Four Swansea City changes this evening meant a return to the first eleven for Ryan Manning, Joel Piroe, Kyle Naughton and Olivier Ntcham. It has to be said the swans bench looked strong as well with Michael Obafemi amongst the substitutes. The story of this game was the usual slow and ponderous Swansea start and three excellent saves from ex swans keeper Freddie Woodman.

Swansea started the game with their usual dominance on the ball but caused the Preston keeper Freddie Woodman no issues at all. Despite all that possession it was a string of mistakes that gave Preston opportunities to take the lead. Ben Cabango clearly not able to concentrate on matters giving the ball away, and not just once, then earning an early yellow card.

Preston came in to the game having scored only thirteen goals all season and their naivety in front of goal, fortunately for Swansea was evident when the swans passing errors were capitalised on. The lillywhites started to press Swansea noting the visitors lack of pace and determination on the ball. Another flash move down the swans left saw a great cross put in but somehow Ched Evans missed the opportunity. He will have nightmares about that effort.

Swansea were again playing in a similar way to Saturdays draw at Bristol, ponderous and sluggish. When the swans did work a sight on goal Ryan Manning’s cross wasn’t anticipated by any Swansea forwards. The away side did manufacture an opportunity via Jay Fulton’s peach of a ball in to the Preston area but Piroe’s header was at best poor in direction, but he did meet the cross well. Cards on the table with literally no home atmosphere whatsoever this was a bore fest. Preston looking the most likely to score and Swansea lethargic and tired in their thought and commitment.

Preston once again began to sniff a goal on twenty five minutes working their way down the wings but they too seemed uncoordinated in their approach play. The game actually opened up as the half hour approached and the swans started to get in to the game more positively. The passing seemed more crisper and accurate but every move broke down either because of Piroe’s lack of pace or Ntcham being unable to hold the ball up.

The comedy of Swansea errors appeared on twenty nine minutes when a defensive mix up in the swans defence gave Preston the lead. Brad Potts latched on to a misjudged clearance by Harry Darling and the home side were one up. Benda could do nothing to thwart the Preston strike.Once again a Swansea error gifting opportunity after opportunity and after three Preston were one up.

Swansea woke up briefly on thirty five minutes working one two interplay’s in the lillywhites box but Fulton’s shot was blocked. This was better. Ntcham was starting to impose himself on the game, Robbie Brady the Preston midfielder earning a forearm to the throat which he was lucky to get away with. A lovely cross from Fulton nearly opened up the Preston defence but Piroe again was a yard short.

Swansea were missing the dynamism of Oli Cooper.

This was a game Luke Cundle was finding it hard to get in to as well, not representative of his current form. Joel Latibeaudiere broke down the right his cross shot ended up at the feet of Ntcham whose rock hard strike went for a corner. Nothing eventful came from it. For all the effort from Swansea it had a feeling of negativity about it. The crowd not helping at all, they were so quiet. Tenacity was needed and focus, especially when fouls were being given away and Preston looking lively especially with so many gifts coming their way. Another gift nearly taken up when Alan Brown could t despatch his header.

It was all round woeful, non expeditious and flat. And that’s a positive. Surely the second half would see the very decent travelling swans support at least rewarded with some effort and commitment ?

Surprisingly Russell Martin made no changes at half time, he had plenty on the bench to introduce but he kept faith with his starting eleven. A frustrated Piroe swung a leg at two chances as the swans imposed their style again on Preston. Captain Matt Grimes who hasn’t missed a minute this season, and indeed last season playing higher up the field. The problem again being a lack of pace and coordination in their passing. It was only slightly better. Manning played a lovely ball in to Piroe in the area but his lack of control saw the move break down. Preston clearly as per the first half waiting for that Swansea error.

Despite a brighter start the swans were not really impressing anyone with their multiple passing game. Misplaced passing continued from Darling and Piroe, shocking for players at this level to be so poor. Preston’s first effort of the half was a misdirected header which again came from another swans error. When walking football appears in the Swansea side it’s time for substitutions. Losing a game and belligerently continuing in the same vein as the first half was unacceptable.

Kyle Naughton was taken off for Armstrong Oko-Flex and Jamie Paterson for Olivier Ntcham. Some more direct play clearly needed. The direction of the game remained the same but with more urgency. A beautiful Manning pass out Oko-Flex away in the area but his pass was misdirected. From the corner Jay Fulton struck a fine shot but Woodman saved it. A good reaction save. But Swansea at last were alive. The swans delivery in to the penalty area improved dramatically, Manning again delivering a wonderful cross which was cleared. Swansea were now being tigerish and direct, both in the tackle and in tempo. The mistakes remained though, the amount of passing required by Russell Martin clearly not something Latibeaudiere can consistently do.

Over passing again was creeping in.

Oko-Flex again opened up the lillywhites defence and was hauled down just outside the area. Paterson took the free kick, it was on goal but deflected out for another corner. Michael Obafemi came on for Cundle as the swans sensed a goal. Swansea were always going to be open at the back as we entered the last quarter of the game. Despite the chances being created and the game being there to win the swans direct play wasn’t there. Matt Grimes received a yellow for bringing down Evans, he misses the next game at home to Wigan on Saturday.

The last twenty minutes of the game surely would see the swans open up this Preston side ?

Browne tripped Latibeaudiere on the offensive and also received a yellow card. Jay Fulton was subbed for Ollie Cooper and now the attacking commitment was there. From the free kick Woodman saved easily from Piroe. A diving header from Browne was also easily saved by Benda seconds later. Paterson took a corner on seventy five minutes the ball falling to Cooper who completely fluffed his lines. Another chance a minute later fell to Cooper who volleyed wide, Oko-Flex the provider.

The over passing continued and the chances that came the swans way were not taken, and with eight minutes to go all the swans efforts looked in vain. Balls in to the Preston box were headed away, collected by Woodman or cleared in to touch. Whatever this successful run has told us about Swansea, the ability to be more direct and put the ball in to their opponents net has been lacking over these last two away games. Quite simply it really hasn’t been good enough. The total lack of work rate in both Saturdays game and tonight up to the sixty five minute point of both games was really not good enough. This side can beat any other club in the championship home and away, but being so ponderous and lacking ambition won’t see Martin’s swans finish in a positive position this season. The final insult was a Manning miss and Woodman save on ninety three minutes. Manning really should have scored. We have to put this one down to some form of learning.

But it can’t happen again.

And that probably answers the question regards this run which ended tonight at Preston. We expected better than this, not because we are entitled to but because the performances have been so much better this season. That’s what makes it all so disappointing, but we go again on Saturday.

And maybe running a bit more and being less energy preserving will pay dividends. For now Swansea City remain in sixth place in the championship, but this was a golden opportunity not taken.

Preston North End: Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Potts, Browne (C), Whiteman (Ledson 23), McCann, Brady; Riis (Woodburn 86), Evans (Maguire 78).

Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Fernandez, Johnson.

Goal: Potts 29

Yellow cards: 🟨 Ledson 56, Storey 67, McCann 91

Swansea City: Benda; Cabango, Darling, Latibeaudiere; Naughton (Oko-Flex 58) Fulton (Cooper 74), Grimes (C), Manning; Cundle (Obafemi 68), Ntcham (Paterson 58); Piroe.

Subs not used: Fisher, Wood, Sorinola.

Yellow cards: 🟨 Cabango 11, Grimes 71, Oko-Flex 94

Referee: John Busby 4/10 Card mad.

Att 13,678 ( 428 away )

Match fact * Grimes will miss his first game on Saturday for nearly seventy games.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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