Zidane reveals Bale out plans for Wales
THE talk pre-match was Paul Clement maybe had only two games to prove he is still the man for Swansea.
By half-time many of the Liberty Stadium hardcore reckoned that was down to a mere 45 minutes – so upset were they with their team’s inept first half.
Just what the Swansea owners were thinking at the final whistle is unclear but, rest assured, boss Clement will be pleased to survive the international break.
Poisonous would be the best way to describe the atmosphere both during and after this home defeat in six games for the Welsh strugglers.
Even before Glenn Murray’s fourth goal in three outings put Brighton on course for a memorable victory, the Swansea supporters were on the backs of their players.
Which shows it is not only poor results to blame for the angry atmosphere. The way they are losing every week is clearly driving everyone crazy.
This latest setback dumped Swansea into the drop zone and on this showing they will remain in the thick of trouble – fighting relegation for a third successive year.
As for Chris Hughton’s Brighton, the picture could scarcely be brighter after they grabbed their third win in an impressive five-match unbeaten sequence.
The newly promoted Seagulls have now taken 11 points from the last 15 available and are up to eighth in the table – their highest position since 1982.
Yet they could easily have gone behind after two minutes but for Shane Duffy’s superb interception preventing Tammy Abraham converting Nathan Dyer’s cross.
Had the Swans scored it would have eased the evident tension in the stands.
Every misplaced pass was greeted with huge groans from the increasingly despairing fans.
That, of course, rarely helps those on the pitch and it definitely damaged an otherwise bright start from Clement’s strugglers.
And, at the same time, it enabled Brighton to ease their way into the contest – before sticking the knife into Swansea hearts after 29 minutes.
Anthony Knockaert had too muchWtiomrdestoinwhip in his cross, which for some reason Federico Fherenreanpdl eazsleftin– allowing Murray to continue his red-hot form. here a caption
Clement no doubt ripped into hifsosridtheisatphicatluf-rtieme – and that had an obvious impact, albeit without any immediate reward.
New England call-up Abraham, fed by Dyer, was firstly denied by Mathew Ryan’s sharp save and then, from the resulting corner, the on-loan Chelsea striker failed to force his effort through a crowded six-yard box.
That silenced the jeers but only briefly. They soon returned – at full volume – as Swansea kept banging their heads against Brighton’s defensive brick wall.
The closest they came to the equaliser was in time added-on when sub Luciano Narsingh rocked the bar with a drive.
Despondent Clement admitted afterwards that the performance was unacceptable. The under-fire Swans manager said: “At the level we played at today we can’t expect to win.
“We were very poor defending the goal. A simple throw-in we didn’t deal with and we didn’t stop the cross.
“The atmosphere affected the team and certain individuals – but our job is to deal with that. You have good times, bad times and we are in a really bad moment just now, no question about it.
“We have to stop this vicious cycle of poor performance, bad result. We have to grind out a win.”
Thrilled Brighton boss Hughton said: “I am very pleased. There’s no better feeling than winning games.
“We didn’t know how the season would unfold but to be where we are at this stage probably surpasses expectations. But we have a very difficult six weeks coming after the international break.”
As for match-winner Murray, the Seagulls chief added: “Glenn is a striker who knows where the net is. One chance, one goal!” REAL MADRID coach Zinedine Zidane has told Wales that Gareth Bale will not join up with their squad for upcoming friendlies – even though he is back in training after injury.
Bale has not played for club or country since September 26 because of a calf problem but he was named in a 24-man Wales squad on Wednesday for matches against France on November 10 and Panama four days later.
However, Wales boss Chris Coleman said it would be down to Madrid to determine Bale’s availability.
And despite recently returning to training, Zidane said Bale, 28, would not be involved in either today’s La Liga match against Las Palmas or with Wales.
He said: “Gareth is not going to be in the squad to face Las Palmas and he is not going to go with his national team.
“Right now he has had two training sessions with us and what we want is for him to remain with us so that he is ready as soon as possible.”
Bale sustained his injury during Real’s Champions League victory over Carpet Cleaning Microsponges
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He has since sat out seven matches for the European champions and missed Wales’ final two World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and the Republic of Ireland last month as the Dragons failed to qualify for the
2018 finals in Russia. In yesterday’s La Liga action Valencia kept up the pressure on leaders Barcelona with a routine
3-0 defeat of Leganes. But Atletico Madrid needed a last-minute strike from Ghanaian midfielder Thomas to move three points clear of city rivals Real.
In France PSG kept up the pace at the top of Ligue 1 with a 5-0 win at Angers. Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani scored two apiece.
In the Bundesliga Bayern Munich won Der Klassiker 3-1 at Borussia Dortmund with an early goal from Arjen Robben and strikes either side of the break from Robert Lewandowski and David Alaba. Marc Bartra’s
88th-minute goal was a Dortmund consolation. P&P £2.99 Qty
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