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Middlesbrough v Swansea
Middlesbrough v Swansea Sat 6 April 15:00
After the humbling Easter matches, where we gained one point from six against teams below us in the table, questions need to be asked about the tactics of the coach and the commitment of the players. Against Sheff Wed we played walking football in a lethargic performance. Against QPR we had no idea how to break them down, continually pumping crosses into the box to our diminutive striker which their huge goalkeeper easily gathered.
Next match is away to Middlesbrough, not an easy place to go when you’re needing points to ensure safety. Luke Williams said we are too good to go down, the same thing was said when we got relegated from the PL. Luckily there are a few teams below us on a disastrous run such as Plymouth, Huddersfield and Rotherham. I am saying we need to pull our finger out and show more fight in matches, sort out our weak defending at set-pieces, and a Plan B when A is not working, over to you coaching team.
Back to the Middlesbrough match and we meet a team who are third in the form table based on the last 6 matches, W4 D2 L0 F9 A2.
A very tough fixture and we’ll do well to get anything there.
Hope springs eternal though and I’d take the draw now.
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Swansea: Carl Rushworth, Josh Key, Jay Fulton, Harry Darling, Matt Grimes (c), Jerry Yates, Jamal Lowe, Jamie Paterson, Josh Tymon, Nathan Wood, Ronald
Subs: Andy Fisher, Ben Cabango, Charlie Patino, Liam Cullen, Liam Walsh, Ollie Cooper, Bashir Humphreys, Aimar Govea, Azeem Abdulai.
Middlesbrough: Seny Dieng, Isaiah Jones, Daniel Barlaser, Finn Azaz, Matt Clarke, Lewis O'Brien, Luke Ayling, Jonny Howson (c), Sam Greenwood, Luke Thomas, Emmanuel Latte Lath
Subs: Tom Glover, Rav van den Berg, Hayden Hackney, Alex Gilbert, Anfernee Dijksteel, Sammy Silvera, Lukas Engel, Law McCabe, Sonny Finch
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Middlesbrough 2 (Lath 45+2’, 79’) - Swansea 0
What a load of rubbish that was. Only difference between the two teams was that they had a striker and we didn’t.
Another feeble showing from our defenders and the result was inevitable.
First goal, a poor save by Rushworth knocks the ball one handed out to Lath, surrounded by Swans players, Grimes the nearest who made a feeble attempt to block the half shot, failed and watched the ball roll in off the post. Completely avoidable goal.
Next one, Wood, playing his walking football again was dispossessed thirty yards out, ball passed to Lath, he easily turns Darling who falls on his backside, clear sight on goal, game over.
Not one Swans player came out of this with any credit and we are back in the relegation mix because of them.
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I didn’t see much in Middlesbrough and there didn’t seem a two goal difference between the sides.
They scored we didn’t, same pattern. Yates 1 goal in 20 matches keeps getting picked.
Next two matches at home this Wed/Sat, Stoke/Rotherham, we’ve got to get the points from these.
We’ve shown we can do it against Cardiff, let’s get that same commitment and determination, otherwise we are right in the brown stuff.
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I have the feeling some of the players are not giving 100%. We should have been safe by now if wasn’t for the weak showing in the Easter matches. I’ve never seen Fulton play so badly, Grimes is not a leader, the defence is poor, the forwards are poor. Ronald, after his initial displays, looks ordinary,. Placheta is injured and now Tymon. Williams needs to turn this around pronto, starting Wednesday v Stoke.
