Ricketts’ late equaliser rescues Swans

SAM Ricketts’ late equaliser ensured the League One play-off semi-final between Swansea and Brentford remains evenly poised.

Jay Tabb gave Brentford the lead in the 29th-minute, when he was on target to hit a failed clearance into the back of the net after Tillen’s run caused the Swansea defence all sorts of problems.

Swansea’s fortunes then changed for the better in the 51st minute when Nelson was sent off for a challenge on Leon Knight.

Swans manager Kenny Jackett brought on Lee Trundle as a 67th-minute substitute for Knight in a bid to salvage something from the game but Trundle failed to shine.

Jackett’s men looked to be heading for defeat but Ricketts struck from outside the box to rescue the tie three minutes from time to leave it all to play for in Sunday’s return.

SWANSEA: Gueret, Ricketts, Austin, Tate, Monk, Britton, Robinson, Tudur-Jones, MacDonald (Forbes 45), Knight (Trundle 68), Fallon (Akinfenwa 90).

BRENTFORD: Nelson, O’Connor, Frampton, Turner, Tillen, Newman, Tabb (Brooker 84), Smith, Pratley, Rankin (Bankole 54), Gayle.

Referee: K Stroud (Hampshire).