The game hinged on two controversial refereeing decisions by official Mr Kaye. They allowed the Swans to turn the match around after United had looked the dominant side for long spells of the opening half. Although the injury crisis was easing slowly, there were no new faces from the side who started at Southend last week. Swansea were without several key names but Lee Trundle started up front alongside experienced Kevin Nugent, Trundle being top scorer in the division with nine goals. Carlisle started the game confidently with some good crisp passing movements. Clear chances were hard to come by but both Richie Foran and Kevin Henderson had sights at goal. Henderson fired over the bar after five minutes. Then a Shelley cross found the head of Foran but the ball flew wide. Will McDonagh, getting forward well from midfield then had a shot blocked by Richard Duffy to force a corner. Experienced stopper Roger Freestone held on well to Murphy's high ball. Murphy's next corner was met by the forehead of defender Paul Raven but this time a comfortable save for Freestone. On 22 minutes Foran wasted a great chance when he hooked Murphy's corner over the bar from little more than six yards. He made amends though, in the 42nd minute of the half. Nugent committed a foul on McDonagh as he shaped to shoot on the right edge of the box. Foran stepped up and placed his kick precisely to Freestone's right to make it 1-0. The second half began with referee Kaye seemingly losing control as tempers flared. The key decision he had to make came just three minutes in when he again awarded a spot kick at the Petteril End of the pitch. Byrne, back defending inside his own area, was adjudged to have handled a ball in from Trundle. Kaye pointed to the spot which led to long protests. Henderson went into the book. Trundle's penalty was well placed and levelled things up at 1-1. The game threatened to boil over with trouble off the pitch too. David Molloy who had come on for the injured Paul Raven was booked for unsporting behaviour. Then Trundle fell over theatrically to win a free kick just over 20 yards out. Mark Wilson's kick was expertly placed as it flew out of Glennon's reach and went in just underneath the cross-bar. It was another hammer blow for Carlisle who ill-deserved to be behind on the balance of play. On the hour Andy Robinson tested Glennon's reflexes and the keeper made top save, turning the ball away athletically for a corner. With fifteen minutes remaining McDonagh was desperately unlucky to see his shot come back off the bar following a period of sustained home pressure. Brian Wake came on for the tiring Henderson. United won a free kick just outside the box with 10 minutes left. Referee Kaye penalised left back Michael Howard for not retreating and marched the kick forward to the edge of the box. Foran's shot was powerful but a bit too high and cleared the bar as one of United's last chances slipped away. McGill did manage a cross that found Wake's head but the ball went wide. Swansea then attempted to waste time in order to preserve their lead. Al's verdict: We wuz robbed? I felt the referee's decisions had too big a part to play in this game. For most of the first half we played some great stuff and fully deserved the penalty kick with which Richie put us ahead. Even after they got in front, thanks in part to dodgy refereeing and Trundle's oscar-winning performance, we came back strongly and McDonagh was so close with his shot that hit the bar. It tends to be the case that nothing goes for you when you're at the bottom and today that was very true. If Swansea are really the best team in the division then we have little to worry about. I felt we matched them in most departments today. Billy and McDonagh were so on top in midfield it was untrue. Foran and Henderson caused them problems and Andrews again looked solid at the back. However Raven went off injured and we are going to be stretched again for Tuesday night. |
