It wasn’t all bad at Bramall Lane tonight, like West Bromwich Albion the Swans rode their luck, and it was only two errors which lost the game. Unfortunately they were the same errors that continue to impact on games, and indeed give the game away due to a total lack of awareness and game management.

Having said all that, Swans head coach, Luke Williams won’t be too disappointed despite the 1-0 loss.

The game started quite gently with the Swans happy to conserve their energy and play their usual passing game. The only real action saw a shot on the break from Gustavo Hamer which was saved well by Lawrence Vigouroux. The Blades seemed content to allow the Swans possession which was actually playing into the away sides hands. Ronald was seeing a lot of the ball and on fourteen minutes shot at goal after some good work. Souza was keen to let Eom know he was there with several niggly fouls, one on sixteen minutes. Before that he had been involved in six fouls, referee, Leigh Doughty just didn’t want to book him. From that the Blades defence were at sixes and sevens as the away side looked dominant and comfortable. So much so the home crowd were not happy. The loud jeers were evident.

Swansea City’s play was precise, and just what head coach, Luke Williams called for pre match.

It was one of those games that you didn’t want the Swans to score, mad I know but you had the feeling if the Swans scored this shell they fall in to would appear far too early. The Swans passing continued to impress with the Blades looking frustrated and devoid of ideas. As the half hour approached the Blades upped their energy. The Swans were now playing on the break, a nasty foul on Ollie Cooper giving Matt Grimes an opportunity to put a ball in to the home area. It was poor.

Myles Peart-Harris was clearly the central outlet for Swansea up front, he was running hard and backed up by Cooper you got the impression something could work this evening. However, Peart-Harris was in Jerry Yates mode, running towards his opponent but slowing down when a gamble would work. The game was now in full flow, the Swans energetic and charging their opponents down. It has to be said Eom was the danger man, and when he was on the ball he found himself surrounded by Blades defenders.

All attempts to breach the Swans defence were not working at all.

Josh Tymon picked up his fourth yellow of the season on thirty two minutes. That led to a snapshot by Peck which led to a corner. Gustavo Hamer delivered but the header towards goal was wide. The Blades were now on top. They were now more interested in getting forwards and testing the Swans defence. It has to be said again, keeper Vigouroux was becoming slightly complacent, waiting too long to make a pass out of his area, he looked slightly ruffled.

Most of the game now was being played in the Swansea half of the pitch.

Luke Williams game plan was working but it was on a knife edge. Ronald broke on thirty nine minutes and put in a class cross which caused alarm in the Sheffield United defence. Minutes later Peart-Harris missed an absolute sitter, a lovely ball forwards, Myles was onside and somehow managed to absolutely shaft the ball. It was the best chance of the game. That was a chance that surely the Swans needed to put away. On reflection it was a shocking miss. and would determine the end result in this game.

Although Jay Fulton was having a decent game, as the half wore on he was too defensive minded which on two occasions disrupted Swansea opportunities. Then once again, right at the last a cross into the Swans box was somehow converted into his own net by Josh Tymon. The Swans lost their way at a crucial moment in the game, right before half time. It seems Swansea City haven’t got the game management and leadership on the pitch to make these moves preventable. It happens far too often.

It was the same old story, the Swans miss a golden opportunity and then go to sleep at the back.

The second half start was all Sheffield United, the Swans defence were under extreme pressure. From a good move down the Swans left Tyrese Campbell failed to convert his opportunity hitting the bar. The Swans were under the cosh for sure. The away side tried to calm the game down, but the Blades press was impressive. Andre Brooks was now on fire, Vigouroux saving magnificently from a well worked move. You have to say the home side wanted to put this game to bed. Testament to United’s strength in depth we saw three subs on fifty seven minutes. Gilcrist on loan from Chelsea, Kieffer Moore and Jesurun Rak-saky entered the play.

Every move now was lacking the preciseness that Luke Williams demanded pre match. The ball was given away, and even from throw ins the ball was lost. If the Swans were to get anyhting now it would be smash and grab. Ronald’s efforts to make a difference were thwarted by a lack of aggression in the Blades area by Peart-Harris. Then on sixty three minutes Moore was put through by Burrows - he slammed his shot against Vigouroux’s post.

The Swans made changes. Ronald was off for Bianchini, and Cooper was replaced by Vipotnik.

The lack of ball control from the Swans continued. However, their desire to get forwards was now slightly more impressive. The Blades looked like they were happy to hit the Swans on the break. A dangerous game to play ? Tymon delivered a great cross which Blades keeper Michael Cooper punched away. The Swans inter play was much better on sixty seven minutes. A corner earned by Bianchini signalled the first set piece for the visitors in the second half. Cabango got on the end of the move but his shot went wide. Fulton gave away a free kick on sixty nine minutes. A dangerous set piece. Hamer’s cross was well defended.

This led to another Blades corner.

Joe Allen and Azeem Abdulai were now ready to enter the game. Then we saw Rhian Brewster on for Hamer. The above mentioned players replaced Eom and Fulton. The ‘new’ Wales international took up a traditional midfield position. Brewster made an immediate impact on the game, earning a throw in deep into Swans territory. Then a corner for the home side with seventeen minutes to go. It was smashed away by Grimes but again giving the Blades more possession. That immediately led to a chance for Brewster on seventy four minutes, but his shot went wide. Rhian Brewster hasn’t scored for the Blades in nearly two years.

Then another change for the Swans, Kyle Naughton for Josh Tymon.

Kyle was greeted with massive applause from the home fans. A lovely move by the Swans led to another corner kick. It was headed away. The Swans retained possession. A Bianchini cross led to another Swans corner. Joe Allen again the taker. That was so frustrating as Joe’s set piece went in and out for a goal kick. The game quickly moved forwards on eighty minutes, another Blades corner. Burrows took it, but his effort was far too deep.

We were now into the last nine minutes plus stoppages, which there were few. New balls on eighty two minutes saw Bianchini yellow carded. I have to say his aggression was very good to see. We were seeing a far better version of the player than we had seen before. For the last five minutes ex Swans academy player, Rhys Norrington- Davies entered the fray for Sheffield United. A lovely ball forwards by Grimes was wasted by Abdulai. On eighty five minutes the Swans earned a dangerous free kick. Grimes was on the ball. Then pushing and shoving delayed the free kick. Harry Darling met the cross with his head, it went high and wide. Indications on our screens in the press area clearly that effort wouldn’t have counted.

In the final minute Joe Allen was hauled down by Souza.

This could be the Swans last chance. Grimes (below) again on the ball. He shot at goal which was saved by Cooper as the ball failed to find a Swans player close by. Then a chance for Vipotnik who headed down and over the bar. Four minutes extra time was signalled. There surely would be another chance for the Swans. Again Bianchini was fouled by Souza, how he hasn’t been booked is a mystery. The Swans continued to press. Abdulai was again in a hopeless place out on the Swans left. His efforts were indecisive and displayed a player lacking in confidence. The Swans and their three hundred or so fans remained hopeful.

The referee blew up for time on four minutes, the Blades had won the game, and we can only look back on Peart-Harris and Josh Tymkn’sown goal. They were the key moments. It doesn’t matter that the Blades hit the bar and post, just like the game at West Bromwich Albion away, the home side didn’t succeed. Overall the Swans put in a decent performance and really with a striker on the pitch could have snatched something. That’s what away games against quality teams are all about.

Saturdays game against Stoke City is very much a must win, despite their hammering of Portsmouth tonight. It’s achievable and the good news is Bianchini is no bit part player. The Swans slip to twelfth but just four points off the top six in a congested Championship table. Three points on Saturday are most certainly required before another international break.

⚽️ Luke Williams post match

⚽️ Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux 7 Josh Key 6 Ben Cabango 7 Harry Darling 5 Josh Tymon 5 (Kyle Naughton 77) 6 Matt Grimes (captain), 7 Jay Fulton 6 (Joe Allen 72), 6 Ollie Cooper 6 (Žan Vipotnik 64) 5 Ronald 5 (Florian Bianchini 65) 7 Myles Peart-Harris 4 Eom 7 (Azeem Abdulai 72) 4

Unused Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin, Gonçalo Franco, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Nelson Abbey.

⚽️ Sheffield United: Michael Cooper, Harry Souttar, Gus Hamer (Rhian Brewster 72), Callum O’Hare (Rhys Norrington-Davies 84), Harrison Burrows, Anel Ahmedhodzic, Jamie Shackleton (Alfie Gilchrist 58), Vini Souza (captain), Tyrese Campbell (Kieffer Moore 58), Andre Brooks (Jesurun Rak-sakyi 58), Sydie Peck.

Unused Substitutes: Adam Davies, Sam McCallum, Femi Seriki, Billy Blacker.

Referee: Leigh Doughty 7/10 : Another decent performance from the referee, no complaints bar him failing to card Souza for persistent fouling. That was quite bizarre.

Attendance: 25,112

Swans away approx 300: Congratulations to each and every one of you. Sterling effort.

Photographs: Anthony Dews & Liam Walters

Swansea City Polls