There were few signs in the first half of what was to happen in the second, as the Swans looked comfortable, though not impressive by any means. There were few chances made in the first half, though Andy Robinson tested the keeper a couple of times, and Tom Butler on his home debut hit the post with an excellent effort. Cheltenham huffed and puffed but rarely troubled Willie Gueret.
The second half was a different matter. After just three minutes of the half, a mistake by Izzy allowed Cheltenham striker Odejayi to take the ball on his chest and hit a right-footer past the helpless Gueret. Then after 54 minutes another mistake, this time by Amankwah who dithered on the ball, allowed McCann to nip in and push the ball past Gueret to make it 2-0.
It looked like the Swans were still in pre-season mood as a sloppy defence allowed Cheltenham further chances which thankfully they failed to put away. Jackett then decided to send on three substitutions, Akinfenwa for Fallon, McLeod for Butler and Britton for O'Leary. Butler, up to then, had looked the best player on the field for the Swans and it did seem a strange decision by Jackett to take him off. All three subs went straight into attack mode and Bayo Akinfenwa made several bustling tank-like runs at the visitors defence, and was unucky not to score. After 76 minutes the Swans pulled a goal back. An excellent weaving run by Kevin McLeod down the left saw him beat several defenders, to cross for Leon Knight to score with a superb diving header. The Swans then pressed for an equaliser, but it was not to be our day, despite Knight having two excellent chances.
The next two games for the Swans are both away, at Scunthorpe on Tuesday and at Oldham next Saturday. Let's hope that the defence isn't as generous next week.
Swansea: Gueret, Amankwaah, Iriekpen, Monk, Williams, Pratley, O'Leary (Britton 57), Robinson, Butler (McLeod 58), Fallon (Akinfenwa 58), Knight.
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Austin. Booked: Monk.
Goals: Knight 77. Cheltenham: Higgs, Gill, Duff (Wilson 45), Caines, Victory, McCann, Finnigan, Melligan, Armstrong, Guinan (Gillespie 78), Odejayi (Vincent 78).
Subs Not Used: Brown, Bird.
Amankwaah 4- Poor home debut.
Monk 5 – Never looked comfortable today against Odejayi
Iriekepen 6 –Better than Monk, but still making errors!
Williams 2 – Awful. Come back Sam all is forgiven.
Robinson 6 – Played well considering the events of the past few weeks.
Pratley 6 – Good engine failed to spark today. Will get much better as season progresses.
O'Leary 5 – Good first half.
Butler 7 – Best player on the park for the Swans. Will be a good signing for us.
Knight 6-. Starved of possession in first half, was unlucky not to score more in second.
Fallon 5 – Very ordinary today.
Subs-
Britton 6 – Did well. Passing could be and should be better
McLeod 6- Played OK and made the goal.
Akinfenwa 7 – Played really well and was unlucky not to score. Cannot fault him for effort but his finishing could be better!