SWANS REACTION: CARLOS CARVALHAL
CARLOS Carvalhal admits an FA Cup third-round replay is far from ideal for Swansea City after they played out a goalless draw against Championship leaders Wolves at Molineux.
The two sides will face off again at the Liberty as several fine saves from goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt ensured the Welsh club avoided defeat, with Martin Olsson and Wilfried Bony going closest for the visitors.
With Swansea’s focus being firmly on the fight for Premier League survival, and Carvalhal looking to get over his ideas in quick time, the replay is a distraction they could do without.
However, Carvalhal declared himself pleased with the first clean sheet of his Swansea tenure, and said he felt his side had shown good quality at certain stages.
“I don’t wish to play more games as we need training, not games,” said the 52-year-old.
“This is not our main competition, although we are confident we can stay in the Premier League.
“But we are in the cup, and if you ask me at the end of the game if there are positives I would say yes because we have a clean sheet, and are progresing.
“But if you ask if I want another game, I would prefer to refocus on the main competition.
“But it is the reality and we will try and go through to the next round.
“I am pleased with the commitment and attitude the players showed, and the quality we showed in parts against a good, strong team.
“They created problems for us but, after having just two days to prepare to face Watford and winning, and just three days before Tottenham in a game where we would not lose under normal circumstances, we have achieved a clean sheet.
“So I am happy about that, I felt we took another step today and in these circumstances where we play every three or four days and we try to bring in a new dynamic, a new formation and new ideas I cannot expect more from my players.
“I am sure we will make a step before the next game as we now have a week to prepare.”
However, Carvalhal was not impressed by referee Anthony Taylor’s decision to send off Leroy Fer with 23 minutes to go, rendering the game 10 v 10 following Ruben Vinagre’s dismissal for a tackle on Nathan Dyer late in the first half.
Fer had lost out in a challenge with Helder Costa and, having lost out, elected to simply kick the ankles of the Wolves forward and cynically bring him down.
The Dutchman expected to receive a yellow card, and was horrified to see the official deliver a straight red instead.
“I did not see their red card, but the second one is a classic yellow card,” said Carvalhal.
“There was no danger of the player going into the area or into a goalscoring situation. It was a tactical foul, it was not really a kick in that moment. To me it is a typical yellow card.”