AND VITAL GOALS CONCEDED
number of positions - striker, full-back and central midfield to name a few - and Swansea will surely not get away with putting restructuring off again. There are only so many times you can circle the plughole before you disappear down it.
Swans can ill-afford to lose Fernandez
On a bad afternoon, the last thing Swansea City needed was another injury concern but that is exactly what they left with after Federico Fernandez took a knock to the leg in conceding the penalty for Manchester City’s fourth goal.
It was a rash lunge, and he came off worse as he took most of the weight of Raheem Sterling’s tumble and he was replaced by Kyle Bartley. Bartley has had an injury-ravaged season after excelling for Leeds last term, and there is inevitably a lack of match sharpness as a result.
It would be a considerable weight on his shoulders to be thrown in for a crucial few weeks in the season, he would surely relish the chance, but whether he can hit the ground running is a different matter.
Swansea are going to need their skipper, who has kept a cool head in a tough campaign, when push comes to shove.
Inferior goal difference
Amidst City closing in on any number of Premier League records, there was one statistic that got slightly overlooked in Manchester.
That was Swansea’s goal difference becoming inferior to Southampton’s as the 5-0 loss moved them to minus 24. The Saints are on minus 20, although they also have to play the champions before the campaign is out. It may not prove significant, but should a scenario unfold where the Saints can get a couple of results then they would only need to finish level on points with Swansea to finish above them.
At this moment in time it may not feel like it is going to prove decisive, the failings of the sides below Swansea to exert any genuine pressure on them only adds to that notion, but that could very quickly change as Swansea know from their own strong ending to last season. It may feel like a minor detail, but it is one that is not in Swansea’s favour and sometimes it is the more seemingly minor details that can make a major difference.