Strikers in the firing line after another near miss

Colin Todd has some more forward-thinking to do.

The City boss already knows the identity of his strikeforce for tomorrow's home clash with Carlisle.

But, as anyone at the Liberty Stadium will testify, his selection will be based more on necessity than form.

David Graham and Eddie Johnson will start together for the first time. But only because Dean Windass is nursing an injured calf.

Both men got the chance to press their claims in south Wales when Windass hobbled off on the stroke of half-time. Neither took it.

Todd's pre-match concerns about the lack of consistency from his strikers, Windass excepted, were reinforced by an unconvincing afternoon.

Johnson had got the nod over Graham to partner Windass but, despite plenty of huff and puff, there was little threat of another addition to the three goals he notched in the space of three days last month.

"Eddie didn't seem to have that belief in himself," admitted his manager. "I don't know why but there were times when he couldn't get the ball under control, although he was working hard enough."

Graham replaced Windass but fared little better although, once again, there was a lack of service from the flanks.

City's supply lines were sabotaged after half an hour when Lee Holmes twisted his ankle as he tried to turn.

Joe Colbeck came on and was given an unfamiliar left-wing role - so that Todd could keep the pressure on Jermaine Johnson in the second half by being "in his ear" from the dug-out. The unpredictable Jamaican was out of sync in the opening 45 minutes and, apart from one ambitious volley that fizzed over, kept drifting too wide to be involved in the play.

When he did win possession, his pace was always a danger, although once again there were nowhere near enough crosses to show for it.

Todd had wanted his wingers to take on their full backs more often and use the outside to whip a ball in. The only time that Johnson really did that, deep in stoppage time, he chipped in the perfect centre for Steve Schumacher to fire within inches of an equaliser.

The loss of Windass and Holmes will only highlight Todd's constant headache that his squad is too small compared with other sides in the division. He certainly cast an envious glance at a Swansea bench that included nearly £500,000 worth of attacking talent.

At 4.30pm at Brentford, City were poised to take second spot in the table. Nine days on and two away defeats later, the Valley Parade double header against Carlisle and high-flying Port Vale has just taken on added importance.

The home form so far has been good. It needs to stay that way or the old grumbles will start to be heard again. Same old City, blah, blah, blah.

Bouncing back to winning ways without Windass will be an even bigger test. Todd needs his front duo to get their act together quickly.

He will be a lot happier with those at the other end even though once again City were unable to keep a clean sheet - they have managed just one so far in eight attempts.

The defence swallowed up virtually everything that Swansea could throw their way and Mark Bower, once again, was outstanding.

Back in his favoured central role after last season's flirt with left back, he looks on top of his form. He could not have a better teacher than David Wetherall alongside him and is clearly picking up the skipper's tips on reading the game and not panicking under pressure.

Bower bailed out his partner late in the first half after an uncharacteristic slip from Wetherall, allowing the ball to run under his foot. Ade Akinfenwa was onside for once and bearing down on goal but Donovan Ricketts took the sting off his shot and Bower calmly mopped up in front of the gaping goal.

Ten minutes after the break he was the right player in the right place again, clearing off the line to deny Akinfenwa again after another decent half-block by the keeper.

But Bower and the back four were left exposed by Swansea's goal 17 minutes from the end.

One-time Todd target Tom Butler began the move by picking out Akinfenwa, who neatly stepped over the ball on the edge of the City penalty area. It ran through to Lee Trundle and on to substitute Andy Robinson, who cut inside Alan Rogers and drilled a left-footer in the bottom corner as nobody came to close him down.

Robinson had only been on the pitch six minutes and it made for a poignant story. His father had died only a few days earlier and he had not trained all week, which was why he began on the bench.

As the ball hit the net, Robinson made a symbolic gesture by pointing to the sky and later dedicated the strike to his dad.

City were in no mood to offer any sympathy and were once again left scrambling for a late leveller to rescue a point.

Willy Gueret had produced great reactions to foil Windass early on but, since the striker's unexpected departure, had little to deal with.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, busy and inventive in midfield, warmed his hands with a couple of shots from 25 yards. But it was only when the fourth official held up his board flashing three added minutes that City really put some heat on the French keeper.

Todd lost patience with Eddie Johnson and replaced him up front with his namesake as City chased the game.

It almost paid off when Jermaine Johnson found room to tee up Schumacher but a well-placed Swansea heel prevented his effort burying itself in the bottom corner of the home net.

There was still time for Rogers to pump a long ball into the Swansea box. Gueret's punch was poor and fell to Nathan Doyle but the youngster was unable to get enough loft on a hurried shot which the keeper gratefully hauled in.

l Nottingham Forest reopened their three-point lead at the top of the table thanks to Grant Holt's late strike at Yeovil.

The striker volleyed a fine 88th-minute winner at Huish Park to deny the home side a point.

Forest have now started the season with 19 points from a possible 21 and lead from Tranmere - 1-0 winners over Bristol City Port Vale are third after fending off Blackpool.

Leon Constantine headed Vale in front just before the break and Akpo Sodje added a second from 25 yards after 68 minutes, before Keith Southern netted for visitors Blackpool four minutes into stoppage time.

Brentford remain fourth after a 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient. Michael Simpson put Orient ahead but Sam Tillen earned the Bees a point with a late left-footed strike.

Carlisle lost their 100 per cent home record after being held by Northampton. Scott McGleish put the Cobblers ahead in the 47th minute, however Karl Hawley replied from close range.

Sean O'Driscoll's final match as Bournemouth manager was a 1-0 home win over Crewe, with Leon Best netting after 22 minutes.

He takes charge at Doncaster next week and inherits a team who lost 2-1 at home to ten-man Gillingham.

Cheltenham, thanks to goals from Grant McCann and John Melligan, beat Huddersfield 2-1.