Another nightmare start to a second half saw Darlington leave the Vetch Field pointless last night.

Craig Liddle had given Quakers a half-time lead but the team went to sleep again after the interval and Lee Trundle's 55th-minute goal, followed by one from Andy Robinson three minutes later, took the Swans to the top of league Two.

It was a repeat of Saturday's FA Cup match with Yeovil, when Quakers surrendered a lead within minutes of the restart, though on that occasion they fought back to draw the game.

Hodgson fumed: "I looked at the four or five chances they had and they were errors from us.

"Each time that gave Swansea an opportunity to score but we still came in at half-time one-nil up.

"Whether we deserved that remains to be seen but we had that lead.

"I have reiterated time and time again that we cannot afford to continue going into half-time one-nil up and then finding ourselves behind within 15 minutes of the second half. At Swansea you will get absolutely nothing if you do that like we did tonight.

"I have reiterated all week that we do not let Trundle get on his left foot facing goal. We allowed him to do that and look at what happened.

"I thought we worked very hard in the first half, closing them down, but the chances Swansea had were created by ourselves.

"Once they went 2-1 up I can't recall Sam (Russell) having to make a single save.

"We put plenty of balls into the box but I never saw anyone making an effort to get themselves in there on the end of them.

"What disappoints me is that this football club has gone to great lengths to ensure we prepare for these games in the best possible way.

"Unless we have a minimum of nine players working hard on the day we are going to get nothing."

Before last night's rearranged fixture no other side in League Two had conceded less goals than Swansea and Darlington.

While Swansea have had the luxury of a virtually fully-fit defence to choose from this season, Quakers' back-line has seen many enforced changes, but even so a makeshift defence has ensured they are still in with a play-off shout. Victory for David Hodgson's men last night could have taken Quakers to fifth in League Two.

But it was the strikers, rather than the defenders, who had the most impact in last night's clash, watched by a crowd of 7,824.

Clyde Wijnhard and Alun Armstrong were disappointingly subdued for the visitors, while Trundle and Paul Connor were a constant thorn in the Quakers' defence.

If Quakers are to make a positive impact on League Two this season their big-name stars must produce on a consistent basis.

With less than a minute played there were appeals for a penalty when Trundle showed a quick turn of pace in the box before going down under what referee Andre Marriner correctly adjudged was a fair challenge from the recalled David McGurk.

After 17 minutes, Swansea found their first crack in the Quakers defence when Robinson curled a shot into the arms of keeper Sam Russell.

Despite the attentions of McGurk moments later, Trundle found enough space to fire over the bar.

And after defender Sam Ricketts shot tamely at Russell, the Quakers stopper looked beaten when former Middlesbrough team-mate Connor looped a header onto the roof of the net.

But just as a goal for the home side looked imminent, it was Quakers who took an unexpected lead in the 25th minute. After frustrating Swansea in a more familiar defensive role at one end, Liddle proved just as effective at the other to score his first goal of the season.

Replacing the dropped Joe Kendrick in midfield, Brian Close laid the ball into the feet of Matt Clarke on the edge of the Swansea area. The defender showed good skill to flick the ball to the back post and Liddle somehow managed to turn the ball past Willy Gueret.

Shocked Swansea were soon back on the attack and after Connor cleverly earned his side a free-kick on the edge of the Quakers area, the impressive Robinson struck the upright.

Swansea emerged for the second half with all guns blazing. And after some desperate defending from the visitors, Trundle levelled in the 55th minute.

There appeared little danger when he received the ball from Ricketts on the left. But with the Quakers defence standing off, Trundle rifled in a low shot past Russell, who could only get a finger to the ball.

After Clarke was booked for what looked like a legitimate challenge on Robinson, the Swans midfielder dusted himself off to put the home side 2-1 up. Andy Gurney's free-kick was spilled by Russell and Robinson was quickest to react to squeeze the ball into the net from a tight angle.

Quakers showed few signs of forcing their way back into the game, although Gueret had to be alert to hold on to Armstrong's low effort.

It was the home side who looked more likely to extend their lead and Trundle came within inches of claiming his second goal, driving just wide of Russell's goal.

Substitute Kevin Nugent almost made it three in injury time when he headed against the bar.

Result: Swansea 2 Darlington 1.

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