Swansea 0 Bristol City 0: Johnson full of praise for slicker City

Forget the scoreline. Graham Taylor, the former England manager who worked with two young coaches, Kenny Jackett and Gary Johnson, in his Watford days, would have been proud to have witnessed the quality of football served up by their teams for a League One audience yesterday.

Jackett, the Swansea manager, saw this highly entertaining goalless draw as two points lost at home in front of the club's highest crowd of the season - 15,531 - while Johnson took great satisfaction from preserving one point after seeing his Bristol City side lose their two previous matches on their travels to Nottingham Forest and Yeovil.

Indeed, those City fans who witnessed a 7-1 thrashing at the same stadium last season, which resulted in the immediate dismissal of the manager, Brian Tinnion, would have certainly cherished a clean sheet.

The defender Richard Keogh was the only survivor from that debacle last September to start this contest but he more than played his part in a fine defensive display from the visitors alongside his admirable captain, Jamie McCombe.

These promotion rivals played inventive attacking football and were making chances right up to the very last kick when Lee Trundle saw his cross-shot pushed away by the Robins goalkeeper Adriano Basso, who quickly got up to save Leon Britton's follow-up header.

Jackett said: "I can't really complain about the performance but it is frustrating to draw a home game especially when we have hit the post in both halves.

"I have got to say Bristol City defended their box very well and were hard to break down."

Johnson said: "This was a superb performance and although me and Kenny are both disappointed not to have picked up three points I think we are quietly happy with one.''

Swansea City (4-4-2): Gueret; Amankwaah (Craney, 60), Lawrence (Iriekten, 45), Austin, Painter; Britton, Pratley, Tate, Robinson; Trundle, Fallon (Akinfenwa, 73). Substitutes not used: Oakes, Butler.

Bristol City (4-4-2): Basso; Keogh, McCombe, Fontain, McAllister; Skuse, Johnson, Russell (Murray, 73), Showunmi; Jevons (Myrie-Williams, 55), Brooker (Woodman 80). Substitutes not used: Orr, Weale.

Referee: P Taylor (Hertfordshire).

Booked: Swansea City: Austin, Robinson. Bristol City: Jevons, McAllister.

Man of the match: McCombe

Attendance: 15,531