THE SADDLERS slipped out of the Carling Cup at the first hurdle courtesy of a 2-0 defeat at Swansea City.

There was a decidedly low-key start to the proceedings with neither 'keeper seriously tested in the opening ten minutes.

After Daniel Fox had seen an ambitious effort fly well over, an inviting ball into the danger zone by Alan Tate on 15 minutes was well headed clear by Scott Dann.

Tommy Mooney managed to find a way through The Swans' back-line shortly afterwards, but he was denied in a one-on-one situation by De Vries in the home goal who did well to block.

Mooney was denied by the 'keeper again in the next attack as his snap-shot was saved low to his left by De Vries as The Saddlers looked to up the tempo.

Some good endeavour out wide on the right by Joe Allen ended with the youngster, who was making his first senior start for the Welshmen, cross invitingly into the box. The ball was only half-cleared as far as Paul Anderson whose sweet strike found the net for his first goal for the club to open the scoring on 22 minutes.

It was the home sides' first serious effort at goal but neither side were able to take the initiative as the half petered out with chances at a distinct premium.

Youngster Alex Nicholls was introduced at half-time to inject some pace as he replaced Carlos Carneiro.The change meant that Paul Hall partnered the ever-willing Mooney up front.

There was a good reflex save by the home 'keeper with 54 minutes on the clock as Danny Sonner's cross picked out the head of Mooney at the far post following a short corner.

The Saddlers were seeing plenty of the ball and forced a number of corners, but were not hurting our hosts enough.

Hall linked up well with Mooney who pulled the ball back from the by-line, but no-one was on hand to profit as the ball went out to safety.

With ten minutes to go, The Saddlers' defence was carved open only for Duffy's shot to be easily gathered by Ince. At the other end, Dann brought the ball out of defence well only to see his pass in search of Mooney blocked just in the nick of time.

De Vries smothered at the feet of Hall as Richard Money's men searched for a way back into the game.

There was a brave block by Paul Boertien from Andy Robinson's powerful strike as Dann was moved up to join the attack alongside Hall and Mooney as the clock ticked down.

After Mooney had seen an effort dragged wide, Swansea substitute, Jason Scotland made the issue safe as he fired home from distance to make it 2-0 and send the majority of the 6,943 crowd home happy.

PHOTOS: Emma Perrins.