Michael Reeves
Swansea City’s unbeaten run came to an end at Ashton Gate this afternoon in a ninety minutes that summed up much about what the team have been criticised for this season.
For those that made the trip to Bristol to watch the game they must have wondered why as the Swans dominated possession but managed to go the whole ninety minutes without testing the home side’s goalkeeper and ended up on the wrong end of a scoreline to a team who went into the game on the back of four straight defeats.
Rob Dickie’s second half header proved to be the difference between the two sides but the reality of the whole game was this was a ninety minute display served up between two very average – at best – sides.ย For the Swans no shots on target in the whole game Bristol City’s first half was summed up in a statistic of no shots at goal on or off target.
Indeed the game was almost an hour old before there was any real chance of note when Placheta met a Ronald cross but steered it harmlessly wide.ย As has become the norm in recent weeks though the Swans conceded more and more of the action in the second half.ย ย The trait becomes more and more concerning and seems to be something that is unable to be addressed by the coaching side or the players but it will be something that teams are noticing more and more – do we simply run out of steam?ย ย Worrying if we do as there are long periods where we don’t seem to break sweat.ย ย Today being a good example.
The goal came from a corner which was conceded when Tymon narrowly avoided heading a cross into his own net and for the second game running we conceded a goal from a glanced header from a corner.ย ย What was that about learning from our mistakes again?
It has become a common theme this season to talk about a display that falls well short of standards and whilst this happened against the sides at the top of the league the Swans had the excuse of playing the best teams.ย ย But this is Bristol City, an average mid table side who managed 27% possession and just two shots on goal.ย ย Nobody is saying that we should breeze these games but we should certainly be competing far more than we can get.
If the game summed up the season then Ronald’s corner summed up the game when his short corner was passed into touch from an attacking position.ย ย There is simply no excuse from a paid professional for that.ย ย No excuse at all.
Attention now turns to the visit of Cardiff City next week but the truth is that the performance has to increase one hundred fold to even get close to a level that will be acceptable and the week ahead is a very big one for Luke Williams and his players.ย ย Can they all stand up and be counted?
Time will tell.
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