Phil Sumbler
The Swans need to start producing performances from the start and soon if they want to avoid being dragged into a relegation dogfight at the bottom of the table and there is no better time (or place) to start than today at home to Plymouth.
We can talk all we like about the last three games being against sides who are Premier League quality – Southampton, Bournemouth and Leicester – but today we have the chance against a side that was in League One last season to prove that we are not a League One club in the waiting.
For those three afore mentioned games we have started slow in them all and found ourselves on the back foot too early in all three and, arguably, beaten inside the first twenty minutes of the game. Tuesday against Leicester saw us concede just one goal in that period but it should have been more.
Maybe with the exception of Bournemouth we have fought back a little in the games and played some good football but there is no getting away from the fact that we lost all three games and that leaves Luke Williams looking for his first league win as Swans boss today when he welcomes the Pilgrims to the Swansea.com Stadium.
He will be boosted today by his three additions secured over the week and is expected to hand them all a home debut at some stage today with the smart money seemingly on a start for certainly Ronald in this game after he played 45 minutes against Leicester on Tuesday night.
“We had an objective to bring more pace and physicality to the squad and we have done that,” Williams said yesterday when asked about his new arrivals.
“Not only did we bring what we required, we got good guys as well. I am impressed with the process we went through and the hard work that went in behind the scenes.
“We had clear objectives and targets, to bring in pace and athleticism, and that is what we have got, so you cannot complain about that.”
Harry Darling will sit this one out after he went off early against Leicester which should mean a return to the starting line up for Ben Cabango who was also a substitute on Tuesday night. Depending on whether Williams chooses to deploy his new wingers from the start will dictate the starting formation but if we adds the width as expected then possibly both Nathan Wood and Liam Cullen could both be casualties from Tuesday night’s game.
Plymouth arrive in SA1 having not won an away game all season and the Swans will want to keep that run going although it creates the natural nervousness as we have a long record of ending runs such as this one. They will be backed by a full following after their sold out their ticket allocation for the game.
Swansea won the reverse fixture 3-1 at Home Park earlier in the season in the middle of Michael Duff’s good run of form but, of course, both sides have changed managers since that fixture – Swansea by choice and Plymouth by necessity.
Morgan Whittaker is of course in the opposition ranks and is someone who no doubt will think he has something to prove as he returns to SA1 following his sale last summer.
Looking ahead: Luke Williams “We want the players to be brave and show personality, and there were periods in the game where we did that.
“At 1-0 we had our chances, which we did not make the most of, and then – when you are playing a side of that quality who are on course to go straight back to the Premier League – you cannot afford to gift them anything, and unfortunately we did that for the second and third goals.
“We will learn a lot from that, and for us it is now about building out these periods in games where we are showing signs of the team we want to be.
“Every time we play, we are learning as a group and the challenge for us now is to make sure we keep making strides in our performances and deliver a team that you connect with and are excited to come and watch.”
The game at the Swansea.com Stadium kicks off at 3pm
