left out of the starting line-up there was no width, no co-ordination as the disjointed Swans, barely able to string more than two passes together, posed little threat to the Bournemouth goal.

It was fully 78 minutes before they had an effort on target of any real authority, Steve Watkin's 25-yard drive going straight at Bournemouth goalkeeper Gareth Stewart.

After an enforced break of two weeks because of international calls, you would have thought the Swans would be fresh and raring to go from the first whistle in a must-win encounter.

But the only time they came remotely close to scoring was from a fluke in the 24th minute when Romo's corner from the left almost crept straight in under Stewart's bar, the Bournemouth goalkeeper having to backpedal to turn the ball over at the last minute.

Matthias Verschave had a 20-yard shot deflected wide after being set up by Giovanni Savarese, but when he was then presented with a chance to run one-on-one at Jason Tindall, the Frenchman chose to shoot from distance again and his weak effort went well wide.

That was almost typical of the Swans' lack of confidence in themselves and although Bournemouth were scarcely any better early on, they took advantage of a bad slip at the back to go into a 33rd minute lead.

Roger Freestone had reacted well to turn aside a 25-yard Jermaine Defoe shot which bounced wickedly right in front of him, but from Richard Hughes's subsequent corner, Hayter rose unmarked to head into the far corner of the Swans' net.

It was a soft goal, first because Hayter had a free header and secondly because the Swans didn't have a defender on the line to clear it.

How the Swans were crying out for a half-time reshuffle with Roberts and Jon Coates supplying that badly-needed width, but Hollins chose instead to stick to his starting XI.

Within four minutes of the restart, the game was over as Elliott raced on to a through ball, cut inside Matthew Bound's desperate sliding tackle and drilled his shot past Freestone to make it 2-0.

Hollins immediately did make the changes others were calling for, sending on Roberts for Verschave and soon afterwards replacing Romo with Coates.

But the game had gone by that stage and the pair were unable to stamp their influence upon proceedings. Even the Vetch crowd, normally among the most vociferous and passionate in the lower divisions, were subdued, almost as if they were resigned to the Swans' fate.

Watkin, who had come on for Damien Lacey, did manage that one fierce effort for Hollins's side which Stewart had to stop, while Jason Price hit a 25-yard half-volley past the post.

But, to be honest, the Swans looked as if they were going through the motions by this stage, while for Bournemouth, the game began to resemble a training match. If another goal was to come, it was always going to be Bournemouth's and it duly arrived four minutes from the end. Freestone brilliantly kept out successive efforts by Elliott and Howe, but could do nothing about the next rebound as Feeney touched the ball into the net.

Time had run out for the Swans - not just in this game, but on their slim Division Two escape hopes.

  Soil samples taken from the Vetch after the Wales U-21 game have revealed dangerously high levels of asbestos believed to be the result of illegal industrial waste dumping at the start of the last century.

Officials from the Department of Health allowed yesterday's match against Bournemouth to go ahead on the pitch without informing the south coast club of the problem.

Swansea's players were aware of the condition and this could explain why so few were prepared to attempt sliding tackles on the potentially deadly surface.

Bournemouth are seeking legal action against Swansea parent company for knowingly exposing their players to the danger.

The Football League has also got involved and prohibited Swansea from playing their remaining 7 home fixtures at the Vetch.

Frantic efforts were being made last night to find a venue for the remaining games with both Stebonheath and Penydarren Park being ruled out as not up to "League standard."

Swansea MD Mike Lewis is currently in negotiation with South Wales police re the feasibility of bussing Swansea's fans to Cardiff to hold the games at Ninian Park – the nearest ground that meets with League approval.

There will be a further press release at noon today.

Owen Peters
(Communications Officer)

OK not as good as previous years wind-ups - 2000 The site has been shut by a solicitors letter - 1999 The MAGS have to seek Day's approval to be a supporters group - but it is a Sunday and you were looking for it.

I still maintain it's more believeable than the "official" stories being put out from the Vetch over the past month - GM.

  Swansea City's hopes of avoiding relegation from the Second Division look slim after Bournemouth kept alive their hopes of a play-off place with victory at Vetch Field.

Neither side impressed during a disappointing opening but Bournemouth went in front after 32 minutes when James Hayter rose unchallenged to head home a Richard Hughes corner.

Bournemouth increased their lead four minutes after the break when Wade Elliott collected a Carl Fletcher pass.

He drifted past Matthew Bound and fired a shot past Swans' goalkeeper Roger Freestone from 12 yards.

Swansea had little to offer and the visitors sealed the victory with a third goal from substitute Warren Feeney three minutes from time.

Swansea: Freestone, Howard, O'Leary, Bound, Cusack, Verschave, Lacey, Price, Romo, Fabiano, Savarese.
Subs: Watkin, Coates, Jason Jones, Roberts, Jenkins.

Bournemouth: Stewart, Tindall, Howe, Broadhurst, Elliott, Carl Fletcher, Hughes, Jorgensen, Hayter, Defoe, Steve Fletcher.
Subs: Purches, Narada, Feeney, O'Connor, Smith.

Referee: P Danson (Leicester)