Phil SumblerThe Swans second road trip of the week will see them return home this evening with nothing to show for our efforts thanks to a double from Duncan Watmore was enough to see us beaten at Middlesbrough despite Yan Dhanda’s late consolation for us.
The Swans had their chances during the first half but found themselves a goal down at the break with a goal on the break that was converted by Watmore with a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner. Whether it was what the home side deserved is a point for debate but it was the only goal of a typically uneventful first half.
Steve Cooper reacted at half time with a triple substitution – Gyokeres, Routledge and Grimes all introduced into the fray as he looked to put the disappointment of the first half behind him with the result definitely being more possession for the Swans but once again a lack of composure in front of goals.
This was highlighted early in the second half when Gyokeres looked to capitalise on a goalkeeping error but his shot was deflected over when a simple rolled pass to Routledge looked the better option.
And it was a mistake as well by Gyokeres that cost the Swans a second goal as they conceded possession in the Boro half and were undone by a perfect counter attack that saw Watmore break into the area and hit a shot past an incredibly static Woodman to double the home side’s advantage.
By this point Yan Dhanda had been introduced to the play and with a little over ten minutes left he handed Swansea a lifeline when his shot from the edge of the area was deflected into the net to halve the Boro advantage and give us hope of what seemed an unlikely comeback.
Cooper’s last roll of the dice was his fifth and final substitution to introduce Jordan Garrick in a bid to secure that point. As the game headed towards its stoppage time it was Swansea on the front foot but although the danger appeared to be created in the Boro area there was never really a chance of an equaliser especially when you factor in a very rare game of no impact from Andre Ayew who all too often is our most dangerous asset.
Dhanda was playing very well and seemed to be at the heart of most of our dangerous moves but as the fourth official signalled five minutes of stoppage time you just suspected that our game was run this evening and we were to head back to South Wales with nothing to show for our efforts.
And that was highlighted by a couple of late corners that did nothing to trouble the home defence despite the presence of Freddie Woodman for the last two of them, both of which were easily cleared and the final whistle sounded to signal a home win and the Swans beaten on the road once again.
It is now back to the Liberty for a double header at home – Luton on Saturday and Bournemouth next midweek, six points is called for to put the disappointment of tonight behind us.
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