Swansea City turned up at the Riverside today with Russell Martin citing an exciting game and a rejuvenated squad. That wasn’t at all evident this afternoon as we witnessed yet another slow passing game which surely now has destroyed any confidence the swans support have in their manager and coaching staff.

Despite an attempt at a late comeback it really wasn’t on as the swans started to put themselves about in the last fifteen minutes. A late penalty scored by Joel Piroe gave the travelling jacks some hope after a handball in the box but really it was a huff and puff attempt at getting a draw. The real annoying factor was the unnecessary sending off of Ben Cabango who pushed a Boro player to the ground after already being yellow carded earlier.

It really does sum up Swansea City of late who now find themselves in the bottom three with the worst goals against record in the league. What positives the manager will come up with is anyones guess.

A lack of confidence could well be the right reference point to describe Cameron Congreve who started the game and was substituted on thirty minutes. His back pass was intercepted for Boro’s first goal. We are pretty certain Martin will take the blame for that selection as Congreve was replaced by Matt Sorinola. The home commentary was scathing regards Russell Martin and his tactics, and rightly so, they were absolutely without reason. The space the swans gave Boro for the first goal and the stand off from attacking players for the second displayed a half hearted and despondent Swansea team.

Swansea looked totally devoid of confidence, the continual passing and backwards rebuilding on the ball when options far better ahead were there continued the frustration. A frustration that has been with us now for months. There is now nobody in this Swansea side who can take a grip of the game. The arrival of Joe Allen hasn’t seen any benefits to date, he seems well off the pace. Why the swans cannot take advantage of Obefemi’s pace game in and game out is mystifying.

Despite a complete disregard for Martin’s tactics in the final ten minutes and the wonderful aggression of Olly Cooper it was never going to be. The poor marking and open spaces for the two Boro goals were never going to be recovered. Middlesbrough were worthy winners over the ninety minutes, that’s a fact. The swans could have snatched something late on but when you are looking out for leaders on the pitch and the only one is an academy player who knows what it is like to wear a swans shirt you are going to be in trouble. Cooper should be the first name on the team sheet on Wednesday at Stoke, that is whoever decides the team

The clamour for Martin to resign will intensify, but really it’s hardly likely to happen just yet.

Middlesbrough: Roberts; McNair, Lenihan, Clarke; Jones, Howson (C), Crooks (Smith 81), Mowatt, Giles (Fry 90+6); McGree (Bola 81), Watmore (Muniz 57).

Subs not used: Daniels, Dijksteel, Forss.

Goal: McGree 14 Crooks 29

Yellow cards: 🟨 Mowatt 27, Crooks 45, Roberts 85, Jones 88

Swansea City: Fisher; Naughton, Wood, Cabango, Manning; Allen (Cullen 62), Grimes (C); Congreve (Sorinola 31), Piroe, Ntcham (O Cooper 46); Obafemi.

Subs not used: Benda, Darling, Fulton, Thomas.

Goal: Piroe 79

Yellow cards: 🟨 Cabango 74 & 88, Wood 80, Cooper 90+2

Red card: 🔴 Cabango 88

Referee: Robert Madley 6/10

Photographs licensed from Reuters

ReslovenSwan1 added 17:43 - Aug 27 Martin knows he has to adapt but it seems he is not able to do so. New signings will alway be his excuse. He has promised development but there is none.
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Freelander added 19:27 - Aug 27 Well it just goes to show what interest Levien and Kaplan have in our club with no investment coming in and the manager and coaching staff and some of the players are not up to championship standered them yanks will not be satisfied untill we get relegated then you will not see thyere back es for dust they have bled our club dry with money going to the other club they own in DC United money is no object for that team they have employed Rooney as manager and signed a premiership player and them two would not come on the cheep and DC United are bottom of the league and getting beat most games just goes to show Levien and Kaplan have not got a clue on how to run a football team not how much money they can make out of a club like ours

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