Colin Addison was pleased that his side showed character and resilience to come back from a goal down and beat Bristol Rovers 2-1 last night.

The Swans boss said: "It was a magnificent result and fully deserved. We made a scandalous start, as Terry Evans and Neil Sharp gave them an early goal.

"But both players then went on to challenge for the man-of-the-match award. The team showed great character and resilience, and we had a little bit of luck too."

Addison saved particular praise for striker Steve Watkin, who netted the vital second goal for The Swans on 17 minutes. He said:

"Up front, Steve Watkin played the best game that he's played for me, and if he was in the Premiership, we'd be watching his goal all weekend." Despite Rovers having two men sent-off Addison admitted:

"It wasn't a dirty game, it was a competitive one where you have to earn the right to play and we were prepared to battle." He concluded: "Let's hope this is the springboard to take this on into Christmas and New Year.

"It's certainly the best Christmas present our players and supporters could have asked for."

We must learn from our mistakes - Thompson

Rovers caretaker boss Garry Thompson wants his side to learn from their mistakes and be more streetwise after last night's loss at the Vetch.

Despite the fact Rovers took an early lead through Nathan Ellington, Thompson's side were 2-1 down after only 17 minutes. And, the Rovers caretaker boss admitted:

"Our defending was poor, though we did improve in the second half when I thought we had chances to win the game. But it didn't go for us. "Nathan's (Ellington) opener was a hell of a finish but we didn't have to entertain after that.

We should have closed the game down instead. We need to learn from these mistakes. "We need to show character like we did the other night (against Plymouth) and we need to be more streetwise."

Rovers ended the game with only nine men on the pitch after Mike Trought and Vitaljis Astafjevs were both sent off for second bookings in the final four minutes.

But, Thopmpson said: "On the sending-offs, I've said my piece to the referee. It's done, and no amount of talking will change that.

"Some of his decisions mystified us and we can't afford to lose players through indiscipline. If those who come in are as hungry as I think they are, and if they do well, that's life."

SWANSEA CITY Supporters' Trust has called a meeting for January 6 as part of its campaign to en-sure the struggling Third Division club survives.

The trust is unhappy as what it sees as a "lack of developments" following last month's court verdict which handed controversial chairman Tony Petty control at the Vetch Field.

The Australia-based businessman dismissed former director Mel Nurse's takeover bid by lodging £100,000 - the amount Nurse paid former owners Ninth Floor for the club's debt.

But the trust claims Petty - due back from Australia in the New Year - has not carried out his promises to improve Swansea's financial problems and put funds into the club.

"The (trust) board has recently written to Lord Justice John Thomas in relation to the recent court case and the subsequent lack of developments following the verdict," said a trust spokeswoman.

"In the event that our approach elicits some action, we will of course make any relevant information public."

Fans have continued to vent their anger at Petty, but the trust said it could not call for supporters to boycott games.

"In essence, the trust constitution does not allow us to call a boycott as such action would be against the basic aims of the trust," said the spokeswoman.

"However, we remain of the opinion that a decision to boycott a game should rest with each individual and we would respect such individuals' actions be they members (of the trust) or not."

The trust has arranged a meeting at Manselton and Cwmbwrla Community Centre at 11am on January 6 to discuss their concerns, fundraising and recruitment.

STRIKER Steve Watkin scored one goal and made another as Swansea edged this vital Third Division basement battle.

Watkin's match-winning partner-ship with top-scoring French striker Mamady Sidibe provided the perfect festive tonic for the troubled Swans.

Despite trailing to an early goal, Colin Addison's battling team hit back twice in three minutes.

Sidibe brought the Swans level with a brilliant goal while the impressive Watkin got his first in the league since the opening day of an injury troubled season.

Swansea's third home win was richly deserved against the lively Rovers side which had two players sent off for separate incidents in the last five minutes.

Swansea went into the match with Neil Sharp pressed into service as a replacement for Mathew Bound who starts his loan spell at Oxford today.

But the Swansea defender failed to live up to his name as the pacey Nathan Ellington stunned Swansea by grabbing a third-minute lead.

The elegant Ellington turned the unfortunate Sharp before calmly lifting a shot from 15 yards over Roger Freestone into the far corner.

It was the perfect start for Rovers and underlined the threat Ellington and Co posed after their titanic FA Cup-tie against Third Division leaders Plymouth earlier in the week.

Ellington continued to cause early problems for a retreating defence and the lively striker was again involved before a shot from Latvian Vitalijs Astefjevs took a wicked reflection.

It again served to underline the problem for a hard-pressed defence which was given some respite when Swansea responded with two cracking goals in three minutes.

The first strike stretched the length of the field with Sharp in at the start of the move before Watkin supplied the vital defence-splitting pass which Sidibe exploited.

Holding off pursuing defenders the tall forward kept his composure before sliding a shot in off the post.

Having supplied the pass, Watkin then helped himself to the second when skipper Nick Cusack flicked on Andrew Mumford's free-kick.

In a see-sawing contest which Swansea largely controlled, Rovers could easily have drawn level before the break but Ellington pushed one effort wide while Freestone denied both Astefjevs and Lewis Hogg.

Swansea continued to look the more purposeful and creative after the interval but were denied a third goal by the brilliance of Scott Howie who pushed Steve Brodie's 20-yard shot over the bar.

Full-back Michael Howard also had a shot blocked before Rovers passed up yet another golden opportunity to draw level.

A misdirected Terry Evans header fell into the path of the busy Ellington who pushed his shot wide before forcing another save from Freestone.

Rovers' hopes of snatching another point virtually disappeared five minutes from time when Mike Trought, booked earlier for a foul, was sent off for throwing the ball into the face of an opponent.

SWANSEA CITY defender Matthew Bound will today complete his move to Oxford United - leaving manager Colin Addison with a defensive headache ahead of tomorrow's clash with Bristol Rovers.

The 29-year-old centre-back joins the Third Division club on a month's loan and the switch could be permanent if personal terms can be agreed.

Bound, who joined the Swans for £55,000 from Stockport in 1997 and has made more than 200 appearances for the club, is expected to make his Us debut at Torquay on Saturday.

Southampton manager Gordon Strachan yesterday blocked Addison's attempt to bring 22-year-old central defender Gary Monk to the Vetch on loan to plug the gap caused by Bound's departure.

Monk, who has made 11 appearances for the Saints, was refused permission to join Swansea as he is needed at the St Mary's Stadium for the busy Christmas period.

"I talked at length with Gordon Strachan and, after discussing the situation with his coaching staff, he feels with so many games coming up Southampton cannot afford to be without a player they rate highly," said Addison.

The Swansea manager is already without two centre-backs - the suspended Kristian O'Leary and the injured Jason Smith - for the visit of Rovers and will need to shuffle his pack to replace Bound.

But assistant manager Peter Nicholas said, "There won't be any problems at all - we'll be fine for the Bristol game.

"Neil Sharp is fit again and we've also got Andrew Mumford able to play at the back."

FORMER Swansea City youth team manager Ron Walton last night warned the club it risked destroying its lifeblood by selling promising young players to ease the Vetch Field cash crisis.

In 18 years with the club, Walton - a victim of chairman Tony Petty's cost-cutting purge two months' ago - was instrumental in drafting more than 50 players through the youth setup and into the first team.

But Walton fears that conveyor-belt process - and Swansea's future success - would be jeopardised if talented youngsters were allowed to leave.

"Swansea can't afford to dismantle their youth structure - it's the lifeblood of the club," he said.

"You've got to hang on to your best young players. It doesn't augur well for the future if you let them go."

Walton's comments come as 16-year-old defender Richard Duffy yesterday spent his second day training with First Division club Nottingham Forest.

Southampton - who have former Vetch Field youth development officer Malcolm Elias in charge of recruitment at St Mary's - are also understood to be tracking the player, who would command a fee in the region of £100,000.

Only a year ago the Saints angered former Swans manager John Hollins and ex-chairman Neil McClure when they lured away two Swansea youngsters, Wales schools international defender Richard Jones and midfielder Matthew Crowell.

But given their crippling financial position, Swansea are now more willing to sell - and will listen to offers for Duffy.

"Why else would they have brought him on against Macclesfield in the FA Cup when they were 2-0 down?" said Walton.

"Richard's being placed in the shop window and Swansea can point to the fact he's had first-team experience should his transfer go to a tribunal.

"I understand something has to be done if the club is losing £20,000 a week. But it's sad if the younger players are going to be moved on."

Walton - still waiting for a redundancy payment after being shown the door at the Vetch - nurtured the careers of dozens of Swansea youngsters who are now either first-team regulars or plying their trade in higher divisions - players like Chris Coleman, Andy Melville, Christian Edwards, Jason Bowen and Stuart Roberts.

Ian Atkins wants to have two centre backs who are as hard as Shotton and Briggs - and has stepped up his search by having talks with Swansea's Matthew Bound.

"People can say what they like about other good players in that team, and about the Houghtons and others going forward, but the great Oxford United side was built around Shotton and Briggs," he said.

United's director of football was impressed by the no-nonsense approach of his two new signings Andy Crosby and Dave Morley in last Saturday's 3-2 Division 3 win over high-flying Mansfield.

And he wants to strengthen the central defence, which he believes the current United team needs to have as its foundation, by yesterday talking to Bound about a one-month loan, with a view to a permanent signing.

No deal was agreed, but Atkins hopes to have things tied up by the weekend.

Republic of Ireland internationals John Aldridge and Ray Houghton were considered the stars of the great Oxford United side of the 80s, but it was the centre halves Malcolm Shotton and Gary Briggs who struck fear into opponents because of their rugged but highly effective style.

Fans have been wondering whether United really need another centre back, when the left back position and midfield appear more of a concern.

But Atkins said: "At the end of the day, you build from the back, and build a solid foundation. That's how I have always worked.

"Bound isn't a short-term measure, we're looking at a longer view. Dave Morley can play in a variety of positions, he has a lot of ability, I believe, so bringing in Bound gives us options.

"And by bringing in two experienced centre halves, it enables us to look at other young players who will have the benefit of experienced players around them. We're looking for a left back, but Simon King, for instance, is a young lad we rate highly.

"The main thing is to get that platform. The great Oxford United side was built on Shotton and Briggs and without them, the other skilful players in front of them wouldn't have been able to do what they did. I'm trying to do the same by getting in a new Shotton and Briggs."

Bound, a trainee at Southampton, joined Stockport for £100,000 in 1994, making 51 appearances before joining the Swans for £55,000 in 1997. He has played more than 200 games for the Vetch Field club who are sorry to see him go, but who cannot afford to pay his wages.

MIKE Lewis is aiming to return to the Swansea City payroll in the New Year claiming not to be the pantomime villain he has been portrayed.

The former club chairman, a hugely unpopular figure with fans, insists he will never leave the city despite admitting to feeling threatened since handing control of Swansea to current chairman Tony Petty in October.

Although he resigned from the board and gave up his £95,000 salary at the time, Lewis has remained a regular at Vetch Field in the last three months.

And he believes the drastic cost-cutting measures employed by his successor are a fact of life for lower division clubs and do not threaten Swansea's existence.

"I am not the fat, ginger b****** that most fans think I am," said Lewis, who was attacked by supporters in the club's Harry Griffiths Bar last month.

"Some perceive me as being the man who did the dirty and things are not easy.

"I'm scared about where I go or who I am seen with. But I'm not going to run away and I'm not going to leave Swansea."

Lewis continues to have a hand in Swansea's affairs as a full-time advisor to Petty and chief executive John Shuttleworth.

"I'm staying on at the club partly because of pride and partly because I desperately want to see it get out of the situation it's in.

"I do not know if that will happen, but I will do all I can along with the directors to ensure we stand a fair chance.

"I'm still around because I was invited by Mr Petty to advise on the Morfa project and to help him understand the business of football. Because of my experience, he has also asked me to look at rejigging the promotions department.

"I can help out at times like this when Tony Petty is in Australia and John Shuttleworth is away in London because a member of his family is ill.

"Many will not believe it, but I'm not on the payroll, though I do still have my company car and phone. But I cannot continue to run on an empty tank. My shoes will be worn out and there'll be holes in my trousers.

"With the Morfa project getting busier in the New Year as we move towards the August 2003 opening date, I'll be looking for some financial reward.

"With so many new people around, I want to look after Morfa by acting as a bridge between the council and the club."

Lewis claims he avoided last Saturday's goalless draw with Carlisle to save the club £1,500 in extra policing costs.

Despite the disappointing result against one of the Nationwide League's perennial strugglers, he insists Swansea are quite capable of Third Division survival.

"Contrary to what people are saying, I'm not responsible for player movement or any other football matters. I'm not an important person at the club anymore," he said.

"But I think moving players on is a reality of life in the lower echelons of the league. If you don't do it, you die.

"There are about 20 clubs in the lower divisions with their backs to the wall and players are the only thing they can trade.

"I don't think the club should be blamed for cutting its wage bill. There's still quite a big squad here, and I have so much faith and confidence in Colin (Addison) and Peter (Nicholas). I'm sure they will see us through.

"I was responsible for bringing Colin to the club and I believe he is the man to get us out of trouble.

"There's no danger of relegation. I can't even see that being a problem."

The Swans have snapped up Scottish full-back Jared Stirling on a non-contract basis, following a trial with the club earlier in the season.

Stirling trained with City but tried his luck with Luton Town shortly afterwards. However, he will now be available to Colin Addison for first-team selection, and could make his debut against Bristol Rovers on Friday.

The 25-year-old has played his entire professional career in Scotland until now, having plied his trade with Partick, Motherwell, Forfar, Stranraer, and Albion.

Meanwhile, Nicolas Mazzina is having a trial with Motherwell after Walsall opted not to follow up their interest in him, while Addison may offer former Hull midfielder Gary Brabin a trial spell at the Vetch.

Swans confirm Sidibe hitch

The club have confirmed Mamady Sidibe's proposed move to Barnsley was halted after a financial dispute between The Swans and the player's agent.

Sidibe was expected to make the switch to Oakwell in a deal worth £200,000 to cash-strapped City, but the frontman's agent claims that he struck a deal with former boss John Hollins which entitled him and Sidibe to 30 per cent of any fee.

Barnsley boss Steve Parkin, who saw Sidibe play first-hand during his time with City's Third Division rivals Rochdale, was keen to tie up a deal although the player has also been linked with moves to Middlesbrough and QPR.

Sidibe, who turns 22 tomorrow, arrived at The Vetch in the summer on a free transfer from French side CA Paris, after impressing during a trial. The player has struck five goals for the club this season, and has proved a handful for opposing defenders due to his strength and height.

Whether Barnsley or any other interested parties are willing to up the offer for Sidibe to counter the clause in his deal remains to be seen. Picture: Sidibe (right) celebrates another Swans goal

Nicholas admits Bound upset

Peter Nicholas has admitted that neither he nor Colin Addison want to see Matthew Bound leave the club to join Oxford United.

Bound has been loaned out to the Kassam Stadium with a view to a permanent switch, and expressed his own surprise yesterday as the deal had been struck without his involvement.

And assistant manager Nicholas revealed that the defender's absence would be a big loss to City, although he accepted financial problems are controlling the club's future at present.

He said: "Obviously we don't want to see our best players go, and Matthew played really well against Carlisle on Saturday. But we all know how the financial situation here is being controlled."

Bound has been a solid mainstay in The Swans backline since his £50,000 switch from Stockport County three years ago. The 29-year-old has played over 200 games for the club, but his appearance in the goalless draw with Carlisle on Saturday could prove to be his last.

Forest trial for young Swan

Nottingham Forest have handed a three-day trial to The Swans' highly-rated 16-year-old defender Richard Duffy. Duffy's only appearance for City was in the 4-1 defeat to Macclesfield Town in the FA Cup, but the youngster has also played for Wales' Under-17s against the Faroe Islands.

If he impresses, the player could join Forest's Academy set-up, which has produced players such as Gareth Williams and Jermaine Jenas, who are expected to go on to great things, and have been linked with top clubs including Glasgow Rangers, Arsenal, Newcastle and Leeds recently.

Ian Atkins has been on the trail of Swansea defender Matthew Bound, who is reported to be thinking over a possible move to The Kassam Stadium.

The left-sided defender, who began as a trainee with Southampton, has made around 300 league and cup appearances, mainly for Stockport and Swansea, and was on the stand-by list for Wales's World Cup qualifying ties last season.

Last night Atkins confirmed: "He's just another name we've inquired about. There have been quite a few. He's a good central defender but obviously I've now got Dave Morley as well as Andy Crosby. Dave was desperate to come and join us straight away, which was what I wanted."

Cash-strapped Swansea are known to be keen to offload Bound, who is their highest paid player.

SWANSEA City assistant boss Peter Nicholas has admitted the decision to allow Matthew Bound to leave Vetch Field was taken out of the management's hands.

The club's highest-paid player today headed for Oxford to tie up a one-month loan with a view to a permanent move.

Losing the 29-year-old centre-back is another hammer blow to Colin Addison's Third Division survival plans.

And with Kris O'Leary (suspended) and Jason Smith (injured) also missing from Swansea's defence, it leaves Addison counting the heads for Friday's basement clash with Bristol Rovers.

But former Southampton player Bound has been shipped off as controversial chairman Tony Petty plots how to cover the club's Christmas wage bill.

"It is very disappointing," said Nicholas."We do not want to let our better players go and Matthew is playing well at the moment.

"But the situation at the club means that if other clubs are interested in any of our players we have got to let the players go and talk.

"The circumstances are out of our control and the powers that be believe that if Matthew Bound goes they will save money.

"What will happen will happen. I suppose we will just have to go and get somebody else to play instead."

Skipper Nick Cusack added: "Losing Matthew is a real body blow to us. He is integral to our team."

Bound played what could be his final game for Swansea in Saturday's goalless draw with Carlisle. In front of the lowest Vetch Field crowd of the season, Swansea stuttered their way to a point in a low-quality contest.

Failure to take all three from a home clash with one of the Third Division's weakest clubs puts more pressure on this Friday's game.

"We got a draw a couple of weeks ago and that started a good run, so let's hope this does the same," added Nicholas.

"We had three bad results before Carlisle so we were lacking a bit of confidence, but we've stopped the rot now.

"It was a big game, a six-pointer and all that, but it's too early in the season to start worrying about a relegation battle."

Swansea youngster Richard Duffy trained with First Division Nottingham Forest today.The 16-year-old defender, who made his first-team debut at Macclesfield nine days ago, will spend three days at the City Ground. Should he move, Swansea would be entitled to compensation.

Swansea City ........................ 0
Carlisle United .......................... 0
Swansea: Freestone, Evans, Howard, Cusack, Brodie, Williams (Sidibe 45), Coates, Bound, Watkin (Casey 79), Phillips, Mumford. Subs not used:Jones, De-Vulgt, Todd.

Carlisle: Keen, Winstanley, Murphy, Green, Stevens, Rogers, Andrews, Jack, Foran, McGill, Hadland (Allan 64). Subs not used: Soley, McAughrie, McDonagh, Nicholson.

Referee: Clive Penton (Sussex).

Attendance: 2,906.

Bookings: Brodie 38.

STAR CHOICE:Andrew Mumford.

SWANSEA City may have slowed their alarming slide towards the foot of Division Three by avoiding defeat for the first time in four matches against Carlisle United.

But they have not yet emerged on an up-slope the other side of their latest slump. They have merely lessened the downward gradient.

For this drab, goalless encounter with the Nationwide League's perennial strugglers was nothing to get too excited about, no reason to start looking above rather than below.

Indeed, Colin Addison's side slipped a further two places to 19th in the table as Oxford and Macclesfield both picked up vital wins.

As the season's halfway point approaches, Swansea remain more stuck in the Third Division's undergrowth than out of the woods. The open land that is Division Two is way out of sight.

Even with Tony Petty — something of a jinx whenever he attends matches — nowhere to be seen on Saturday, Addison's men could not break down a team hit for six by Tranmere the previous week.

Despite applying much pressure in the second half, the home side failed to create a single clear-cut chance.

And while much attention has been focused on Swansea's defensive problems of late, a statistic of one goal in four matches is cause for concern at the other end of the field.

Recognising recent bluntness in front of goal, Addison surprisingly left top-scorer Mamady Sidibe on the bench on Saturday.

Steve Watkin won a starting spot for the first time since August and was one of the few plus points to emerge from the game.

Partnering John Williams, the 30-year-old provided a superior link between midfield and attack.

Along with Steve Brodie, Watkin was involved in most of what was good about Swansea.

Brodie, something of a disappointment since his arrival from Scarborough, had comfortably his best game for his new club.

The long-haired, short-limbed midfielder caused problems for Carlisle, often joining the front two and supplying numerous neat passes which nearly brought the breakthrough.

Brodie stung Carlisle keeper Peter Keen's hands with a well-struck first-half volley. Soon after he picked up the game's only booking in its most controversial incident.

After a nice move involving Jonathan Coates, he went down theatrically under Lee Andrews's challenge inside the box.

Sussex referee Clive Penton deemed that what looked at first glance a penalty was in fact a piece of play acting.

"I was disappointed with the ref's actions," said Swans assistant boss Peter Nicholas.

"It looked a definite penalty and I've spoken to Steve and he thinks it was a definite penalty. We'll have a look at the video."

He added: "I think that was Steve's best game for us. I did not see a lot of him at Scarborough, but he is starting to look like the player that Colin Addison said he was.

"Steve Watkin came in and I thought he did okay as well."

While the forward players promised much, makeshift central defender Andrew Mumford was as close as any to finding the net. Two long-range drives, one either side of the break, fizzed narrowly over the bar.

Swansea's best chance fell 18 minutes from the end to substitute Sidibe, with Watkin and Brodie again the instigators.

But the 6ft 4in Frenchman could only stretch high enough to head Brodie's cross well over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Carlisle hardly had a sniff at the other end, though Ian Stevens should have scored when the ball fell to him 10 yards out. He did not even hit the target.

It was a mark of a poor game and two poor sides.

Roddy Collins, Carlisle's animated, entertaining manager, about summed it up with one of his many bellows from the dug-out.

"Keep it on the pitch," boomed the Irishman after keeper Keen had hoofed the ball into the North Bank when under no pressure.

Not something you expect professional footballers to need to be told.

Perhaps not surprising, then, that the final whistle brought a few boos from Swansea's lowest crowd of the season.

It was a fairly miserable afternoon, though compared to Mansfield two weeks ago and Macclesfield seven days later it must have been fairly satisfactory for Addison and Nicholas.

Two points went begging, there is no doubt. Teams of Carlisle's quality should be dispatched.

But Roger Freestone kept a first clean sheet in five matches and as a result Swansea did not lose.

As Nicholas pointed out, a goalless draw with Rushden & Diamonds in early November prompted three straight wins, Swansea's best run of the season.

How handy a repeat performance would be in the three matches coming up over the Christmas period.

Nine points would ensure a happy New Year — at least until leaders Plymouth come to the Vetch at lunchtime on January 1.

SWANSEA City at least ended a run of three successive league defeats but they will have to show more invention than they did against fellow Third Division strugglers Carlisle United if they are to move away from the wrong end of the table.

The fans who threatened to boycott the match as part of their continuing attempts to force controversial chairman Tony Petty to throw in the towel were only partly successful.

The crowd of 2,906 was the lowest for a league match at the Vetch Field this season but with the Swans averaging gates of only 3,700 there was scarcely a major difference.

Carlisle had approached the Football League on Friday morning in an effort to have the match postponed after sending seven of their players home with 'flu but the League were not impressed.

Despite their problems, Carlisle fought hard and deserved their point but it needed a superb interception by central defender Matthew Bound in the 67th minute to cut out a dangerous cross by Ian Stevens as Jonny Allan and Richie Foran waited to make contact.

"At least we stopped the rot and this was a much better performance than the one at Macclesfield last week," said Swans assistant manager Peter Nicholas, who admitted he was disappointed that Bound could be on his way to Oxford United on Monday on loan.

Bound will make his decision today and Nicholas said: "We don't want to let one of our better players go but the circumstances here dictate what we can and cannot do.

"Matthew did well just as the other lads did. We had a lot of the play and created several half chances but could not capitalise on them.

"As far as I am concerned it's two points lost rather than 1.1 and because both sides are struggling you could say we have thrown away a six-pointer.

"We have another one coming up against Bristol Rovers on Friday and we must make sure we don't throw that one away."

Swansea manager Colin Addison left Frenchman Mamady Sidibe on the bench and it was not until he came on to replace John Williams at the start of the second half that the Swans showed any buzz.

The first period had been relieved only by referee Clive Penton blowing the whistle for half time but Swansea had much more about them in the early minutes of the second half.

Steve Brodie, who had probably his best game for the club, set up chances for Jonathan Coates and Gareth Phillips but both went begging and when Sidibe flicked on a Michael Howard cross, Terry Evans could not bring the ball under control.

Swans goalkeeper Roger Freestone had little to occupy him on a bitterly cold afternoon and when Carlisle broke forward for Phil Hadland to meet a Peter Murphy corner with a well struck header the ball flew straight tpt him.

Andrew Mumford put a 30-yard effort over the bar in the 55th minute before Bound's superb clearance denied Carlisle the chance to open the scoring.

But it was Sidibe who missed the clearest chance of the match. Unmarked and on the edge of the six yard box he headed a Brodie cross harmlessly over the bar when it would surely have been easier to net a 71st minute winner.

Two minutes later it was Carlisle who were guilty of throwing away an opportunity in front of goal.

Stevens and Mike Jack combined well through the middle before Jack's pass found Foran in the penalty area. But as the striker went to shoot he stumbled and a grateful Swansea defence was able to tidy up.

Matthew Bound has revealed that the decision to open talks with Oxford over a loan move was the club's rather than his own.

Bound is expected to complete a loan deal to the Kassam Stadium next week with a view to making the move permanent, but confirmed that the news of the proposed move came as a shock: "I was just called into the office, told about Oxford's interest and basically that it would be happening.

"I had no desire to go - I'm settled in Swansea, my girlfriend's from the area, but I suppose this is just part of football.

"Some of the decisions being made by the people 'upstairs' at this football club at the moment aren't logical and the outlook for the future isn't necessarily all that great if people keep leaving."

Bound looks set to meet up with former Swan Martin Thomas if he does complete the short-term switch to Oxford.

Cumbrians tried to cancel Swans clash

Carlisle boss Roddy Collins revealed after the 0-0 draw with Swansea that the flu-ravaged Cumbrians had tried to have the match postponed.

At one stage, the Carlisle squad travelling down to South Wales believed the Football League had allowed them permission to cancel, and the team bus turned back home.

But another phone call told The Cumbrians that the match was back on, because Carlisle would have had to fork out thousands of pounds in compensation to Swansea and match officials.

Reluctantly, United's players turned back again for Swansea, and fielded a team with eight players suffering from a flu virus. And despite Roddy Collins naming a full subs bench, the manager claimed later that one of those five worsened before kick-off, and club physio Neil Dalton had to be installed as an emergency substitute.

Collins said after the team battled for an away point: "They showed tremendous character throughout the 90 minutes. It was not easy as at least eight of the lads have a flu virus, but credit to them. They came here and fought all the way and got the point.

"It was desperate for us as we also had to put the physio on the bench to make up the numbers but we did it and that is all that matters."

Swans assistant manager Peter Nicholas added: "This was a much better performance than last week. Mumford played well. So did little Steve Brodie."

Swansea City defender Matthew Bound has admitted that he could play his last game for the club against Carlisle on Saturday.

The 29-year-old centre-half has had talks with Oxford's director of football Ian Atkins and Saturday's match could be his Vetch swansong.

No deal has yet been done, but it is thought that Bound will initially join The Us on a month's loan with a view to making the move permanent.

Bound was signed from Stockport almost four years ago in a £55,000 deal and made his 200th appearance for the club in the FA Cup defeat against Macclesfield.

After missing the first four games of the season through suspension, he has been an ever-present - scoring two goals.

"They are looking for a central defender at present, and they have expressed an interest in Matthew several times," Swansea manager Colin Addison told the club's official website.