Football: Lifelong Swan is looking for Cup payback; Crowell back Dragons.

Byline: By MARK CURRIE Chief Sports Writer 

LIFELONG Swansea City fan Matt Crowell is backing his hometown club for league and cup success this season, but aims to wreck their hopes of a remarkable treble.

The 21-year-old Wrexham midfielder reckons the Dragons can regain the FAW Premier Cup from their South Wales rivals at the Racecourse this evening before wishing them all the best for Sunday's LDV Vans Trophy final at the Millennium Stadium and their bid for a second successive promotion charge.

Crowell was arguably the most disappointed person at the Vetch Field last May when City came from behind to beat Wrexham 2-1 in last year's Welsh showpiece, in what was the final-ever match at the historic stadium.

That success was the icing on the cake for Kenny Jackett's side, who had already won promotion to League One to replace a Racecourse outfit heading in the opposite direction as a result of losing 10 points for going into administration.

"We were desperately disappointed to lose last year's final," recalled Crowell. "We played really well, but they managed to score twice in the last 15 minutes to round off their season in style.

"So tomorrow's re-match is payback time as far as we are concerned, to say nothing of the fact that a lot of cash is at stake, which Wrexham need more than Swansea.

"It's a one-off game and I don't see any reason why we shouldn't win. We're going well at the moment and we want to continue that run with another victory that would set us up nicely for another big game at Grimsby on Saturday."

Crowell, who was on City's books as a youngster before moving to Southampton, reckons Wrexham under new ownership can emulate their South Wales rivals in the years ahead.

"I've been a Swansea fan from a kid, but when I left the club for Southampton they were in danger of going out of the Football League," he added.

"Since then, though, they have bounced back remarkably well, with a new stadium and masses of support, which shows what can be done with the right people in charge.

"After tomorrow I really do hope they win the LDV final and that they also win promotion."

Tonight's match is Wrexham's eighth final in the competition's nine-year history and they are bidding for a sixth success, so for manager Denis Smith pride - as much as the pounds 100,000 prize-money on offer from sponsors, BBC Wales is the spur.

"It's a cup final, there's good money involved and bragging rights are up for grabs," he said.

"As far as the fans are concerned it's north versus south and we have something to prove after last year's final.

"I felt we deserved to win down there, so it would be a good feeling to turn that around this time, even though we are probably regarded as the underdogs. Swansea have done extremely well over the past few seasons, they have a solid foundation and they are moving forward.

"Logic says they should beat us again this year but I like t win trophies. Regardless of what some people think of the competition, it's been very good to this club and it invariably means that at some stage of the season we'll come up,' against one of the other Welsh Football League clubs, which is great for the fans concerned."

The Dragons boss is unlikely to make too many changes this evening, despite naming a 19-man squad that includes defender Dave Bayliss - back from a month-long loan at Rochdale - and Alex Smith.

Only Jim Whitley, Lee McEvilly and Lee Roche are unavailable and Smith shrugged off minor concerns over the fitness of Matt Derbyshire and Danny Williams.

"Danny took a bit of a knock in training today and Matt has had a chest infection since last Friday," he added. "But I'm expecting both of them to be okay for the game, which gives us an opportunity to achieve something.

"So far this season we've generally not been a poor side, nor have we been outstanding, but hopefully we can be brilliant for the next six weeks or so to take us to where we want to be."

Swansea, hose League One promotion hopes took a knock in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Gillingham, have former Bangor City star Owain Tudur-Jones back in contention for the first time since he damaged ankle ligaments in the New Year's Eve clash with Swindon Town.

The Wales under-21 midfielder is set to start, although man-1 ager Kenny Jackett has not revealed his line-up.

BBC-FAW Premier Cup final Wrexham v Swansea City Racecourse, tonight, 6.45pm

WREXHAM (probable): Ingham' Pejic, D Williams, Lawrence' Bennett, Crowell, Ferguson, Mark Jones, Holt' S Williams, Derbyshire. Subs (from): Michael Jones, Spender, Bayliss, Mackin, Smith, Done, Walters, M Williams.

SWANSEA CITY (from): Gueret' Tate, Monk, Lowe, Ricketts, T Williams, Robinson, Tudur-Jones, Martinez, O'Leary, Forbes, Fallon, Knight, Trundle, Akinfenwa, Britton, Austin, Murphy. REFEREE: Ceri Richards (Llangennech) TELEVISION: Live on BBC2 Wales

BETTING: Wrexham 13/8, Draw 11/5, Swansea 8 /5.

CAPTION(S):

Wrexhamstar Matt Crowell hopes to put one over his home town club Swansea City tonight