One crazy day to be forgotten
Swansea City slipped to one of the most unlikely defeats of the season against eight man Southend United at Vetch Field this afternoon.
David McSweeney walked after just 30 minutes, then jay Smith, Mark Gower, and No2 Paul brush were given their marching orders in one craxy incident five minutes from time.
Amazingly, the triple sending off inspired a third Southend goal rather than a Swansea equaliser after the Shrimpers had led 2-1 going into injury time.
James Thomas capped a fine afternoon for him personally with his second strike seven minutes into injury time, but by then it was too late to save Brian Flynn's side from their second home league defeat of the season.
And all this after the local lad had given Swansea the lead on a truly remarkable afternoon.
Looking to avenge one of only two home defeats this season, Flynn named a starting 11 with just five survivors from the side beaten 2-1 by the Shrimpers in the LDV Vans Trophy last month.
One of those was James Thomas, who had not begun a league game since August.
Last season's top scorer came in for the suspended Lee Trundle, while Alan tate returned for Kris O'Leary in the other change form last weekend's FA Cup win over Stevenage.
Southend's caretaker manager Steve Tilson, looking for win number four in five games in charge at Roots Hall, named nine of the side which had succeeded here in the LDV.
They might have been second from bottom in the table, but the Essex boys arrived full of confidence after a highly successful week in the cups.
They smashed the normally hard to break down Lincoln city 3-0 in the FA cup last weekend, then saw off Second division Luton by the same score on Tuesday to progress to the last eight of the LDV.
They started brightly enough today too, although it was the home side who had the crowd on their feet first.
Only eight minutes had passed when skipper Kevin Nugent launched himself at Andy robinson's cross, but headed past the post.
Within moments the lively Thomas had managed a couple of sighters, and before the quarter hour mark the morriston boy had announced his return to first team action with a goal.
After Lenny Johnrose had switched play with a fine 40 yard ball, Kieron Durkan made strides down the right.
he centred perfectly to the unmarked Thomas and the ex Welsh under 21 international nodded clinically past Darryl Flahavan
The hero of last May's all important win over Hull was back with a bang to the delight of the home fans - but their smiles did not last long.
Leon Cort's angled pass found Leon Constantine, the visitors top scorer, and he rolled the ball past Roger Freestone from the corner of the box tgo level the scores.
The Vetch was stunned, but in a crazy six minute period the locals were soon roaring againas Southend were reduced to 10 men.
Robinson was fouled by David McSweeney, but it was what followed which earned the Shrimpers left back his marching orders.
With Swansea's Scouse midfielder stood over him, McSweeney kicked out and referee George cain - another Merseysider - produced a red card.
Southend players were far from happy and it was a couple of minutes before they got round to reorganising.
Defender Lee(sic) Jenkins arrived from the bench as winger Michael Kightly was sacrificed.
There was bad news for Swansea as tempers flared a little - Nugent collected a fifth yellow card this season. Flynn's only targetman will now sit out the top-of-the-table clash with Yeovil on December 28.
With a one man advantage Swansea might have expected to take control in the closing stages of the first half.
In the event, the exact opposite happened.
First Tes Bramble rifled just past the post from 20 yards, then the brother of Newcastle man Titus spooned hopelessly wide when clean through on the Swansea goal.
If Southend thought their chance had gone they were wrong, because in stoppage time midfielder Mark Gower's 25 yard drive put them in front.
Freestone, like the majority of another healthy Vetch crowd, must have been disappointed having got something on Gower's effort before it stuttered into the net.
Half time: Swansea 1 Southend 2
There must have been a few stern words in the home dressing room at half time, and within three minutes of the restart Swansea were very nearly level.
After Nugent had been fouled 25 yards from goal, Robinson sent in a dipping free kick which cannoned off the crossbar and away to safety.
The 10 men survived then, and they did again 10 minutes into the second periodwhen substitute Jenkins cleared off the line after Thomas had met Durkan's corner with a firm header. By the hour mark Flynn's men were starting to turn up the pressure as they searched for an equaliser.
Their approach became more frantic with every minute that passed.
Durkan found a moment to compose himself on the right flank with 20 minutes to go and again Thomas was unlucky not to benefit from another fine cross.
This time his header was turned around the post by Flahavan.
The Southend keeper was untroubled by the resulting corner, though, as Alan Tate blazed over the bar. Flynn's frustration mounted - but wjhat he didn't know was that things were soon to get worse in a bizarre passage late on.
Already a man down, Southend lost both goalscorer Gower and Jay Smith with five minutes to go for dissent.
Flynn threw on teenage striker marc Pritchard in a desperate bid to make the numerical advantage pay but unbelievably, it was the eight man Southend who found another goal in injury time.
Freestone had blocked Broughton's initial shot when another substitute, Mark Warren, rollded into the empty net with his first touch seven minutes into injury time.
An incredible 97minutes were on the clock when Thomas rifled a brilliant second which proved to be the last kick of the game.
