A cool, cloudy afternoon in Swansea was the destination of the Rovers today to meet the local City side on a perfectly manicured pitch in a Stadium not unlike the Keepmoat.

The Rovers made two changes for today's game as the Manager, Sean O'Driscoll, attempts to get that elusive first League win of the season. Brian Stock comes in, having recovered from a hernia operation, to replace Martin Woods, who drops to the bench and Mark McCammon starts the game, replacing Paul Heffernan, who also drops to the bench. A first for the Rovers today, however, was their appearance in blue and white horizontal striped shirts, with blue shorts and socks.

Swansea have been busy in the transfer market of late but the three players they signed yesterday were not included in the squad for today. They had won their first League game last Saturday at Walsall and will want to get off the mark at home having only got a point against Nottingham Forest in their first home League match.

The Rovers defended the North Stand end where their supporters were seated. The home team set the game in motion but the Rovers immediately won the ball and progressed into the Swansea half before being halted. The early minutes were spent by both teams in midfield as they sounded each other out. The first shot on goal arrived in the 7th minute when Pratley, for the home team, fired well over the bar from 30 yards. A better attempt at goal came from Wilson, for the Rovers, four minutes later after he intercepted a pass from Lawrence, took the ball on a couple of paces and fired just wide of a post. A good build-up by the Rovers on 15 minutes provided Wellens with a crack at goal from the edge of the penalty area, De Vries going down to his left to save. It was a fairly even contest at this stage, with Swansea winning the first corner of the game on 19 minutes following a good run by Austin down the home left. A period of steady play followed, which was proving to be soporific for the crowd on this warm afternoon. On 27 minutes, however, the Rovers followers were awakened when a cross from their left by Gareth Roberts was dropped by the keeper and eventually scrambled away. Down to the other end and the Swansea fans came alive when a 25 yards shot from Scotland came back off Sullivan's chest but he collected at the second attempt. Again the ball travelled to the opposing end where a Wellens effort was blocked and Roberts picking up the loose ball fired low across goal and out past the far post. On the half hour, De Vries again spilled a cross from Roberts, on the Rovers left but, with the ball bobbling about, both McCammon and Hayter were prevented from getting to the ball. Three minutes on and Lockwood, trying to shepherd the ball out for a goalkick lost it, the ball was pulled back to Scotland, whose shot from the angle of the 6 yards box hammered against a post before bouncing away to safety. A period of Rovers possession followed without any end product. The home team hit back as the last five minutes of the half came up. Robinson got the ball on the home left, took it to the byline before hitting a low cross into the middle, across Sullivan, who could only parry it away for SCOTLAND to latch on to and ram into the net from 5 yards after 41 minutes. Back came the Rovers with a free kick in the home half that came to nothing and then a good attack culminating in Wellens, on the right, performing an overhead kick into the middle causing the Swansea defence a few problems before they cleared it. The whistle went for the break with Swansea leading by the single goal. It had been an even half with the Rovers having their fair share of possession and playing some good football.

The Rovers started the second half in lively fashion winning a free kick about 25 yards out that Stock put wide. Then five minutes into the half and Bodde hit a 30 yards screamer that Sullivan, diving to his left, managed to tip away for a corner. The next five minutes belonged to the Rovers as they attacked down the right, with good work by McCammon and then O'Connor causing consternation in the home defence. Wilson then battled his way through the middle before hitting a drive from 20 yards that De Vries saved easily. Immediately Wellens secured the ball in midfield and took it deep into the home half before releasing to Hayter, whose shot from 20 yards was wide. Swansea's reply was to win a corner but this was cleared. On 61 minutes, an altercation involving Stock and Bodde was followed by the referee producing a red card and showing Bodde the way to the dressing room for a head butt on Stock. Pushing on against ten men, the Rovers won a corner when a shot from Stock was deflected, with Greer heading over. Then, as the Rovers continued to press, Hayter, touched on to WELLENS on the edge of the Swansea penalty area. A fierce low drive found the bottom corner of the net to level the score after 68 mins. Five minutes on and McCammon, in the home penalty area touched the ball round the keeper but Lawrence was there to clear his lines. Then the Rovers had a shout for a penalty when a shot from Stock hit Austin on the hand but the referee decreed otherwise. Swansea were still in the game and fighting hard. Then, on 83 minutes, a free kick on the Rovers right came out of the home defence to WELLENS, 25 yards out. A terrific volley zipped past an astonished keeper to put the Rovers in front. The home team tried desperately to hit back and get something from the game but the Rovers held firm and went back to South Yorkshire with three points.

Teams - Swansea City - Dorus de Vries; Angel Rangel, Garry Monk, Dennis Lawrence, Kevin Austin; Leon Britton, Darren Pratley, Ferrie Bodde, Andy Robinson; Jason Scotland, Darryl Duffy.
Subs used - Kristian O'Leary for Duffy 62 mins; Thomas Butler for Robinson 80 mins; Paul Anderson for Britton 83 mins;
Subs not used -, Guillem Bauza, Ian Craney.
Cautions - Britton, Pratley, Rangel,

ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Matthew Mills, Gordon Greer, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts; Richie Wellens, Brian Stock, Mark Wilson; James Hayter, Mark McCammon.
Subs used - Paul Heffernan for Hayter 79 mins; Martin Woods for Stock 79 mins; Paul Green for Wilson 89 mins;
Subs not used - Lewis Guy, Sean McDaid,
Cautions - Stock, Lockwood,