A dreadful opening fifteen minutes from Swansea city displayed just how much work is still required by the club to steady the good ship SA1. A nonchalant, slow and ponderous first half which was a return to the darker days of this season and that means the swans great January run is over.
Only five minutes were on the clock when Tom Eaves fired home the first of the afternoon after disastrous Swansea defending. Brandon Fleming supplying the cross which Eaves took well. Swansea looked as rocky as they have done all season with poor passing and on seventeen minutes ten million pound man Keane Lewis-Potter struck the second from close range after a George Honeyman cross. The opening quarter of the game was the decisive quarter of the game, and the game looked already won by twenty minutes gone.
Efforts from Hannes Wolf, a header well saved and a shot from the edge of the area by Joel Piroe may well have offered some hope to the impressive Swansea away support but it that cutting edge was obviously missing. The lack of effort by Kyle Naughton, so often the player with the most praise this season and Jay Fulton was noticeable. Korey Smith will look back on this game with embarrassment, his efforts to recover during the build ups to both of Hull City’s goals were pitiful.
The second half was brighter substitute Oliver Ntcham, Michael Obafemi and Liam Walsh looked far more involved. The emphasis was on the swans and Obafemi came close striking a shot on to the upright. Then Ntcham hit the keepers right post from a free kick, sadly the rebound was fired wide.
You get the feeling that has the swans got one they would have got two, but unlike the Luton comeback earlier in the season this effort didn’t come close. A blistering strike from Ben Cabango was saved and another opportunity for Joel Piroe wasn’t taken. It’s the first defeat out of four games for Swansea City who have once again found goals hard to come by. In those four games only two goals have been scored. Even a late goal from Piroe was scratched off for offside. Heres hoping that Russell Martin gets the ‘help’ he wants before Tuesdays home game against Luton Town.
Hull City: Baxter; Bernard, McLoughlin, Greaves; Longman, Smallwood (C), Docherty, Fleming (Slater 81); Honeyman (Jones 90); Eaves, Lewis-Potter.
Subs not used: Ingram, Moncur, Smith, Huddlestone, Arthur.
Goals: Eaves 5, Lewis-Potter 17
Swansea City: Hamer; Cabango, Naughton, Manning; Christie, Fulton (Obafemi 46), Grimes (C), Latibeaudiere; Smith (Walsh 63), Wolf (Ntcham 46); Piroe.
Subs not used: Fisher, Bennett, Abdulai, Joseph.
Yellow cards: Manning 80, Walsh 85
Referee: Leigh Doughty
https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/swanseacity/news/56892