FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED ABOUT THE SWANS’ LOSS TO BORO
SWANSEA CITY will spend Christmas at the bottom of the Premier League after yet another defensive capitulation condemned them to a 3-0 defeat at Middlesbrough.
A first-half brace from Alvaro Negredo after a horror show from Jordi Amat was added to by a goal just before the hour mark from Marten de Roon to leave Bob Bradley facing an uncertain future and the side rock bottom at the festive milestone.
Swansea had started well enough, Gylfi Sigurdsson stinging the hands of Victor Valdes. But then the capitulation began with a Boro counter seeing Adam Clayton pick out Negredo, who Amat had opted not to mark to allow the Spaniard to open the scoring on 18 minutes.
Just 11 minutes later, he had doubled his tally as Amat ridiculously chopped down Adam Forshaw and Negredo rolled home from the spot for a 2-0 lead before the break.
And the misery was completed when de Roon was left in acres of space in the box to turn in Gaston Ramirez’ cross. Swansea’s attempts at a late push for a consolation were denied by poor quality and a very good Valdes save from Fernando Llorente’s 90th-minute header. Poor response to falling behind Bob Bradley’s tenure has been one based on a faith that things will turn around because of the work being done behind the scenes.
Once again, while there were some signs of progress, it was precious little of it and that once again ended in defeat – this one more damaging than most – as his men offered up a pathetic response to falling behind in a game they knew they needed to win.
Above all, Bradley has failed to impress with his in-game management in solving the problems that present themselves in matches.
There was no change of note, subs that just felt like throwing bodies onto the pitch and a team that looked scared stiff every time opponents ran forward with a lack of covering numbers asking for trouble which individual errors duly ensured came.
When fans join with home end chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” you know you’re in trouble.
Do Swansea even believe they can get out of trouble?
On this evidence, no. It has been a recurring theme of the season that when the chips are down and the pressure on, Swansea do not handle it.
On countless occasions conceding one goal has just knocked the stuffing out of them and more have followed.
A promising first 10 minutes was undone in the moment Negredo escaped Amat’s attentions to fire in the opener. Belief drained from players in white shirts, any notion of a gameplan disappeared. Swansea played like a side who are not sure themselves if they can get out of trouble. It doesn’t need saying there is only one way the season will end with that mentality.
Amat mistakes prove costly
All season Jordi Amat has been the same. Play okay, make some notable contributions, but then make at least one mistake that inevitably costs his side.
Right now, that’s the only thing you can depend upon from the centreback. Here his role – or lack of it – in the opener was unforgivable, and the remainder of his game was one of naively trying too hard to make amends.
It was lower league stuff without the basics many at those levels get right. The easy thing is to say drop him but for who? It all has the feeling of re-arranging deckchairs on the Titanic. Swansea better be ready to make a move on January 1 for a centre-back or they can forget any fleeting hope of staying up.
You need a bit of luck, too
Bob Bradley claimed last weekend he wasn’t so sure of the old football adage that referee decisions even themselves out over a season.
Perhaps he had a point proven here. The quick-throw that led to Forshaw’s run into the box appeared to be one that was a clear Swansea throw on first inspection while, at the other end, Atonio Barragan was holding Jay Fulton at a corner only for Neil Swarbrick to award a foul against the Scot.
Luck wasn’t on Swansea’s side, but they wouldn’t have needed it had they not imploded once more.
Odds mounting against the Swans
Swansea will now sit bottom of the Premier League table at Christmas and the odds against a successful survival battle just keep on mounting.
Only three sides in the last 25 years have been at the foot of the standings when presents are handed out and the turkey carved, and gone on to survive.
Sunderland and Leicester managed the feat in recent seasons but it is hard to make a case for Swansea following their lead.