The Swans went to Derby with clear intent to win this encounter but sadly didn’t have the know how to unlock the Derby defence to go down by two goals to nil this afternoon. Despite that the addition of Gustavo Nunes was a highlight but the negativity and frustration of the Swans play leading up to his introduction was the key point to be taken from this game.
The possession stats of the first half were never going to continue in the second, especially with the Swans turning back on obvious passes forwards with runners ready to expose their hosts. Preferring a slower build up which again I refer back to the days of Russel Martin, it seemed there was a belief if they kept doing the same thing then chances would happen. They did to an extent in the first half with shots coming in from the visitors and Eom supplying crosses and passes but not a lot came from his efforts. Ronald again was a frustration, picking the ball up on the Swans right, However his choices were poor and his ability to beat a man and get a cross in was lacking.
Zān Vipotnik dipped out of the free kick raffle with Ethan Galbraith, Liam Cullen and Eom taking precedence which seemed strange especially after last weeks heroics. Cullen came very close with his chance. The Galbraith effort in the second half was easily defended by the Derby wall. That was Zān territory. There was definitely a strategy to keep the ball as opposed to making a brave (or even obvious) forward pass and that will be why a number of Swans fans will tell you how frustrating it was to watch this performance. Well over fifteen hundred (1,612) made plenty of noise throughout the game but even that couldnt inspire quick forward movement from this Swans side.
Derby went ahead in the second half from a poorly defended set piece. Rhian Brewster seizing on a blocked header on the line by Galbraith but the ex Swans man drilled his shot between the legs of Lawrence Vigouroux in the Swansea goal. The second again from a cross on the Swans right was well headed by Patrick Agyemang to make it two. Defensively Ben Cabango was sound and saved the Swans on a couple of occasions with well timed tackles. There wasn’t much to complain about with errors it was just the lack of quick thinking on the ball and positivity to create attacks with the possession the Swans had. Mention as well to Gonçalo Franco who worked relentlessly imposing a disruptive counter press. His season is beginning to blossom.
Things looked more positve with the introduction of Melker Widell and Gustavo Nunes and you can add Malick Yalcouyé to that as well. All three were more attack minded but they were chasing the game. Nunes had a lovely shot saved, the rebound unlike Brewster’s goal falling to a Rams defender. There was endeavour over the last fifteen minutes or so but it was the lack of competency in the first half which lost this game for the Swans. New signing Leo Walta had more game time today and looked busy and keen to get forwards, maybe he is getting closer to a full start ? It was a six pointer for sure, Derby now six points ahead of Swansea. The Rams move into sixth place in the league, eight points ahead of Swansea City who are unbelievably ten places below them this evening. That is how tight the Championship remains.
Next weekend it is Bristol City at the Swansea.com, an opportunity maybe to put the wrongs of today right, but it really cannot be like it was today.
⚽️ Derby County: Josh Vickers, Matt Clarke (c), Patrick Agyemang (Lars-Jorgen Salvesen 87), Rhian Brewster (Liam Thompson 71), David Ozoh, Sam Szmodics (Jaydon Banel 87), Callum Elder, Joe Ward, Ben Brereton Diaz (Carlton Morris 90), Dion Sanderson, Oscar Fraulo (Bobby Clark 71).
Unused Substitutes: Richard O'Donnell, Derry John Murkin, Craig Forsyth, Danny Batth.
⚽️ Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux 7 Ethan Galbraith 6 Ben Cabango (c) 7 Cameron Burgess 6 Josh Tymon 6 Marko Stamenic 5 (Jay Fulton 83) Gonçalo Franco 8 (Malick Yalcouye 77) 6 Liam Cullen 6 (Leo Walta 65) 6 Ronald 5 (Melker Widell 77) 6 Jisung Eom 6 (Gustavo Nunes 65) 7 Zan Vipotnik 5
Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Josh Key, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Joel Ward.
⚽️ Referee: Andrew Kitchen : Was fooled by the cheating antics of Patrick Agyemang in the first half and some of the decisions on the Swans tight in the second half by the bloke with the flag were sheer incompetence. 4/10.
⚽️ Attendance: 27,841
Away : 1,612
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