It’s very hard to evaluate a game positively when there’s little or nothing of any positive substance to analyse or discuss. Last nights game at Stoke was up there with the Bournemouth away defeat and indeed Preston away for lack of effort and cohesion, but there is more.

Everyone who watches and supports a football team wants to see bright, fast flowing football and a successful side. It goes without saying. What Russell Martin wants to provide the supporters of the swans is pretty much the same. However after similar defeats away from home at Preston, Bournemouth and now Stoke of course people will become deflated and somewhat disillusioned with the process of the rebuilding plan Martin wants. I only highlight those three games because they were the moments when a Swansea City side looked as if it could push on after positive results. Going to Preston after a 1-0 win away at Bristol City and a very easy win over Plymouth Argyle in the League Cup was the first time a slump and lack of effort was obvious. The loss at Preston was made even worse when their manager at the time stated the swans were very easy to work out in the second half.

Exactly the same goes for the away defeat at Bournemouth, possibly more so because prior to that we saw the teams best form so far this season with wins against Peterborough and away at Coventry. Again we saw a Swansea side exposed and outplayed in a 4-0 away defeat. At Stoke last night the positivity being taken in to the game was quickly eroded by the total lack of anything to be positive about. It’s a criticism Russell Martin has to carry on his shoulders. Swans fans are not used to 4-1 home losses, and then away from home shipping goal after goal in what was poorly managed preparation and effort on the pitch. It isn’t good enough, and last night wasn’t good enough.

The supporters who travelled last night don’t deserve to witness a completely indifferent attitude from some of the players. And it’s not as if there was just a handful at the game, there were hundreds there. Post match Martin said “That was the worst we have been for a very long time. I don’t want to make excuses but there were too many tired bodies I think after the effort and emotion of Saturday, playing 40 minutes with 10 men it was a game too many for too many of our players” With a smaller squad than some I can see his point, but don’t say you don’t want to make excuses, and then make excuses. The red card count recently is of some concern as well, although the latest one for Ryan Bennett was harsh. Overall the refereeIng performance was littered with yellow cards that were not needed. However, when Russell Martin makes these comments it is hard to come down on his side.

On the penalty and the side starting the game half asleep Martin reiterated his despondency at his sides performance. “So, I am really disappointed. I am angry with the way we started the game, there was nowhere near enough courage or intensity. But we go in at 0-0, we give ourselves a chance, we make a change to try and be more aggressive and get on the front foot and we concede so early. It was ridiculous and you cannot do that. I am not sure about the penalty and the sending off. Benno’s hand is by his body and it has hit his foot, which has blocked it going in, and then hit his hand” As already stated the red card was harsh but the penalty was rightly given, no matter which side you are on. These games as we stated pre match have a way of throwing up controversy, but really not for this penalty shout. When you have a referee like Jeremy Simpson in charge, don’t expect any flexibility.

Martin can complain as much as he wants, the team went in to this game looking completely unprepared. We know it’s obvious when he says “The second half we started so poorly, it's unacceptable. We try and make another couple of changes, Benno gets sent off and that's the game done and it's damage limitation after that point” The thing is going in to a game without suspended Ryan Manning, and an already injured Nathanael Ogbeta along with Kyle Naughton isn’t going to be easy but may be a bit of effort from someone would help ? Did we really see any effort on the pitch ?

On Ogbeta Martin said “It's really frustrating. He was carrying something from Shrewsbury, thought it was okay and he has just irritated it. Hopefully we will know a bit more in the next few days. Hopefully it won't be too long because we are really keen to get him on the pitch." And his final admission on one of the poorest performance of the season was summed up with "Even when we did play around them, it was just so loose and it's cost us tonight” Okay, that’s fine, I’m pleased he recognises this. But I wouldn’t want him to overthink next season if he finds himself in the same position.

What swans fans will want now is a return to some form on Sunday against Bristol City, but not just to have their spirits lifted by a performance like Blackburn on Saturday, and then capitulate again in the next game. Bristol City is crucial for many reasons not least the supporters confidence in Russell Martin. Most swans watchers have been patient this season, but there is a growing uneasiness which no doubt the manager will be able to ride out, for that he can count himself lucky.

That’s certain.

However he is building something for next season we are told, and he needs a few windows to do so. That’s also fine. But in the meantime a little bit of sunlight is required. I would suggest maybe a lot more of everything, but that’s too simple. In that regard let’s start on Sunday with a little bit of something, like being wide awake and switched on.

Just an idea.

Stoke City: Bursik; Wilmot, Jagielka, Harwood-Bellis, Tymon; Allen (C) (Wright-Phillips 80), Baker; Powell (Clucas 75); Campbell (Maja 45), Brown, Philogene-Bidace.

Subs not used: Bonham, Smith, Moore, Fletcher.

Goals: Philogene-Bidace 47, Baker 59, Brown 79

Yellow cards: 🟨 Wilmot 45, Brown 85

Swansea City: Fisher; Bennett, Downes, Cabango; Christie (Joseph 55), Smith (Piroe 46), Grimes (C), Wolf; Fulton, Ntcham (Paterson 55); Obafemi.

Subs not used: Hamer, Burns, Latibeaudiere, Dhanda.

Yellow cards: 🟨 Christie 25, Grimes 29, Ntcham 31, Wolf 85

Red card: 🟥 Bennett 58

Referee: Jeremy Simpson 4/10

Attendance: 17,720 (366 away)

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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