In another game of goals the Swans again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, and yes that age old term is being used far too often this season. Even when it comes to losing a point. Today however, all three were lost and the best team won the day.

The first fifteen minutes of this game was as good as we have seen this season from the Swans at home, but gradually the visitors crept their way back into the game, pressing and demanding the ball. The Swans really didn’t have an answer with Ben Cabango having one of his poorest games of the season. Harry Darling, Franco, Matt Grimes and Josh Key all contributed to throwing away a two goal lead this afternoon. This after a Zan Vipotnik poached goal and a wonderful strike from Liam Cullen from a dead ball free kick.

Up until that point the extra thousand or so home fans who had obliged the club with their presence would have thought they had returned to a new era in Swansea City football. However, that was short lived as the same issues reared their ugly heads again.

Sunderland didn’t exactly expose the Swansea midfield and defence in the first half, the home side did that for them. Hopeless decision making once again causing unnecessary problems which led to the Black Cats dragging the game away from the Swans grasp. The writing was on the wall when Josh Key lost his opponent in his own area from a corner leaving Ballard to stoop and head home in the first half. That Sunderland goal was the catalyst, not only did it display a team with far more ability and commitment, it exposed frailty in the Swansea defence and midfield weaknesses in the challenge. That theme ran throughout the whole of the game.

When a more simplistic ball was required the Swans backtracked and gave away possession, and this was highlighted for the visitors third goal - a complete lack of strength and awareness from Matt Grimes. Sunderland attacked down the right and an easy chance presented to Bellingham to place his sides third goal of the game beyond Swans keeper Vigouroux. In between times the Black Cats snatched another goal from Neal.

Those last two efforts were like taking sweets from very small children.

As we have seen before, and positively more recently the Swans couldn’t take ahold of the game at any point in the second half, Sunderland were just far better, far fitter and more committed. The commitment we have seen of late was absolutely lacking. The Black Cats game was plan succinct and very well managed by manager, Régis Le Bris. And he needed this result. At no point did Swansea have time to take control of this game after going two up. Sunderland just had all the answers and there seemed a lack of direction coming from the Swansea bench, and not just on the pitch as we often see. It does show the gap between the top eight or so sides and Swansea who started the game in ninth in the Championship. There’s a reason why the Swans don’t have the wherewithal in every game they have played this season to turn around a game that they lose by the odd goal.

This has to be a mental thing, but you can add to that the complete lack of strength compared to opposition such as Sunderland. If Ronald and Myles Peart-Harris beat a player all day I must have missed it, that inability which leads to the opposition breaking and causing problems has to be addressed. After twenty one games of this season this has been a continual feature. Some will say that head coach, Luke Williams has dragged this side into some form of respectability as opposed to the same time last season when Michael Duff was rightly sacked. We agree of course, but why these games always go against Swansea by the odd goal is down to coaching and mental agility with the ability to recognise what is happening and deal with it. It doesn’t happen.

And three games in a week is no excuse, Sunderland have had the same journey.

The more the second half wore on the visitors just seemed to get stronger and believe in what they were there to do. The Swans midfield was nowhere to be seen, Franco is finding the competitive nature of this league very challenging as did Eom when he came on. Overall the clear difference between those who will be challenging come the latter stages of the season and what Swansea have is very obvious. We do have January where some serious decisions need to be made regards the players we have, and the players we want in this Swans squad. If that is corrected, you never know, but any thoughts today of the play offs are about as distant as the moon. And this squad, if it appeared at any point in the Premier League wouldn’t stand a chance even with big investment.

That’s the fact of the matter which is Luke Williams and his staff have a week to get their heads round. They seriously need to address why the same thing keeps on happening and nothing it seems can be done about it. Pre match Luke stated, “If we want to be the team we have to become, then we have to perform well against the top teams in the division. We have ticked that box, but it’s about getting results against them too” Well, more work needs to be done there.

The Championship is a tough, tough league that requires tough players of a certain mould in certain parts of the pitch. Today, sadly the Swans displayed no toughness, and rightly lost the game.

Away next week against Hull City at another ridiculous time for away fans (12.30pm) kick off will see Swansea travel to East Yorkshire. The Tigers with a new manager, Rubén Sellés Salvador, leading his new team officially at home for the first time since his appointment.

⚽️ Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux 5 Josh Key 5 Ben Cabango 4 Harry Darling 4 Josh Tymon 5 Matt Grimes (captain) 5 Gonçalo Franco 4 Liam Cullen 6 Myles Peart-Harris 5 (Jisung Eom 71) 5 Ronald 5 Žan Vipotnik 6 (Florian Bianchini 71) 4

Unused Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin Jay Fulton, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Cyrus Christie, Kyle Naughton, Nelson Abbey, Azeem Abdulai.

⚽️ Sunderland: Anthony Patterson, Dennis Cirkin (Luke O’Nien 70), Dan Neil (captain), Dan Ballard, Jobe Bellingham, Patrick Roberts ⭐️ Chris Rigg, Eliezer Mayenda, Wilson Isidor, Chris Mepham, Trai Hume.

Unused Substitutes: Simon Moore, Nazariy Rusyn, Adil Aouchiche, Aaron Connolly, Milan Aleksic, Leo Hjelde, Aji Alese, Harrison Jones.

Referee: Andy Davies 6/10, competent enough for both sides.

Attendance: 15,791
Away 1,863

Managers post match comments, in game analysis and transfer news tomorrow on the Indy.

Artwork Swansea Independent

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