Jackett defends first team selection

Kenny Jackett says his squad selection for yesterday’s match against Tranmere was right.

The Swans started off on the back foot as Tranmere piled on the pressure early on, they took the lead after 20 minutes before Tudur-Jones equalised a minute from time. Facey then put Rovers back in front a minute later.

Captain, Roberto Martinez, one our best performers this season was dropped a few games ago and has been on the bench ever since.

Kristian O’Leary, his replacement for the last few games was replaced by the Spaniard at the start of the second half along with Robinson who came on for Kevin McLeod.

The Swans improved in the second half and they piled on the pressure near the end and it was the former Tranmere player, Andy Robinson who grabbed a late equaliser.

‘With three substitutions you can affect the game, we did that and came on strong second half,’ said Jackett.

‘It was a great game with lots of chances. We had a few more than they had but we cannot complain over the draw.

‘Tranmere showed tremendous spirit but I never felt it was over.

‘At the end it felt like a point earned rather than two lost.

‘We were obviously disappointed to concede two goals, but we battled and we scrapped and kept going and we got hold of the opposition.’

Hopefully we’ll see both players back in the side for Scunthorpe’s visit to the Stadium a week Tuesday. McLeod has been below par recently and I think we need our skipper back to get our passing game flowing again.

Tranmere boss, Brian Little said he was happy with his side’s performance despite being unable to hang on for a win: “I got the feeling that we might just sneak it. It was a hard game – a good game. We feel unlucky not to have got the extra points but perhaps they will feel they deserved a draw.

“Our attitude was spot on. We were against a decent side and we matched them throughout. We are looking for results and it was a point which takes us in the right direction. If we keep producing that sort of effort and commitment we will be okay.

“Everybody had a go and whilst there was disappointment in the end the fans remained great.”

Jackett believed a draw was a fair result: “It was a great game with lots of chances. We had a few more than they had but we cannot complain over the draw. It was probably a fair result. Tranmere showed tremendous spirit but I never felt it was over.

“At the end it felt like a point earned rather than two lost. We came on very strong in the second period with the substitutes doing well.

“We were obviously disappointed to concede two goals but we battled and we scrapped and kept going and we got hold of the opposition.”