The misplaced passes were back, giving the ball away that led to a goal, a lack of awareness and a competitive edge that was missing ensured the Swans lost this game. The referee didn’t help matters but he wasn’t responsible for two Burgess own goals. We know the board want Sheehan to improve and they very much want him to succeed but this display was at a level only relegation threatened sides put in.
Sorry Mr Sheehan but for us it’s time over, and your assistant Darren O’Dea can follow you.
Ipswich didn’t so much dominate the first ten minutes of this game, but they did have the majority of the possession though. As expected they utilised the low ball in from the left hand side of the Swans defence to cause problems. The Ipswich midfield and defence were set up to nullify the Swans more dangerous players and it was working. On twelve minutes the Swans had no touches in their opponents area. When they did have opportunity to do so it was pretty much as we had all seen this season, a cleared set piece. Josh Key had already blown two chances to create something but his efforts ended in nothing. On fourteen minutes Ipswich fashioned a cross shot on the Swans right which fortunately Vigouroux saw going wide.
A Samuels-Smith challenge stopped another attack on their left side but this was a well marshalled and structurally sound formation by head coach, Kieran McKenna. The Swans were finding themselves a pass short to create any danger and the pattern of ill informed choices by the home side continued. What looked like a foul on Vipotnik was ignored by referee Duckworth and Ipswich broke getting another shot in at Vigouroux. They weren’t looking dangerous but they were most certainly creating space and chances.
It wasn’t until the twenty first minute that the Swans had some possession of real note after a good move involving Galbraith, Samuels-Smith and Tymon. His cross fell to Franco but his shot cruised over the bar. It was at least something. Munez hand-balled in a challenge with Galbraith, he wasn’t booked for that but did get a yellow for not retreating so the free kick could be taken. The Swans were pressing more but again one loose pass and it all fall apart. Tymon was then booked for the fifth time this season after an issue on the touchline, he misses the Bristol City away game after the international break. All because possession by the Swans could not be retained.
The game hit a lull as we approached the half hour, but poor Swansea passing was encouraging Ipswich to organise and press forwards. Again for the third time in this game a low and dangerous cross was put in from the Swansea left as no Ipswich player was available to tap it in. Then Inoussa was booked by Duckworth for a poor challenge. Swans fans were getting a bit restless. Thereafter more bookings. Ipswich pressed, this time down the Swans right but the cross was well fielded by Vigouroux. Straight away the Swans pressed with Tymon, but his cross was cleared, Franco gave the ball away and Ipswich again retained possession. Galbraith was next into the book for a tackle in midfield, referee Duckworth living up to his reputation for constantly stopping games to card players. Then Samuels-Smith was booked for a challenge that really didn’t deserve such punishment. Thats five players, four from the Swans booked within thirty four minutes. That took referee Duckworth well over fifty one cards in sixteen EFL games.
There would be more.
Ipswich capitalising on more errors was coming when Franco gave the ball away in a dangerous position, Clarke seized on it, drove forwards and crashed his shot in to the bottom corner of Vigouroux’s net. There you go, mistakes leading to goals, constantly giving the ball away and a lack of awareness and the Swans were 1-0 down.
As seemed to be the game plan of referee Duckworth (who has had more mentions than any Swans player to date) he completely ignored a nasty challenge on Tymon. You were getting the impression he was either determined to send a Swansea player off or get a very poor mark on his assessment post match. A mix up between Burgess and Vigouroux messing about with silly passing led to a corner. Then Tymon’s and Macateer tussled for the ball, for some reason the referee gave a foul and for a split second reached into his pocket. He thought better of it. As Widell was brought down for an obvious free kick the half was brought to a conclusion. Shocking from Swansea indeed, not good at all but this referee was absolutely gunning for a red card.
The second half started with another Ipswich effort from a corner but that at last seemed to wake up the Swans. A lovely move on the Swans right saw Franco in space in the area. Liam Cullen and Ronald were now on to boost the attack. It was looking good, when ball in from Tymon was perfect and Franco spotted the ball away for a leveller. The Swans then caught fire, despite still misjudging passes Franco had another pot shot. Fouls on Tymon and Vipotnik were ignored. Then a breakaway for Ipswich with Lief Davis in acres of space. His shot was going wide until it hit Burgess and deflected into Vigouroux’s net. The tale of the season again.
2-1 to Ipswich.
The Swans weren’t finished though, Galbraith was finding his feet now, a lovely ball into Inoussa saw him do all the hard work and then fall over. Again the referee was determined to ruin this game, he gave Ipswich a free kick when Inoussa beat his man and his opponent blocked him. Shocking officiating, the worst seen at this stadium for many years. Inoussa was again trying to take his markers on but he seemed to have his legs on the wrong way round as he hit the deck again.
On sixty one minutes Nunez came very close to sealing the game for Ipswich, his shot just sailing over. The frustrating Inoussa was then replaced by Eom. We had twenty five minutes to play. Immediately the Swans had a free kick which Eom took. Cabango met it perfectly and Ipswich keeper Walton somehow touched the ball on to the post. We were getting the whole season in one game today. Eom was working well with Tymon as the Swans pressed, first he had a pot shot which the keeper punched clear and then a cross was cleared. On seventy minutes Franco was hauled down, Cooper didn’t like the fact it was a clear foul, confronted Franco and a push me pull me followed. Franco wasn’t booked Taylor was.
Ronald was actually working hard to get crosses in earning a corner with nineteen to go. That was cleared as were two crosses thereafter. Cabango then was booked. Thats also him out for Bristol City. Proof of the referees incompetence came when a clear corner for Ipswich was adjudged a goal kick. A corner on seventy four minutes in front of the east stand was headed by Jacob Greaves but was superbly saved by Vigouroux, it was a fee header. Ivan latched onto the save and bundled the ball home to make it 3-1. Defensively it was again poor, but aggression when it was needed ensured the goal.
Now the Swans were in trouble and the game very much looked lost.
With eleven minutes left the referee booked another Ipswich player. Then we saw Manuel Benson and Adam Idah on for Franco and Key. That wasn’t the end though, another breakaway in space saw the Swans defence split. The low cross came in from the Swans right and that man Burgess was there again to deflect the ball into his own net. Of course the game was already lost, but this was a calamity. Nobody wants Sheehan to be sacked because if he is it means the Swans are in real trouble. We had information in the week that Sheehan was safe for now, but surely this is unacceptable ?
Post match Sheehan looked comfortable as he applauded the nigh on seventeen thousand crowd. Something really has to be done. That was the worst performance of the season, do we really need to see any more ? The cries of Sheehan out were so loud something has to give. We know the Swansea board were behind him before this game, surely now it has to change ?
⚽️ Swans: Lawrence Vigouroux 6 Ben Cabango 6, Cameron Burgess 5 Ishe Samuels-Smith 6 (Ronald 46) 6 Josh Key 5 (Manuel Benson 80) 5Goncalo Franco 7 (Adam Idah 80) 5 Ethan Galbraith 6 Josh Tymon 7 Melker Widell 5 (Liam Cullen 46) 5 Zeidane Inoussa 6 (Jisung Eom 65) 7 Zan Vipotnik 5
Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Jay Fulton, Malick Yalcouye, Kaelan Casey.
⚽️ Tractor Town: Christian Walton, Leif Davis, Azor Matusiwa, George Hirst (Ivan Azon 71), Jack Taylor (Jens Cajuste 71), Darnell Furlong, Kasey McAteer (Jaden Philogene 71), Jacob Greaves, Dara O'Shea, Marcelino Nunez (Chuba Akpom 84), Jack Clarke (Ben Johnson 86).
Unused Substitutes: David Button, Cedric Kipre, Sindre Egeli, Ashley Young.
Referee: Ted Duckworth : What a shoddy referee, we warned of him pre match but he excelled today, an absolute fool. 0/10.
Attendance: 16,783
Further reports tomorrow with our exclusive picture service. But for now the stuffing has been knocked out of the Indy. We always get back up again though.