Rob DaviesSwans boss Russell Martin accepted that tonight’s miserable defeat at Stoke City was a bad display although did provide some reasoning for why it might have been so poor.
Three unanswered second half goals gave the Swans a humbling at the Potters but it should have been more.
Pointing to the lack of intensity, Martin said he was annoyed at what he saw and is keen to see the team bounce back on the weekend at home to Bristol City.
The difficulty is Russ, when you start a sentence saying you don’t want to make excuses and then continue to provide three, it tends to fall on deaf ears.
He told the official site: “That was the worst we have been for a very long time.
“I don’t want to make excuses but there were too many tired bodies I think after the effort and emotion of Saturday, playing 40 minutes with 10 men it was a game too many for too many of our players.
“But we have done that too many times this season where we have had a good result on the weekend and followed it up with one of these on a Tuesday or a Wednesday.
“So, I am really disappointed. I am angry with the way we started the game, there was nowhere near enough courage or intensity.
“But we go in at 0-0, we give ourselves a chance, we make a change to try and be more aggressive and get on the front foot and we concede so early.
“It was ridiculous and you cannot do that.
“I am not sure about the penalty and the sending off. Benno’s hand is by his body and it has hit his foot, which has blocked it going in, and then hit his hand.
“That changes the game and it becomes really tough. The guys stuck at it, but it was nowhere near enough tonight against a very good Stoke side.
“It’s been a tough night and there is no excuse for that. The fans deserve better and we are better than that. We have to make sure we react positively on Sunday.”
Unfortunately tonight they are just words from a manager whose side are regressing at an alarming rate and for me it doesn’t really wash, nor will it do for many supporters.
