Swans head coach Michael Duff was reflective more than anything else post match after his side lost their first pre season game of the summer at Oxford United.

A lack lustre effort by Swansea enabled Oxford to take a lead the away side never really looked like levelling in front of 615 travelling Jacks at the Kassam Stadium.

Last nights match report is here —> ⚽️ Swans lose at Oxford

With Ollie Cooper and Josh Thomas as unused subs, young keeper Ben Hughes warmed the bench on stand by for Andy Fisher last night. Rumours of a first choice stopper coming in next week will be welcomed by numerous Swans fans after Andy Fishers fumble early in the game that led to the only goal of the context.

Regardless of the pre season chat and how these games are more about getting information in to the players it’s two weeks to the big kick off, and there is still a lot of work to do. Duff admitted this post match. “There is still, obviously, work that needs to be done. It’s just learning, I thought we were a little bit sloppy in possession today which I hope is not going to be like us. The one thing we can do is pass the ball” In fact the managers words are very much a reflection of the whole ninety minutes, it was disappointing. Adding to his thoughts Duff said, “ We are trying to implement new things, today is more about minutes, and we were asked a few questions we haven’t been asked before. That’s something to work with. It’s never going to be perfect on the first game of the season. It takes a long time to implement things, it’s getting the players to understand ‘what they want’ where their first pass is, where we want them to pass it, all new ideas. So yes, it’s eradicating the poor goals, we’ve conceded too many goals in the last two years. And the one goal we have conceded today we have given them”

Injury updates.
Michael Duff : “Josh (Ginnelly) is back on the grass with the physio’s. Hopefully he will be about a week or two. Joe (Allen) should be two or three weeks or more, just a little bit longer I think, maybe three or four weeks. We have to get them back up to speed as well, they are behind the curve. But ultimately push them with these injuries, we have to do the right time and not bring them back too quick otherwise they will break down again”

“We need everybody fit , they’re in on all the classroom work, we are ‘trying to do’ to give them an idea when they do get in the pitch” … Duff was asked about Liam Walsh but didn’t answer the question on his fitness, or otherwise.

On Ben Cabango, “I think so yes, he had a bit of a ‘weird slip’ he felt his hip tighten up or his groin tighten up so again, I’m not in a position to … these matches are important for minutes, but as the result I’m not really interested”

It’s quite obvious that Michael Duff is better suited to the training ground and working with his players than reviewing games, that in the main like last night are a disappointment. There has to be some clarity though in his messages post match, and we do expect that to improve as time goes on. There also needs to be some thought placed on the supporters, and we have to be honest here as well, Duff hasn’t managed at this level before, so a better all round view is to be expected post match. Not only in his delivery but six hundred and fifteen Swansea fans endured last nights game, and we all know that these friendlies are more about the obvious areas for development and improvement. We get that. It may take a while longer for it to dawn on Duff but Wales isn’t a town like Burnley or Cheltenham. Welsh club football is dominated by two clubs as it stands going in to the new season. And of course a few million hear and read every day what the Swans manager says, and indeed how he projects himself.

Yes, last night was a learning curve for the players, but clearly for the head coach as well. However, with all that put aside, Duff like his staff is a young man making his way in management and education especially when it comes to their charges. It’s a very difficult and demanding business for sure. He made it clear in his first interview that Swansea is viewed as a good stepping stone for managers and players to better themselves. Well, that most certainly is the case after last nights performance, both on and off the pitch. The next test for new Swansea City comes on Tuesday night at the Swansea.Com Stadium ( 7pm kick off ) against Bristol Rovers. Many will want to see an improvement in the players effort and tactics for this game. The season is just two weeks away, and expectations are high.

Watch the full interview here.

Photographs Open Source

Swansea City Polls