Brian Flynn has told Swansea City they must close the gap on the Third Division leaders this Christmas to set up a grandstand finish to the season next spring. Flynn's men kick off a challenging festive programme at Doncaster tonight six points away from an automatic promotion spot and nine shy of table-toppers Oxford.

Though they remain in sixth place after last Saturday's embarrassing defeat by Southend, Swansea are further adrift of the Third Division summit than ever before this term going into what is on paper their toughest stretch of the whole campaign.

After second-placed Doncaster come three more opponents firmly in the promotion hunt - Torquay away and then Yeovil and Oxford at home either side of the FA Cup third round.

But far from fearing the fixtures ahead in the next 18 days, Flynn has urged his side to use the busy period to make up ground on the league's pacesetters.

''The Christmas period usually gives a good indicator of where you are and we want to improve our position,'' said the Vetch Field director of football.

''We don't have to go climbing back to the very top of the table, but I always like to be within five points of the automatic promotion places.

''When we were top of the league and flying after 10 games, we stressed that the season was not over.

''That's still the case now - nothing is won in December.

''But what we want is to put ourselves in a decent position so that we can push on towards the top three spots towards the end of the season, when we hope to repeat the form we produced in August and September. We want a big finish.''

Karl Connolly, Brad Maylett and Leon Hylton all travelled north with the squad today, leaving Flynn without just two players for the trip to Belle Vue.

They are both key figures though - injured skipper Roberto Martinez and suspended top-scorer Lee Trundle.

Trundle's absence is particularly worrying given that Swansea have won only one of the six matches they have begun without him this season. By contrast, they have taken maximum points in 11 of the 19 games Trundle has started since his summer switch from Wrexham.

''I can't really argue with those facts,'' conceded Flynn, who looks likely to name an unchanged side tonight.

''Gerard Houllier misses Michael Owen at Liverpool, and we miss Lee Trundle. You'll always miss your top scorer.

''But James Thomas took his two goals very well last weekend and could well have come away with a hat-trick but for a couple of goal-line clearances,'' he addeed.

'Southend was just a bizarre game and we haven't been watching videos of it this week. You only want one horror show a season.

''I haven't seen any signs of a knock-on effect among the players, and we go to Doncaster looking to make sure that we don't lose two games in a row.''

Rovers, where Flynn enjoyed two spells late on in his playing career, are sure to have other ideas.

Former Swansea player Dave Penney's side have lost just once in 12 matches and will be close to full strength tonight knowing victory will put them top of the table.

Brad Maylett returns to first-team action tonight believing Swansea City's quartet of holiday showdowns could make or break their season. Brian Flynn's side play the first of their festive testers against Doncaster Rovers at Belle Vue this evening, where the home side will go top of the table if they take maximum points.

On Boxing Day Swansea go to Torquay, below them only on goal difference in Division Three, before hosting fourth-place Yeovil on December 28.

And after their FA Cup third-round meeting with Macclesfield, Flynn's men complete a gruelling run of Yuletide fixtures when they entertain leaders Oxford in the first week of the New Year.

"The Christmas period is always a key time, but it's especially important for us this year because of the sides we're going to be up against," Maylett said.

"Our next four league games are all very big. Usually you get a tough one and then one that looks a bit easier on the fixture list, but we haven't got that in the next few weeks.

"Doncaster, Torquay, Yeovil, Oxford - they're all sides going well and it's going to be a big test of how far we've come since last season.

"I think we would be happy if we could get seven, eight or nine points considering that two of the games are away from home.

"Lee Trundle will be back for Yeovil, which is good news because Kevin Nugent is suspended then. Hopefully James Thomas will continue the scoring form he showed last weekend.

"We're nine points off the top of the table now and it's important we stay in touch. If you have a good run over Christmas it sets you up for the rest of the season, and I think it is fair to say the next couple of weeks will have a big say in our promotion challenge."

Maylett, 23 on Christmas Eve, may have to be content with a place on the bench in Yorkshire tonight having spent two months on the sidelines with a torn hamstring.

Having come through the reserves' win over Swindon in midweek, the Manchester-born flyer is targeting a happier second half to his first full Swansea season having missed games earlier in the campaign due to suspension and a separate leg injury.

"I have been back training for a couple of weeks now and I'm desperate to get playing again," the former Burnley man added.

"The injuries are easing throughout the squad now which is good news for us because we know we need to step up a level from the Southend game.

"That defeat is bound to have knocked the confidence of a few of the lads who were involved last weekend, but I think they're strong enough to bounce back from that.

"And I think that although it's going to be a big test for us, we are capable of getting a result tonight and avoiding two defeats in a row.

"We are in the middle of a bit of a sticky patch, we know that, but with all the lads on the way back I believe we can get going like we were at the start of the season again.

"I'm confident there are some good times ahead."

Bring back the boots! That's the message from Swansea City to the 'thief' who has borrowed Lee Trundle's magic daps.

A pantomime villain sneaked into the Vetch on Tuesday and swiped the golden boots and now the club is appealing for their return.

Trundle is back in action on December 28 against Yeovil and he needs his boots to perform some of his special tricks.

But if they are not returned then everything could go up in a puff of smoke.

Club vice-chairman Leigh Dineen said: "If the 'thief' has any Christmas cheer then they will return the boots.

"It might well be the pantomime season but we don't want any villains at the Vetch!

"Lee must have the boots back by the Yeovil game so he can perform some more magic. It's not the daps that matter it's the person who fills them, if whoever has them thinks they can use them to play in Division Seven of the Swansea Senior League, then they should think again."

BRIAN FLYNN believes the rare tongue-lashing he gave his Swansea City players following their shambolic defeat against Southend will reap dividends when they square up to Doncaster tonight.

The Swans boss spelt out why he had to read his team the riot act after their humiliating 3-2 surrender to opponents who had three men sent off in one of the most bizarre matches seen at the Vetch in recent years.

Not normally one to blast his players in public, Flynn slammed his players amateurish defending which enabled Southend to score even after being reduced to eight men.

But Flynn is adamant the criticism he dished out will pay off when the Swans face one of their toughest challenges of the season away to second-placed Rovers.

"There are no two ways about it - it is vital that we improve on the performance we put in against Southend," said Flynn.

"What happened last weekend was not good enough and I made my feelings clear to the players.

"You have to be honest with them and sometimes harsh words are spoken.

"And I had to use a few harsh words after the Southend game because I knew that we were capable of doing so much better - individually and collectively.

"It was important we understood as a group what had gone wrong and focused our thoughts on putting it right.

"And I'm confident the players will respond in a much more positive manner against Doncaster.

"We've had a good week in training and I don't think there will be a hangover from the Southend game."

Flynn went on, "We've had a fair bit of criticism for losing to an eight-man team, but only in the last five minutes did Southend have two sent off.

"The thing that upset me most was conceding a third goal when we had three extra men on the pitch.

"When everything is said and done, it was one of those bizarre games you see from time to time.

"We've got to put it behind us. Learn from what happened and move on."

The Swans head for Belle Vue desperate to record their first win in four league outings to avoid the prospect of dropping out of the top six.

But Flynn's men will have their work cut out since Doncaster have lost just once at home this season.

Having returned to the Football League via the Conference play-offs last season, Rovers have taken Division Three by storm and will replace Oxford at the top of the table if they collect a point tonight.

"They're flying at the moment and, like a lot of teams who come up from the Conference, are a good bet to shoot straight up to Division Two", said Flynn, who captained Doncaster during the 1985-86 season, before returning for another brief spell in 87-88.

"They've kept the nucleus of players they had last year and signed one or two - and they're on a roll.

"It's going to be tough, but though we'll give Doncaster the respect they deserve, we won't be fearful of them.

"Our focus is on ourselves and how we can achieve the result we need to keep us in the top six over the weekend.

"After the Torquay match on Boxing Day we'll be halfway through the season and we'll want to be within touching distance of the leading clubs."

Rovers will include former Cardiff striker Leo-Fortune West, while Flynn is expected to name an unchanged Swansea line-up.

LEO FORTUNE-WEST has warned his Doncaster team-mates they will have to be at their best to overcome Swansea City tonight.

The former Cardiff City striker is preparing to lead the line for a Doncaster side who need just a point to reach the Third Division summit for the first time in 10 years.

Sitting top of the pile would be sweet reward for former Swans captain Dave Penney, who has steered Rovers into promotion contention just months after leading them back into the Football League.

Rovers have suffered only one home defeat this season and lost just two of their last 14 - daunting statistics for a Swansea side aiming to make amends for the Southend shambles last weekend.

But Fortune-West, no stranger to games against the men from the Vetch having spent three years down the M4 at Cardiff, insists this is no home banker.

"It's going to be a particularly tough game for us and we'll have to be on top form to get the win we're looking for," said the 32-year-old, who swapped Ninian Park for Belle Vue in the summer.

"The fact is Swansea will arrive as underdogs and they could benefit from that - sometimes it's not easy being favourites.

"I can testify that games against Swansea are always interesting - and they're always competitive.

"A couple of years ago the club was dying, but they're enjoying a revival at the moment and, if we're not on our guard, we could be victims of that.

"Our home record is fantastic and we've had a good run of late. But we could still lose this match if we don't apply ourselves properly.

"And Swansea will be desperate for a good result after their defeat against Southend last week. They could be at their most dangerous."

The presence of Fortune-West, who has fired in six goals since his summer move to Yorkshire, is one of a number of interesting sub-plots to the fixture.

It will be the first time Penney has faced Swansea as a manager since he ended his four-year spell at the Vetch in 1997 with a move to Cardiff.

Penney, who netted 23 goals in 131 League appearances for Swansea, left shortly after captaining the club to the Third Division play-off final against Northampton at Wembley.

"I had the best time of my playing career at the Vetch," he said. "I still have a lot of affection for Swansea.

"It was a huge relief to see them avoid relegation last season and I've been looking forward to this fixture.

"But there's only one thing I want from it - and that's a Doncaster win. Then I'll wish Swansea all the best for the rest of the season."

The match also sees Flynn return to the club he captained for a short period in 1985-86 and returned to in 1987-88 before entering management with Wrexham.

Flynn is expected to name an unchanged Swans line-up, even though midfielders Karl Connolly and Brad Maylett and defender Leon Hylton are all available again after lengthy spells on the treatment table.

"It's unlikely they will start the match because they're not 100 per cent fit, but it will be a big boost to have extra options on the bench," he said.

And the Swans boss is hoping right-back Richard Duffy will not be distracted by on-going speculation he could soon be on his way to Portsmouth.

The Premiership club have offered an initial £100,000 bid for the 18-year-old, who is still to sign the 12-month contract extension on the table at Swansea.

But Flynn remains confident the Wales Under-19 international is staying at the Vetch.

"Richard has told me he's going to sign the contract we've offered him and I believe he will," Flynn concluded.

Swansea City have hit out at Portsmouth for trying to unsettle Richard Duffy after the Premiership club made a formal offer for the teenaged defender. Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie claims that a bid of £150,000 rising to £500,000 depending on appearances for the 18-year-old Brynhyfryd product has been rejected.

But angry Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins has insisted the offer was much lower and accused Portsmouth of acting poorly in their attempt to land one of the brightest young talents at Vetch Field.

''We have received an offer, but it was for £100,000 initially with a never-ending run of further payments based on first-team appearances which came nowhere near £500,000,'' he said.

''We've rejected the bid believing firstly that Richard wants to stay on and play first-team football for us and secondly that the offer they have made is certainly not a genuine one.

''It's nowhere near what we value Richard at and we feel it's an attempt by Portsmouth to try to unsettle him.

''You would think that in this day and age, anyone wishing to make a serious offer would pick up the phone and speak to me, then confirm it in writing.

''All Portsmouth have done is send us a fax without speaking to any member of staff, which is a very underhand way of doing things.''

Jenkins said any increased bid would be considered if and when the time comes, while admitting that ultimately the decision will be up to Duffy given that he is out of contract in the summer.

''Naturally it's in Richard's hands,'' he added.

''It falls back to him and his family because as yet he has not signed the new deal we have offered him. We are prepared to try to make him as happy as possible to persuade him to stay with us.''

Pompey hope their initial bid will convince Duffy not to pen the one-year contract extension on offer at the Vetch so that he can join them next summer.

Should he go at the end of the season, Swansea would be entitled to compensation for their part in nurturing the youngster, with a sum to be decided by tribunal.

Whether that would amount to more than Portsmouth's current bid is uncertain.

''We've done the honourable thing and made a formal bid for the player, but Swansea will not sell him to us in the January transfer window,'' Storrie said.

''We weren't that surprised by Swansea's response, but he is out of contract at the end of the season so we can go back then when the fee would be decided by tribunal.

''He's one for the future. Whatever division you're in, you're always on the lookout for young ones. All the reports we've had about him have been very good."

There was good news for Swansea yesterday when Brad Maylett, Karl Connolly and Leon Hylton came through the reserves' 4-1 win over Swindon.

All three could now come into contention for Friday's trip to Doncaster.

Swansea City reserves enjoyed their biggest win of the season yesterday as three senior players staked a claim for a first-team return at Doncaster on Friday night. Karl Connolly, Brad Maylett and Leon Hylton all got some much-needed game time under their belts as Alan Curtis's team saw off Swindon Town 4-1 at Vetch Field.

Left winger Connolly, out since breaking his ankle in the 2-0 win over Huddersfield in September, was substituted late on after feeling some pain in his other ankle.

But director of football Brian Flynn hopes the former QPR man will be okay for the testing trip to Belle Vue.

And Flynn should have Maylett and Hylton available for selection as Swansea's first XI bid to bounce back from last weekend's embarrassing home defeat by eight-man Southend.

Wideman Maylett, returning after tearing his hamstring, picked up a slight dead leg early on yesterday but still managed the full 90 minutes and played a part in youth-team striker Mark Pritchard's first-half opener.

Swindon were level early in the second period when Grant Smith's close-range shot deflected in off skipper Kris O'Leary, but after that the home side took control.

First, trialist Lee John, a 20-year-old striker currently playing for Merthyr on a non-contract basis, raced on to Stuart Jones's through ball and saw his shot turned into the net by Robins defender Ian Oliver.

Swansea were two goals to the good just after the hour when Antonio Corbisiero's curling cross was met by a fine diving header from centre-back Jones.

And an improved performance from the Vetch second string was capped four minutes later when Connolly met the hard-working Jonathan Coates's pull-back with a measured 20-yard shot into Bart Griemink's far corner.

SWANSEA CITY: Williams, K Davies, Hylton, O'Leary (capt), S Jones, Connolly (Waters 83), Maylett, R Jones (Corbisiero ht), Coates, Pritchard, John. Subs not used: Harrison, King, Rewbury.

SCORERS: Swansea: Pritchard 18, Oliver (own goal) 52, S Jones 62, Connolly 66. Swindon: Smith 49

KEVIN NUGENT admits he has had sleepless nights over Swansea City's shambolic defeat against Southend last weekend.

And the Swans' captain revealed he was so upset by the 3-2 surrender to eight-man Southend that afterwards he refused to even pick up a newspaper or watch football on television.

Brian Flynn's side suffered their most humiliating defeat of the season so far when the struggling Essex team left the Vetch with a win despite having three men red-carded.

And Nugent says he can hardly wait for Friday's trip to Doncaster to come round so he can get the performance out of his system.

"I had a couple of sleepless nights after the Southend game I felt so bad about it," said Nugent.

"In fact, I just had to switch off from football. I'd normally pick up a paper on a Sunday, but this time I couldn't. I didn't want to remind myself of the match by reading about it.

"I had an idea we were sixth in the division, but I didn't want to check the league table.

"And I didn't even switch the television on to watch football because I wasn't in the mood.

"It really gets to me when we have a poor performance. I've always been critical of myself, wondering what I could've done better in certain situations.

"I've been like that all through my career and I expect I always will be.

"I want to get back to normal against Doncaster and I'm sure the rest of the players would say the same thing because everyone's so disappointed about the Southend game."

Swansea must pick up the pieces against a Rovers side second in the league and, worryingly, defeated just once at home this season.

"It's going to be very tough because they're one of the most consistent performers in the division," said Nugent.

"They've done very well under Dave Penney, a former Swansea captain and someone I know from my Cardiff days.

"They only came up from the Conference last season, but one of the reasons they've been so successful is they've managed to keep the same nucleus of players."

There was good news for the Swans yesterday when Karl Connolly, Brad Maylett and Leon Hylton all came through 90 minutes of yesterday's 4-1 reserve team win against Swindon.

The trio should be part of the squad that travels to Belle Vue and are in line for a place on the subs' bench at least.

Premiership Portsmouth have been warned off Richard Duffy as the teenager closes in on a fresh Swansea City contract. Boss Brian Flynn expects Duffy to extend his current deal by 12 months this week, keeping him at Vetch Field until the summer of 2005.

The new terms will mean little should reports of a Portsmouth bid of up to £500,000 come true in next month's transfer window - because Duffy is under contract until the end of the season anyway and is just 18 years old.

Were he to leave when his present deal expires, Swansea would be entitled to compensation because he is under 24.

But Vetch chairman Huw Jenkins insists the fact that Duffy is poised to put pen to paper proves that a move to Fratton Park is unlikely.

"We have said all along that we are in the process of building a side here," he said.

"Considering that Lee Jenkins has just moved on, the last thing we need is anybody else to be leaving, particularly another of our right-backs.

"As far as I know nobody from Portsmouth has been in touch with us and we're not looking into their interest.

"People like Richard Duffy and Lee Trundle are the ones we want to keep at this club to help us move forward."

Like Flynn last week, Jenkins refused to rule out absolutely the possibility of Duffy departing.

"There are a few weeks until the transfer window so that may be why we haven't heard anything," he conceded.

"And there's a point with every player on the books where we would have to look at an offer.

"Right now it's not on the agenda, though. We're just happy to have interest shown in some of our players at last because that is what the club wants. It shows that we're going in the right direction."

Swansea will discover tonight who they will host in the third round of the FA Cup when Cambridge take on Macclesfield in the second-round replay.

ROBERTO MARTINEZ has urged Swansea City fans not to lose faith with the team - and promised he will be back early in the new year to help keep their promotion hopes alive.

Club captain Martinez - still sidelined with a troublesome knee complaint - is begging supporters not to be too downhearted in the wake of Saturday's discouraging 3-2 defeat against eight-man Southend.

Swans fans left the Vetch dumfounded after watching their side commit a number of defensive howlers and fail to pick up at least a point against a team that had three men red-carded.

Martinez admitted the setback places more pressure on Brian Flynn's side to pick up results from a Christmas programme that begins with a tough trip to second-placed Doncaster on Friday.

But the Spanish midfielder is convinced Swansea will be in a position to claim automatic promotion come the end of the season - as long as the supporters are right behind them.

"I'd ask people not to lose faith because we need to keep the special chemistry between the fans and the players that helped us last season and has helped us so far this season, said Martinez.

"Everyone in the dressing room is confident we will finish in the top three and I can assure the supporters no one wants to let them down.

"I can understand people getting a little worried after the Southend match, but normally you only get one or two results like that in a season.

"It was a strange game and perhaps the atmosphere went a little flat, but I think it really was just a bad day at the office.

"What's important now is that we have a good Christmas period. How we do in the next couple of weeks could have a big say on where we finish.

"Three good games over Christmas won't guarantee us automatic promotion, but at the same time a bad Christmas period might ruin our chances of finishing in the top three.

"We're six points off third place, but I believe Doncaster and Yeovil could still be in a honeymoon period.

"They've done very well, but it would be interesting to see how they react after a couple of defeats and what character they have."

Martinez has suffered a series of setbacks in his bid to recover from the knee ligament damage he picked up against Boston on August 22.

But he was told by a specialist last week that he will not need an operation - and hopes there will be no more aborted comebacks.

"I don't want to set any more firm targets, but I'll definitely be back before long," said the 30-year-old.

"I can't wait to make myself available again and playing first-team football on a regular basis.

"And when the other injured players come back, I think we'll have one of the strongest squads in the division."

Midfielders Brad Maylett and Karl Connolly and defender Leon Hylton hope to prove their fitness with a run-out in today's reserve clash against Swindon Town at the Vetch (2pm).

The grandchildren might not hear about it as often, but the shambles that was Southend will live almost as long in James Thomas's memory as the heroics of Hull City. No Football League place on the line this time, only three Third Division points which would have been handy for Swansea City going into a Christmas programme which is likely to provide a serious test of their promotion credentials.

But it is not what was at stake for the club that will make this contest stick in Thomas's mind, rather his personal battle for a place in the side.

And the fact that having weighed in with a mightier contribution than he or Swansea could really have expected, he finished up losing to a team of only eight men.

''Have you got plenty of ink, lads?'' asked Brian Flynn as he began summing up a truly remarkable couple of hours in his post-match press conference.

Things had begun so well for Swansea when Thomas planted a header past Darryl Flahavan to announce his return to the first team in place of the suspended Lee Trundle.

A second goal of this league campaign in only the third start for last season's saviour, and an early declaration that this would be an afternoon where this year's hero would not be missed.

The home crowd were boisterous. How little they suspected what was about to unfold.

Leon Constantine soon cancelled out the opener after some sleepy Swansea defending, then David McSweeney was first into the early bath after a clash with Andy Robinson.

But the 10 men were in front before the break as Mark Gower's hopeful effort beat Roger Freestone from 25 yards.

Cue Flynn's answer to the hairdrier treatment and a Robinson free-kick which cannoned off the crossbar. It was as close as Swansea would come before a chaotic finish.

Five minutes of normal time remained when Southend midfielder Jay Smith, rightly booked earlier for chopping down Leon Britton, saw his second yellow card for something he said to the assistant referee near the Swansea goal-line, and the visitors were down to nine.

In the same seemingly innocuous incident Gower had his name taken for speaking out of turn, then made his way towards the away dugout to be substituted before play could restart.

By now the abused flag-waver had made his way to halfway to check would-be replacement Mark Warren's studs, and there apparently Gower dished out another volley of verbals.

And then there were eight.

Red card No. 4 soon followed, this time for Southend's assistant manager Paul Brush.

He walked for delivering another earful towards the officials, then almost came to blows with the steward who was escorting him to the stand.

What happened next?

The Essex boys, all seven of them who remained in outfield positions, conjured up another goal.

It could almost make it on to A Question of Sport.

''I cannot recall finishing against eight men in my playing career and it certainly hasn't happened in my time as a manager,'' Flynn moaned.

''They went down to eight and scored a goal - to say that we were poor is an understatement.''

It was Warren, making his first contribution having finally made it off the bench, who took advantage of some disastrous Swansea defending to ensure that Thomas's brilliant second seven minutes into injury time would count for nothing.

''Conceding the third was devastating,'' said Swansea centre-back Izzy Iriekpen, ''especially when James went and got another goal.

''We could have had a point. It was an extremely bad day at the office for us.

''The last 10 minutes were crazy. The ref was sending people off left, right and centre, their assistant manager was fighting with a steward and we didn't know what was going on.

''Everything just went pear-shaped for us and you have to feel for James, who was the one thing that was good about us.

''He has been unlucky not to have played more this season and I thought he was absolutely outstanding.

''You can tell in training that he is always going to score goals, and he might even have won us that game.

''But as a team we were not good enough. We have worked to try to keep things tight at the back and we've had a few clean sheets lately - we don't usually concede goals at the Vetch like we did.

''We shouldn't be letting in any more than one - maximum - at home because we've got to be winning all our home games if we are to achieve our aim of reaching the top three.''

Even after this aberration, the automatic promotion places remain within sight as the midway point of the season approaches.

Still, Swansea's director of football, the man to whom his team's reputation means so much, could not hide his discontent after such an embarrassing setback.

''I'm pleased for James. He has been hungry to get back into the team and he took his two goals very well,'' Flynn added.

''But collectively we have to take the criticism, just like we take the plaudits.

''You only get what you deserve in this game and I didn't think we deserved anything, whether they had 11 men or eight men.

''After the first sending off they dictated the game. You have got to work even harder sometimes when the opposition go down to 10, and I didn't think we did that.

''We allowed them too much space and allowed them to get ahead. At throw-ins, for example, they were getting easy possession. That shouldn't happen.

''We couldn't wait for half-time so we could sort things out. But though we got some more possession, we still lacked a clinical edge and to concede a goal when they had eight players just rubbed salt in the wound.

''Generally we made too many schoolboy errors and got punished for them. That makes me mad because I know how good these players are and how much better a job they can do.''

Undeniably, a drastic improvement is required if Swansea are to stay in touch with leaders Oxford before the two clubs meet in the first week of the New Year.

Come through Christmas clashes with Doncaster, Torquay and Yeovil unscathed and the deserving Thomas should have a couple of happier tales to tell.

As a result of Southend's victory at the Vetch, Darlington slipped into the bottom two after a 1-0 defeat at Cambridge. Luke Guttridge scored the only goal for the home side with a penalty just before the interval. Rock-bottom Carlisle are now 15 points adrift at the foot of the table after a 2-1 defeat by leaders Oxford at the Kassam Stadium.

Carlisle may have feared a hammering after Matthew Robinson's third-minute opener, but Andy Crosby's 31st-minute penalty was the only other goal Oxford could muster.

Richie Foran's late spot-kick offered Carlisle a way back but hopes of a dramatic equalising goal were dashed as the home side held on.

Doncaster moved up to second place with a 3-1 win at Cheltenham, while Hull drew 1-1 at Scunthorpe.

Michael McIndoe, from the penalty spot, David Morley and John Melligan were all on target for Rovers, and Mark Yates netted for Cheltenham.

Hull lost ground but Stuart Elliott's 70th-minute equaliser at least secured a point at Glanford Park. Peter Beagrie's penalty had put the Iron ahead five minutes earlier.

Mansfield also slipped up as they suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Lincoln. Liam Lawrence's penalty had cancelled out Lincoln midfielder Richard Butcher's third-minute opener but Peter Gain won it for the visitors.

Yeovil were the main beneficiaries as they moved up to fourth with a 1-0 win at Bristol Rovers. Nick Crittenden netted for the Glovers, who held on despite a red card for Jake Edwards.

Macclesfield enjoyed a big win as they thrashed Huddersfield 4-0 at Moss Rose. Matthew Tipton, who bagged two, John Miles and Chris Priest were their scorers.

Matthew Gadsby completed a Kidderminster comeback as they beat Leyton Orient 2-1 at Aggborough. Gabriel Zakuani gave Orient an early lead but a Mark Peters own goal got Kiddy back level.

Kevin Townson netted the winner seven minutes from time as Rochdale beat Bury 2-1. Andy Bishop got Rochdale's first, with Terry Dunfield replying.

Greg Lincoln scored for Northampton but Lee Thompson replied to earn Boston a 1-1 draw at York Street.

Torquay's clash with York also ended 1-1. Lee Nogan opened the scoring for York but a Jonathan Parkin own goal saw the Gulls to a point.

James Thomas has urged Swansea City to put the embarrassment of Southend behind them by downing high-flying Doncaster on Friday night. Brian Flynn's side head into one of the biggest tests of their season on the back of a scarcely believable 3-2 home reverse by a side which had three men sent off.

Two-goal Thomas, who proved an able replacement for the suspended Lee Trundle, was one of few Swansea players to emerge with any credit from a performance which left Flynn cursing ''schoolboy errors.''

And as they prepare to take on a Doncaster side beaten just once in their last 12 Third Division matches, the former Blackburn striker has called on his team-mates to conjure an immediate return to form.

''Southend wasn't good enough for top six,'' declared Thomas. ''Nowhere near.

''We all know that and we will be looking to put things right as soon as possible. To do that we have got to keep positive and try to forget about Saturday.

''All our attention now switches to Friday night because we are going to be judged on how we react.''

Thomas's opener on Saturday was followed quickly by a Leon Constantine equaliser and red card No. 1 of a jaw-dropping afternoon.

But having lost David McSweeney, Southend nudged ahead through Mark Gower. The visitors' second goalscorer was sent off late on along with Jay Smith and assistant manager Paul Brush - who then clashed with a steward - as chaos reigned at the Vetch.

When the contest eventually restarted, the Shrimpers, incredibly, scored a third goal - meaning Thomas's spectacular second counted for nothing.

''Earlier on in the season we were gaining a reputation and losing like this frustrates me because I know how good the players can be,'' said director of football Flynn.

''We will see how much confidence it has taken out of us at Doncaster, where winning would make amends for Saturday.It will be an acid test for us because they are flying.''

Thomas will view Doncaster as another chance to prove he is worth a regular place in Swansea's starting line-up having taken his season's tally to three goals in three league starts.

Last term's top marksman can pencil himself in for the rest of the year at the very least after Kevin Nugent collected his fifth yellow card of the season against Southend.

Swansea's stand-in skipper will now sit out the home clash with Yeovil on December 28, when Trundle returns after his three-match ban.

Thomas added: ''The gaffer reminded me before Southend that strikers are judged on the goals they score and I'll just try to keep on doing that so he's got a selection headache when Lee comes back.''

Swansea have been drawn away at Caersws in the quarter-finals of the FAW Premier Cup. Cardiff travel to Newport, Barry to Rhyl and Wrexham to TNS with games to take place some time in Januay.

BRIAN FLYNN has never been a man to use paragraphs when a mere few words will do.

In fact the joke when he was Wrexham manager was that if you asked Flynn if it was raining up there, he would reply, "No comment!"

Clearly something has stirred Flynn down at Swansea City, though as he builds his new football odyssey down at the Vetch.

Fifteen months into the job as Swans boss, Flynn has opened up to The Western Mail in real depth about his blueprint for the club and the way he feels about his own position as a manager - past, present and future.

Small in stature Flynn may be. Talk to him about the Swans, though, and you quickly realise how big he is on ambition.

In one of the most detailed interviews Flynn has given in his managerial career, Brian outlined how he:

EXPECTS the Swans to be an established Division Two force within two years and then to push for Division One;

TOLD the Swans directors they had to do it his way, or no way;

FEELS a desire to build a club, right down to under-nine level, rather than just a team;

BELIEVES he is a much better manager for the Hull experience last season;

IS still hurt by the Bobby Gould snub when he was axed as Wales Under-21 manager.

Most pundits tipped Flynn to quit at the end of last season when he sat down for crisis talks with the Swans board, having seen his team pull off that incredible 4-2 win over Hull to preserve the club's League status.

But he reveals today, "In the days after that game I said to the chairman, 'This has got to be the agenda for our talks about the future.'

"There were five items on my list. And bottom of the list was a new contract for myself and my No 2 Kevin Reeves.

"It really was the least important issue. What mattered was this: where did the club want to go and what did the board want to achieve?

"I needed to hear it from their own mouths. If the chairman had said the Premiership, I would have replied, 'Let's start this conversation again.'

"But he didn't, he said Division One. And that was music to my ears. I'm afraid the John Toshack days of Swansea City going from bottom division to the top of the top flight have gone.

"That was a one-off at the start of the 1980s that will never be repeated by any lower division club again.

"Football has changed so much financially these days that it simply isn't practical for a Swansea City to achieve that sort of thing.

"If, on the other hand, we could get to Division One and establish ourselves there for a while, maybe we could re-assess. But Division One, we agreed, has to be our aim. We agreed we could achieve it within five years.

"And to do that, we have to be a recognised Division Two club within the next couple of years, in a similar way that my old Wrexham side were.

"Three times that Wrexham team reached the edge of the play-offs. But Swansea are bigger - bigger fan base, super new stadium on the horizon.

"Hey, the Vetch has very fond memories for me. I made my Wales debut here. It's special.

"But it is also a traditional, tired, old British football stadium which holds us back.

"Let me give you a small, but relevant, example. We've got a gym under the stand which the players need to use.

"But they haven't been able to for certain matches - because the club have needed it as a hospitality lounge to raise finances.

"I've accepted that. But it's not ideal - and it's not the sort of thing that will happen at a modern new stadium when we play there."

Explaining why he had to reshape everything from top to bottom, Flynn went on, "I said to the chairman, 'Do you just want a coach to take the first team ... or do you want me to manage the football club.

"And that means everything, from senior team right down to the under-nines. To build a club, rather than a side.

"Again, I will give you a little, but once more, relevant example.

"The other week we played Cardiff City at under-13s level. Cardiff had a 13-year-old from the Mumbles area of Swansea playing for them.

"That sort of situation should never have happened.

"I accept the board have had to do a certain amount of cost-cutting, but youth development is the very future of this club.

"It's a juggling act. But, if we are to achieve what we want to in terms of Division One, we have to start getting it right at that level, as well as at senior level."

Flynn has been in charge of the Swans for 15 months, having taken over from Nick Cusack.

"We don't want him," said a large element of Swans fans at the time.

"What's he achieved in football," decreed another section.

Well, as they lurched further and further into crisis last season, it's just as well the Swans did have Flynn on board.

He had twice been involved in a League great escape before. Firstly, as a player with Burnley, then as manager of Wrexham.

And each time, as he did with the Swans against Hull, Flynn came up trumps.

"When I was at Burnley we would have gone out of the League, had we lost to Orient," recalled Flynn.

"Do you know who scored the winning goal with a header that day? A player called Ian Britton, the smallest player on the pitch.

"So I told Leon Britton he would score with a header against Hull. It's called psychology, according to my old Burnley manager Jimmy Andrews.

"We had to convince the players that if they kept doing what we wanted, we would escape. It was hard to get the message across when we would go away, win our match, and still find ourselves bottom of the League.

"But I had been there, seen it and done it as a manager with Wrexham.

"When I first took over there, we were rock bottom, three wins behind everybody else - and that was with only two points for a win.

"But I kept telling the players they had to do it a certain way, they did and we escaped.

"At Swansea the players were positive and we did it against Hull.

"And yes, from my point of view, it proved my reputation as a manager.

"Normally in football you can't change things around overnight. Here I had to because the squad I inherited was unbalanced, with too many midfield players, had no width and no pace.

"But we've come through that. From here we plan for the future."

Instead of fighting at the foot of the League, Flynn's Swans are chasing promotion this season.

"A dramatic turnaround in the space of a few months," was Flynn's assessment.

If they achieve the goal this year, and Flynn does help the Swans push for Division One, he might even find his name touted with the Wales manager's job again.

From apparently being a certainty to take over from Terry Yorath in the mid-1990s, Flynn suddenly found himself out of favour with the FA of Wales council members who previously thought the world of him.

Quite why remains a bit of a mystery.

But clearly being axed by Gould as Welsh under-21 manager didn't help.

Under Flynn, our under-21s actually won matches. Since he was forced out, they've lost most of the time.

"Yes that hurt me, still does," said Flynn.

"I did the jon for two years. I was having my cake and eating it - ie, working with the elite youngsters in Wales.

"But it hurt even more to see Wales slide down the FIFA rankings under Gould. I would go to English clubs and people would taunt me with, 'Oh, I see the Congo are above you these days.'

"As it happens, I could have been Wales manager ahead of Gould. But at the time Wrexham were in the middle of a good streak and I was loyal to them.

"As for the future, who knows. But put it this way, if Swansea do well, it won't do me any harm, will it?"

SCORING twice on his return to the Swansea side was exactly the kind of impression striker James Thomas was hoping to make.

It is safe to assume, however, that ending up on the losing side after witnessing an incredible piece of Vetch Field history repeat itself was not part of his dream scenario.

In another implausible 90 minutes of drama involving Brian Flynn's team, visitors Southend were reduced to eight men for the second time at this ground in five years.

Yet, unlike in September 1998, when the Swans capitalised on the Shrimpers having three men sent off to register a 3-1 win, they suffered a second home defeat at the hands of the Essex club in little more than a month.

LDV Vans Trophy victors at the Vetch in November, strugglers Southend inflicted more damage on Flynn's men to leave them in sixth and trailing Division Three leaders Oxford by nine points.

But a breathtaking finale in which Jay Smith and Mark Gower were both dismissed for two bookable offences - Dave McSweeney had been red-carded after 20 minutes for kicking out at Andy Robinson - inevitably provided the major post-match talking point.

And it didn't stop there. Southend No 2 Paul Brush was ordered from the dug-out for protesting by over-worked - and frankly over-zealous - referee George Cain and scuffled with stewards as he trudged down the touchline.

Amazingly, eight-man Southend went 3-1 up and, though Thomas then pulled one back, held on for what will go down as their win of the season so far.

All of which overshadowed an outstanding return to the side for Thomas. But it did not disguise what was a desperately disappointing Swansea performance, an afternoon in which truly atrocious defending gifted Southend three goals and the Swansea midfield went AWOL.

And Thomas, handed his first league start since August in place of the suspended Lee Trundle, conceded, "That was nowhere near good enough if we're serious about finishing in the top six.

"We're not going to win promotion on the back of performances like that.

"On a personal level, it was obviously pleasing to get the two goals because I was desperate to make a good impression.

"Scoring twice won't do any harm to my chances of holding onto my place once Trunds is available again - I've got three goals in three League starts now and that's the kind of form I need.

"But, to be honest, it means nothing when you end up losing. I would rather have not scored and finished on the winning side.

"As for the performance, I'd agree with the manager that we've got to defend from the front. We made mistakes, but you can't just blame the defence. Everyone must take responsibility."

It looked promising for the Swans when Thomas headed them in front after 14 minutes after connecting with a precise Kieron Durkan cross.

But Southend restored parity just three minutes later when Leon Constantine cut through feeble Swansea resistance to shoot low past an out-of-sorts Roger Freestone.

United saw red for the first time when McSweeney was dismissed for his involvement in an ugly tangle with Robinson and on the stroke of half-time Freestone's goal was breached once more. A safe pair of hands in recent matches, this time the Swans No 1 allowed Gower's low drive to slither through his fingers.

To their credit, the Swans camped themselves in the Southend box after the interval and Thomas twice saw fine efforts scrambled off the line. But the midfield threat all but evaporated as the game wore on and defensively Swansea remained a shambles.

Bizarre is the best word to describe what happened in the final five minutes of normal time as well as the four added on for stoppages.

Smith's second yellow was issued for dissent and so too was Gower's - just as he was about to be substituted.

A furious Brush was then sent to the stand and being chaperoned by the Swansea stewards in front of the baying home fans only served to further incense the former Orient manager.

But Swansea's considerable numerical advantage counted for nothing. Rather than reclaim the lead, the Swans contrived to leak a third goal, unmarked substitute Mark Warren profiting from a botched clearance to slide the ball home in the 90th minute.

Thomas hit back with a magnificent right-foot volley, but it was too late for the Swans, who will be without Kevin Nugent for the clash against Yeovil on December 28 after he picked up his fifth caution of the season.

"To say we were poor would be an understatement," sighed Flynn.

"We made a number of schoolboy errors. We'll see what effect it has on the players' confidence when we go to Doncaster on Friday - that will be the acid test. It's vital that we respond positively."

Flynn's response might be to shake things up for the trip to Belle Vue. If Brad Maylett and Karl Connolly are available, stand by for a couple of changes. Swansea could do with them.

MIDFIELD star Leon Britton has outlined his dream of hitting the soccer big time like former West Ham team-mates Joe Cole and Jermain Defoe... only with Swansea City.

Britton celebrates his first anniversary as a Swansea player today by revealing to The Western Mail his ambition of helping the club climb all the way up to Division One.

Speaking ahead of today's Third Division clash against struggling Southend at the Vetch, the Londoner explains why he believes the Swans are capable of leaping up the Football League ladder under the guidance of boss Brian Flynn.

And while one-time West Ham youth team colleagues Cole and Defoe have already discovered Premiership fame, 21-year-old Britton hopes he too can rise to the top - as a Swansea player.

"Like most footballers, I dream of one day playing at the highest level, or at least becoming established in the First Division," said Britton.

"I look at the players I came through the ranks with at West Ham with and some of them have already made it.

"Joe Cole is part of a Chelsea side pushing for the championship and Jermain Defoe is one of the top players in Division One who could be back in the Premiership soon.

"But I don't see any reason why I can't one day be up there with them at Swansea.

"We've got to get out of Division Three first, but I honestly believe this club is capable of going a lot further."

Britton outlined his ambitions as another of Swansea's key midfielders, Roberto Martinez, received mixed news on his troublesome knee injury.

On a positive note, Martinez was told by a specialist that he will not need an operation to repair damage to scar tissue in his knee.

But a special recovery programme being put in place for the Spanish midfielder means he is unlikely to play again in 2003.

"I'm reluctant to keep setting targets, but I don't expect to be back before the FA Cup match on January 3," said Martinez.

Meanwhile, defender Lee Jenkins ended a seven-year association with Swansea yesterday by completing a free transfer to Kidderminster.

Kidderminster Harriers boss Jan Molby has completed the transfer of Swansea full-back Lee Jenkins on an 18-month contract.Jenkins made his Vetch debut under Jan Molby
It is the first of two new signings expected to be made by Kidderminster this week.

Jenkins, 24, made his Swansea debut under Molby at the age of 17 during the Harriers boss' time in charge at the Vetch, and went on to make over 180 appearances for the Welsh club.

Molby said: "Lee is the type of player I think we have been missing in the side this season.

"I've kept an eye on his career ever since he played for me at Swansea."

Molby has denied reports that he is also interested in Swans midfielder Jonathan Coates.

Lee Jenkins was due to meet midfield mentor Jan Molby today to discuss a move to Kidderminster Harriers. Jenkins was expected at Aggborough this morning after Brian Flynn granted the versatile 24-year-old a free transfer.

The switch looks like depending on Molby's powers of persuasion, for Jenkins has not expressed his desire to leave Swansea despite falling down the Vetch Field pecking order in recent weeks.

Used more as a full-back than a midfielder in the last couple of seasons, Pontypool-born Jenkins began this season as Swansea's first choice on the right side of defence.

But after losing his place due to injury in early September, the former Welsh Under-21 international has seen youngsters Richard Duffy and Stuart Jones move ahead of him in Flynn's eyes.

Molby, the man who gave the then 17-year-old Jenkins his debut during his time at the Vetch, wants to move him back into midfield as the Harriers battle against the drop to Conference.

''He is going up there today for talks with Jan,'' Flynn said, ''and I have told Lee he can go on a free. We feel that with the emergence of Richard Duffy, who is currently at right-back in the first team, and Stuart Jones, who can also play there, it's worth Lee going to speak to Kidderminster.''

Though he has not figured in the first-team squad for a month, Jenkins has managed eight starts and four substitute appearances this season.

His fall from grace has been unexpected - he signed a new one-year contract only at the end of last season.

And Flynn has indicated that he will be welcomed back into the Swansea fold if the Kidderminster deal does not come off.

''If it doesn't happen then he's still part of my squad,'' he added.

Outcast midfielder Andrew Mumford, meanwhile, is attracting attention from another former Vetch supremo, Colin Addison.

He wants the 22-year-old, who was Swansea's player of the year during his time in South West Wales, to join Conference club Forest Green Rovers.

Mumford is also wanted by Newport County, with whom he spent three months on loan earlier in the season, and has been linked with Nationwide League basement boys Carlisle United.

''I have spoken to Swansea and to Mumford about the situation,'' Addison said.

''I had Andrew when I was at the club and he is a good player.''

Mumford, another ex-Welsh Under-21 player, is still to finalise a settlement on the remaining six months of his Swansea contract.

Southend caretaker boss Steve Tilson hopes a win at Vetch Field tomorrow will boost his chances of landing the job on a permanent basis. The Roots Hall reserves manager takes charge of the first team for the fifth time following the sacking of Steve Wignall last month.

With three wins from four matches, 10 goals scored and only three conceded, long-time Southend favourite Tilson has put forward a strong case to take charge permanently.

A number of big names have been linked with the club - including Oxford's Ian Atkins, former West Ham chief Glenn Roeder and Shrimpers old boy Stan Collymore.

Ex-Swansea manager John Hollins was spotted at Southend's LDV Vans Trophy tie with Luton in midweek, but the club's owners have insisted he is not in the running.

In fact they have said little about a permanent appointment of late, except that there are two candidates in their eyes.

If Tilson is one of the possibles, a win tomorow would do him the world of good.

And its a result the 37-year-old reckons his rejuvenated side can achieve - even if they are second from bottom.

"It's going to be another hard game for us," Tilson conceded, "but we've had some good results lately and confidence is high.

"We have already won there once this season and there's no reason why we can't do it again."

That night, when Danny Nardiello scored a late consolation in a 2-1 Swansea defeat, saw Brian Flynn shuffle his pack for the LDV second round.

Swansea would like to confirm that the Boxing Day match with Torquay is at Plainmoor and not Vetch Field as stated in last night's Post.

SWANSEA CITY captain Roberto Martinez could face an operation that would rule him out for another month.

The Spanish midfielder had hoped to bring an end to an injury nightmare that has dragged on for four months by making his comeback in Saturday's Division Three clash against Southend at the Vetch.

But Martinez has had to put his return on hold again after the knee injury which has kept him out for most of the season swelled up in a reserve team outing at Plymouth.

Swansea say the former Real Zaragoza star, whose involvement in the second string's 3-1 defeat at Home Park was curtailed after 37 minutes, might now have to go under the knife to eradicate the long-standing complaint.

And that could rule Martinez out of action for another four weeks, depriving Swansea of their key midfielder for the crucial Christmas and New Year programme.

"We feel desperately sorry for Roberto because this problem has dragged on and on and it has been one setback after another," said first-team coach Kevin Reeves.

"We can't say exactly how much longer he will be out for until he goes to see the knee specialist on Friday.

"The specialist will take another look at Roberto's knee and decide whether he needs an operation to cure the problem.

"If that was the case, Roberto would obviously need anything up to four weeks to recover and we'd have to do without him for a little longer."

Martinez has made only one first-team start - at Rochdale on October 25 - since damaging knee ligaments in the 3-0 win over Boston on August 22.

The 30-year-old playmaker has suffered a succession of setbacks in training and reserve matches, though he did make the bench for last Saturday's 2-1 FA Cup win over Stevenage.

But Reeves said, "The good thing is we're told there is not a major problem with the knee - the muscles around it are strong.

"It's just that there seems to be a niggly problem in the ligament tissue and an operation might be needed to clear it up."

Defender Leon Hylton (groin) has also been ruled out of the Southend game, though winger Brad Maylett has an outside chance of being fit to face the Division Three strugglers.

Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday that Swansea's potential FA Cup third round opponents Cambridge United are struggling to make it through to the end of 2003.

Cash-strapped Cambridge - who would meet the Swans at the Vetch on January 3 if they overcome Macclesfield in next week's second round replay - need to meet a loan repayment of £585,000 by December 22.

But the club has warned it will not be able to find the cash without the help of supporters.

Swansea's home league match with Oxford United, originally scheduled for FA Cup third round weekend, will now be played on Tuesday, January 6.

Roberto Martinez sees a specialist tomorrow and could face an operation on his troublesome knee after yet another setback to his comeback plans. The Spanish midfielder had targeted Saturday's home clash with Southend to make his return after a surprise appearance on the bench for last weekend's FA Cup tie with Stevenage.

But after only 37 minutes of the reserve match at Plymouth on Tuesday, he broke down again and is likely to remain sidelined until after Christmas.

The latest concern is with the scar tissue from Martinez's original injury.

''He felt his knee early on and thought he could come through it,'' said director of football Brian Flynn. ''But he couldn't and it's flared up again. Obviously it's a blow to Roberto and to the team.

''We will get him to see a specialist tomorrow and see what action to take next."

Flynn could not say how long the latest recurrence of Martinez knee problems would keep him out.

''How long is a piece of string?'' Flynn said, when asked of the captain's possible absence.

''We have already had three reports from three separate specialists and they have all said the same thing, that the knee is in good order generally.

''We will wait and see what happens tomorrow. It may be that he will need a small operation, maybe he won't. We cannot say anything until he sees the specialist.''

Martinez's midfield partner, Leon Britton, meanwhile, says it's crunch time for Swansea's promotion hopes.

Over the Christmas period Flynn's men take on three sides currently in the top seven.

A trip to Doncaster on December 19 is followed by the visit of Torquay to the Vetch on Boxing Day and Yeovil on December 28.

All that is followed by the re-arranged date with leaders Oxford on January 6, which was confirmed yesterday.

But Britton reckons the crunch starts Saturday with the visit of Southend.

The Essex seaside club have been struggling all season and now have their third man in charge - Steve Tilson - in a year.

The former West Ham midfielder, who will celebrate a year at Swansea this weekend, knows that he and his team-mates should be dealing with sides like Southend if they have ambitions of promotion.

"We should always look to be winning at home," said Britton, "and we must beat sides like Southend who are struggling and are second from bottom.''

Britton went for two weeks' trial to Southend last season, but despite playing well for the reserves, he wasn't taken on.

Kidderminster boss Jan Molby has confirmed an interest in Swansea utility man Lee Jenkins, while playing down suggestions that he wants Jonathan Coates as well.

''I've kept an eye on Lee's career since he played for me at Swansea and he's a player who I think would improve our squad,'' the Dane said.

''Whether we can take this interest any further is down to Brian Flynn.''

Mark Pritchard scored Swansea reserves' goal in the 3-1 defeat at Plymouth on Tuesday and not Jonathan Coates as our agency report said in last night's Post

Premiership Portsmouth could be willing to pay as much as £500,000 to prise Richard Duffy away from Swansea City. Pompey chairman Milan Mandaric has admitted that his club are keen on one of Vetch Field's brightest young stars, as revealed in the Evening Post 11 days ago.

And it is understood the south coast side could table a bid worth up to £500,000 depending on appearances in the January transfer window.

''Duffy's a right-sided player we like and we are looking at him seriously,'' Mandaric declared.

Boss Brian Flynn, however, remains confident that Swansea can resist the pull of the Premiership and hang onto the 18-year-old defender.

He countered: ''There will always be speculation about good players - that's how it will always be.

''It doesn't surprise me if Premiership clubs are looking at Richard because he has got big potential.

''But I still haven't heard anything from Portsmouth and I would say that there's a very good chance of Richard signing the (one-year) contract extension we are talking to him about.

''He has told me he wants to stay and we have made progress on the new deal.''

New contract or not, whether Swansea's owners would be able to resist a £500,000 offer for a player who has made just a handful of senior appearances remains to be seen.

And Flynn concedes the final decision over any deal would be made in the boardroom.

''It's all ifs and buts and I can't answer hypothetical questions about possible fees,'' he added.

''If an offer was made we would discuss it as we would at any other time. Ultimately it would be up to the board to decide, though they would do so with very strong recommendations from me.''

Duffy, who made his Swansea debut as a 16-year-old, is only contracted at the Vetch until the end of the season.

Because he is under the age of 24, Swansea would be entitled to hefty compensation even if he were to leave the club as a free agent next summer.

A regular goalscorer as a striker in his youth team days, Duffy is a player Portsmouth chief Harry Redknapp believes could operate further forward than right-back, where he is currently playing for Swansea.

The former West Ham manager has turned his attentions to the Brynhyfryd product having missed out on Wimbledon's highly-rated right midfielder Joel McAnuff in the summer.

Portsmouth feel they may have unearthed another Matthew Taylor, the club's current left wing-back who was spotted playing in the Third Division for Luton.

Any move for Duffy could have a significant bearing on the Swansea future of Lee Jenkins, who has been linked with a move to Kidderminster along with Jonathan Coates.

Flynn, meanwhile, has not shut the door on a move for Layton Maxwell despite the fact that the ex-Welsh Under-21 midfielder has joined Blackpool on trial after parting company with Cardiff.

''It's not definitely off,'' he said.

Swansea hope to move their league clash with Oxford, scheduled for January 3, to Tuesday, January 6 after reaching the third round of the FA Cup.

qPeter Thorne netted a last-minute equaliser to earn Cardiff City a deserved point against Preston at Ninian Park.

It had seemed that Preston would take all three points after David Healy had put them 2-1 ahead with only six minutes to go.

But Thorne - hat-trick hero at Stoke last Saturday - produced a downward header from a Chris Barker cross to earn his side a point and a place in the top six.

Jonathan Coates's superb second-half strike failed to prevent Swansea City reserves slipping to a 3-1 defeat against an experienced Plymouth Argyle side in an entertaining Pontin's Holidays Combination league clash at Home Park last night. Swansea had been trailing 2-0 at the interval when the lively midfielder gave the visitors a slight hope of rescuing something from the game.

A cross-field pass seven minutes after the turnaround wrong-footed the home defence for once and found Coates free on the right.

Coates ran purposefully towards goal and unleashed a fierce right-footed shot which gave Canadian international Lars Hirschfeld - who was making a trial debut for the hosts - no chance of saving.

But, in a largely one-sided affair, Swansea rarely threatened and if Argyle had shown greater sharpness in front of goal, the visitors' defeat would have been heavier.

Coates, who with defender Lee Jenkins are targets for Kidderminster's former Swans manager Jan Molby, along with keeper Anthony Williams had positive games, though.

Central defender Jamie Rewbury also stood out, preventing further goalscoring chances for the Pilgrims with several telling interceptions.

Plymouth had taken the lead through Congolese international midfielder Eugene Kungulungu on 31 minutes, who poked the ball home after Williams had blocked Ian Stonebridge's header.

Argyle's second came 10 minutes later when striker Stewart Yetton volleyed the ball into the net to finish off a superb sequence of passes.

Shortly after Coates's brief lifeline, Blair Sturrock, son of Greens' boss Paul, neatly headed home a cross from 10 yards out to make the game safe for the new league leaders.

Swansea: Williams, Jenkins, Hylton (Surman 45), Jones, Rewbury, Martinez (King 37), Coates, Waters (Corbiserio 62), Pritchard, Thomas.

Sub not used: Harrison.

JAMES THOMAS has three matches to stake his Swansea City claim - but admits he has little chance of ousting Vetch sensation Lee Trundle.

The 24-year-old marksman will partner Kevin Nugent against lowly Southend on Saturday since Trundle will be serving the first match of a three-game ban following his red card at York last month.

The home clash against the second-from-bottom Shrimp-ers will be Thomas' first league start for the Swans for nearly four months.

"It has been a frustrating season for me, but I can't complain because the boys up front have been scoring," said the former Blackburn player.

"I've had to accept the situation. I've now got a chance to stake my claim. Hopefully, I can score a few goals and give the gaffer (Brian Flynn) a selection headache."

Thomas, whose hat-trick against Hull on the last day of last season kept the Swans in the Football League, last started a Division Three match on August 16 at Cheltenham.

He found the net in a dramatic 4-3 win but has been kept out of the side by summer signing Trundle, who has scored 15 goals in 19 outings.

"Everyone wants to play but you can't help but admire Lee. He does some amazing things on the pitch, things that I'll never be able to do," added Thomas.

"It will be hard to keep Lee out of the team. I've got to be realistic, his name is the first on the gaffer's team-sheet.

"There's myself, Lee and Kevin and we're fighting for two places. Because Lee and I are both left-sided players, maybe the gaffer thinks we are too similar while Kevin does bring something different. He is more of a target-man.

"All I can do is take my chance when I get it. Just do my best."

As long as he remains free of injury, Thomas will play against Doncaster and Torquay as well as Southend while Trundle sits out his ban.

"There is a lot of pressure on me to score a few goals - but you can't be under more pressure than that Hull game last season," he went on. "That was real pressure!"

"Lee has been scoring most of our goals and he will be missed. People will be looking to me to get goals while he is out."

The unpredictable Trundle and the dependable Nugent have been Flynn's preferred choice up front this season, but Thomas reckons he and the former Wrexham man could bond as a pairing.

"Lee and I have only played a couple of times together, at the very start of the season," he explained.

"It's hard to build a partnership after only two games. I don't see why we can't play together."

Thomas' last start was, ironically, against Southend in the 2-1 LDV Vans Trophy defeat at the Vetch last month.

Southend currently occupy one of the two relegation berths and are also searching for a new manager after Steve Wignall was sacked last month following a dismal run that produced only two wins from 12 matches.

Midfielder Steve Tilson has been placed in temporary charge and his Shrimpers visit the Vetch on the back of a 3-0 FA Cup win over Lincoln.

"They are an up-and-down side," said Thomas. "We played them only a few weeks ago and I was surprised by how well they passed the ball about."

Kidderminster Harriers have enquired about Swansea City pair Jonathan Coates and Lee Jenkins. Former Vetch Field boss Jan Molby, now in his second spell in charge at Aggborough, is desperate to sign some reinforcements as Kidderminster battle against the drop to the Conference.

The former Liverpool star has said he expects to sign two players this week, at least one of whom will be a midfielder.

And two survivors from Molby's time at the Vetch - February 1996 to October 1997 - are on his list of possible targets.

Jenkins, now 24, made his debut alongside player-manager Molby in midfield when he was just 17, while Coates was a regular under the Dane.

Harriers' No 2 Gary Barnett has been in touch with Vetch counterpart Kevin Reeves, but director of football Brian Flynn insisted today that he would wait for some firm interest before making any decisions.

''There was a conversation between Gary Barnett and Kevin,'' he said, ''but I haven't spoken with Jan. Gary and Kevin just had a general football chat, as you do with other members of your profession.

''It's gone no further than that at this stage and I'll assess the situation if anything else develops.

''Obviously both players are not involved directly in the first team at the moment, but they've both played a part and I will be quite happy for them to remain part of my squad.''

Another possible Molby target is another Vetch old boy, Richie Appleby, who has just been released by Hull.

Coates and Jenkins were part of the reserve side which travelled to Plymouth today, as was club skipper Roberto Martinez.

The Spanish midfielder, sidelined for the last six weeks with knee trouble, was expected to play for an hour in a bid to prove his fitness for this weekend's Third Division clash with Southend after warming the bench during last Saturday's FA Cup victory over Stevenage.

Also hoping to put himself in contention for Southend was Leon Hylton, who has not played for the first team since September after a dreadful run of injuries.

''Roberto was heavily bandaged on Saturday, but that's just a precaution,'' Flynn explained.

''I noticed in The Sporting Post on Saturday night that Roberto has only actually started five games this season and I was surprised. He has missed a lot more games than I thought he had, and it just goes to show how well the other lads have done. It will be a real bonus to get him back involved, though.''

After the controversy of his comments last week, Stevenage boss Graham Westley did get in touch with Flynn yesterday as he had pledged to do after Lee Trundle ended his team's cup hopes.

The former Farnborough manager did not apologise for accusing Flynn of having a dismissive attitude, though.

''He just wished us well and said good luck in the next round,'' revealed Flynn, ''and the matter is now closed.''

Meanwhile Tamworth boss Darron Gee has challenged Molby to increase the size of his offer for striker Scott Rickards after describing the initial bid as "derisory".

Molby has allowed Harriers striker Matt Lewis to join Dr Martens Premier Division outfit Hinckley for £5,000 while the arrival of fellow frontman Jesper Christiansen cannot be completed until the reopening of the transfer window next month.

Swansea target Layton Maxwell has gone on trial to Blackpool after agreeing to cancel his Cardiff City contract.

SWANSEA CITY chairman Huw Jenkins is pleased he won't have to entertain a Premiership chairman at the Vetch for the FA Cup third round.

The majority of Swans fans would no doubt have been disappointed at seeing their side matched up with another Third Division outfit rather than one of the country's glamour clubs. But Jenkins is delighted at the prospect of facing Cambridge or Macclesfield on January 3, claiming it will help Brian Flynn's men focus their energies on this season's true goal.

"Personally I'm quite happy with the draw, the No 1 priority was to be drawn at home and then in a winnable tie which this one is," said Jenkins.

"But the other important thing is to keep everyone's focus on the league which, to us, is more important.

"I think if we had pulled a glamour tie then everyone would have got a bit distracted, from the players to the fans.

"If you look it at like that we couldn't have wished for a better draw because it gives a chance of progressing in the competition while our minds won't be elsewhere during the important fixtures over Christmas."

One of Swansea's promotion rivals have that exact prospect ahead of them, Gary Johnson's Yeovil welcoming Liverpool to Huish Park just six days after they visit the Vetch for a crunch Third Division game.

And Jenkins thinks the lack of distraction that a big club on the horizon can bring will more than make up for the huge cash windfall that accompanies it.

"You've got to look at the bigger picture," added Jenkins. "Since this board of directors came in we've never looked for a quick-fix solution and this is the same.

"By being involved we can keep the interest going without being distracted away from what is important - and that's getting out of this league.

"In terms of money any extra cup game is a bonus for us budget-wise, whoever the opposition. And if we are lucky enough to progress then cash takings for January (when the fourth round also takes place) is tremendous from a business point of view."

Meanwhile, Swansea's Spanish skipper Roberto Martinez is set to make his playing comeback today in a reserve-team fixture at Plymouth after making the bench for the win over Stevenage.

But Martinez, who has been sidelined since aggravating his knee ligament injury in training seven weeks ago, is delighted to be so close to a return with the crucial Christmas period coming up.

"I've been taking it slow because it was a very serious injury," said Martinez. "But I'm looking forward to see how it holds up because I want to get back and help out.

"Christmas is always a tough time with so many games in a short space of time but the way the fixtures have worked out we have some very important games where we have a great opportunity to catch up.

"Six points can make a big, big difference in this league and there's only two players left injured at the moment, so now we'll be able to see the potential of this side."

Brian Flynn insists yesterday's FA Cup third-round draw was no anti-climax despite missing out on a glamour tie with one of the Premiership's big guns. Rather than Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea, Swansea City's reward for seeing off Stevenage on Saturday is a rather less mouthwatering home tie against either Macclesfield or Cambridge United on January 3.

The two Third Division sides will replay a week tomorrow for the right to visit Vetch Field after drawing 1-1 at Moss Rose on Saturday, with Flynn adamant that there is plenty to look forward to in the new year.

''It's no anti-climax - far from it,'' Swansea's director of football maintained. ''It's a very interesting draw because we are at home again, which we are delighted about, and as yet we don't know who we're challenging.

''We've played both teams already this season and Cambridge are the only side to have beaten us at the Vetch so far in the league. They did very well on the night and their away record in the division is fantastic.

''I wouldn't like to say whether we'd prefer to play Cambridge again or Macclesfield. The most important thing is that whoever we face it's going to be at home.''

Macclesfield, on paper the side Flynn would rather face, were beaten 3-0 at the Vetch back in September, while Cambridge ended Swansea's unbeaten home start to this campaign with a 2-0 success a month later.

Amid the excitement of yesterday's draw, when Yeovil landed the plum clash with Liverpool, coming up against two sides in the same division was something of a disappointment for Swansea's fans.

But Flynn was granted one of his wishes having indicated beforehand that he hoped either for a trip to a Premiership club or a winnable home tie. He was given the latter, and will now target a place in the fourth-round draw on January 4.

''It was nice to be involved on Sunday afternoon, watching the television with all the excitement it brings,'' Swansea's director of football added. ''There's a bit to do in between, but certainly we hope to do it all again at the start of the next month.''

Whoever Swansea face, the game will do well to match Saturday's 2-1 success in the entertainment stakes.

After Stevenage boss Graham Westley had fanned the flames in the build-up, Lee Trundle's 14th strike of the season eventually settled a committed contest after Anthony Elding had cancelled out Kevin Nugent's opener.

For Flynn, who has steered Swansea into round three for only the second time in nine seasons, the satisfaction was obvious after Westley's pre-match insults. The controversial Stevenage manager claimed he would be telephoning his opposite number today to wish him good luck in the cup.

Public displays of Brian Flynn's irritation come around about as often as good FA Cup runs at Swansea City. Right now the club's fans are trying to digest both. Might be the, er, magic of the competition.

More likely the kindness of the draw in rounds one and two and the pronouncements of Stevenage Borough's maverick manager.

Whatever Graham Westley was thinking when he decided, on three separate occasions last week, to accuse his opposite number of over-confidence and having a dismissive attitude, it did not work.

His absurd pre-match claims had turned his Conference team into the only underdogs in this year's FA Cup that the knowledgeable neutral did not want to win.

Flynn, a committee member at the League Managers' Association, is a well-connected, popular figure within professional football.

His contacts, and the players he can bring in as a result, are one of his great strengths as Swansea's director of football and were during his time as Wrexham's manager.

How does he do it? Partly by refusing to criticise opponents and earning respect as a result.

This is a man, for example, who will only comment on red cards handed out to his players.

The Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier lashed out at some of his Premiership counterparts for taking pot shots at members of his side last week.

It is not a criticism that can be levelled against Flynn, and nor was Westley's contention that the Swansea boss was underestimating the task that lay ahead of his team on Saturday.

Flynn, typically, refused to bite in the build-up to the game, but after a 2-1 victory that must have tasted ever so sweet he made his feelings clear.

''I was flabbergasted by what was said,'' he revealed.

''He made something up about me which wasn't true - bizarre is probably the best way to describe it.

''I checked back on my comments when the draw was made. I said it was going to be a tough tie but the good thing was that we had got a home draw.

''Every manager in every cup competition would say they were happy with being at home.

''I would never underestimate any team: I never have done as a player, a coach or a manager since I began my professional career aged 15.

''You can't do it, because if you do you've got every chance of losing, especially in a competition which has the habit of throwing up the unexpected.''

Privately, Flynn was seething on reading Westley's ramblings, and tellingly he chose not to shake his opposite number's hand when the final whistle blew after four minutes of nervy injury-time.

''That's the first time I've done that in my career,'' he added.

''I didn't shake hands because they showed a lack of respect to a professional in the build-up to the game.

''I am a professional and I only shake hands with people who I respect. Can he prove that I was dismissive? I don't think so.''

So would Flynn be sharing a post-match drink with Westley, as is the managerial norm?

''No.''

Christmas cards?

''Probably not.''

Westley, an eccentric leader whose motto is that attitude is more important than ability, will probably not be too bothered, though he did show a flicker of remorse.

''Brian described us as his reward for beating a Second Division side in the first round,'' he said, refusing to confirm where Flynn had been quoted, for it was not in the Welsh media.

''And obviously when you are considered as a reward that's not something you are going to take in a way that's meant to be polite.''

Was he regretting his comments?

''What would be the point of that? I put my hand out at the end and it wasn't taken - Brian's made the decision not to shake hands.

''That's life, isn't it? Football's a game where clubs come up against each other, players come up against each other and managers come up against each other and you play the game and move on.

''Brian can make whatever accusations he likes. I will give him a call on Monday and hope he accepts my best wishes for Swansea's run in the cup.''

A peacemaking mission, perhaps, that might not use up too many of the free minutes on his mobile.

Flynn's obvious delight at the end gave away how much he wanted to win this weekend.

He must have been part relieved, too, for Stevenage had given his side plenty to think about.

Swansea, whose players had been well aware of what had been said before kick-off, began on top and led deservedly at half-time through Kevin Nugent, who smashed home from close range after Andy Robinson's shot had come off the underside of the bar.

They began the second period at a crawl, though, and Anthony Elding headed Boro level, his protracted celebrations suggesting that the visitors had taken Westley's words to be right on the mark.

Those in red had barely finished dancing for joy, however, when Lee Trundle reminded Swansea what they will be missing over Christmas with a coolly taken 14th strike of the season.

Westley claimed the Scouse frontman had fouled one of his defenders, then insisted a second Elding equaliser should not have been disallowed for offside.

He reckoned his boys should still have been in the FA Cup after what was an entertaining encounter, on and off the field.

There was little sympathy doing the rounds at Vetch Field on Saturday night, though, just a very definite sense that justice had been done.

BRIAN FLYNN credited the spirit Swansea City displayed after conceding an equaliser with seeing them through to FA Cup third round for the first time in five years.

"We controlled the game in the first half and I said to the players at half-time that if they maintained that we would go on to win comfortably," said the Swans.

"Stevenage upset our routine when they equalised early in the second half and that could have given them momentum, but our response was magnificent and it proved decisive.

"Lee finished his goal well and could have added another later when he created something out of nothing - Andy Robinson also forced a good save out of the keeper.

"Stevenage threw men forward as the game wore on, but we stood firm and Izzy (Iriekpen) made an important clearance off the line. To sum up, it was a good, entertaining cup tie and I'd like to thank our supporters because they showed fantastic passion."

From the pitch
STRIKER Kevin Nugent admitted Swansea nerves were jangling towards the end of the match as Stevenage threatened to force a second-round replay.

"I don't know what it was like to watch from the stands, but we were under a lot of pressure in the last 10 minutes or so and it was a nervous finish," said Nugent, who fired Swansea in front with his sixth goal of the season 23 minutes into the tie.

"Had I been watching as a fan, I would've thought it was a good FA Cup clash - we took the lead, Stevenage equalised and Lee Trundle has saved us again with a well-taken goal.

"I saw it as a good all-round team performance." Nugent also defended boss Brian Flynn against accusations he had underestimated the opposition. "Brian certainly didn't dismiss Stevenage," he said.

"Brian is respected throughout the game and I know he wouldn't underestimate anyone."

From the opposition
OUTSPOKEN Stevenage manager Graham Westley claimed two refereeing mistakes contributed to his side's FA Cup downfall.

"We feel we should still be in the competition," said Westley, unable to engineer the scalp of a second League club following Stevenage's first-round slaying of Stockport.

"The game hinged on two decisions (from referee Tony Bates). We thought there was a foul on (midfielder) Peter Costello when Swansea's second goal was scored and Anthony Elding's 'goal' that was disallowed for offside should have stood according to the TV replay.

"Our lads put up a good fight and I don't think anyone would've been surprised had we claimed an equaliser late in the game and took Swansea back to our place.

"But there's no point dwelling on it. The bottom line is we are not in the third round. We've got a promotion campaign to focus on."

From the terracing
SWANS fan Jonathan Banfield, from Fforestfach, had no complaints with the performance of Brian Flynn's side.

"I thought the whole team played well, it was a fantastic cup game and a good afternoon for us," he said.

"It was pleasing to see us get two goals As well as another good show from Lee Trundle, I thought Andy Robinson was outstanding.

"It was edge-of-the-seat stuff towards the end. Stevenage put up a good fight and we were definitely holding on as they came back at us in the last few minutes.

"But we got through and it's fantastic to think we're in the third round.

"As for the league, we're going to miss Trundle for the next three games, but I think we will cope. We've got a good squad."

AFTER the FA Cup battle came the war of words - and for once Brian Flynn was the man firing from both barrels.

It might have been totally out of character, but Flynn's full-pronged attack on Stevenage boss Graham Westley after this cracker of a second round tie was understandable.

At the final whistle, he refused to shake the other manager's hand for the first time in 14 years of management, blasting that he had no respect for his opposite number.

Westley's somewhat absurd pre-match accusation that the Swansea boss had dismissed his side's chances infuriated the Swans, along with a claim that the referee might feel bullied by the intimidating Vetch Field atmosphere.

As it was, the man who guided little Farnborough to a fourth-round date with Arsenal in last year's FA Cup was made to eat his ill-advised words.

Flynn's side resisted their game Conference opponents to secure a third-round home tie with Cambridge United or Macclesfield courtesy of goals from Kevin Nugent and Lee Trundle. But afterwards the knives were out.

So incensed were the Swans by Westley's comments that club directors were moved to release a statement condemning his "total lack of professionalism and respect."

And in his post-match debrief, Flynn dropped his guard like never before.

"I didn't shake hands with Graham because he showed a lack of respect towards a professional in the build up to the game. I only shake hands with people I respect," said Swansea's director of football.

He went on, "I was flabbergasted by the accusations that came my way in the days leading up to the match. To suggest I had displayed a dismissive attitude towards his team was bizarre.

"Can he prove that I said that? I don't think so. In fact, I know I didn't because I even went back to check the comments I made after the draw for the second round.

"I had said that it would be a tough tie but I was pleased that we were at home. Any manager will say that he is happy with a home draw.

"Throughout my career, from the age of 15, I've never underestimated anyone. You can't do that. If you do, you've got every chance of losing.

"I don't know why Graham said what he did. Was he trying to stir his own players up? You'd be better off asking him that.

"All I know is professionally, you don't do those things. If he wanted to do it in private to motivate his players, then that's fine. A lot of people use that tactic.

"But to bring it into the public domain... as I say, I was flabbergasted to say the least."

How thankful Flynn must have been that defender Izzy Iriekpen was perfectly placed to make a late goal-line clearance to prevent Stevenage taking Swansea to a replay.

One can only imagine the wind-up tactics Westley - akin to a pantomime villain - might have employed had he been afforded the opportunity to have another crack at Flynn's side on home soil.

The Conference promotion chasers put up a decent fight, but the five-man blanket Stevenage threw across the defence was torn apart after 23 minutes when Kieron Durkan sent over a deep cross that Nathan Bunce diverted into the path of Andy Robinson.

The Swansea midfielder saw his shot tipped onto the bar by former Sunderland goalkeeper Lionel Perez, but Kevin Nugent hooked in the rebound.

Four minutes after the break the unmarked Anthony Elding pulled Stevenage level when he headed Steve Watson's cross past the flailing Roger Freestone.

But the Swans restored their lead almost immediately when Trundle, moments after having a penalty appeal turned down, drove a low shot past Perez for his 14th goal of a remarkable season.

The match turned scrappy as four Stevenage men entered the referee's notebook in quick succession and the visitors pushed men forward in search of another equaliser.

But for Iriekpen steering Jamie Cook's effort away from goal it would have arrived, although Trundle and Robinson had chances to sew the tie up long before that. A place among the FA Cup big boys secured, Flynn was able to crow a little bit more.

"The comments Graham made before the match backfired on him," he said. "My players had cottoned on to what he said and if anything, they only served to pep them up even more."

But there was little sign of contrition from Westley.

"Brian can make whatever accusations he wants," said the former Gillingham player, who had apparently put the phone down on Swansea officials who tried to iron out perceived differences between him and Flynn.

"Brian described us as his reward for beating a Second Division side (Rushden & Diamonds) in the first round and I didn't see that as being polite.

"But I will give him a call on Monday morning and I hope he will accept my best wishes for the next round."

Seconds out.

KEVIN NUGENT is confident he and James Thomas can rediscover the goalscoring partnership that helped save Swansea City from relegation last season, writes Ian Hunt.

With Lee Trundle forced to sit out the next three games through suspension, Thomas and Nugent are preparing to start up front together for the first time this campaign.

"James is a legend down here with the hat-trick he scored on the final day of last season," said Nugent, who claimed his sixth goal of the season in Saturday's 2-1 FA Cup triumph over Stevenage.

"He did well last season, but this year has been frustrating for him. With Lee out for three games, I'm sure James will come in and do a good job.

"He's a different type of player to Lee - he tends to make runs in behind people - but he'll stretch defences and he'll score goals for us."

Nugent and Trundle registered a total of 11 goals over the final four months of the 2002-03 season, including Thomas' glorious treble against Hull that spared Swansea from dropping into the Conference.

Seven months on and this time the pair will be reunited in trying to steer the Swans out of the other end of the table.

"We had a good partnership," said the former Cardiff striker. "I joined Swansea in January and I thought James and I linked up well together.

"James is good to play alongside and I'm sure things will go well for us over the next few matches.

"We'll miss Lee and I know a lot of people said we didn't have a cutting edge the last time he was out of the side.

"But I think we will have learned from that. We've got other players capable of scoring goals - I'd back James to get a few!"

Meanwhile, Nugent insists Swansea must try to forget about their FA Cup campaign until it resumes next month.

"Promotion is our priority this season," said the 34-year-old Londoner. "The cup will be a nice distraction when it comes round again, but we've got to put it on the back-burner for now. It's important that we focus on the league matches coming up."

FALLEN Swan James Thomas has admitted his homecoming has turned sour.

Thomas was on top of the world as a nail-biting finale to last term had a deliriously happy ending - he scored THAT hat-trick against Hull that saved the Swans from the Conference. Happy days, indeed.

He could have been forgiven for thinking then that everything was coming up roses at the Vetch.

His gamble had surely paid off, trading the stiffs at Blackburn Rovers for the opportunity to be a hero in his home city looked a fair trade-off.

But with his time at the Vetch now having extended to 18 months, the wheels have rather fallen off for the 24-year-old.

Blighted by gout, a complaint traditionally reserved for elderly men who've overdone the rich living, Thomas's career has been put on hold.

He's gone as far as holding "clear-the-air" talks with boss Brian Flynn to state his case for a first team place. But Thomas remains the odd man out at the Vetch.

"It's strange the way things have happened," he said.

"I was desperate to get away from Blackburn because I badly wanted to play first team football.

"I'd had a gutsful of playing in meaningless matches in front of 20 people - I had to leave.

"And I got what I wanted last year, even if the season didn't go brilliantly for the club. But now things have gone full circle and I'm stuck with another set of reserves."

Frustrating doesn't come close to summing up how this season has gone for Thomas.

Granted the freedom of the city in the eyes of Vetch Field fanatics following last season's final day heroics, Thomas has suffered a dramatic fall from grace over the last five months.

That hat-trick that secured the Swans' survival against Hull seems a long, long time ago. Since then a certain Lee Trundle has arrived from Wrexham and dazzled the fans. He's wasted no time in snatching Thomas's mantle as the hero of the North Bank faithful.

Thomas' frustration at seeing his goal-hero status usurped is exacerbated by the way in which Trundle is grabbing the headlines with stunning performances.

"It's always hard work to watch from the sidelines," admitted Thomas.

"But how can I complain when both Lee and Kevin Nugent are playing so well. They've been scoring goals so it's not as if the gaffer's had any case to drop them and for me to get out there and prove a point - well that's been very hard."

Flynn's insistence on retaining Nugent and Trundle as his preferred strike partnership has fired rumours that the former Wales under-21 has done something to upset his boss.

There's been "clear-the-air" talks, but Thomas insists there have never been cause for boots to fly across dressing rooms.

"The gaffer hasn't really come out and said it but I think he doesn't think me and Trundle can play together and he may well be right," said Thomas. "We're very similar, both left footed whereas Kevin is a good target man who will win you flick-ons and he's a great old head to have around.

"But as I said, I can't really complain about the manager's decisions because he's obviously been making the right ones judging by the way the boys are playing.

"There's been no bust-up, nothing like that at all although we have had a chat. The low point was when I wasn't even coming on as sub when I thought I could have done something.

"We weren't playing well at Yeovil and I was itching to get out there but I couldn't. I was gutted he didn't use me and we did have a chat after the game, but in all fairness he was completely straight with me and I was happy with what he said. I know there will be other chances so I left it there."

But just when a chance did come along, thanks to Trundle's knee injury, Thomas found himself sidelined for eight weeks with a severe case of gout, killing any hopes of a comeback dead.

"It wasn't a normal football injury but an illness - that was the most annoying thing," added Thomas. "It wasn't even as simple as gout and I had to see various specialists about it. But the worst thing was I just didn't know what I was doing wrong or how to put it right.

"Every week the doctors would be hopeful of it clearing up and I'd travel with the team to away games hoping it would disappear overnight. That carried on for weeks without it ever going away.

"And, of course, it didn't make me feel any better when Trundle was injured and I couldn't step in."

But Thomas, Morriston born-and-bred, is about to get another crack of the whip courtesy of the livewire Trundle's three-game suspension.

And he's itching to remind Swans fans of his ability.

"The way we're creating chances, I feel if I was playing I'd score more than the 15 I got last year," he added.

"Back then we weren't creating anything at all but I still grabbed a few. Now we're creating plenty so I'm sure I can get a few goals.

"To be honest I definitely felt the pressure last year because a lot of people were looking to me to get the goals and when I went through a bad patch I let it affect me.

"It didn't help that I was playing out of position and I was at a bit of a low because I'm a real confidence player. You get more out of me when I'm on a high and I'm determined for that to be the case."

SAMMY McILROY has backed Swansea City to succeed today where his Stockport County side failed and send Stevenage crashing out of the FA Cup.

The former Northern Ireland manager's Edgeley Park career dipped to an early low last month when Stockport were the victims of a first-round upset at the hands of the Nationwide Conference club.

Even for a man fresh from overseeing a Euro 2004 campaign in which Northern Ireland failed to muster a single goal in eight qualifying matches, McIlroy admitted County's 2-1 defeat at Broadhall Way ranks as one of the dark moments of his managerial career.

But, in a week that has seen Stevenage boss Graham Westley bubbling with bravado about his side's chances of reaching the third round, McIlroy is convinced Brian Flynn will not suffer a similar fate with the Swans.

"I expect Swansea to win this game - they will be too strong for Stevenage," said the former Manchester United star.

"When we played them, we were very poor - especially in the first half. We were 2-0 down at half-time and it was an uphill battle from then on.

"We could not have any excuses. Stevenage did their job well and we just weren't good enough on the day.

"But I don't think Swansea will lose this one. Had the game been at Stevenage it would have been tough, but with their own crowd behind them Swansea shouldn't have a problem.

"Don't get me wrong, it's still going to be difficult because Stevenage will treat it like a cup final.

"But, as long as they go about it in the right way, I really expect Swansea to succeed."

And it is no surprise that McIlroy, who left the wreckage of Northern Ireland's European campaign in October to return to club management, picks out Lee Trundle as the man likely to have most influence on proceedings.

"Trundle will be a real handful for Stevenage. He will cause them big problems," said the former Macclesfield manager.

"I've followed Lee's career since his non-league days when he was playing for Chorley in Lancashire.

"He's come on leaps and bounds since then and seems to have exploded this season.

"I wouldn't be at all surprised if he was the man to settle the tie in Swansea's favour."

But McIlroy has warned Swansea that Stevenage - LDV Vans Trophy victors over Flynn's men last season - have a dangerman of their own in the shape of Tunisian striker Dino Maamria, whose brace in the first round accounted for Stockport's exit.

"He got both the goals and was a real threat so Swansea will need to guard against him," said McIlroy.

"That's the thing - if you don't keep your eye on certain players, you can be caught out, and Maamria is certainly one to look out for.

"Stevenage caused a few problems in midfield too, but they are not too strong at the back. That's what Swansea can exploit.

"Personally, our cup defeat against Stevenage was a real blow - one of those results you want to forget.

"I had only been at the club a couple of weeks and we were looking to progress in the competition to help our finances.

"But I would be surprised if Swansea were on the end of a similar result. I expect them to get to the third round."

Flynn is expected to make one change to his line-up, drafting in defender Kris O'Leary for the cup-tied Alan Tate.

Trundle will make his final appearance before serving a three-match ban for his red card at York.

Swansea were made to work hard for their place in the third round with Conference side Stevenage just falling short at the Vetch Field.

Kevin Nugent opened the scoring for the Welshmen but Anthony Elding briefly restored parity before Lee Trundle netted the winner.

Blackpool saw off Oldham's challenge with ease after a devastating 60-minute spell sent the Seasiders on their way to a 5-2 win.

Scott Taylor scored a hat-trick and Keith Southern added another within an hour of play to put Blackpool in control.

John Eyre scored for Oldham but Blackpool were not finished and Leam Richardson got his name on the scoresheet before Jermaine Johnson rounded off the scoring with Oldham's second.

Cheltenham also progressed at a canter with Grant McCann's double and one from Bob Taylor paving the way for a 3-1 home win over Leyton Orient.

The Londoners' cause was not helped by a 16th-minute red card for goalkeeper Glenn Morris, although they did score a consolation through Matthew Lockwood.

Woking were dumped out of the competition by Kidderminster, who cruised to a 3-0 away win courtesy of a Dean Bennett brace and another from Steve Burton.

Bristol City and Barnsley will meet in a replay after a goalless draw at Ashton Gate while Cambridge must also try again after being held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Macclesfield.

Macclesfield's Matthew Tipton and Cambridge's John Turner exchanged goals within a minute in the first half before George Abbey was sent off.

Steve Robinson and Lee Mansell scored the goals as Luton beat Rochdale 2-0 at Spotland while Yeovil made short work of Barnet at Huish Park.

The reigning Conference champions thrashed one of the sides looking to inherit that crown 5-1 thanks to Gavin Williams (two), Colin Pluck, Nick Crittenden and Jake Edwards with Peter Beadle getting Barnet's only goal.

Brian Flynn today laughed off Graham Westley's FA Cup cheap shots, insisting Swansea City need no extra motivation as they bid for a place in round three. Westley brings his Stevenage Borough side to Vetch Field tomorrow having spent this week accusing Swansea of dismissing the Conference outfit's chances.

Westley, who led Farnborough to round four of the competition last season, claims Flynn's squad have underestimated the size of the task that lies between them and a possible plum tie with a Premiership heavyweight.

And while Westley is pledging to make Swansea pay for their over-confidence, Flynn has dismissed his opposite number's claims.

"I have never underestimated anyone in my whole career, either as a player or a manager," the director of football declared.

"We have had them watched three times, just as we would do for a league game, and I can assure you that my players will be giving it their all tomorrow.

"I won't be putting any posters up in the dressing room of what Graham Westley has said - it doesn't concern me what other people say.

"All I'm bothered about is how my players are, and I know there'll be no need to rally them for a game like this."

Swansea are hot favourites with the bookmakers to emerge victorious having beaten Rushden & Diamonds in round one, though Stevenage will fancy their chances having seen off Second Division Stockport to get this far.

"They are a full-time club and I believe any side in the top half of the Conference, as they are, would be well capable of holding their own in Division Three," Flynn added.

"This is sure to be a difficult test for us, but it's the sort of game where we can build a reputation as cup fighters and that's what I want.

"You could say it's our semi-final, because the next round is the dream round for clubs like us.

"We're not going to get to the actual semis - you could probably say now which teams are going to be in the last four, but this is our chance to go into the hat on Sunday with the big clubs and all the players are keen to achieve that."

Kris O'Leary, who should recover from a head wound suffered playing for the reserves in midweek, could be the only change to the side which drew at York last weekend in place of the unavailable Alan Tate, with Lee Trundle playing for the last time before starting a three-match ban which will rule him out until December 28.

Club skipper Roberto Martinez has a chance of making the substitutes' bench six weeks after aggravating his knee injury.

Westley is likely to include just one member of the Stevenage side that saw off Swansea in last season's LDV Vans Trophy, with strike pair Anthony Elding and Dino Maamria expected to provide the biggest threat to the home side's hopes.

"Reputations, backgrounds, track records and past successes will count for nothing come 3pm tomorrow," the Stevenage manager said.

Tomorrow's victors will be ball No. 64 in Sunday's third-round draw, which will be broadcast live on BBC Television and Sky Sports at around 3pm.

Numbers to look out for: 1 Arsenal ;8 Cardiff City; 10 Chelsea; 21 Liverpool; 23 Man Utd; 64 Swansea City or Stevenage Borough

Twelve months ago Andy Robinson was reaching for the footballing aqualung, playing the game at amateur level 13 leagues under Division Three. Tomorrow the bustling Scouse midfielder, who was working for his father's removal firm in the lead-up to last Christmas, aims to make another splash at Swansea City by navigating the club into the third round of the FA Cup.

"We were having a bit of banter on the training pitch the day before the first round," Robinson grinned.

"Lenny Johnrose was asking everyone about what FA Cup goals they had scored - Kieron Durkan putting Wrexham ahead at Old Trafford was one of them.

"It came to me and I said I'd never scored any, but I did get two in the Cheshire cup final."

Such has been the magnitude of Robinson's footballing rise.

The 24-year-old had looked set for a career in the professional game as a youngster - he spent five years at Everton as a kid before joining Plymouth when the Toffees let him go aged 16.

But homesickness saw Robinson return to Merseyside after just a couple of months in the West Country and, as he admits now, it looked for a long time as if his chances of making the grade had gone.

"Plymouth offered me everything but I wasn't happy down there at that age and I went back home," he recalls.

"I lost a bit of feeling for the game and I drifted out of it for a few years.

"I was playing amateur football for Cammell Lairds in the West Cheshire League, which is about 13 leagues below the Third Division and, though there are some good players at that level, it's definitely a bit dirtier.

"We used to train on Tuesday and Thursday nights but got paid nothing, so I was working for my dad's removal business.

"It was in the family and it was quite enjoyable, but it was hard work and I think it was when I was carrying a sofa up some stairs that I decided I had to give football another go."

Enter the Cammell Lairds physio, Ian Griffiths, a former professional and a fellow Birkenhead boy.

He had often been on to Robinson about trying his luck at a higher level and arranged trials at Wrexham and Tranmere.

The midfield dynamo with an eye for goal ended up staying at Prenton Park for the rest of the season, but managed just one appearance in a side going well and found himself without a club again in the summer.

Griffiths, a friend of Brian Flynn, recommended him to Swansea, and after an extended trial during pre-season he won first a contract and then the hearts of Swansea's fans.

"I thought for a time it was never going to happen for me in football," he added.

"I'd missed my chances and messed a lot of people around when I went to Plymouth, including my family.

"But coming to Swansea's been brilliant. Everyone's been good to me right from day one and for the first time in my career, I really feel like an important part of the team.

"And there's no danger of homesickness this time. My family are with me and I've settled really well.

"I owed a few people after the Plymouth thing and I got a lot of grief from my family at the time, but I think they've forgotten that because of what I'm doing now."

Steve WatsonSTEVENAGE Boro skipper Steve Watson is not afraid of the challenge ahead of his side on Saturday.

Boro are looking to add another name to their list of FA Cup giantkillings when they travel to fallen Welsh giants Swansea City in the second round.

And Watson, who skippered his former side Farnborough when they played Arsenal at Highbury last season, wants more of the same.

He said: “It was a great experience playing at Arsenal.

“And the way the team has been playing recently, we can win this tie.

“We beat Stockport in the previous round and Swansea are on a par with them. Hopefully we can claim their scalp and draw one of the big boys in the next round.

“Everyone is in good spirits and it would be nice to have great support down at Swansea.”

Watson is back from suspension for the game and added: “Being suspended is part and parcel of playing in midfield and you have to accept it.”

He faced initial opposition after taking over the captain’s armband from Jason Goodliffe. But some recent impressive displays seem to have mellowed the Broadhall Way faithful.

Watson added: “I’m a paid professional and fans can have their views on me. It’s a job I enjoy doing and I try to do it to the best of my ability.

“It’s great to have the fans on my side though.”

Goodliffe is recovering well from his operation on Friday and even had a goal dedicated to him by his team-mates.

Anthony Elding held aloft a T-shirt proclaiming ‘4 The Goodliffe’ after his equalising goal against Exeter City on Saturday.

Boro are looking to repeat previous wins over the likes of Swindon, Cambridge United and Stockport.

Boro manager Graham Westley, who was the joint Conference manager of the month for November, admitted: “The stakes are very high and the third round is a massive prize.

“Swansea are just behind Yeovil and Doncaster – the two sides promoted from the Conference – this season in Division Three. That gives us a strong indication of the type of challenge we’ll be facing.”

Five coaches have been booked by the club for the trip to The Vetch Field, with many other Boro fans travelling down by car or train.

There is no seating available, with adult tickets for the terrace £11 (£6 concessions). No tickets are available from Boro.

* Westley has spoken of his anger at Exeter’s second goal at the weekend.

He said: “I think that the second Exeter goal was a horrible sporting moment.

“Warner was fouled; we gained no advantage; their player half stopped as if to kick the ball out; our defence stopped – Buncey and Holloway could have made tackles but waited for the return of the ball; and then they attacked us and scored.

“I honestly think that Exeter will be embarrassed at what they did. In the end, that incident cost us two points.

“I think that we once again showed that we are as good as the better sides in this league.

“Although our first-half performance was below par, we totally dominated proceedings after the break and probably deserved to win the game over 90 minutes.”

* Boro have been drawn away at Folkestone Invicta in the FA Trophy third round on January 10.

Folkestone overcame Havant and Waterlooville in a second round replay on Tuesday night.

* The Boro youth team are through to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup after a fabulous win.

Goals from Ben L’Honore and George Boyd secured a 2-0 victory at Brighton on Tuesday night.

They will now travel to either Crystal Palace or Tranmere in the next round.

SWANSEA CITY boss Brian Flynn has dismissed accusations that he is taking FA Cup opponents Stevenage Borough lightly.

The Conference club hit the headlines when they became embroiled in an FA Cup row with Newcastle United over the venue for a third-round tie that was eventually played at Borough's 7,000-capacity Broadhall Way home.

Six years on Stevenage - under new management in former Farnborough boss Graham Westley - have picked an FA Cup fight with tomorrow's second-round opponents Swansea.

Westley was apparently unhappy with Flynn's view that it was a good draw for his Third Division high-fliers - but the Swans director of football denies accusations of adopting a "dismissive attitude" to Stevenage.

"This criticism is water off a duck's back," insisted Flynn.

"I don't know the man (Westley) and I don't know where this has come from.

"We will be giving Stevenage the same respect as any other opposition. They did really well in the first round (2-1 winners over Second Division Stockport) and we've had them watched three times.

"They are lively up front, pass the ball from the back and have got good experience."

The outspoken Westley ruffled a few feathers last season during Farnborough's march to a fourth-round date with eventual winners Arsenal at Highbury.

And he said earlier this week, "I'm not going to get wound up by Brian Flynn's dismissive attitude towards us. That's up to him. And he may well be right to say what he has.

"I think League clubs do underestimate sides in our league. George Reynolds (Darlington chairman) was brilliant to our people after he had promised to send my side (Farnborough) back down south with nothing but our sandwiches last year.

"But it was us not Darlington that drew Arsenal. This tie will be won on the day, not by what gets said beforehand."

Swansea hope to have Kris O'Leary available after the stopper needed stitches in a cut on the bridge of his nose during a midweek reserves' game.

The centre-half is needed for the Vetch tie as on-loan Alan Tate has been denied permission by Manchester United to play in the competition.

Injured long-term trio Roberto Martinez, Brad Maylett and Karl Connolly are still out but Flynn hopes they could feature in a reserve-game against Plymouth on Tuesday.

"The FA Cup is a special competition and I will be telling my players not to show any complacency," added Flynn.

"I will be looking for the same sort of performance that we produced against Rushden & Diamonds in the last round."

Stevenage beware. Lee Trundle is looking to vent his frustration over his red card misery. Swansea City's 13-goal striker was given his marching orders along with York defender Richard Hope after only 18 minutes of Saturday's clash at Bootham Crescent after tangling with the defender.

Trundle is still protesting his innocence after referee Brian Curson sent him from the field for violent conduct, but with Swansea boss Brian Flynn deciding not to appeal against that decision, Trundle will miss three games against Southend, Doncaster and Torquay which follow Saturday's FA Cup second round meeting with the Nationwide Conference side at Vetch Field.

Now the Liverpool-born hitman wants to finish with a flourish before his enforced spell on the sidelines by putting Stevenage to the sword.

''It's a big blow for me to miss those three games,'' said Trundle.

''It has been frustrating because if I had done something wrong then I would hold my hands up and take it on the chin.

''All I was doing was trying to get up with someone lying on top of me.

''But it's happened now and I have to put it all behind me.

''I just want to go out with a bang by scoring a goal or two on Saturday.

''I will be doing my job like I always do, then maybe I can do a bit of entertaining too.

''It will be great to go out with a win before I miss those games.''

While he is determined to put on a show against Stevenage, however, Trundle knows it will not be easy against a side who have had five wins and a draw in their last seven games and lie 10th place in the Conference.

''It's going to be tough,'' he admitted.

''I;ve been told about when they beat us in the LDV Vans Trophy last season, so we will be looking to put that right.

''I just want to get out there and help get us through into the third round and if I get a goal or two as well, then that will be great. We can't take them lightly. But I will be disappointed if we don't win, especially at home.''

Swansea stress that Saturday's match is not all-ticket but fans can still buy a ticket from the club shop.

Tickets for the Boxing Day clash - which is all-ticket - are also on sale.

Meanwhile, Swansea fans will be able to show their appreciation of UK snooker champion Matthew Stevens ahead of Saturday's game.

Stevens, an avid Swansea fan, was a guest of the directors last Saturday at York before beating Stephen Hendry in the final and he will also be at the Vetch for the FA Cup tie.

THE Stevenage players who went to Arsenal in last season's FA Cup were last night warned, "Swansea City will be much more intimidating than Highbury!"

And, in a double blast, Stevenage boss Graham Westley has also been branded a "wind-up merchant" as he prepares to bring his side to the Vetch for Saturday's second-round clash.

The claims were made by one of Westley's former players - Swansea-born goalkeeper Tony Pennock, who enjoyed a dream fourth-round date against eventual winners Arsenal in last season's FA Cup.

Pennock went to Highbury as part of Westley's old team Farnborough, suffering a 5-1 defeat in front of more than 35,000 supporters in north London.

Barely 24 hours later, Westley controversially quit Farnborough to join Conference rivals Stevenage - and took EIGHT players with him!

Several of them are expected to be in the side that faces Brian Flynn's team this weekend and Pennock reckons they will be in for a rough ride.

"The Swansea crowd will play a massive part in this game," said the 32-year-old, now with Welsh Premier strugglers Carmarthen Town.

"And I can guarantee the Stevenage players who played at Arsenal that they will find the Vetch much more intimidating than Highbury.

"That might sound a strange statement given there were 35,000 people at Arsenal and the crowd will be much lower - 7,000 or so - at Swansea.

"But the FA Cup match last January was a lot more subdued than it would normally be at Highbury. The Arsenal fans didn't expect us to cause their team any problems and when Arsenal went 2-0 up it would have been 'game over' in their eyes - it was like a fun day out.

"But it will be nothing like that at the Vetch. The Swansea fans will give Stevenage a right earful and, once the North Bank is in full flow, then they will know what an intimidating atmosphere is like.

"And the things Graham Westley has been saying this week will fire them up."

Westley said he believed getting to the third round would mean more to Stevenage than Swansea and claimed Flynn had been "dismissive" of his side's chances.

But Pennock said Westley was just playing mind games - and warned they could end up backfiring on him.

"Graham is a wind-up merchant," said Pennock. "He seems to like rubbing people up the wrong way.

"It could work against him. Sometimes winding people up like that just gives them extra motivation."

The former Rushden & Diamonds 'keeper is one man who won't shed any tears if 35-year-old Westley leaves South Wales an FA Cup loser.

"We didn't get on at all," he said. "I didn't agree with him on certain things and we ended up having a few run-ins.

"And when he walked out on Farnborough the day after the Arsenal match I was dumbfounded.

"So what do I want to happen at the weekend? Let's just say I think Swansea will be in the hat for the third-round draw. They will be too strong for Stevenage."

If Tony Pennock ever pens his life story, the Swansea-born goalkeeper contends, his brief spell working with Stevenage Borough manager Graham Westley will demand much more than a chapter. ''I used to get back from training each night and write things down so I didn't forget them,'' remembers the 32-year-old custodian of Westley's Farnborough Town team which reached the fourth round of the FA Cup last season.

''Working with him was an experience to say the least."

Pennock, from Loughor, had played for Hereford, Yeovil and Rushden & Diamonds before joining Conference outfit Farnborough on loan early in 2002.

He signed permanently that summer and embarked on what would prove the most momentous season in the club's history.

Westley, who brings his Stevenage side to Vetch Field in the FA Cup second round this Saturday, steered little Farnborough to the dizzy heights of Highbury, then quit his dual role as chairman and manager a few days later.

It was the story of last year's competition.

And already Westley, a former Gillingham and Barnet player of no great repute, has begun hitting the headlines this time round - first for masterminding one of the upsets of round one, beating Stockport County, and yesterday for launching a bizarre attack on Brian Flynn.

''He's very big on all the mental stuff,'' says Pennock, who might have been facing up to his old boss this Saturday had a summer switch to the Vetch not fallen through.

''His buzz word is AIMITA - standing for attitude is more important than ability - that's the name of his (facilities management) company.

''And there are others. He wouldn't let anybody call it Farnborough Town Football Club, it was FTFC - form, teamwork, fitness and commitment.

''Anybody who came to one of our training sessions would have wondered what was going on.''

By footballing standards, Westley's players were overworked.

''About half of the squad were full-time and we would train for five hours a day," Pennock explained.

''He paid well, to be fair, but he certainly expected his pound of flesh.

''We went to La Manga in the week before the Arsenal game and Gillingham were out there at the same time.

''They were training in the morning and then having a round of golf in the afternoon, while we were having three sessions a day and finishing at about 7 at night.''

Pennock reckons Stevenage, currently 10th in the Conference, will match Swansea in the endurance stakes this weekend because Westley is a fitness freak himself.

He went on: ''Going on his running machine and step machine at home was a ritual on so many evenings each week, one of which was Friday.

''Even if we were on a long away trip on the Saturday and staying overnight, he would stay behind and do his exercise, then drive up on his own and arrive at 11 at night.

''Everywhere we stayed when we were away was top notch and we always had good facilities. We trained at Manchester United once and then with Newcastle on another occasion.

''And I have to say that whatever he does, he does it to the best of his ability and he expects other people to do the same.''

Westley took seven Farnborough players with him when he went to Stevenage, and things have gone down rapidly at his former club - they are now bottom of the Conference and have financial troubles.

Pennock, who had signed a four-year deal in July 2002, left for Carmarthen this summer.

''I said quite a bit at the time about what I thought of him leaving. Stevenage have a better chance of making it to the Football League than Farnborough because they have a decent ground, but I'm still disappointed with what he did.

''I know most of the players at Stevenage now and they'll be unhappy with the way things have gone so far this season.

''They should be right up there in the Conference with the squad they've got, and maybe its the training methods that are the problem.

''From what I've seen, I'd be surprised if Swansea have any problems against them on Saturday. They've got a bit more pace and quality and I don't think Stevenage will be able to cope with Lee Trundle''

Flynn will hope he is right.

Kristian O'Leary plans to avoid a round-two knockout in the FA Cup this weekend as Swansea City fight for a shot at a Premiership heavyweight. With Alan Tate unavailable, O'Leary steps back into Brian Flynn's central defence for Saturday's second-round Vetch Field clash with Stevenage after a month without a start.

And as one of five survivors from the last Swansea squad to enjoy any cup success, the 26-year-old is determined to set up another possible Premiership giantkilling by progressing to round three.

O'Leary was on the bench in 1999 when Jason Smith's goal gave Swansea a draw at West Ham and, after the Hammers were beaten in a replay, played in the fourth round against Derby.

''They were good times,'' he said. ''Everybody wants the chance to play against the big clubs on the big grounds so they can test themselves against the top players.

''That's why the FA Cup third round creates a real buzz and that's what it was like for us that year.

''If we can get through we'll all be watching the draw on Sunday. There's always a lot of excitement and that's something we haven't had often in the last few years.''

O'Leary's return in place of on-loan Tate, who has been refused permission to play Manchester United, could be the only change to the Swansea side which drew at York last Saturday as Roberto Martinez (knee) is losing his battle for fitness.

And whatever Stevenage boss Graham Westley says, the Port Talbot-born defender insists Swansea will not be underestimating their Conference opponents.

''In many ways it could be harder than our average Third Division game,'' he added.

''They had a good win in the first round over Stockport and, although both teams are pretty different now, they beat us in the LDV Vans Trophy last season.

''We certainly won't be taking them lightly. We'll be looking to play like we did against Rushden & Diamonds in the first round.''

Swansea's second-string were in cup action at Bristol City this afternoon (2pm), with Leon Hylton due to play his first game since mid-September. The left-back will not be considered for the weekend.

Midfielder Andrew Mumford, meanwhile, is poised to agree a settlement on the remaining seven months of his Vetch contract this week.

The former Welsh Under-21 player, on loan at Newport County for the last three months, is likely to sign for the Dr Martens outfit permanently before the weekend.

''We wish him all the best and hope he can resurrect his career elsewhere,'' said Flynn, who told Mumford he had no Vetch future at the end of last May.

The 22-year-old, Swansea's player of the year two seasons ago, said: ''I hope something can be sorted out quickly because not playing for the next few months is the last thing I want.

''Leighton James is negotiating with Swansea on my behalf so I'm hopeful that a deal can be done soon.''

Former Swansea loan player Danny Nardiello is in the Manchester United squad for tonight's Carling Cup fourth-round tie at West Brom, which is being screened live on Sky.

SWANSEA CITY defender Richard Duffy has admitted it would be difficult to turn down a move to Portsmouth if the Premiership club were to make a bid for him.

Pompey were said to be considering tabling a £300,000 offer for the 18-year-old right-back having been impressed by the start he has made to first-team life at the Vetch.

Talk of a bid being made came after Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp went to Sixfields Stadium to get a first-hand look at Duffy in Swansea's recent Division Three clash at Northampton.

A move to Fratton Park would represent an extraordinary rise to fame for a player who just seven months ago was turning out for the Swansea youth team.

But Duffy, currently in negotiations about extending his contract at the Vetch, is not dismissing the prospect of making the quantum leap from the Third Division to the Premiership.

"I was a bit shocked to discover Portsmouth were interested in me - it's difficult to get my head round it," said the Swansea-born defender.

"At the same time, though, it's very flattering to know people like Harry Redknapp are taking an interest.

"I'm still young and haven't played many first-team games so it's a bit strange for people to talk about me playing in the Premier League.

"At the moment I'm a Swansea player and I'm hoping to agree a new contract with the club.

"I'm pleased with how it has gone for me this season and grateful to the manager for giving me a run in the first team.

"But it would be difficult to turn down a move to a club like Portsmouth if a firm offer was made.

"It would depend on whether Swansea wanted to sell me, but for me personally it would be very tempting.

"It's my ambition to play in the Premiership and, though it would be a massive jump to make, I think I could play at that level."

This is not the first time the Wales Under-19 international - tipped to make the full international grade in the near future - has courted interest from clubs higher up the Football League ladder.

Two years ago Swansea's controversial former chairman Tony Petty almost succeeded in selling Duffy to Nottingham Forest when he was just 16 and Southampton were also interested in him.

But the youngster stayed at the Vetch, only to suffer a debilitating back problem that kept him out of action for almost 12 months.

This season he has made the big first-team breakthrough, making 14 league and cup appearances and scoring once.

Duffy's Swansea debut, though, came in an FA Cup defeat against Macclesfield in December 2001.

And he is hoping for better luck when Stevenage visit the Vetch at the weekend at the same stage of the competition.

"Two years ago we lost 4-1 in a second round match - not a very enjoyable debut," said Duffy. "But this time I'm confident we can overcome Stevenage and get to the third round. That's the round everyone wants to be in."

SAM HAMMAM last night reiterated his desire to see fans of arch-rivals Cardiff City and Swansea City support the other club as well.

Hammam, who has personally met Swans fanatics to try to win them over to what he calls his Welsh dream, has stressed everyone in Wales must stand behind his bid to bring Premiership football here.

The Bluebirds' owner's comments are bound to meet with a scornful response from a section of Swans followers.

But Hammam is sincere in his bid to make Cardiff a top-level Premiership outfit for the sake of Welsh football, not just the capital city club.

"Swansea City and Cardiff City are united as one club, the Welsh club. Their success is ours and ours is theirs," stated Hammam.

"We should never permit the London-controlled media to split Welsh people into factions that fight each other on the principle of 'divide and rule'.

"No, we are not a colony of London and its media, nor are we any more a principality. We are a Welsh nation with our own Welsh Assembly and First Minister.

"In brief, Wales and Welsh people are not an appendage and it is through football, and specifically through Cardiff City FC, that we are going to establish the Welsh identity and pride.

"I tell you that what we do not want to see are Welsh people wearing non-Welsh shirts in Wales. I stress that we are not anti-anybody, but we are pro-Wales and proud to be Welsh.

"Welsh clubs will not grow and compete if the people of Wales support Manchester United and Liverpool.

"Of course, selfishly, I like people to support Cardiff City, but I am perfectly happy if they support rugby, Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport, Merthyr, and anything else Welsh.

"The Welsh people have spoken and what they demand is their full right to have a top Premiership club playing in a Premiership stadium.

"Three years ago this was a dream, but today it is looking more of a reality.

"The whole process will take about 20 years, out of which three have passed. With a bit of luck, a lot of hard work and support from the local authorities, it might take a bit less."

SWANSEA CITY boss Brian Flynn voiced his anger last night after the referee who sent off star striker Lee Trundle on Saturday refused to reconsider the decision.

Flynn spoke to Leicestershire official Brian Curson yesterday in an attempt to get the red card Trundle received 18 minutes into the scoreless draw at York rescinded.

Curson was said to have sent off both Trundle and York defender Richard Hope for exchanging punches as they tumbled in the 18-yard area - a claim strongly denied by Swansea's leading scorer.

But it has emerged Trundle was dismissed for "intent to strike an opponent" and, with the match video not providing conclusive proof of exactly what happened, will now have to serve a three-match ban.

And Flynn stormed, "I feel a sense of injustice over this. I'm annoyed that we're going to lose Lee for three games because I don't think there was intent on Lee's part.

"Lee told me he didn't lash out at the defender and I believe him.

"But the referee was adamant that he was not going to change his decision and the red card will stand."

The loss of 13-goal Trundle, Swansea's most influential performer by some distance this season, represents a major blow to the club's promotion aspirations.

Swansea will be forced to survive without their star player for important Division Three clashes at home to Southend on December 13 and away to Doncaster six days later and Torquay on Boxing Day.

Flynn could still appeal against Curson's decision, but believes video footage would not help his cause.

"The camera recording the match was on the other side of the pitch and it has not clearly captured what happened," said the Vetch Field director of football.

"The video is unlikely to help us persuade the Welsh FA or the referee to reconsider the decision.

"And whereas the camera might have picked up punches being thrown, 'intent to strike' is all about the referee's interpretation.

"It's down to what one individual makes of the situation and we're not going to make him change his mind."

When Trundle was out injured earlier in the season Flynn brought in Manchester United youngster Daniel Nardiello, but he has ruled out another dip in the loan market - and thrown down the gauntlet to James Thomas instead.

"I don't think I will be bringing anyone else in," he said.

"It's not a financial issue, I just plan to go with who we've got. And it's an opportunity for James. He was the hero last season and let's hope he can resume that in Lee's absence."

Swansea struggled to score during Trundle's October lay-off, mustering a solitary goal in the four league matches he sat out.

"We've got to learn the lessons from that," said Flynn. "Other people, whether it be strikers, midfielders or defenders, have got to take the goal-scoring responsibility on their shoulders.

"Kieron (Durkan) got a goal against Rushden in the FA Cup and Leon scored at Northampton, so it's not as if Lee has been the only one scoring in recent matches.

"But we do need others to play their part. And I'm confident that they will do."

Swansea City will not appeal against Lee Trundle's sending off against York on Saturday, but are convinced that their man is innocent.
Trundle and York defender Richard Hope were dismissed for violent conduct after only 19 minutes of the 0-0 draw.

After the match, Swans director of football Brian Flynn suggested that the club would appeal if video evidence proved his innocence, but the tape was inconclusive.

Trundle, who has scored 13 goals since his summer move from Wrexham, will be suspended for three matches.

"I feel a sense of injustice over this," said Swans director of football Brian Flynn. "I don't think there was intent on Lee's part.

"Lee told me he didn't lash out at the defender and I believe him.

"But the referee was adamant that he was not going to change his decision and the red card will stand."

Stevenage boss Graham Westley has launched a stunning attack on Brian Flynn ahead of Saturday's FA Cup second-round clash with Swansea City. Westley has accused Swansea's director of football of dismissing his side's chances of success at Vetch Field this weekend.

And the former Farnborough manager, who courted controversy when he led them to an FA Cup fourth-round defeat at Arsenal last season, has promised to make Swansea pay for underestimating his mid-table Conference side.

''I'm not going to get wound up by Brian Flynn's dismissive attitude towards us," declared Westley, whose Farnborough side knocked out Third Division Darlington in the third round of the cup last term. on the Stevenage club website

''That's up to him. And he may well be right to say what he has. I think league clubs do underestimate sides in our league.

''George Reynolds (Darlington chairman) was brilliant to our people, but after he had promised to send my side back down south with nothing but our sandwiches last year, it was us not Darlington who drew Arsenal.

''This tie will be won on the day, not by what's said beforehand.''

Westley's rant seems little short of bizarre, for Flynn has never been the kind to deride opponents since taking over at the Vetch almost 15 months ago.

His reaction to drawing Stevenage was hardly disrespectful - he gave his side a ''realistic chance'' of progressing to round three while warning his players against any complacency.

''They knocked out Stockport in round one, they beat us in the LDV Vans Trophy last year and they will probably view drawing us as a chance for them to get through,'' Flynn said in the wake of Swansea's 3-0 first-round win against Rushden & Diamonds.

Westley was hammered in the national press last winter for switching Farnborough's dream tie from their Cherrywood Road home to Highbury and then quitting the club just days after their 4-1 defeat in the capital.

His mantra, as he memorably declared in the lead-up to the Arsenal game, is that 'attitude is more important than ability'.

Whether today's comments are all about mind games or he is truly upset by something Flynn has said in the past is unknown.

Westley went on: ''Swansea are just behind Yeovil and Doncaster in Division Three. That gives us a strong indication of the type of challenge we'll be facing.

''We're travelling away to face the challenge of league opposition.

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins rates Saturday's FA Cup second round tie with Stevenage the most important game of the season - but not because of possible cash rewards. Director of football Brian Flynn has identified the prospect of a money-spinning tie away at one of the Premiership's heavyweight clubs in January's third round as Swansea's main incentive this weekend.

But casting aside the chance to bank around £500,000 from a plum draw at Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal, chairman Jenkins insists he would rather see the club progress to round four.

''I don't see much pleasure in going away to Arsenal and losing 6-0,'' the Vetch Field supremo said.

''Personally, if we can get past Stevenage, my ideal draw would be one of the clubs around the foot of the Premiership or one of the sides in the top half of Division One.

''If we get one of those teams at home we'd have a chance of beating them and that's what we want, to win as many games as possible.

''While our finances are okay, as they are at the moment, we can forget getting a big club away and hope to get a good side at home who we could upset.

''We would still make some money, and above all else the football comes first.''

Swansea pocketed £12,500 in prize money for their comfortable first-round win over Rushden & Diamonds and will bank another £15,000 if they overcome their Conference opponents this weekend.

Sides who progress to round four earn a further £50,000, while Swansea would earn hundreds of thousands from a share of gate receipts if they were drawn at Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge or Highbury.

Jenkins's dream tie, at home to one of the Premiership's lesser sides, could mean a television pay-day should BBC or Sky choose to screen Swansea live.

''It's not all about finance, but this is the most important game of the season,'' he added.

''Getting through would give everybody something to look forward to in January. That's essential.

''And any income which we do get above our budget would be used to improve the squad and help us reach our goal of First Division football sooner.

''We haven't progressed very far in any cup for various reasons in the last few years.

''The players, the management and those of us in the boardroom want that to change because it will give supporters a glimpse of what we are hoping to achieve.

''It will help get the interest and belief that this club can compete at a higher level back again.''

So with the glad rags came the handbags, and Lee Trundle was the man on everyone's lips even after a game where he barely mustered a shot. On the field silver-booted, off it sharp-suited, Swansea City's spikey-haired top scorer is not one who merges into a crowd.

Former Wrexham striker Trundle is an outstanding performer at Third Division level, as his 13 goals in 18 Swansea starts have proved.

But the 27-year-old Scouser is also something of a firebrand, one who winds up opposition players and fans just like another with a flash of blond hair, Welsh international Robbie Savage.

Having seen it first hand in North Wales, Trundle's is a game which Brian Flynn spent much of the close season working to bring to the other end of the country.

It is one which has thrilled supporters in these parts, who have not seen anything quite like it in a couple of decades.

Right from the start, though, there has been a sense that, away from home especially, Trundle's approach would land him in hot water sooner or later.

And rightly or wrongly, just 18 minutes in at Bootham Crescent the moment arrived.

York centre-back Richard Hope's challenge robbed Trundle of the ball and at the same time sent the 6ft forward tumbling on to the defender inside the home side's penalty box.

All seemed fairly innocuous at that stage, but as each player tried to get back to their feet and back into play, arms tangled and the trouble started.

Reinforcements arrived from each side arrived in numbers and an unsavoury if not exactly savage round of rumbles ensued.

Once referee Brian Curson had restored order, he sent the instigators for early showers and booked two more.

The bickering continued all the way to the players' tunnel, when yellows all round might have sufficed.

Things could have turned more unpleasant but for the efforts of Lenny Johnrose, who used his robust frame to keep the rivals apart, and injured club skipper Roberto Martinez, who leapt off the bench to guide Trundle to the dressing room.

''I have spoken to Lee and he says he was just trying to get up,'' said director of football Flynn.

''Then the two of them were tussling with each other on the floor and, though I haven't spoken to the referee, I don't know if he had any other option but to send them both off.

''Whether there were punches thrown I don't know, but they were grappling with each other and something was happening down there. You have to say that.''

Midfielder Johnrose might have become the third man to see red later in what was a fairly dire spectacle after he flattened the former Cardiff forward Lee Nogan with a tackle from behind.

Such was the ferocity of the challenge that the impact could be heard all across the muted stadium. York wing-back Darren Edmondson was in Johnrose's face protesting, and both players were booked.

''It's a committed game,'' the ex-Burnley player said.

''Some people seem to think aggression has gone out of football. It hasn't.

''Both teams wanted to win and you have just got to be grown up and realise that tackles go in and people lose their tempers now and again.''

Johnrose went on: ''I spoke to the ref afterwards and he said there were couple of punches from each side in the Trundle incident.

''It seemed to start from very little. Lee went for the ball, lost out and I just expected them to pick up possession and play on so I turned round to get back into position.

''The next thing I knew they were grappling on the floor and, if the ref is right that there were punches exchanged, both players had to go.''

Television pictures proved inconclusive, suggesting if anything that Hope's lunge backwards prompted the mass dust-up.

Whether he was hard done by or not on this occasion, there is a sense that the occasional red card for a player dismissed twice before since entering the Football League two and a half seasons ago is part of the Trundle package.

''Lee's a one-off and there's an edge to him,'' conceded Flynn. ''I can't deny that.

''He is accustomed to the physical challenges and he is not afraid of them - in many ways he quite likes that side of the game.

''That's four bookings and a sending-off now since he joined us and some of the bookings were a bit silly. But we'll put up with that because of what he gives us.''

And what Swansea missed for more than threequarters of Saturday's contest.

Kevin Nugent and late on substitute James Thomas were lonely figures in the visitors' attack as York had the better of the chances.

Former Barry goalkeeper Mark Ovendale twice needed to be on his mettle, to tip Andy Robinson's 30-yard free-kick past the post on the stroke of half-time and to block Leon Britton's left-foot shot after the break.

But it was Swansea stopper Roger Freestone who had the busier time, keeping his side afloat during a lacklustre first-half showing and then denying Lee Bullock at point-blank range in the 92nd minute to secure a hard-earned draw.

Another clean sheet, Swansea's fourth in their last five league games, and a 35th point from the 20th league game of the season - enough to keep Flynn's side in sixth place - was certainly heartwarming for the 250 Welsh die-hards who made the long journey to wintry North Yorkshire.

But the prospect of losing Trundle for three of the club's festive matches, the period when Swansea's management team had hoped to push back towards the top of the table, was the lasting, painful memory on the 300-mile trek home.

BRIAN FLYNN praised his defenders for another clean sheet - but admitted Swansea were indebted once more to the goalkeeping heroics of Roger Freestone.

"Roger was too busy," said Flynn. "Certainly he kept us in the game in the first half and again late on with a number of quality saves.

"We just didn't function in the first half. We knew the conditions would be difficult and that we'd have to make life difficult for York as their home record is good - but we didn't.

"York had a lot of space to dictate things in the first half and that was down to poor defending from us and the fact we didn't get close to them in midfield.

"But I was pleased we improved after the break and had two or three chances to pinch something.

"Alan Tate made the point - he has now kept four clean sheets in five league games and that's pleasing. Not many teams will go to York and stop them scoring."

LENNY JOHNROSE vigorously defended himself against claims he should have been sent off - and insisted it was natural that tempers would occasionally fray.

The Swansea midfielder could easily have joined Lee Trundle in the dressing room when he chopped down York striker Lee Nogan with a two-footed challenge from behind with 10 minutes left on the clock.

But Johnrose countered, "If you want to stop me tackling, you might as well tell me not to play.

"I didn't think that it (the tackle) was a big deal. The fact that one of their men got involved and started shoving me made things worse.

"People seem to think aggression has gone out of the game. It hasn't.

"Sometimes you've got to take things on the chin and grow up. You've got to realise that tackles will go in and people will lose their tempers now and then."

YORK player-manager Chris Brass claimed he would have preferred to see Lee Trundle remain on the pitch for 90 minutes.

"Lee's been Swansea's best player this season by a long mile and you want the best players - those who entertain - on the field for the whole game," said Brass.

"We knew he'd be a danger as he's capable of scoring goals in abundance and we would've liked the chance to test ourselves against him.

"As it was, the referee's decision to send off Lee and Richard (Hope) altered the course of the game and no-one went on to win it."

On the double dismissal, Brass said, "All I saw was the two of them tussling on the ground and if it was nothing more, perhaps a stern ticking off or a yellow card each would've done.

"But if the referee saw punches being thrown, then he has to follow the letter of the law and send them off."

DAVID JENKINS, a Bridgend-based Swans fan, felt Brian Flynn's side were fortunate to claim a point at Bootham Crescent.

"You tend to fear the worst when Lee Trundle is not on the pitch," he said.

"And when he was sent off, we were thinking, 'Here we go, where are we going to get a goal from?'

"From our position behind the goal at the other end of the pitch, we didn't get a good view of what led to the sendings off - especially when all the players rushed in.

"But if there were punches thrown, I don't think the referee would have had much choice but to send them off.

"From that point, we didn't create many chances and we had Roger Freestone to thank again for a few good saves.

"It's a long way to go to watch a 0-0 draw, but we have to be pleased with that. It's a good result in the circumstances."

Brian Flynn was today trying to contact referee Brian Curson in a bid to get Lee Trundle's York red card overturned. Swansea City's top scorer is facing a three-match ban during the all-important Christmas period having been sent off just 18 minutes into Saturday's goalless draw at Bootham Crescent after a grapple with home defender Richard Hope prompted a mass melee.

With just one camera on the other side of stadium, television pictures of the incident proved inconclusive which may prove Swansea's downfall should they choose to appeal.

If anything, replays indicated that centre-back Hope sparked the trouble with a lunge towards Swansea's 13-goal ace marksman when both players were on the floor.

Curson told some Swansea players on Saturday that punches had been exchanged, but Flynn is keen to talk to the Leicestershire official after reviewing the match video.

''I've asked permission to speak to the referee because the pictures only show the initial part of what happened,'' said the Swansea boss, who must lodge an appeal within the next 24 hours.

''No punches were thrown then and I want to ask him if anything happened after that.

''Lee says nothing did and we are in the hands of the referee now. I won't know what the chances of getting the red card rescinded are until I've heard what the referee says.''

Trundle, who faces missing the home game against Southend in 12 days' time and trips to Doncaster (December 19) and Torquay (Boxing Day), was today pleading his innocence.

''I didn't do anything wrong,'' he said. ''I would hold my hands up if I had done, but I didn't and I can't really apologise for the referee's decision.

''Hope was on top of me on the floor and I was just grappling to get up when he came back and elbowed me in the stomach. No punches were thrown and I do feel hard done-by because it was just a tussle.

''The reaction of other players didn't help the situation but I still thought we would both get a yellow card. When the ref pulled out the red I couldn't believe it. I asked him what it was for and he just ignored me.''

Whatever happens, Trundle will be available for Saturday's FA Cup second-round meeting with Stevenage, but the inspirational Scouser will be sorely missed during the busy Christmas league programme when Flynn had hoped his side would press for a return to the summit of the Third Division.

Contrary to some reports, strike partner Kevin Nugent was not booked at York and remains one yellow card away from a one-match ban.

Tickets for the cup clash with Conference side Stevenage are on general sale in the club shop.

JAMES THOMAS has vowed to give Swans boss Brian Flynn a selection headache if he gets the chance to step into Lee Trundle's boots.

Thomas will take a keen interest today as Swansea decide whether to appeal against Trundle's dismissal in Saturday's scoreless draw against York.

If the club choose not to contest the red card or an appeal is unsuccessful, leading scorer Trundle will be forced to sit out December dates with Southend, Doncaster and Torquay.

And Thomas, who has not started a league game since the 4-3 win at Cheltenham on August 16, is ready to capitalise on Trundle's misfortune.

"Losing Lee for three games would be a massive blow because, as everyone has seen, he can make the difference in terms of snatching a goal," said Thomas.

"But if he is out, then I will hopefully get a chance. And though Lee has big boots to fill, I'd hope to pick up where he leaves off and get a couple of goals.

"If I can get on the scoresheet, that will hopefully make it difficult for the manager to leave me out - even when Trunds is available again!

"What I've got to do is give the manager a bit of a selection problem.

"If I get the chance, I've got to make sure I take it."

Thomas has had a wretched season, losing his place in the side to Kevin Nugent before suffering an embarrassing case of gout which kept him out of action for almost two months.

When Trundle was injured in October, Thomas returned to fitness only to find his path to the first team blocked by on-loan Manchester United youngster Daniel Nardiello.

"I've had a frustrating time, but I've got to look forward now and hope to get a run in the team," said the 24-year-old, who came on as a second-half substitute for Nugent at Bootham Crescent.

"It was good to get a run-out against York - even if it was a difficult game and I was alone up front.

"We'll have to see what happens with Lee, but all I'd say to the manager is 'Please don't bring a striker in on loan!'"

Flynn hinted he is ready to unleash a Thomas-Nugent striking axis if he loses Trundle. "This could be the opportunity James has been waiting for," he said.

"We've had numerous chats and I've told him that when his chance came - and I stressed it would come - it would be up to him to take it."

A FURIOUS first-half bust-up landed Swans goal ace Lee Trundle with a red card - and a three match ban.

Trundle, the 12-goal hero of City's early season push for promotion, traded blows with York destroyer Richard Hope as early as the 18th minute.

And the pair were still at each others' throats as they marched off in disgrace.

The spark for Trundle landing himself in hot water was a 20-man ruck in the Minstermen penalty area.

Swans firebrand Andy Robinson and York's Chris Smith were also booked as the aggro raged on.

Yet bruised ex-Burnley star Lee Nogan leapt to the defence of Trundle later, claiming: "Football is a contact game. It seems all the aggression is going out of the sport.

"The referee Brian Curson said Lee punched the York player. I didn't see that. But if the referee really believes that, he had to act."

Swans manager Flynn was left counting the cost of losing Trundle for those three vital matches later this month.

He said: "I'll be having a look at the match video before deciding what to do.

"Lee said all he was trying to do was to get up.

"But something certainly happened."

Yet it was a shame four yellow and two red cards overshadowed a truly wonderful display of goalkeeping from Swansea's Roger Freestone.

The big Welshman might be 36 next birthday, but his acrobatic saves from Cardiff City target Lee Bullock, Stephen Brackstone and Jon Shaw were vintage Freestone.

His acrobatics clinched a potentially important reward and kept his Swans in the thick of the play-offs - just the sort of boost before next Saturday's FA Cup second-round home date with Conference club Stevenage.

But the Minstermen, whose club nearly died a few months ago, almost tore the Swans apart in the opening two minutes. Freestone's legs blocked out Darren Edmondson after only 30 seconds.

York player-chief Chris Brass then sent a bicycle kick inches wide after Freestone had pawed Bullock's rasping drive to safety.

Swansea replied as Trundle danced around Smith and tested ex-Barry stopper Mark Ovendale.

Just 10 minutes later the Swans almost caved in. Shaw, on loan at Bootham from Sheffield Wednesday, brushed Izzy Iriekpen aside. But he gazed in disbelief as Freestone twisted to deflect his rising blast.

But the Swans were finally hitting back as Ovendale beat away Robinson's 20-yard free kick.

Nugent leapt above Brass to flick on Alan Tate's pass.

The Londoner released Leon Britton, but the tiny midfielder's angled blast cannoned back off Ovendale's legs.

Swansea kept their top-seven spot, although a red card apiece provided the most excitement from a goalless draw at York.

Richard Hope was sent off for the home side while Swansea's Lee Trundle also saw red following a bust-up after 18 minutes.

Oxford head the Division Three table following a hard-fought win at Rochdale on a day when Hull slipped out of the automatic promotion places.

Oxford looked to be cruising when goals from Steve Basham after half an hour and Julian Alsop on 51 minutes put Ian Atkins' side two goals up.

But that cushion lasted just three minutes before Gary Jones pulled one back, although Dale could not find an equaliser.

Hull started the day second in the table but crashed to a surprise 2-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers.

The pre-season favourites made the perfect start when Ben Burgess put the Yorkshiremen ahead after five minutes but Ryan Williams dragged Rovers level before Junior Agogo won it with three minutes remaining.

Their place in the top three was taken by Mansfield, who breezed past Northampton 3-0 at the Sixfields Stadium.

Keith Curle's side got off to the ideal start when Iyseden Christie fired in the opener in the fifth minute before Liam Lawrence's 66th-minute penalty all but sealed the points. Craig Disley put the result beyond doubt with the third on 80 minutes.

Doncaster's superb form since their return to the Football League continued, although they made hard work of disposing of the Third Division's bottom side.

Leo Fortune-West scored the only goal at Brunton Park as Carlisle slipped to their 11th straight league defeat, a result which leaves the Cumbrians 13 points adrift of safety.

Torquay took advantage of Lincoln's slip at Yeovil to move into the play-off places courtesy of their 3-0 home win over Southend.

All three goals came within a nine minute period either side of half-time after Tony Bedeau struck seconds before the interval.

Matthew Hockley doubled Torquay's lead seven minutes into the second half and the scoring was complete two minutes later when David Graham netted.

Lincoln lost their play-off place while Yeovil retained theirs with a 3-1 victory at Huish Park.

The game looked certain to end in a draw after Colin Pluck equalised for the hosts following Simon Yeo's opener.

However, Lincoln's hopes of a point were shattered in the final five minutes by goals from Adam Stansfield and Jamie Gosling.

Darlington claimed a valuable point from a 2-2 home draw with Scunthorpe but they remain in the relegation zone.

Barry Conlon and Neil Wainwright gave the Quakers a two-goal lead before the hour mark but their hopes fell apart in a disastrous final 30 minutes.

Ryan Valentine and Conlon were sent off either side of a goal from Scunthorpe's Steve Torpey and Peter Beagrie rescued a point for the visitors with a penalty eight minutes from time.

Macclesfield's battle against relegation was helped by Matthew Tipton's only goal against Bury at Moss Rose while at the McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield and Cheltenham shared a goalless draw.

Boston needed an Adam Boyd double to claim a 2-2 home draw from their clash with Kidderminster, who scored through Craig Hinton and Andy White.

Leyton Orient thrashed Cambridge 4-1 with a Wayne Purser double adding to goals from Lee Thorpe and Justin Miller. John Turner scored Cambridge's consolation.