It’s not that Swansea City are bad, but their lack of confidence and decision making at times lost them the game today. A mad moment when a back pass was picked up by Carl Rushworth in the second half cost the Swans the points.

For all the huffing and puffing from the Swans they went in at half time a goal down to their visitors from the north east. The Swans lacked a cutting edge and any chances made were not seized upon by a forward line who were either yards away from where you world expect them to be, or just not conscious of their surroundings. Jay Fulton had a couple of efforts, the second one just needed a bit more awareness from Josh Key as it swung past the keepers right hand post. Liam Walsh another.

The rain and dullness of the day was reflected in the home sides attitude to the game. The North east corner in full voice throughout the half were the real winners in the first forty five minutes. In the first fifteen minutes of the game we saw Bashir Humphreys head wide after the ball was put on his head by Liam Walsh. Another move ended in a shot off target when Liam Walsh shot wide after good work by Jamal Lowe. It was Liam Walsh who earned the first half plaudits, his work rate far higher than some of the meandering we saw from other Swans players.

Boro were not without their chances but up until Sam Greenwood slotted his chance away on forty three minutes it was looking like a half time dead rubber. It was Matt Crooks who managed to find Greenwood, who unlike the opposition took his chance well. Overall it was a half that lacked energy, and the Swans were running with lead feet. Far too much running with the ball, stopping, and then losing it or just being unable hold the ball up or have the strength to do so. Five shots from the home side, none on target. Two on target from Boro, one nil up and the Swans would really have to increase their energy levels if they want anything from this game.

The second half did see an upsurge in the Swans dynamic, they looked far more interested at the task in hand and began to pressurise the visitors defence. The missed opportunities in the first half started again. The misplaced passes, indecision and poor decision making was there still but there was more energy to the Swans game and that was rewarded with a wonderfully taken header from Jamal Lowe. He is most certainly in the January transfer shopping window, be that immediately or when his contract finishes at Bournemouth in the summer. Josh Tymon’s exacting cross was well rewarded and the Swans looked good value at that point for the equaliser. They did press on as well, but the inability to be brave on the ball or press forwards dangerously was lost on them. Harry Darling became some form of right winger, Jamie Paterson looked more interested, with Josh Tymon and Liam Walsh all having opportunities.

Then another insight in to the mindset of this Swansea team when Carl Rushworth picked up the ball from a back pass. This resulted in the bizarre situation of a free kick for Boro around the Swans six yard box. With most of the Swans side lining up on their goal line. A gentle roll of the ball from Morgan Rogers was hit well by Sam Silvera and it somehow found its way in to the back of the net.

That goal, which turned out to be the winning effort was a body blow, especially when the Swans were looking likely to snatch a winner - but it was Middlesbrough who took advantage of this gifted goal. A few chances were made by Swansea after this, and Boro had a late shot at goal hitting the bar. What sums it up is that this Swansea side is in the most concerning position they have been in since relegation from the Premier League. The reason for this we all know. The slow dismantling of the side with the best players being sold and replaced by individuals hardly competent enough to lace the boots of the likes of Joel Piroe and Flynn Downes - who between them have earned the Swans around twenty four million pounds. The investment from Nigel Morris is clear and evident but we still have this USA fund that nobody knows about the exact sums involved, who is in it or what it is being used for. This is where the Chairman Andrew Coleman has his Swansea investment money wrapped up. Again, the amount and reasoning is witheld.

Couple that with the disastrous way the club is being navigated through troubled waters of the clubs own making - and two guys in Coleman and Ken Gude who know absolutely nothing about British football at Championship level, and we have what can only be called a crisis.

No Swansea fan is blame worthy, they support their club through thick and thin. The reason for all this is at boardroom level and a Chairman who thinks he can do it all on his own.

Pitiful.

⚽️ Swansea City: Rushworth; Darling, Cabango, Humphreys (Yates 82); Key, Fulton (Patino 87), Grimes (c), Tymon; Walsh (Cooper 64), Paterson (Bolasie 82); Lowe (Cullen 87)

Subs: Fisher, Wood, Naughton, Parker

⚽️ Middlesbrough: Dieng (Glover 90+1); Dijksteel, Fry, van den Berg, Bangura (Engel 72); Howson (c), Barlaser; Jones, Crooks (Rogers 72), Greenwood (Silvera 72); Latte Lath

Subs: Clarke, Gilbert, Coulson, Nkrumah, Kavanagh

Att: 15,084
385 away

Photographs with permission

ReslovenSwan1 added 18:18 - Dec 16 The kid is on loan so that he learns from his silly mistakes where they cost less. ANy learning he does at Swansea will benefit Brighton not Swansea. As a medium business plan with top class executives this plan stinks. Lessons earned by Ethan Laird are now being used against Swansea. The gradual decline of Swansea started with Cooper who used up the parachutes turned away prospects in favour of loans e.g. Brewster over Goykeres. He left no legacy. Loans are a quick fix like aspirin. It does not solve the MANAGEMENT strategy failings.

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