If Swansea City could be any more unimaginative and weak in an away fixture this season it will signal that Luke Williams really hasn’t got the credentials to lead this Swansea team to anything other than complete mediocrity. The very fact he is being linked with West Bromwich Albion (it isn’t a rumour Luke, as you well know) tells us he has already lost heart in this Swansea side, and his reluctance to speak truthfully about it is an insult to Swansea fans.
Tomorrow you will read the truth on the Indy.
The first ten minutes of this clash was very much cat and mouse with Portsmouth pressing the Swans who carefully worked themselves into the game with some precise passing and movement. The foul weather was going to make this a hit and miss game, but the ground had a cup tie atmosphere about it. First chance fell to the Swans after a slide rule pass to Ronald was cleared for the visitors first corner. From there Bianchini bizarrely struck a spinning shot but it went in the air and only worried the player himself. Minutes later as the temperature from the home fans rose a half chance shot was easily fielded by a Pompey keeper, Schmid.
The Swans were most certainly ahead on possession and were playing a much quicker and shorter game. That was until twenty minutes greeted us as Liam Cullen gave away the ball under pressure and Pompey raced down an unprotected Swansea left and a cross ball in was met by Josh Murphy. He was in so much space with nobody within yards of him he put his side ahead. It was typical of what we have seen for most of the season, an ineffective defensive mindset being caught out sleeping. Portsmouth continued their pressure and the Swans started to look a team in disarray. On twenty four minutes a scramble in the Swans penalty area led to a home corner. From there a glancing header went close but not close enough. Pompey were now looking the more aggressive and stronger team on the ball, the conditions the same for both sides, so there’s no excuses there.
An opportunity from good Cullen work on twenty six minutes saw Fulton unable to take advantage, injuring his shoulder in the process. The lack of strength in the Swans defensive work saw a chance fall again for Pompey to score. Then what a mess by Darling and Tymon who both somehow conspired to give Paddy Lane a chance which he took well, 2-0. This was pretty awful stuff from the Swans on the road once again.
The Swans did get another corner on thirty minutes, this came after very slow thought from Eom which meant he couldn’t get a shot off. The corner came and went with no Swans player gambling or looking good to collect a second ball. The same from another corner on thirty two minutes. It was all very weak from the Swans. Portsmouth continued to look the better side whenever they came forwards. And the Swans pretty poor even in attack, Cullen unable to hold on to the ball wasn’t helping.
The large Swans support was also going through a quiet phase, they more than aware another home goal would see this match drift away from Swansea City. Quite simply Portsmouth were stretching the Swans preying on Naughton’s lack of pace - and again Tymon leaving so much space to be doubled up on. On Tymon he did get forwards on forty two minutes but his decent cross wasn’t dealt with by Cullen who saw his header loop on to the Portsmouth net. On the brink of half time Eom, after being dispossessed too many times for our liking delivered a wonderful cross for Bianchini and really his header was weak and straight at the keeper. That was a golden chance passed up.
With one minute signalled of injury time, the half hearted Swans seemed completely unable to show any determination. The half time whistle was met with boo’s from the away fans. This of course was a very poor performance against a side who had more about them in every department of their game. And deservedly went in two up.
The second half saw a rejuvenated Swansea City with high pressure leading to corners. But nothing came from their intensity. It was a far better showing and the home defence were under a lot of pressure. No changes meant Naughton especially remained on the pitch. A lovely move on fifty six minutes from the Swans saw Eom with a cheeky pass to Tymon who blasted his shot on to the underside of the bar. It was much better, but these were chances. The Swans were now squeezing the Portsmouth defence, a change in strategy was far more effective. Ronald (below) was getting more ball but his crossing was left wanting.
We had half an hour to go.
Then another awful piece of defending after a ridiculous foul by Fulton was met by Towler to put Pompey three up. Darling was out of position and the Swans were all at sea. How he got to the ball so low down with the Swans with their experience centre backs watching the goal. Then with seemingly Luke Williams passing this game off as a loss we saw Cyrus Christie and Myles Peart-Harris join the fray. Naughton and Cabango left the pitch.
On sixty four minutes a poor defensive header by Peart-Harris was met by Laing who saw his shot saved by Vigouroux. From the corner Murphy fired in a wonderful strike which the Swans keeper saved well. Not to be downhearted the Swans again pressed. A free kick from Grimes in a dangerous position was met at knee level, Why the keeper didn’t have any Swans player near the ball says more about their ability to know what poaching a goal is all about. It was now end to end as a rasping shot from Pompey led to a corner. Their first of the game. ?
The Swans were looking bedraggled again despite their second half performance.
The away side just couldn’t clear their lines. They were easily the weaker side and as we saw at Hull City before Christmas totally unable to match their opponent. Bianchini did get the ball into the Pompey net but was ruled offside and immediately he was replaced by Vipotnik. What we were seeing was a lack of use of space out on the Swans right. However, Eom delivered yet another delicious cross which Vipotnik headed wide, again it really should have been on goal.
We were into the last fifteen minutes.
On seventy eight minutes Cyrus Christie, who to be honest has no right to be in this Swansea squad gave the ball away in an extremely dangerous position. Murphy jumped on the chance and Bishop (below) really couldn’t miss from five yards. It was pathetic, totally unprofessional and again and again we see stupid Swans defending gifting goal after goal to their opposition. Some now will be questioning the validity of Luke Williams continuing as head coach at Swansea City. He just cannot get his side on a run nor inspire them to not pathetically throw away games.
This game was now lost.
It petered out as the minutes ticked by, the Swans seemingly determined to give the home side another goal. The weaknesses in this Swansea side are now concerning the club’s hierarchy, and many Swansea City fans as well. The progression has been very slight but the squad is ineffective and lacks determination. The Swans as a club are at a crossroads, and to be perfectly honest if those crossroads lead to Williams departing I’m unsure if there will be many tears shed.
We would usually include Luke Williams post match comments, but the interview was feeble and not once did Williams apologise to the Swans support. Disgusting.
⚽️ Portsmouth: Nico Schmid, Connor Ogilvie, Ryley Towler, Marlon Pack (captain), Freddie Potts, Colby Bishop (Christian Saydee 90), Andre Dozzell, Zak Swanson, Josh Murphy (Terry Devlin 84), Paddy Lane (Matt Ritchie 71), Callum Lang (Elias Sorensen 90).
Unused Substitutes: Jordan Archer, Jordan Williams, Tom McIntyre, Owen Moxen, Sam Silvera.
⚽️ Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux 6 Kyle Naughton 5 (Cyrus Christie 65) 4 Ben Cabango 6 (Josh Key 78) 5 Harry Darling 5 Josh Tymon 5 Matt Grimes (captain) 6 Jay Fulton 6 (Myles Peart-Harris 65)b4 Liam Cullennp 5 Ronald 5 Jisung Eom 6 Florian Bianchini 5 (Žan Vipotnik 73) 4
Unused Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin, Joe Allen, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Ben Lloyd, Azeem Abdulai.
Referee: James Linington : A very professional performance, 7/10.
Att : 20,427.
1,729 away.