The recent poor form at the end of games was again highlighted after the 1-0 loss away at Birmingham City yesterday. Against Nottingham Forest the same loss of concentration occurred at the end of the first half in the League Cup. Then the previous Saturday another goal was conceded against Hull City with seconds to go.
All of these goals in the last three games have been in injury time and although the Swans came back to win the game against Forest it’s yet another example. Two points dropped against Hull City and one at least against Birmingham City. Those three points would have seen the Swans in sixth place in the play offs today. Yes, fine margins but also a concerning common theme of late. It’s also been a common theme over the past three seasons.
Russell Martin, Michael Duff, Luke Williams and now Alan Sheehan have all seen their defences exposed to either lose games or draw right at the death. In Duff’s case his stand out fixture dropping points was at QPR in September 2023, and yes Lyndon Dykes bagged an equaliser for the R’s in the ninety second minute. Just as he did yesterday. Before that Russell Martin had numerous games lost or drawn in the dying minutes of a match. Remember that 3-4 home loss to Birmingham City ? There’s others. Luke Williams who took over from Michael Duff wasn’t any different. In October 2024 he lost a game at the death when Saturdays opponents, Millwall scored through Casper De Norre. A few weeks later having drawn level at 3-3 with Leeds United, Gnonto scored a fourth on ninety one minutes to give Leeds the points.
There are numerous other examples but what really stands out is the period of a game when the Swans do concede goals, and that’s for all of these managers. Between the seventieth and eightieth minutes is a timeframe when the Swans really do get dozy. See the Watford home draw as another example this season. So many goals conceded. And now this season our three examples of goals being ‘gifted’ to the opposition is splitting the Swans support. Some say Sheehan is doing okay (it can’t be described as fine with his last two league results) and others believe that Sheehan hasn’t got the strategic mindset to change his side during a game as illustrated during yesterdays loss. Much of this and from the other games played this season seems to be a desire to defend and not kill off games or have the ability finish off a game (Watford) when being pegged back.
As proof of how a team should be playing and performing was Oxford United’s 1-3 away win at Bristol City today. There was no deep defending, they were intense, closing down spaces and their third goal which knocked the stuffing out of the Robins came at the end of the game. Even after that Oxford did all the right things to ensure there was no injury time drama. Playing like that wins games, and that’s something it seems at this moment in time Sheehan hasn’t got in his locker. Help is there though.
This issue also falls straight at the feet of Assistant Head Coach, Darren O’Dea. His CV and coaching record spells out all the experience he has to stop this last minute rot. His desire to promote awareness, get players to understand when they need to be more invested in their role and with intensity should not be lost on anyone. Both he and Sheehan need to review this immediately.Yiu can read O’Dea’s areas of expertise below.
The last time the Swans played Millwall at the Swansea.com below (Oct 24) we saw another injury time loss. This was Millwall’s only shot on target in the game.
These are dropped points, and as we have seen these points over just eight days would have seen Swansea City in the Championship play offs. We should also not be complacent about the distance between the Swans and those relegation places, it’s just three points as it stands today. We have talked about the quiet revolution at Swansea City, but for it to be a success we need leaders with the ability to implement their match day strategy. Just as in every revolution there needs to be grit, determination and guile, and more importantly people to deliver that to their troops in away they understand and will sign up to.
Solidly.
With Saturdays game upcoming at the Swansea.com (12:30pm) against Millwall we will of course bring you all the news and views on the lead up to this fixture. You can be guaranteed that this will include our approach to football reporting which we know so many of you love, (and understand).