By Paul Jones
Luke Williams expects “blood and thunder” from Swansea City in their remaining matches after branding their display in defeat at Middlesbrough “completely unacceptable.”
After three winless games since their derby day victory over Cardiff City, the Swans head coach seems to be suggesting his players have downed tools, even though the danger of relegation to League One is still evident.
A dire performance in a 2-0 loss at Boro has left the club only five points above the drop zone with 15 points still up for grabs for all the clubs below them.
It’s a hazardous position that Williams clearly feels his players have not woken up to.
Emmanuel Latte Lath’s brace gave the home side the spoils at the Riverside Stadium and Williams said: “The way we played today was completely unacceptable.
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Luke Williams Lays Down The Law To Stuttering Swansea City
Read here: https://t.co/7Qa0QcmEAx pic.twitter.com/HqyVb6ejk9
— Dai Sport (@Dai_Sport_) April 6, 2024
“It was lacking in energy and conviction. We concede two ridiculous goals, we showed nowhere near enough for our supporters to watch that and be happy with what they saw.
“We had nothing. We got players into unmarked positions in the box, the number of times we get close and overhit a cross or make a bad touch. It’s just sloppiness, there is not enough focus or concentration.
“We did not turn up. Think of the supporters who have travelled up here, excited to come and see their side in this stadium and we produce that. It’s absolutely brutal.
“This is a big football club, we are one division away from the Premier League. We cannot play football like that again, what would be the point of that?
“We have to be better than that in the games ahead, it better be blood and thunder.”
The Swans now have two huge home games to come – against Stoke City on Wednesday, followed by Rotherham three days later.
If they win neither, then their survival hopes will look a whole lot more insecure with away trips to Huddersfield and Norwich City to follow, with a final day home game against Millwall.
Middlesbrough 2
Swansea 0That was absolutely appalling & probably the worst game of the season for me
How those players who took to the field today can look themselves in the mirror is beyond me
If I performed like that I would be embarrassed to go out #Swans #MIDvSWA pic.twitter.com/GyjoPwSBYT
— Paul (@IceWithNoLemon) April 6, 2024
Swansea are 15th in the Championship after a third successive game without a win.
Last month’s 2-0 success against Cardiff is the only win in the last six for Williams’ side.
“It was just an atrocious game of football, an absolutely diabolical example of the Championship,” added Williams.
“It would have been nicer if we’d won, at least we could have then pretended to be happy about something, but goodness me.
“There was nothing right about that. It was like going to a charity game in the summer, no atmosphere, a bit of talking in the crowd.
“The first goal was a comedy, the second one isn’t loads better. It’s hard to find anything good about today, especially when you don’t get any points.”
Latte Lath, a summer signing from Atalanta, moved into double figures for league goals this season with strikes either side of half-time as Boro extended their unbeaten run to seven games.
Michael Carrick spoke to @MarkosDiSantos following Middlesbrough’s 2-0 win against Swansea #Boro | #UTB | #BBCFootball
— BBC Sport Tees (@BBCTeesSport) April 6, 2024
Michael Carrick’s side have now kept five clean sheets in their last six games and head for rivals Hull on Wednesday night six points adrift of the play-off places.
“I’m delighted to be honest. It’s the type of game that can pass you by if you don’t do the right things.
“I thought the boys were disciplined and effective and efficient in the work we wanted to do.
“We knew they’re good in taking the ball in possession. We were patient and disciplined, defended the box well and defended in our half well.
“Manu is coming into form. He’s had a big impact, he’s had a good return and hopefully there’s a few more in him.
“Hopefully his form carries on. When you’re on that run you want to keep surfing it. He’s definitely doing that. We have two or three challenging games coming up, we’ll need that impact player around the box.
“We’re coming from behind. We’ve put a bit of a run together, we just have to try and extend that as long as we can.
“Wednesday is a new challenge and will have a bit of a say on what the picture looks like after that. We just have to keep chipping away and see how we end up.”
