By Paul Jones
Swansea City assistant coach Matt Gill insists no lasting damage has been done by the club’s 4-0 thrashing away to Burnley.
The Swans return to action on Tuesday night at home to Reading, just three days after suffering their heaviest defeat of the season, a loss which has also cost them Joel Piroe for the next three matches.
Piroe – the club’s leading scorer so far this season and last – will be missing after the club decided not to appeal his red card.
The Dutch striker was sent off for lashing out with his boot at Burney’s Josh Cullen and although it appeared a half-hearted attempt to cause any injury, the replays leave no room for any other interpretation.
Piroe will be absent for the Reading match, the derby clash at home to Cardiff City on Sunday, and the following weekend’s visit to Bristol City.
But although the fall-out from the end of the club’s four-match winning streak has been costly, Gill believes it can be short-lived.
“I think the players have shown the character they have and the ability to respond, and that’s part of the way we work as a group,” said the right-hand man to head coach Russell Martin.
“We will always go about the week the same whatever the result has been. “I think that helps when you go through tough moments. We never got too high when we were winning games, and we will not get too low after defeats.
“It is important we remain consistent as staff and that the players remain consistent because it allows us to call back upon the stuff we have worked on and done well in recent weeks.
“I am sure that consistency will stand us in good stead as we face Reading. They have had a brilliant start, and I think most people would say they have had a brilliant start.
“I think that puts our own start in perspective because we are only a point behind them. It will be a tough game, they have a squad full of experienced players but we are at home and we want to perform as well as we have done of late at home.
“It will be a tough challenge and one we are looking forward to as we look to bounce back from Saturday. The fans have been great for us at home, we have had positive results at home where they have really helped us get over the line, including against Sunderland last time out.”
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Wales midfielder Joe Allen is still ruled out through injury, along with Jamie Paterson, but Ryan Manning could return after overcoming a hamstring problem.
Swansea are currently eighth in the table, one point off the play-off places and four behind second-placed Sheffield United.
Reading currently occupy that sixth-placed play-off spot, but the Royals have lost their last two matches and have a propensity to ship goals as regularly as the Swans.
Both clubs have conceded 20 goals in their 14 league matches so far this season – the highest tally in the top half of the table.
