Swansea City

Jackett backs striker Akinfenwa
Swansea manager Kenny Jackett says new signing Adebayo Akinfenwa, 23, will boost his front line. "I'm not concerned about the number of clubs Bayo has played for - he has just been looking for his niche," Jackett told the South Wales Evening Post. "He gives us that extra competition. He is a big strong lad and he has a big physical presence, a good touch, and is good with his hold-up play." Akinfenwa's transfer fee from Torquay will be decided by a tribunal.

Thomas recovery suffers setback
Injury-prone striker James Thomas' battle for a new Swansea City contract has got off to a bad start. The 26-year-old has been unable to make the start of pre-season training where he hopes to prove his fitness. "James is struggling in terms of his rehabilitation," manager Kenny Jackett told the South Wales Evening Post. "We hoped he'd be fit for the start of training, but his leg will take longer. It's very difficult to prejudge, I need to talk to specialists and to James."

Jackett targets Championship push
Swansea boss Kenny Jackett is confident the League One new boys can challenge for a place in the Championship. "I think that we can get promoted," Jackett told the South Wales Evening Post. "It will be tough, but you have to have aims and ambitions. "There will be a lot of clubs with very high aims - it is a very competitive division. "Out of all of those clubs there are always one or two surprises that are in the pack with the others."

Akinfenwa put through Swans paces
Swansea's pre-season training camp at RAF St Athan came as a shock to new recruit Adebayo Akinfenwa. Boss Kenny Jackett took his players out to the Vale of Glamorgan for a week-long 'boot camp' at the hands of military physical training instructors. "It's the hardest week of my life, I'm not going to lie, but it was a good bonding experience," Akinfenwa said. "I was feeling pain in places I'd never even heard of or felt before, but it's something that had to be done." The 23-year-old striker was out of contract at Torquay and joined the Swans last week. Torquay are entitled to some compensation because of the player's age, but it now looks likely this will be settled at a Football League tribunal in three weeks.

Swansea 1-1 Fulham
A late Marc Goodfellow goal gave Swansea a friendly draw in their first game at the city's New Stadium. Premiership Fulham opened the scoring on 51 minutes, midfielder Steed Malbranque's attempted cross from the right sneaking over Willy Gueret. Swansea brought on club legend Alan Curtis, 51, for the last 10 minutes of his testimonial match. He watched admiringly as new wing Goodfellow went on a great run to beat Zat Knight four minutes from time. It was just reward for the home team, with Goodfellow - a summer signing from Bristol City - having already struck the post, and Andy Robinson and Lee Trundle going close. The result was greeted rapturously by the sell-out crowd of over 12,000. The stadium's capacity is 20,000, but it was limited for safety reasons in the first game at the venue. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Swansea City: Gueret, Ricketts, Austin, O'Leary, Tate, Martinez, Britton, Akinfenwa, Trundle, Forbes, Iriekpen. Subs: McLeod (Forbes 69), Connor (Akinfenwa 46), Robinson (Martinez 78), Goodfellow (Connor 69), Anderson (Ricketts 87), Bond (Trundle 89), Tudor-Jones (O'Leary 87), Curtis (Britton 81), Murphy (Gueret 89). Fulham: Crossley (Drobny 46); Volz (Rosenior 46), Goma (Leacock 69), Rehman (Knight 46), N Jensen (Timlin 69); Malbranque, Legwinski, C Jensen, Elrich (Boa Morte 46); Radzinski, Helguson (John 46). Ref: Mark Whitby.

Flying start for Swans' new home
Ten thousand football fans heralded a new era for Swansea with the first game at the city's new stadium. A sell-out crowd saw Swansea City draw 1-1 against Premiership side Fulham in the friendly opening match. Industrial action by First Cymru staff at the company's Swansea depot disrupted city bus services. However, fans used three park and ride services, with regular buses to the stadium, and the crowd turnout was unaffected. Capacity at the £27m stadium was halved for the game for safety reasons, and all the tickets were snapped up for a match which was also a testimonial for long-time Swans hero Alan Curtis. The match was held at a venue which for the moment has no name. The club is due to announce soon what the stadium will be called, when sponsors have been confirmed. Panoramic view of Swansea's new stadium In pictures The new ground represents a fresh sporting start for the city in more ways than one, as the football club will share it with the Ospreys rugby union team. Before kick-off the Ospreys did a tour of the ground with their Celtic League trophy. Ospreys captain Barry Williams said: "We couldn't have asked for better welcome here today. "It's a football day and its nice to see the football supporters are getting behind the rugby, and hopefully the rugby supporters will do the same with football." Swansea-born singer Bonnie Tyler sang for the capacity crowd and was delighted that the ground was more than a new sporting era for the city. "I've been told that they are going to be doing live shows as well," she said. "We always have to go up to the Millennium Stadium (in Cardiff) for shows and now we've got our own stadium."

Curtis awe at new Swansea stadium
Swansea legend Alan Curtis said he was inspired by the club's New Stadium following his 10-minute substitute appearance in the 1-1 draw with Fulham. "The stadium and view from the stand are fantastic, but you only realise how great when you are out on the pitch," Curtis told BBC Sport Wales. "The Vetch was a daunting atmosphere, but this place is just something else." The 51-year-old's testimonial marked the Swans' first game at the 20,000 seater new arena in Morfa. Marc Goodfellow's strike four minutes from time cancelled out Steed Malbranque's goal to earn the League One side a draw with Premiership Fulham, managed by Swansea old boy Chris Coleman. "It was a well-contested friendly and both sides got a good work out," said Curtis, who has been associated with the club for 34 years and will perform a hospitality role on match days at the new ground. "I'm still calling this place the Vetch, old habits will die hard! "But this atmosphere was created with just over 12,000 fans , imagine how intimidating it will be with a sell-out 20,000. "The pitch was a bit sticky, but it will be watered more in the season, meaning it will be more zippy and we can really get after teams." Swansea manager Kenny Jackett said it was fitting that the landmark game was a testimonial for Curtis. "He was a legend as a player and has gone on to do just about every job at this club with commitment and style," said Jackett. "When I sent him on he said he wanted to go up front with Lee Trundle and that gave the crowd a chance to acknowledge him. "I'm also a very proud man, to have been the first manager at this stadium." Goal-scorer Goodfellow added: "It feels great to score Swansea's first goal at the ground. "But it was Alan who deserved a great day, what he's achieved at this club has been legendary."

Fulham close door on Pratley deal
Fulham manager Chris Coleman has insisted there is no hope of midfielder Darren Pratley joining Swansea City. The Swans hoped to use Saturday's friendly with the Cottagers to re-open talks of a transfer for the midfielder. But ex-Wales and Fulham defender Coleman said after the 1-1 draw at Swansea's New Stadium that a move would not be in the 20-year-old's interest. "Darren needs to go to a Championship team on loan then he can come back and do a job for us," Coleman told the BBC. "There was contact made by Swansea and money offered, but we don't want to let him go. "My heart says it would be nice for him to go to Swansea, but we have to do what's best for Darren and for Fulham - and that's a loan spell in the Championship." Swansea manager Kenny Jackett confirmed that he had made enquiries for the midfielder, but said: "He's not available and that's as far as we can go." Despite his reluctance to see Pratley head to Swansea, Coleman was impressed by his old club in Saturday's friendly match, the first game to be played at the new 20,000-seater arena at Morfa. "Swansea are a good team, hard to break down and dangerous on the counter attack," Coleman told BBC Sport Wales. "They can do well again this season and win promotion for a second year, then with the new stadium who knows where they can go? "I'd heard all about the stadium from friends and family and now I can see it's wonderful, magnificent - a big step in the right direction." Coleman was content with Fulham's form, despite only drawing with their League Two opposition. "We were a bit slow and sloppy, but picked up after half-time," said Coleman. Swansea finished stronger in the last 10 minutes, but they are a week ahead of us in their pre-season preparations. "It was a good, well-contested game played in the right manner." Coleman reserved his final words for Swansea legend Alan Curtis after the 51-year-old played the final 10 minutes of his testimonial game. "Alan deserved a day like that," said Coleman. "He was a wonderful player, one of the best I ever played with or against."

Jackett sings Goodfellow praises
Swansea manager Kenny Jackett was delighted with summer signing Marc Goodfellow in the draw with Fulham. "I've liked Marc for a long time, he's a very good finisher and he took his chance with aplomb," said Jackett. "It was a massive occasion on Saturday, the first game at the new ground and Alan Curtis' testimonial. "But for us it was also hard work and I'm glad we've got the chance of a couple of Saturday games at the ground before Tranmere visit on 6 August." Following the success of the friendly with Fulham, safety permission has been given to increase capacity at the 20,000-seater New Stadium to 16,000 for Saturday's visit of Blackburn.

Tudur-Jones accepts Swansea deal
Swansea City have signed midfielder Owain Tudur-Jones on a one-month deal after he impressed while on trial from Welsh Premier side Bangor City. Tudur-Jones, 20, came on as a substitute in the 1-1 friendly draw against Fulham in the Swans' New Stadium last Saturday. Meanwhile, former Swansea City and Wales Under-21 winger Stuart Roberts has signed for Aberystwyth Town. Roberts played for Forest Green Rovers in the Conference last season.

Bateson defiant on Akinfenwa fee
Torquay chairman Mike Bateson says he will hold out for a £150,000 fee for striker Adebayo Akinfenwa at a tribunal in London on Thursday. The 23-year-old moved from Plainmoor to Swansea earlier in July after a long-running transfer saga. "I had another chat with the Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins on Friday, to see if we could resolve something," Bateson told the Torquay Herald Express. "But we're as far apart as ever, if not further. I'll hold out for £150,000."

Ospreys skipper hails Swans fans
Ospreys captain Barry Williams has thanked Swansea City fans for the ovation they gave the rugby side's parade of their Celtic League trophy. Both sides will share the 20,000-seat New Stadium in Morfa this season. The football side christened their new home on Saturday with a friendly match against Fulham, but the fans still cheered the Ospreys' achievement. "On behalf of the players I must say a huge thank you, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up," he said. "The reaction of the Swans fans when we paraded the Celtic League trophy before the game was awesome and it's something we'll never forget. "Saturday was a great day for the Swans, the Ospreys and the region as a whole." Williams told the Ospreys official website that he was hugely impressed with the New Stadium and was eager to begin playing there. The Ospreys get their first chance on 26 August with a pre-season challenge pitting the Celtic champions against English champions Wasps. "If Saturday is anything to go by, the atmosphere is going to be one of the noisiest and most passionate in Europe," Williams added. "We hope that Swans fans will come and support us for our opening match against Wasps, as it would be fantastic to have a 20,000-capacity crowd roaring us on against the English champions. "We want to make this a stadium and a team which the whole region can be proud of. "I would also like to take this opportunity to wish (Swansea manager) Kenny Jackett, the Swans and their superb fans every success for the forthcoming season."

Would-be Swans denied by Forest
A largely second-string Swansea City side were held to a drab goalless draw at Conference side Forest Green Rovers. Swansea created most of the first-half scoring opportunities, but Paul Connor, Kevin McLeod and Andy Robinson failed to direct their efforts on target. Rovers had their best chance midway through the second half when midfielder Alex Meecham shot just wide. Recent recruit Owain Tudur-Jones then almost capped a promising display with a goal from 20-yards out. Swansea manager Kenny Jackett used the game to give trailists Minabo Asechemie and Adam Chambers a chance to impress.

Jackett guarded over referee show
Swansea manager Kenny Jackett stayed tight-lipped after a controversial refereeing display from Matt Messias in his side's 3-1 loss at Huddersfield. Kris O'Leary and Izzy Iriekpen were sent off, as BBC pundit Kevin Ratcliffe blasted Messias' performance. "I'd rather leave the officials to the media, there's nothing I can do about that side of things," said Jackett. "I did speak to Messias and he felt O'Leary's conduct was violent and Iriekpen's protests left no option." O'Leary was sent off with the score at 2-1 as he rose to challenge Jon Worthington for a high ball. His elbow caught the Huddersfield captain in the face, but most observers felt that the challenge was fair. "Kris has gone up with the arm to protect himself," said ex-Wales and Everton captain Ratcliffe after the game. "I spoke to Peter Jackson and he felt that it was a fair challenge. "The referee played a big part in the game and did Swansea no favours. "Huddersfield look a decent outfit, but it doesn't help when you're up against 12 people. "I felt they committed more fouls than Swansea and really got away with things." Iriekpen was dismissed in injury time when he complained vociferously to Messias for not punishing a foul on Swansea replacement Owain Tudur-Jones. "It was definitely a foul on Tudur-Jones and the referee missed it," said Ratcliffe. "But the new law is that if you go after the official he's entitled to show you a straight red." Despite the disappointment of seeing his side lose their 100% record, Jackett was able to take some positives from the game. "Huddersfield are a strong, quality team, but we competed and created opportunities, it just wasn't to be this time," he told BBC Sport Wales.

Swansea in for Yeovil's Johnson
Swansea City have opened transfer talks with Yeovil for midfielder Lee Johnson. The 24-year-old scored 11 goals to help Yeovil to the League Two title last season, and was a trainee at Watford under Swansea manager Kenny Jackett. "I have had discussions with the Yeovil chairman and we are in the process of trying to agree a fee," Swans chairman Huw Jenkins told the Evening Post. "We never really considered it because we thought he was very secure at Yeovil, but things have changed." Jenkins added: "Lee would like to progress his career elsewhere as soon as he can and we are reasonably hopeful that a deal can be done."

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