By Gareth James
Luke Williams admitted he was left “gutted” by a controversial penalty decision that brought Swansea’s City mini-revival to an abrupt halt.
The Swans head coach was left doubting the call by referee David Webb, deep into injury time, that gave Burnley a penalty which Jay Rodriguez converted for a 1-0 win at Turf Moor.
As many fans were heading for the exits in the 94th minute, Matt Grimes handled in the penalty area while battling Burnley substitute Rodriguez for the ball and, after a pause, referee David Webb pointed to the spot, even though the ball struck the Swans captain from point blank range.
“I am happy with the players, but I am gutted for them,” said Williams.
“I thought the performance probably warranted a point and the manner that we lost was really difficult to accept.
“I am a long way from the action and I don’t have a very good view. There were a lot of people in the box competing for the ball.
“There’s nothing I can do about it even if it’s not a penalty. But I’m not sure the opposition appealed for it too much. I don’t know. It’s very disappointing.
“It’s very, very difficult to accept. I’m very disappointed for my squad of players.
“I’m very disappointed for them because I think they made a really good performance at a very, very tough place for us to play, and I think they deserved to come away with a point.”
It ends in defeat. #BURvSWA | @SkyBetChamp pic.twitter.com/LAbOsJaJ7b
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) November 10, 2024
Swansea’s first defeat in three games leaves them 11th in the Championship, whilst victory means Burnley climb to fourth in the table, four points adrift of second-placed Sheffield United.
Burnley manager Scott Parker said: “We were well worth the three points.
“Of course it’s coming in the dying seconds, but anyone watching that today looking at the general numbers, we were well worthy of it.”
“In the first half they caused us some problems in the ebbs and flows of the game, maybe we lacked some intensity which is perhaps down to a three-game week and a quick turnaround from Thursday.
“But the second half was totally different. You see the way we want to play, we reduce them to going a bit long, and in terms of the general numbers, 20 shots, seven on target, the xG where it is, we were moving in the right direction today and the numbers were very pleasing for us.”
️ The gaffer reflects on this afternoon’s defeat at Turf Moor pic.twitter.com/7zOFN6Luvd
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) November 10, 2024
Lawrence Vigouroux – the 30-year-old goalkeeper who spent last season at Turf Moor but never made an appearance for the Clarets – was rarely tested until Rodriguez sent him the wrong way from the penalty spot to score his first goal in 11 months.
Indeed, the only time Vigouroux had a real save to make in a first half as dull as the weather came right at the end of it, when Luca Koleosho used a beautiful touch to control a raking pass before cutting inside Josh Key, seeing his powerful shot palmed away.
The frustration was growing inside Turf Moor and it almost got much worse in the 64th minute when the hosts needed Maxime Esteve to clear Swansea substitute Liam Cullen’s header off the line after Josh Key was allowed too much time to cross.
Just when it looked as though Swansea would earn a point and Burnley’s last chance had gone, Bashir Humphreys sent in a cross from the left and, as Swansea struggled to deal with it, the ball struck the raised arm of Grimes to give Burnley the opportunity they needed.
