Vitor Matos reacts to his sides performance and highlights from Saturdays game at Derby County. Plus some reaction to a game that has to be the most frustrating since Matos arrived at Swansea. Yes, we should expect these type of fixtures but the attitude towards this game was poor by the players when it came to turning their possession into points.

There has been plenty of comment on the Swans over their performance last time out, it was an easily achievable draw and the possession stats are startling overall. These stats have been show a positive of course and a confident ability to pass the ball. However, many of those passes were counter productive and backwards rebuilding instead of moving forwards. It can be seen as well that when a clear opportunity to pass forwards was evident the Swans just were not able or brave enough to take it. This was the whole pattern of the game in the main.

This explains the high possession stats, the insistence to rebuild when there were many opportunities to pass forwards meant easy possession that didn’t damage the home side. Stats below bring home the frustration.

A blocked shot from a player who isn’t the last line defender isn’t included in ‘shots at goal’ stats. Obviously a keeper save (or a goal) from a shot / header is included as is a block from a last line defender. This is why, especially against Watford away that the shot count for this season is at times low.

What Vitor Matos needs to avoid is total domination when in possession which produces a squad incapable of taking risks. Players who prefer safety as opposed to playing attractive fast paced football moving forwards. This isn’t any different to the style of play Russell Martin preferred which frustrated fans almost every week. He produced a nearly team and Matos needs to avoid this, it doesn’t fit into the profile the club wants, and the profile of the players recruited over the past nine months.

We think he will address this and with two home games to come we could see the Swans rattling that top six door.

⚽️ Matos reflections

⚽️ Highlights

Tomorrow we look ahead to Bristol City’s biggest away game of the year against the Swans this coming Saturday.

Photograph : Nems & open source