By Paul Jones
Angry Luke Williams has hit out at his Swansea City players for being “too scared” to take the initiative when they draw level with opponents.
Williams was reflecting on his players’ response after they drew level at 1-1 with Ipswich Town on Saturday, before eventually losing 2-1.
It’s a defeat that leaves the head coach still searching for a home win, with just one victory achieved in seven league matches since he took over.
Williams revealed his frustration with his players’ inability to be assertive and impose themselves at key moments in matches.
“This thing that it’s too scary to be on level terms, that we just stand in the middle of the pitch and cross our fingers – that’s not a tactic,” he said.
“I love the commitment of the players. They are a tough group, but they have to learn to concentrate for 90 minutes.”
Williams also described the first goal the Swans conceded to Wales striker Nathan Broadhead as “ridiculous” after errors from Josh Tymon and Ben Cabango.
Nathan Broadhead netted his 11th Championship goal of the campaign for Ipswich this afternoon
Pushing for a start next month? pic.twitter.com/JdYNQZX85L
— welshfootie (@welshfootie) February 17, 2024
“For sure, the players are completely committed. They showed that again today. The work rate and the effort, I don’t think we can question that.
“But the goals we concede are just unnecessary. There’s no need to concede goals like that.
“The second goal is a key moment. This is a pattern at the moment of conceding so soon after we score and we have to keep working to prevent that.
“I think we were a match for the opposition, I don’t have any complaints about the work rate or intensity of the players at all, but it’s those key moments that are costing us.”
The defeat means that since their New Year’s Day victory over West Bromwich Albion, the Swans have won just one game in the Championship – away to Hull City.
They have lost six out of their last seven matches in which they have conceded 18 goals – an average of three per game.
Williams inherited a mess from former manager Michael Duff and is still trying to tidy it up, with one win in seven, leaving his team just four points above the relegation zone.
️ “I love playing for this football club. It’s a place that I really feel at home.”
Conor Chaplin spoke after scoring the winner in Town’s victory at Swansea City yesterday.
Full reaction for @twtduk.#itfchttps://t.co/k0TU1ayRun
— Kallum Brisset (@BallumKrisset) February 18, 2024
With Sheffield Wednesday and QPR both winning, the gaps at the bottom have closed, leaving the Swans one of seven clubs who appear vulnerable to falling into the drop zone.
Broadhead did no favours back in Wales as he kept Ipswich in the hunt for automatic promotion.
The Wales striker struck the opener as Ipswich’s new double dragon strikeforce of Broadhead and Kieffer Moore proved too much for the sinking Swans.
Moore didn’t score, but his muscle helped twist the home side out of shape for Conor Chaplin to make it 2-1 before the break.
That came after Jerry Yates had levelled, but the Tractor Boys made it two away wins in four days after digging in hard.
EFL Skybet Championship, Swansea City v Ipswich Town in Swansea today, pics by Andrew Orchard pic.twitter.com/uwRX1Xgytf
— Andrew Orchard (@sportsphotoAOSP) February 17, 2024
Southampton and Leeds had both won by the time Ipswich kicked off but manager Kieran McKenna insisted: “There was zero mention of them.
“We don’t use up energy thinking about other teams.
“It was a tough, proper game and it took a very good performance to come out on the right side of it.
“The biggest thing was the commitment, resilience and effort shown. I’m pleased with what I saw.”
Ipswich stay in fourth place, but they are only a point behind Southampton and sit three behind Leeds with a game in hand.
Less than 3 years ago Swansea City were in the Playoff Final vs Brentford putting up a good fight.
They’re now 4 points off the relegation zone with 33 games played.
The downfall genuinely needs to be studied pic.twitter.com/jV34jbInVx
— Mr Black (@MrBlackFootball) February 18, 2024
Broadhead dinked a cool finish to make it 1-0, before Yates was alert in the six-yard box to level.
But Davies pulled a perfect pass into the path of Chaplin to restore the Ipswich lead and it would have been safer if Moore’s shot had not been tipped onto the bar by Carl Rushworth.
