Alan Sheehan has hailed Swansea City’s deserved 1-0 victory over Sheffield United and expressed his delight at adding midfielder Marko Stamenic to his squad.
The Swans head coach has described the New Zealand international as “a really good signing.”
A second-half strike from Ronald sealed Swansea’s first Championship win of the campaign, while deepening the problems for new Blades boss Ruben Selles, whose team have now lost three games on the bounce without registering a single shot on target in south Wales.
“I am really pleased,” said Sheehan after Ronald’s 66th-minute goal proved decisive.
“The only critical thing we can say again is not being more clinical and putting the game to bed.
“This was a team that was one game away from the Premier League, the stature of the club is big, so to go toe-to-toe and come out on top deservingly, is great.
“My only criticism is that it wasn’t by more.
“But to limit a team like that, with the quality they have, to zero shots on target shows a good defensive structure.”
The Swans dominated much of the contest. Malick Yalcouye, making his debut after joining on loan from Brighton, impressed in midfield and went close in the first half, while Liam Cullen and Cameron Burgess also had headed chances.
Ronald was denied once by Blades keeper Michael Cooper before finally making the breakthrough midway through the second period, exchanging passes with substitute Melker Widell before clipping in a precise finish from 20 yards.
Swansea might have doubled their lead soon after when Widell poked just wide, but one goal was enough for Sheehan’s side to bounce back from their opening-day defeat at Middlesbrough.
Their victory was capped by the sight of Nottingham Forest’s Stamenic in the stands, with the midfielder set to finalise a permanent move to the Swansea.com Stadium.
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Sheehan added: “Marco is a player that we've been after for a while. He'll bring some physicality, athleticism and another international coming in the building.
“He’s showed a real willingness, a real good character, which is so important because we want bring in players, but getting the right people for what we're trying to do is so important for the football club.
“We don't just sign anybody, it's got to be the right ones that fit into our group to how we want to play. So to bring Marco in is a really good signing.
“You need to be as strong as you can in the middle. It gives us options whether we can play three or four in there sometimes, which is potentially something to look at for us.”
For Sheffield United, meanwhile, the pressure is mounting on Selles. His side followed a 4-1 home thrashing by Bristol City and a Carabao Cup exit at Birmingham with another poor performance.
“We need to find our platform but it's the nature of football,” said Selles when asked if he feared supporters would lose patience.
“We know how it works and I can ask them to be calm. But they are going to tell me, probably, ‘f*** off’ - something like that, no?
“It's how you say in English? Sorry for my English but I didn't know any better way to express that one.”
The Spaniard, appointed in June after Chris Wilder’s departure, cut a frustrated figure on the touchline as his team struggled to create.
Even talisman Gustavo Hamer looked subdued and clashed with angry fans at the final whistle.
Selles insisted his side would fight through their early-season slump. “We are going to be honest, we are going to work hard, we are going to persist in what we do, and we are going to give it our absolute 100 per cent.
“At some point the situation will turn and we will start to win football matches.
“That’s as much as I can say but everyone is free to feel what they want to feel.”
While United were left with more questions than answers, Swansea ended the day with three points, a clean sheet, and the imminent arrival of Stamenic — all reasons for Sheehan to be satisfied as his side build momentum.
