Swansea were denied victory by an effective Charlton side at the Liberty leaving them just outside the play offs

It was not what was predicted and with some of those sides around us losing on the day it can very much be viewed as a missed opportunity but the Swans remain very much in the hunt for a play off place at worse on their return to second tier football.

It was back in August that the reverse fixture took place and the Swans Championship bow was a 2-0 defeat at the Valley but this was very much different with the Swans spurning some very good chances in the last few minutes to take the points with a victory that would have lifted them into the play off zone for the first time this season.

Nathan Dyer and Jordi Gomez both had chances to be the hero for the day but it was very much an off day for the Swans who were never at their fluent best and were frustrated by a Charlton side that knew what they wanted and they eventually got it.  Although 'it' was not enough to move them off the foot of the Championship table.

And maybe it could be worse with Garry Monk hobbling off less than half hour into his return in bvery obvious discomfort from his back injury although there was good news as Darren Pratley returned well ahead of schedule and was a late substitute as Roberto searched for the winner.

The return of Monk left the Swans to line up as follows

Dorus

Rangel     Monk     Williams     Tate

Dyer     Britton     Gomez     Bauza     Gower

Scotland

Welsh Day at the Liberty was hopefully to be joined by a Swansea victory but we never really got going in the game.   Too often passes went astray as the free flowing football of previous weeks was replaced by a patchy game that was not helped by an early flurry of Charlton tackles - a tackle count that ended with them being shown four yellow cards in the first half alone.   Swansea were the better side in the first half without totally looking threatening although Bauza did have an early shot beaten away by the keeper as the Swans looked to stamp their authority on the game.

Bauza though was at the heart of the Swans goal which came five minutes before the interval.  He broke free in midfield and played in Dyer who lifted the ball over the advancing keeper and into the back of the net to give the Swans the lead.  It was probably a deserved lead at that point despite the disjointed feel to the performance with the only real negative being the previously mentioned injury to Monk - one that we have to hope is not too serious.

Monk's replacement Serran alongside Williams never looked comfortable at the back all afternoon which was a bit of a surprise based on recent performances where they have looked very secure when thrown together.   That said though they were not the only ones who seemed to be off their game with Gomez and Scotland - two of the prominent stars in recent successes not at the top of their game and as the second half progressed frustrations rose at the Liberty.

They rose higher when Bailey's shot deflected off Tate and wrong footed Dorus who could only watch in agony as the ball rolled into the back of the net and it set the tone for the remainder of the game that was to follow.   Swansea almost seemed to go shot shy during that second period although when faced with a wall that contains a minimum of eight defenders it is easy to see why shots don't fly in on the opposition goal.

Butler was a replacement for Gower as the Swans looked to change things around and it was in the last ten minutes that Dyer, Butler and Gomez all passed up good chances to grab the winner as time ticked out on the Swans who sit in 8th place as at the close of play although that could rise to 7th should Sheffield United lose tomorrow.

Not the best of afternoons but we remain very much in the hunt for what once seemed an impossible dream.

Next up - Derby on Tuesday.  Bring it on!

Photo: Action Images

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