Swansea City’s opponents on Bank Holiday Monday are Reading. The side that for the first time in seventeen league and cup games earned a victory against the swans in late November. That victory exposed a swans defence that was vulnerable and lacked concentration. And tomorrow there will no doubt be further tests for Martin’s back three and defensive strategy.
The 3-2 home defeat to Reading ended an impressive unbeaten home run by the swans. Reflecting back now there are at least five players who will not be included tomorrow. Ben Hamer, Liam Cullen, Ryan Bennett, Ethan Laird and Rhys Williams. The latter two now elsewhere and Hamer firmly in the number two spot for goalkeeping duty. On Ryan Bennett it seems at the moment he is out of favour with Russell Martin for first team selection - and his replacement that day, Liam Cullen is also away from the club on loan at Lincoln.
Much has changed since then, mostly positives, the swans are on yet another unbeaten run, and their style of play far more entertaining than it was back then. Post match after the first fixture Martin was furious : "It's nowhere near good enough. Some of the stuff on the ball was great but I think maybe we fell into the trap that it was going to be really easy. The lack of intensity out of possession has really hurt us. We've conceded three goals where we've let people back inside the pitch which doesn't happen usually. That is seriously frustrating and I've told the players they should be hurt by that. It feels like we've beaten ourselves."
That lack of intensity was again witnessed on Friday against Barnsley, it seems to be a part of the progress that the swans slip back at times in to some form of sleep walking. The last time we witnessed this was at Blackpool, the swans did bounce back after that so hopefully that has been worked on over the last few days.
The royals interim manager is Paul Ince, he has turned the club around since his arrival. Another win on Friday, this time away at Sheffield United seems to have put the bottom three in the championship in their place. John Swift, Scott Dann and Andy Rinomhota are all out for this game. And Ince alleges he has few players to choose from. But it hasn’t stopped an impressive record of wins and draws. That turn around see’s Reading needing only one win from their remaining games, and that’s only if Barnsley or Peterborough win as well. With that still hanging over Reading we can expect a team desperate to put the final rusty nail in place on Monday. It’s certain the royals will fancy the win, despite a sold out away end of swans fans. What Swansea City need to realise is that the end of the season is in May and any type of low intensity game will not end well.
Lucas Joao and Tom McIntyre Scored for Reading in their Good Friday win at Sheffield United. Four wins and two draws from ten games in charge is a fair return for Ince. It is almost certain the job he has been brought in to do he has done really well.
Reading players celebrate their Good Friday win
Bank Holiday Monday games are traditionally up there with the best attended fixtures of the season. With the crowd and the weather on side, and Reading’s desire to win this game it’s all set up for a right royal cracker. And the even more royal swans need to be right on their game if they are to take anything from this fixture.