A BET on Swansea City to end their three-match losing streak against Carlisle United tomorrow might not be a bad idea.

Why? Not because their opponents are second bottom in Division Three, not because Colin Addison welcomes back a central defender and not because Swansea have home advantage.

But because Tony Petty is back home in Australia.

And with Swansea's players, it seems his relationship is more out of sight, out of mind than absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Since the controversial Queensland-based businessman bought the club from Mike Lewis in early October, his presence at matches has been something of an unlucky omen.

He has watched five Swansea games, in which Colin Addison's men have mustered only one goal — and that was Nick Cusack's late consolation at Macclesfield last weekend.

Apart from the FA Cup exit, Petty has seen the home games with Rochdale, Rushden & Diamonds and Hartlepool and went away to Mansfield.

In those matches, Swansea have gained just one point and have an aggregate goal difference of 0-5. Only David Beckham's wondrous, injury time free-kick against Greece saved Swansea's chairman, who was at Old Trafford that day, from jinxing England's World Cup qualification hopes as well.

When Petty returned to Australia in early November, Swansea produced their best run of the season — winning three consecutive matches.

Coincidence?

SWANSEA City boss Colin Addison has urged his players to take a leaf out of Manchester United's book when Carlisle come to Vetch Field tomorrow (3pm).

After the highs of their four-match unbeaten last month, slumping Swansea are facing up to an unhappy Christmas following three straight defeats.

Now Addison has told his men to emulate their more glamorous Old Trafford counterparts to ensure a merry festive period.

"Tomorrow is a big challenge for us, but we have to remember that only three weeks ago we produced an absolutely magnificent performance against Queen's Park Rangers," he said.

"We cannot become a bad team overnight, and the question of what has changed is a tough one.

"Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United were asked it in midweek and they answered by thrashing Derby.

"Of course this is a different level and we are not going to score five goals. We just want a win.

"It's as simple as that. We need to give everybody in the club a lift."

Addison looks certain to tinker with the team which began Swansea's latest defeat, last Saturday's 4-1 FA Cup hammering at Macclesfield.

John Williams is the likely fall guy as a new combination is tried up front. Steve Brodie looks the favourite to partner Mamady Sidibe.

Neil Sharp, cup-tied last weekend, will return to defence, possibly alongside Michael Howard and Matthew Bound in a back-three with Ryan Casey slotting in at left wing-back.

Gareth Phillips is also poised for a starting berth, while skipper Nick Cusack faces a late fitness test on a knee strain.

"We have worked hard this week and the attitude has been good," added Addison.

"We let ourselves down at Macclesfield and I have made it tough for the boys this week with meetings and videos of the game.

"We have done all the talking, now it's time for some action.

"We are in a position where wins against Carlisle and Bristol Rovers next week will take us into the top half of the table. That would be good for everyone."

Damian Lacey and Kris O'Leary remain suspended tomorrow, while Jason Smith is ruled out as he begins the long recovery from an ankle operation yesterday.

Swansea: (probable) Freestone, T Evans, Bound, Sharp, Howard, Casey, Phillips, Coates, Cusack or Romo, Sidibe, Brodie. Subs from: Jones, Williams, Watkin, Todd, Mumford, Romo.

Carlisle: from Keen, Andrews, McDonagh, Rogers, Winstanley, Hadland, Allan, Murphy, McGill, Foran, Stevens, Jack, McAughtie, Halliday, Soley, Green.

A MONTH on loan at Merthyr Tydfil has put midfielder Andrew Mumford in the mood to grab his Swansea City first-team place back.

The Neath-born 20-year-old has spent a good four weeks at Penydarren Park with the Dr Martens Premier League side.

Earlier in the season Mumford played eight times for Swansea, including four starts, and he will be looking to add to that number tomorrow.

He played seven times, mostly in midfield and got on the scoresheet once. Merthyr have had an up and down time in that four weeks but Mumford has been delighted with his own form and is hoping to get the chance tomorrow to impress Colin Addison and Peter Nicholas.

‘‘I have really enjoyed the month at Merthyr,'' he said.

‘‘As Swansea have no reserve league to play in, it's a chance to build up match fitness and get your game going again.

‘‘You can train as much as you like but there's nothing like playing in a match.

‘‘It's good to get a touch of the ball and be involved on the pitch. I just want to get more of that.

‘‘I feel like I am playing well at the moment and if I get the chance tomorrow I want to grab it with both hands.''

If Mumford finds a place in Addison's line-up tomorrow he knows it won't be easy against a Carlisle side also struggling near the foot of the division.

But despite the debacle in last week's FA Cup second round against Macclesfield, the former Llanelli defender says the players are in the right frame of mind.

‘‘You have got to move on,'' he said.

‘‘Everyone knows that last week was a bad performance but the boys are still upbeat. They know that if they get a result tomorrow it will be a big boost to the confidence. It will be a tough game, a six-pointer, as they are down the bottom and we are not far away.

‘‘We have to take something from it. They will be a big strong side. But we can match that and hopefully I will be a part of it.''

Mumford's stay at Merthyr has seen him take up his usual central midfield role.

That is his desired position but he will be happy to fit in the defence if needed as long as it means getting his place back.

‘‘It's good to be back with the boys at Swansea,'' he said.

‘‘I want to be part of that team again. I would obviously prefer to play in midfield because that is my position but I can help out at the back too.

‘‘All I know is I want to get back in the side and help us move up the table. Tomorrow's is a big game and we have got another against Bristol Rovers next week. They are struggling as well so we must be looking at at least four points from these two games if not six.

‘‘If we can do that then we can make a move up the table and things will look a little bit better. Hopefully I can be a part of that. That is what I will be looking for.''

SWANSEA CITY chairman Tony Petty last night dismissed rumours that he is contemplating quitting the ailing Third Division club.

The Australia-based businessman, who flew back to Queensland this week, has vowed to stay at the Vetch until an acceptable buyer comes forward.

Swansea supporters hurled bottles at Petty's car after the 4-1 defeat at Macclesfield, severely damaging the bonnet.

He has also received anonymous phone calls threatening to inflict physical harm if he remains at the Vetch while Swansea supporters are planning a boycott of Saturday's home game against Carlisle.

But last night a defiant Petty said, "I got on a plane to Australia because I want to go home for Christmas. Every week people keep putting out these stories that I'm going to leave.

"Because of all the abuse I've had since I took over the Swans no one would blame me if I never set foot in Wales again.

"I've had people threatening to break my legs and I've been spat at - but I'm not going to walk away.

"My family are devastated over what has been happening to me since I became chairman of Swansea City, but at the end of the day I took the job on and I'm going to get on with it.

"I've got a thick skin - either that or I'm stupid."

The Swansea chairman was forced to watch his side's last home game - against Hartlepool - from the Vetch's television box because his safety could not be guaranteed in the directors' box.

And Petty returned to his Australia home reeling from a couple of financial setbacks last week.

He hoped to raise £190,000 from selling striker Mamady Sidibe to Barnsley but the deal collapsed while defeat at Macclesfield meant the Swans missed out on an FA Cup money-spin-ner against Premiership side West Ham.

Had they progressed into the third round the Swans would have bagged £30,000 from the Football Association plus £40,000 from gate receipts and another £265,000 from Sky if it decided to screen the match live.

But Petty could receive a windfall if former Swans player Christian Edwards joins Leicester City for £2m.

Swansea sold Edwards to Nottingham Forest for £275,000 in March 1998 and insisted on a 20 per cent sell-on clause. The defender is now tipped for a move to Filbert Street.

Petty added, "Unless someone comes forward I've no choice but to carry on. I've always said that if somebody comes in with the right offer, and it's right for the club, then I'll stand aside.

"If there is somebody out there who honestly thinks they can do better than me then I'm all ears.

"But at the present time no one has contacted me about taking over the club.

"I was devastated by the loss at Macclesfield. I've been following football since I was seven and I've never seen a team score four goals in eight minutes before.

"I was even more sick when the winners of that game were drawn to play West Ham - the team I've supported for 25 years.

"But I can't believe that there were Swansea fans who were happy that we lost against Macclesfield.

"Do they think that Tony Petty would have got the money? Tony Petty gets the money to pay the bills at the club.

"But that's their attitude. There's a small minority hellbent on destroying what I'm trying to build.

"I'm angry about my car being damaged at Macclesfield. The people responsible cannot be called soccer fans and I just hope the CCTV at Macclesfield's ground picks them out."

COLIN ADDISON last night rubbished rumours that he threatened to quit Swansea City when controversial chairman Tony Petty tried to sell striker Mamady Sidibe to Barnsley.

And the Swans manager defended his players' commitment on the pitch against claims their performances have been poor since Petty won his courtroom battle with former director Mel Nurse for control at the Vetch.

"I can state quite categorically that there was never any talk of me resigning," said Addison.

"I'm not too happy about certain things that have happened that's for sure. But those are private and I'll discuss them with the chairman and the directors."

Addison was unhappy about Sidibe's proposed £190,000 switch to Oakwell - a deal which collapsed a fortnight ago - coming just six weeks after Petty sold star player Stuart Roberts to Wycombe Wanderers for a cut-price £100,000.

"I wasn't happy about the situation - I didn't want Sidibe to go - but the suggestion that I offered to resign is rubbish," said the Swansea manager.

"I came here to take up a challenge - I knew it was going to be hard and that's the way it's proving to be.

"We haven't got it right at the moment, but I'm confident we will. We'll battle on and start to pick up results.

"I've never dodged a fight and I'm not intending to walk away."

The start of Swansea's poor run of results - the club has lost the last three games, including a 4-1 thrashing by Macclesfield Town in the FA Cup - coincided with Petty's dramatic courtroom victory over Nurse last month.

But Addison dismissed suggestions of a link between the chairman's success and the players' performances.

"If you believe that you'll believe anything." he said.

"You talk in terms of players showing greater desire or application and being more professional, but no player is going to go out and not try.

"Only two or three weeks ago we came up with possibly as good a performance there's been at the Vetch Field for many a year - against QPR in the FA Cup - so we know what we're capable of."

And Addison pleaded with Swansea supporters not to boycott tomorrow's home game against Carlisle as part of their protest against Petty.

"Let's hope there's no boycott because we need the fans to turn up and get behind us," he said.

Swansea are desperate for three points tomorrow after defeats against the Silkmen - which cost the Swans a lucrative place in the FA Cup third round - Mansfield Town and Hartlepool.

"Apart from the Macclesfield and Mansfield games, we haven't done too badly," said Addison.

"These are difficult times - no one ever said it would be easy. But the one thing we do need is supporters turning up in the way they have been doing - certainly in the three months I've been in charge."

With Andrew Mumford back in contention after his loan spell at Merthyr and Neil Sharp available again, Addison is likely to make changes to the side which collapsed at Moss Rose.

"We had a meeting after the Macclesfield game and no stone was left unturned to find out what went wrong," he said.

"But that's behind us now. We've worked very hard this week and we now need a win against Carlisle to give ourselves and the supporters a lift."

FURIOUS Swansea City boss Colin Addison this morning cancelled his squad's day off following Saturday's FA Cup debacle at Macclesfield.

The players and management thrashed out what went wrong in a heated hour-and-a-half long meeting before training yesterday.

And today Addison's men sat through the full 90-minute video of the Moss Rose horror show.

"Macclesfield hurt me," blasted the Swansea manager. "I have never been so disappointed in my life.

"We must show more pride in our performance. It was the FA Cup and we were never at the races. We owe the supporters for that.

"We had people missing for various reasons but we went down without a whimper. We should have done a lot better."

The 4-1 cup defeat followed a 3-0 drubbing at Mansfield and a 1-0 reverse at home to Hartlepool in the league.

And with Swansea's position in the Third Division — they are 17th — still precarious, Addison has placed a huge onus on this weekend's clash with Carlisle and the meeting with Bristol Rovers in 10 days' time.

"We are approaching the two biggest, most important games of the season so far," he said.

"We have not won a game for nearly a month and everybody needs a Christmas lift."

Ritchie Appleby has completed his free transfer move to Kidderminster.

The midfielder has signed a deal until the end of the season for ex-Swansea boss Jan Molby.

Appleby has been on loan for a month and has impressed Molby. He said: "I would like to thank the fans and everyone who supported me in my time at the Vetch.

"I am disappointed to have been shown the door the way I have, but at last I can look forward to playing football again. Now I can put the last couple of years behind me.

"I am looking forward to coming back to the Vetch in February as it will be the first time I will have played against one of my old sides."

Meanwhile, former Swansea boss John Hollins is being linked with a Yuletide raid on his old club after he was unveiled as the new manager of Rochdale today.

Frenchman David Romo and Argentinian midfielder Nicolas Mazzina, both signed by Hollins and both available on free transfers, are possible targets.

Hollins is also known to be a great admirer of out-of-favour striker Steve Watkin.

Hollins has been given a contract until the end of the season at Spotland.

Swansea chairman Tony Petty has dismissed rumours that he is prepared to sell his shares in the club. "These stories are absolute rubbish. I arrived at Swansea with a job to do and I intend to complete it," said the Aussie-based businessman.

"I never said it would be easy and that is proving the case, but I am confident we will turn the club round."

Tickets priced £3.50 are now available for Cyril the Swan's Christmas party, taking place at the Holiday Inn (formerly the Dragon Hotel) this Sunday between 2pm and 5pm.

Father Christmas will be handing out goody bags and there will be a disco. For details contact the club shop or any Travel House branch.

A £10 discount on this season's Swansea City shirt is available to fans who trade in any old football top.

The offer runs until the end of January, with all old shirts received going to a worthy cause.

The exchange deal is available at the club shop or at the Travel House branches in Mariner Street, the Quadrant and Brynhyfryd Square.

FORMER Swansea City manager John Hollins yesterday returned to football as manager of Third Division club Rochdale - three months after being shown the door at the Vetch Field.

Hollins has been offered a contract at Spotland until the end of the season and will today be unveiled as manager of the Lancashire club, currently fifth in Division Three and six points behind leaders Plymouth Argyle.

Rochdale chairman David Kilpatrick sees the former Chelsea midfielder as the ideal man to lead the club into the Second Division and Hollins's first test comes on Saturday when his side are home to Southend.

He replaces Steve Parkin, who joined First Division Barnsley a month ago.

Alan Curtis, who was Hollins's No 2 at the Vetch, last night said Kilpatrick had hired a "surefire winner" in the former Swansea manager.

"It's a great appointment. John is enthusiastic, he knows the game, he knows this division and he knows what is needed to succeed," said Curtis.

"I'm delighted for John. He's got a lot to offer the game. He's inheriting a decent team and I'm sure he will do really well there. The Rochdale chairman is on a surefire winner with John, I've no doubt about that."

Hollins, who takes over from caretaker manager David Hamilton, who will now become Rochdale's first-team coach, refused to comment on his appointment last night.

However, after Swansea's FA Cup win against QPR last month, for which Hollins was working as a pundit for Sky Sports, the 55-year-old said he was itching to get back into football.

"I'm very keen to get back, but it's not as easy as it looks," he said. "If I get a position that would be fantastic."

The man who led the Swans to the Third Division championship last year was yesterday introduced to Rochdale's players.

The Swans have categorically denied reports that owner Tony Petty will not be returning from Australia and is set to give up control of the club.
An unofficial supporters website claimed that the new owner was ready to turn his back on the club. Petty headed Down Under after Saturday's FA Cup defeat against Macclesfield and the story claimed he was giving up after seeing the chance of revenue from a cup run disappear.
However, the club have quashed these reports after claiming to have spoken with Petty, who admitted that the story is completely untrue.


Midfielder set for Bescot switch

Nicolas Mazzina is close to a permanent move to First Division Walsall after accepting the offer to train with the club this week.
The Argentinian midfielder is spending a few days training with Walsall before they decide whether to sign him on a permanent contract. The 22-year-old has been unable to hold down a regular first team place since being recruited by former boss John Hollins in the summer.
The former Boca Juniors player headed for Walsall after Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Macclesfield, and trained with his prospective team-mates for the first time yesterday.

Defender returns for United clash

Andrew Mumford has returned from his loan spell at non-league Merthyr tid ville and is set to start for The Swans against Carlisle on Saturday.
The utility man played his last game for Merthyr against Wellington at the weekend and is set to return for the visit of Carlisle to the Vetch Field.
Merthyr had expressed their desire to keep the 20-year-old at Penydarren Park for a further month, but Colin Addison was quick to turn down the non-league side.
The Swans boss admitted that the returning Mumford will definitely be in contention for a starting place in Saturday’s six-pointer against The Cumbrians, following the defeat at Macclesfield on Saturday.

A DISGRUNTLED Swansea fan is believed to have been responsible for damaging Swans chairman Tony Petty's car during Saturday's clash with Macclesfield.

Mr Petty had parked his car in the club car park.

He returned to find a bottle had been thrown at the car towards the end of the match, which Macclesfield won 4-1. Serious damage had been caused to the bonnet.

The bottle had ricocheted off and caused further damage to a car owned by Macclesfield striker Kyle Lightbourne.

Swansea City FC communications officer Peter Owen said: "It seems one or two bottles were thrown at the car.

Tape

"It's all on CCTV and Cheshire Police are looking at the tape and will pass it on to South Wales Police to see if the person responsible can be identified.

"It is assumed it was a Swansea fan who was responsible.

"Mr Petty drove on to London and was due to fly out to Australia last night.

"Obviously, in the light of events over the past couple of weeks, he has taken advice from police on security."

Mr Petty sparked the anger of fans when, soon after taking over, he tried to sack seven players and put others on less pay.

Macclesfield ........................ 4
Byrne (60, 67), Glover (61, 66)
Swansea City ........................ 1
Cusack (86)
Macclesfield: Wilson, Hitchen, Adams, Byrne, Tinson, Ridler, Priest, Tracey (Askey 85), Glover, Keen, Lambert. Subs not used: McAvoy, O'Neill, Munroe, Hodgson.

Swansea: Freestone, T Evans, Todd (Phillips 45), Sidibe, Howard (Duffy 67), S Evans, Cusack, Brodie (Romo 45), Williams, Coates, Bound. Subs not used: Jones, Watkin.

Referee : John Brandwood (Staffordshire)

Attendance : 2,025

Booked : Tracey 22 (foul), S Evans 28 (foul), T Evans 45 (foul), Bound 76 (foul), Phillips 90 (foul).

STARCHOICE: Jonathan Coates.

SO at last, after 86 minutes of his fifth game, Tony Petty has seen a Swansea City goal. Now he is waiting for his first celebration.

For there were few smiles in the visiting camp when Nick Cusack stabbed the ball home in the dying moments at Moss Rose.

Having diverted David Romo's curling cross past Macclesfield goalkeeper Steve Wilson from close range, the Swansea skipper did point his finger skywards for a split second.

Remembering what had gone before on a desperate afternoon for Colin Addison's men, he quickly lowered his arm and trundled back to the halfway line.

In the directors' box there was hardly a ruffle either, as Petty and Co struggled to digest the four goals Swansea had conceded in seven shocking second-half minutes beginning on the hour.

This was the most demoralising of defeats. Swansea have been remarkably poor on a number of occasions already in this trying season.

But on Saturday they sank to a new low, sent crashing out of the FA Cup by an average Macclesfield side who they had beaten 3-1 on the opening day of the season.

The Silkmen's comprehensive victory, which could quite easily have been by twice the margin of three goals, saw them into the third round for only the third time.

That statistic alone is a measure of how dark a day this was for Swansea.

The 1990s FA Cup destructions by Fulham (7-0) and Liverpool (8-0) could not have been much gloomier for their fans.The only consolation to be taken from this latest mauling — for the majority of supporters at least — is off the field of play.

A good run in the competition would have been heaven sent for controversial chairman Petty, who is in some financial need.

Money for progressing, from more television exposure and from a possible plum third-round tie could have secured the future of his regime for some time to come.

Swansea's fans remain deeply opposed to such an eventuality — half a dozen or so had their names taken by police in Cheshire for unfurling a banner reading 'RIP Petty' — so some crumbs will be salvaged from Saturday's defeat.

For Addison, though, there was virtually nothing to bring back from what he described as the worst cup performance he had ever been part of.

"The scoreline flattered us a little bit, to be fair," he said.

It is not too often you hear a manager whose side has just leaked four goals against another club from their division admit they got off lightly.

Full marks to Addison for honesty, but not many at all for his team's performance.

"If I knew that I would be a millionaire," added the Swansea boss when asked to put his finger on what went wrong.

What went wrong was his team's defending as time and again they were sliced open by one of Division Three's mediocre outfits.

Indeed, all that went right for Swansea was Macclesfield's hopeless finishing in the first half.

Seven times they fired in the opening 45 minutes, seven times the ball went high, wide or both.

Swansea were without three regular first-team defenders and the cracks were showing.

But the decision at the interval to replace 20-year-old Chris Todd, one of only two recognised centre-backs left standing, with midfielder Gareth Phillips was bizarre.

Cusack stepped back to defence, and within within 15 minutes the Macclesfield whirlwind was in full force.

The impressive Chris Byrne got between makeshift defenders to nod Rickie Lambert's cross past the sprawling Roger Freestone.

The lead was fully deserved and few could argue when it was doubled within 60 seconds.

Byrne was again involved as the Silkmen streaked forward before Lee Glover spun and shot on the edge of the box.

Jonathan Coates and Terry Evans lunged into block but between them only succeeded in diverting the low drive on to the post and in.

Swansea were reeling, and in the eye of the storm 16-year-old youth defender Richard Duffy emerged for his first-team debut.

Michael Howard, who was not injured, was withdrawn in another strange move.

Addison explained afterwards that Todd was young and had a lot to learn and hence his substitution at the break, yet 20 minutes later threw on someone who left school only six months ago.

Within two minutes of appearing, highly-rated Duffy had seen his first goal against.

Lambert was again the provider and Glover, who played in the 1991 FA Cup final for Nottingham Forest, showed his class with a delightful lob over Freestone.

Swansea lost possession from the resulting kick-off and Steve Hitchen's quick ball parted the defence once more for Byrne to race on for his second.

Addison's men managed to close the floodgates after that, but the devastating seven-minute spell had well and truly ended their cup hopes.

All eyes now return to their troubles in the league and the daunting bottom-of-the-table clash with Carlisle next weekend.

Despite the Cumbrians' 6-1 defeat at Tranmere on Saturday, Swansea will again be depleted thanks to injury and suspension and are hardly red-hot favourites to take all three points.

Then again, Tony Petty will not be there, so they might have a chance.

SWANSEA striker John Williams was at a loss to explain why the team put in such a lack-lustre performance against Macclesfield.

The Silkmen have since found out their reward for stuffing Swansea will be a home tie with West Ham United, something the Vetch players would have relished once more.

That heightens the point that Williams was making after the Moss Rose debacle.

"To come away and have a chance to get in the FA Cup Third Round and perform like that is just not good enough," he said.

"An FA Cup win — especially if it means a place in the third round — for a team like Swansea, is a big thing and means a hell of a lot.

"That is why it so very disappointing to go out the way we did today."

Williams said the warnings were there from Macclesfield in the first half.

The Silkmen had seven or eight clear-cut chances but failed to hit the target but the former Coventry man said it was only a matter of time before Macclesfield scored.

"They had loads of chances they didn't put away in the first half," he said.

"The alarm bells started to ring. We got punished in the second half.

"We have been giving the ball away a lot in recent games and we need to keep our shape and hope to stay solid.

"But when you are chasing the game you are all over the place and they were just going through us like there was no tomorrow."

But despite Saturday's extremely disappointing exit from the cup and the last two league results, Williams said things would improve.

"I wouldn't say the rot has set in," he added.

"Last time we lost a couple of games there were distractions behind the scenes.

"Now we have got no excuses.

"It was disappointing to go out of the cup like we did and we do have to pick ourselves up and try to play well in the next game.

"I can't put my finger on why it was so poor today if I could I would be selling it for fun. But Colin Addison and Peter Nicholas will sort things out.

"It's swings and roundabouts in football. You get one good performance and one bad one but this was so disappointing and I don't want to feel like this again."

SWANSEA City boss Colin Addison branded Saturday's humbling defeat at Macclesfield as the worst FA Cup display he has been involved in.

And the vastly-experienced manager admitted his side could not have argued with a much heavier reverse than 4-1.

Macclesfield, a team beaten 3-1 by Swansea at Moss Rose in August, took the visitors apart, repeatedly ripping through their makeshift defence to set up a third-round tie with Premiership West Ham.

Only wayward finishing from the Silkmen kept the two sides level at half-time.

After the break they cut loose with four goals in seven minutes before Nick Cusack's meaningless late reply.

"It was as poor a cup performance as I have been part of in my life," admitted Addison, a veteran of 14 years' playing and 30 years' management.

"They were a better side than us. They passed the ball better, they were much more inventive and and they kept their shape.

"They caused us a lot of problems. We were lucky to be level at half-time and to be fair the scoreline flattered us a little bit - it could have been much worse.

"We had injuries and suspensions but we are not going to hide behind excuses.

"If I started to talk about what went wrong for us we would be here all night."

Swansea have suffered a number of miserable defeats already this season, but Saturday's thrashing was the gloomiest of all.

The glory of first-round success over Queen's Park Rangers only added to the disappointment.

Even so, Addison refused to condemn his side and remains in determined mood ahead of this weekend's Third Division basement clash with Carlisle.

"I am open, I am honest and there's a lot of work to be done," he said, "but I'm not going to say any more than that.

"I have said all along that there's a lot to be done, but one thing's for sure, actions speak louder than words and we've got some decisions to make."

The drubbing meant a sad farewell for left wing-back Stephen Evans, who has returned to Crystal Palace after a month's loan.

Swansea had hoped to secure the promising 21-year-old's services for at least another month, but new Palace boss Trevor Francis has recalled his man.

Meanwhile, Swans chairman Tony Petty yesterday flew back to Australia and is not expected back in Wales until early January.

Cardiff City have landed a plum third-round FACup draw against Leeds.

JOHN WILLIAMS has told his Swansea City colleagues they can't hide behind the club's off-field problems any longer.

Williams's warning came after The Swans crashed out of the FA Cup at Macclesfield - their fate sealed during an extraordinary second-half spell when goalkeeper Roger Freestone was beaten four times in eight minutes.

Controversial owner Tony Petty witnessed the demolition job from the directors' box before leaving for Australia, but Williams insists that the players and management must pick up the pieces after a third straight defeat.

"The last time we lost a couple of games there was a lot happening behind the scenes," said Williams, referring to the court case that Petty eventually won to secure control of the club.

"But this time we've got no excuses. What's happened at the club has happened.

"The players have got to get on with it and make sure there are better times ahead."

After a mini-revival of four matches without defeat during November, Swansea have slumped again with back-to-back defeats against Hartlepool, Mansfield and Macclesfield.

As worrying though was the manner of their meek surrender at the Moss Rose Ground. There was little support and service throughout for Williams and his strike partner Mamady Sidibe and Swansea's pedestrian defence was torn apart after the break.

"I wouldn't say the rot has set in," said Williams.

"But it was a very disappointing result for us and everyone is obviously down about the performance.

"To come away with a chance to get into the third round of the FA Cup and to perform like that is just not good enough.

""The signs were there before half-time. They had loads of chances which they didn't put away.

"The alarm bells started to ring and we got punished in the second half. We tried to keep our shape and stay solid, but people kept giving the ball away.

"When you're chasing the game you're all over the place and they were going through us like there was no tomorrow in the second half.

"It's very disappointing to go out of the cup without a fight. But Colin Addison and Peter Nicholas will put their fingers on what's gone wrong and sort things out.

"If I was able to say what's gone wrong I would be selling it for fun. But we've just got to pick ourselves up for the league matches and in football things change quickly.

"You can get a good run as easily as a bad one."

Swansea's next outing will be a critical affair as Carlisle United - above bottom-placed Halifax on goal difference - are the visitors to the Vetch on Saturday.

Only four points separate the two clubs and Swansea know they cannot afford to get dragged into a relegation dogfight.

SUCH was the abysmal nature of Swansea City's FA Cup collapse that it was impossible to find any Christmas cheer over their immediate prospects.

But Swansea supporters would have received some glad tidings when they realised the biggest loser from this cup shambles was their club chairman Tony Petty.

The North Bank's figure of hate saw his hopes of a third-round pay-day against a Premiership giant vanish inside a crazy eight-minute spell midway through the second half.

Petty was probably still running those four goals through his mind when he stepped on to an Australia-bound plane yesterday (if Swansea were run on air miles surely the club would have few problems, so much time does the chairman spend Down Under) as Macclesfield destroyed any notion of Swansea repeating their lucrative cup run of 1998-99.

Moreover, the possibility that Barnsley, Leicester or anyone else could spend £200,000 on striker Mamady Sidibe appeared unlikely as the Frenchman's touch and sharpness in front of goal deserted him.

To be fair to Sidibe, there was precious little assistance from colleagues who were outmanouevred in every department.

The midfield was slow to support Sidibe and John Williams and a hesitant rearguard unit embarrassingly caved in after hard-running hosts had eventually located the target.

"That's as poor a cup performance as Colin Addison has ever been involved with," was the damning verdict of the 61-year-old Swansea manager who has seen a few FA Cup ties in his time.

"They were busy, bright and inventive and took their chances but if I started a talk on Swansea we would be here for a few hours. We tried to change players, make substitutions and change the tactics a little bit but they were very good and fully deserved their win."

Addison, though, was also culpable as Swansea were overrun in the second period. Although the number of goal attempts grew towards the end of the first half, the game was played largely in front of central defenders sorely missing the influence of Jason Smith.

Macclesfield, for all their pressure, did not force Roger Freestone into a single save but all that changed when Chris Todd was withdrawn at the break and Nick Cusack retreated into the heart of defence alongside Terry Evans and Mathew Bound.

Cusack, the chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association, has earned the praise of his peers over recent months for the way he has conducted himself in the Swansea City cash crisis and the threatened players' strike.

But there was scant respect from Macclesfield's front three - Lee Glover, Rickie Lambert and Richard Tracey - on the field as Cusack's lack of pace was cruelly exposed and the Silkmen easily avenged their 3-1 home defeat on the opening day of the season.

The Macc Lads, now exploring space where there had previously been none, ran in behind defenders and the outcome was Swansea's swift capitulation.

"I was surprised how quickly they folded," said Macclesfield manager David Moss.

"I don't know what difference the lads they had missing at the back would have made. But the way we performed would have seen us a do a job on anyone.

"When I got a report on their game last week (Swansea lost 3-0 at Mansfield) I decided to play three up front and they couldn't cope with it."

Tracey spurned a chance when he volleyed over but Macclesfield were ahead within two minutes after Evans's hurried clearance fell to Danny Adams.

The left-back freed Lambert again and this time Chris Byrne made no mistake from a cross with a powerful header that Freestone managed to lay a hand on.

Within a minute Byrne set up Lee Glover from 20 yards and the striker who once featured in an FA Cup final - for Nottingham Forest against Tottenham Hotspur in 1991 - scored with the aid of a deflection and the far post.

Addison's explanation that the tactical withdrawal of Todd was partly based on him being `very raw and inexperienced' was even more curious after 16-year-old Richard Duffy had been handed his debut.

Two-nil down in an FA Cup tie would not seem the ideal place for an introduction to senior football. Meanwhile, Steve Watkin, a player forever linked to the cup after his winner for Wrexham against Arsenal a decade ago, was confined to the bench.

But the die had already been cast and Glover added a delightful chip before Byrne raced on to Steve Hitchen's pass to lift the ball over a helpless Freestone.

Cusack claimed a late consolation after home goalkeeper Steve Wilson had flapped at the cross of substitute David Romo but, by then, Petty cut a glum figure in the directors' box.

THE SILKMEN stormed into the FA Cup third round for only the third time in history as Swansea were systematically unravelled in Arctic-like Cheshire.

Chris Byrne and ex-Forest star Lee Glover both hit double top as the appalling Swans were sunk without trace inside eight shocking minutes after the hour.

It was a bitter bill for Vetch boss Colin Addison to swallow - he was banking on his club being in today's third round draw and had pondered a plum-tie next month.

The furious ex-Merthyr chief was struggling to contain his anger and stormed: "The scoreline flattered us - we could have lost by even more goals!

"In all my 30 years of soccer management, this is the worst a side has performed for me in an FA Cup match. If I started to talk about what went wrong, we would still be here at 8pm!"

Dreadful Swansea were outplayed all over the pitch. Indeed, if Ricky Lambert, Richard Tracey and Chris Priest had worn their shooting boots, the defeat might have equalled the eight Liverpool notched at Anfield against the Welshmen in the early 1990s.

Addison said: "Macclesfield were far more inventive than us - they outperformed us everywhere on the pitch."

Home-manager David Moss was positively beaming. He smiled: "My lads were magnificent today. We went manfor-man with Swansea in midfield and played three up-front - it worked a treat.

"My only concern was that we were goalless at half time - we more than made up for that later, though."

Swansea had sprung a surprise at kickoff bringing back ex-Tranmere defender Michael Howard after a five-week absence. Chris Todd and Steve Broody also returned as the Vetch club attempted to paper over the loss of key men through injuries and suspension.

Macclesfield, in the midst of a mini revival, were reshuffling too.

Borrowed Bolton winger Jeff Smith was withdrawn for fear of being cup tied, former Carlisle link-man Tracey came in for him.

This ramshackle arena was bathed in bright sunshine, but the temperatures were plummeting as the battle commenced.

Swansea had shredded the Silkmen on the opening game of the league season - August 11 - and they looked fired up for a double, flying forward in the opening 20 seconds.

Priest had attempted to haul Mamady Sidibe back - Steven Evans lifting over the 25-yard free kick which followed.

But Macclesfield were starting to threaten and they wasted a good chance on 10 minutes - Byrne's drive ricocheting wide off Terry Evans's torso.

The magic of the 127-year-old FA Cup was decidedly missing on a bitter afternoon, but proceedings did warm up as Tracey and Steven Evans both saw yellow in separate incidents.

And as the interval loomed, the Silkmen were starting to carve the Swans up.

Lambert just drove wide and then Priest powered over after Tracey had escaped down the left. Defender Steve Hitchin was also frustrated as his blistering volley screamed inches past.

Nick Cusack finally replied for the Swans with a snapshot, which had Silkman goalkeeper Steve Wilson scrambling. But the Welsh side were in retreat as Glover drove across a gaping goal.

Swansea were swaying in first-half stoppage time. Hitchins skinned Howard up the right, Tracey knocked back at the far post - the menacing Lambert almost stooping to score.

The Swans, desperate to check the home side's aggression, then bizarrely reshuffled as defensive linchpins Todd and Brodie came off, Gareth Phillips and David Romo coming on. But Swansea's world was caving in just 15 minutes into the restart as Byrne easily beat Roger Freestone with a punishing flick from 12 yards. The former Stockport man was adding another eight minutes later.

In between, Glover joined in the romp - notching his side's second and third on 61 and 66 minutes.

Five minutes from time, Nick Cusack pulled a goal back for the Swans, but it was pure consolation.