Phil Sumbler
The pattern of games is becoming something of a habit for the Swans as they secured a point at Watford last night but yet again it was a game of two halves with the Swans in control for the first period but on the back foot for long periods of the second.
Heading to Hertfordshire on the back of two successive league wins, the Swans were handed a gift in the first half with a calamitous Watford own goal that gave them the lead but it was a lead that was thoroughly deserved with the Swans dominating both possession and action areas although there was very little for the opposition goalkeeper to do.
However, the second half for the third game running, proved to be a different story completely with the Swans pushed back by the hosts and it was no real surprise that they got the equaliser during that period and it could easily have been more but for some solid defending from the Swans back line who stood firm and made some superbly timed blocks to keep Watford at bay.
A point on the road should never be considered a bad thing and the good news is that over the course of the midweek run of fixtures we have moved further away from the relegation places in the division and can take our three game unbeaten run with confidence to Bristol City on Sunday.
But the second half displays are clearly starting to frustrate Williams a little as revealed in his post match comments “There is a bit of frustration because I felt we were quite dominant in the first half, and we could have increased our lead,” said Williams.
“Then the second half is a different game because we did not quite get that done. The opposition are able to regroup at half-time and were much more aggressive in the second half, so we paid for that.
“We did manage to control that first half quite well, then we need to respect that and understand to control the game in that way means to create and take clear chances.
“You have to use that control to stop big counter-attacks, and in the second half we lost that control with the ball and that translated to more counter-attacks and it was less comfortable.”
The Swans boss also referenced his backline and how strong they were on the night and he added “I think the fans can see that and hopefully are proud of that. The two centre-halves are like a two-man army at times, they are incredible and I am so proud of those guys in particular, but the whole team ran and put their bodies on the line.”
