By Jacob Maddaford
Swansea City manager Luke Williams has called on his squad to improve their mentality this weekend.
The Swans travel to play-off chasing Middlesborough on Saturday, with Williams’ side hoping to replicate the performance they put in against Cardiff three games ago.
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That’s something they failed to do in the last two games – a 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesda, followed by a 1-0 defeat at home to QPR.
“This is the one we are really suffering with,” said Williams in reference to the mental strength – or lack of – he believes is holding back his players.
“For the people who are critical, saying we have not seen what we saw against Cardiff (over the last two games), I want them to know I agree with them,” Williams said.
“They’re correct. This is the problem when you raise the bar up as a group of players. We deserved to win that game in the manner we did, and that performance should not be an outlier.
“That is a performance that had been brewing through a lot of games, like against Sunderland, Blackburn, and Watford.
“The performance was coming and then we raised it a bit more. But unfortunately, when you raise that level a little bit more, you have to stay at that level; me and the players.”
“So, when people say they have not seen the same levels against Sheffield Wednesday and QPR, they are right and that’s what we need to address.”
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The Swans currently sit seven points clear of the relegation zone in 15th.
But should results go against them this weekend, it could leave them as low as 19th in the championship, nervously looking down at the opposition around them..
Their recent record against Middlesbrough doesn’t give any fans making the 11 hours round-trip much optimism, either.
Swansea haven’t beaten Boro since March 2021, and haven’t beaten them away from home since June 2020.
Swansea fans haven’t even been able to watch them beat their opposition live since December 2012 in the League Cup.
Despite all signs pointing towards another victory for the home side – they have won four and drawn two of their last six matches – Swansea will hope for a much-needed victory to give them confidence going into the final five games of the season.
Michael Carrick on Seny Dieng transfer speculation and his importance at Middlesbrough. #boro https://t.co/Y7Te4Mv1vT
— Gazette Boro (@GazetteBoro) April 5, 2024
