Potter: We owe it to Mulder
GRAHAM Potter admitted his Swansea side were lucky to come away from Birmingham with a point.
Visiting keeper Erwin Mulder denied the hosts victory on Friday night after an inspired first-half display earned a point at St Andrew’s.
The 29-year-old, who made his Swans debut last weekend 408 days after signing last summer, pulled off a string of saves from Omar Bogle, Lukas Jutkiewicz and Jota.
Potter says he knows his side must improve. “It doesn’t change things too much in terms of where are are. We know we are at the start of something and will come across games which will challenge us,” he said.
“We have to credit Birmingham, they did what they wanted to do really well. Credit to Garry (Monk) and his team, they deserved to win.”
Swansea never carried a threat, with Birmingham goalpected Lee Camp a spectator for much of the game, with opposite number Mulder the visitors’ resistance.
The Dutchman’s first job of a busy first half was to grab Bogle’s 12th-minute effort after Jota’s shot was blocked.
Jacques Maghoma then saw a strike deflect wide, before Swansea survived when Michael Morrison bundled in – after Mulder had saved from Harlee Dean – only to be ruled offside.
It was all Birmingham and Mulder beat away Jutkiewicz’s effort, before gathering Jota’s low shot. Jutkiewicz should then have broken the deadlock after 33 minutes when he was slipped through by Jota, but he dragged his shot wide with just Mulder to beat. The clear chances dried up as the visitors finally began to find their rhythm after an hour.
While there was no goal threat, they at least stemmed the tide of Birmingham attacks as the hosts lost their first-half spark.
Bogle did head over with 18 minutes left and substitute Che Adams blazed wildly off target following Jota’s chip.
Potter said of Mulder: “He was fantastic. He contributed with a clean sheet and I’m really pleased for him.”
Birmingham are still searching for their first win of the season after opening with two draws and a defeat.
Blues remain in trouble off the pitch having lost three senior members of their administration staff and are exkeeper to be punished by the EFL for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations.
But, after their off-field issues, boss Monk, a former Swansea player and manager, believes his side deserved to win.
He said: “All you can ask when you put your players on the pitch is for them to perform.
“We were totally dominant in all areas. The only thing which was missing were the goals.
“I was very proud of that performance. I should be sat here with six points, we were a minute away in the first game (against Norwich) and totally deserved to win tonight.
“I feel very disappointed for the players.”