Planet Swans ArchivesI guess the hope of winning all remaining games at the Vetch was always going to be a distant dream, one that was so comprehensively shattered yesterday by a decent enough Bury side who ran out comfortable visitors – dominating pretty much the state of play from two minutes onwards.
It would be easy to sit here and list excuses why it didn’t happen for us yesterday but the reality is what is the point? We were beaten by the better side on the day through underperforming as a team and the ability of the visitors to contain anything that we thought we may be able to create.
What we have to learn from yesterday is the lessons of the defeat and ensure that from defeat we take those lessons and turn them into future success by the end of the season. Facing up to three away games in the space of seven days is a harsh task for us now and Stockport, Oxford and Scunthorpe are far from pushovers on their own patch but it is starting to become essential that we pick something up from those three games.
I have said it many a time but just as winning can become a habit, so can losing. One month ago Arsenal looked invincible at the top of the Premiership but one defeat and there has been a month of wobbles which culminated for them today with a last minute defeat at Anfield. Less than two weeks ago we sat proudly at the top of the table but two defeats later and you could excuse anyone who may start to wonder where the next win may come from. Having seen this last season, there are those that may think “Here we go again” and that is something that we have to stop before those thought trains kick in in earnesty.
The reality is that with over 40% of the season gone we remain in second place in the table having won more than we have lost – a statistic that we would do well to remember at this point in time. Had you given me the option back in August that we would be second come the end of November, I would have taken it, I suspect most people associated with Swansea City would have done the same thing. Of course we could be streaking clear with Scunthorpe at the moment but being behind 1 and ahead of 22 suits me nicely sir!
There were things that were wrong yesterday and we must look at them and work out how to put them right or never to repeat those wrongs. Andy Gurney quite simply does not look a midfielder. He has played well for us at right back but yesterday I don’t think he did himself justice. Gary Fisken should, in my opinion, not have been in the side ahead of Leon Britton. I do wonder what Jackett thinks of Britton and it must worry the little man that with three midfielders out through suspension he still ends on the bench. I can’t work that one out personally. Based on the performances yesterday Stuart Jones should move ahead of Alan Tate in the pecking order but at the same time Tate should stay at the club. We know he can play football but for whatever reason at the moment it just doesn’t seem to be happening for him. I hear a whisper he did not collect his man of the match award yesterday – quite possibly because maybe he felt he did not deserve it which is certainly the consensus of general opinion.
I wonder why, when chasing the game we left a striker on the bench. Fair enough Pritch has little first team experience but if he is part of the squad then we should be prepared to play him. The jury will have to remain out on Anderson and Goodfellow and I would certainly be interested to see them together once they have had some time to generate some form of understanding – it was obvious that was not there yesterday.
No excuses for the defeat – we were second best – and certainly no reason to press the button marked panic just yet. However, we have a tough couple of weeks ahead and it is vital to get at least two points from the away trips in the league to keep us in touch – anything less will most likely see us drop from the top three.
I maintain my stance that this division is wide open and will remain so. Teams in the bottom half are regularly beating those in the top half and the league table does not appear to be stretching itself out the way it usually tends to. Just three weeks ago Bristol Rovers arrived here looking to break into the top 3, now they are 15th and slipping. Mansfield have hit a similar bad run. Let us not be next.
Just keep your fingers crossed that this is a stutter and not a taste of things to come.
