Was it really as bad at Swansea City as it sounds.

In some respects yes it was awful, but in others it wasnt, like the Watford game the score didnt reflect the chances that Swansea had, although it has to be said that they enjoyed the majority of the possesion and we barely created a chance, in fact not one on target, however we were hit with a double whammy second half that meant a return from the dead was never going to be on the cards.

Swansea were at Saints from the start and to the travelling fans it was clear that Jan Poortvliet had made two changes to the side that to be brutal cost us the game, at right back Lloyd James was constantly caught out of position and beaten for pace, whilst up front David McGoldrick showed nothing that made anyone think he has any future at this level, either that or he doesnt want to play for Saints as he offered no outlet for through balls or showed any willingness to work.

But whilst Swansea worked the ball well, they didnt really work Kelvin Davis, the goal saw James too far off his man who beat him for pace and had an easy pull back for an even easier goal, but you hoped that at half time Saints might just come out and take the game to Swansea, sadly they didnt.

Swansea's second goal was a gift from Davis who really should have held a free kick virtually straight at him, but he spilled it and it was stabbed home from close range, in truth this is the keeper's first howler of the season so it would be harsh to critiscise him too much.

The third goal was again terribel defending, James never looked like getting near Butler as he cut in from the touchline and he appeared to beat the Saints full back twice before hitting a shot into the bottom corner, difficult to judge from the other end, but it looked like Davis should have saved it getting caught out at his near post.

Of course this result will bring out the doom and gloom merchants, however once again Saints were stretched because of injury, at the back there wasnt much else Poortvliet could have picked than the back four that he did, although on reflection he might have been better playing Wotton in the centre and played Cork at right back.

But the main gripe of Saints supporters was at David McGoldrick, his performance could once again be best described as that of a "Sulking Hoodie" he shows flashes of skill, but in the main he appears to offer little, certainly he doesnt run the channels nor does he seem able to hold the ball up, occasionally he will get the ball and do something with it, but these flashes are too far and inbetween, to be blunt he doesnt seem suited to the system, where were Robertson and Pekhart.

On Tuesday Saints have to put this performance behind them, as i have often said, every game for Saints will merely be a question of if they defend at the crucial moments they will get a result, if they dont, well this sort of thing will happen.           

Photo: Action Images

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