An underwhelming display, but at least Robins got a point

JUST how pivotal Nahki Wells’ penalty will prove, we will have to wait and see, but after the “punch on the nose” at Barnsley and the kick in the proverbials by Neil Warnock’s Middlesbrough side on Tuesday, it was important we got something out of the game at home to Swansea City after such a promising start to the season.

Following that first league defeat, I was interested to see what changes Dean Holden would make and I’ll admit to being surprised by the amount of them he made. Tomas Kalas’s recall at the expense of the injured Alfie Mawson was the obvious one. I did call that Tommy Rowe needed a rest and Jack Hunt, on the opposite flank, has also played a lot of minutes, so the starts for Jay DaSilva and Steven Sessegnon weren’t altogether unexpected. It was probably the inclusion of Chris Brunt in midfield, at the expense of Tyreeq Bakinson, and Antoine Semenyo’s start, ahead of Wells, that caused the most discussion about the starting 11.

Swansea City had former City star Korey Smith in their starting line-up, following his summer move. Korey will always be popular among City fans and it was such a shame the restrictions meant we weren’t able to give him the reception he deserved.

We haven’t started too well in the majority of games this season, so it was good to see us start brightly against a side that many fancy to be in the promotion shake-up come the end of the season. But, in truth, both sides somewhat cancelled each other out and struggled to create many meaningful chances. Jamie Paterson did well to forge an opening with quick feet and a burst forward but couldn’t get the power in his shot to really trouble Freddie Woodman. Taylor Moore, who had a decent game, almost scored with a powerful header from a Brunt freekick which Woodman did well to save. Brunt’s deadball delivery was there for all to see and his influence steadily grew in the game.

We didn’t deserve the win and a draw with the possession we had was a fair result. We have been underwhelming by and large for the last three games but as I said at the start it was important to take something from the game and we ended the day second in the table.

There were positives. Tomas Kalas was excellent on his return, Semenyo looked lively, and, as mentioned, Moore and Brunt did well.